Once thought of as an expensive novelty, virtual reality has become a mainstream gaming option. While some of the smartphone-based platforms have become best-known, PC gamers have plenty of choices, too.

Using a VR headset for PC gaming also provides a more immersive experience, allowing you to appreciate the digital world you find yourself in fully.

Here are the best VR headsets for PC gaming available today if you're ready to get started.

Premium pick

1. Pimax Vision 8K Plus

6.60 / 10
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The Pimax Vision 8K Plus is a high-resolution VR headset for PC gaming. It comes with a per-eye resolution of 3840x2160 and a 200-degree field of view. Alongside this exceptional resolution, the Vision 8K Plus also offers a high refresh rate of 90Hz. However, to power those pixels, the company recommends a powerful PC-based GPU, like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or higher. Thanks to its combination of high resolution, fast refresh rate, and lightweight design, the Pixmax Vision 8K Plus is one of the best VR headsets for PC gaming available today. However, the bundled PC software can be temperamental and a little buggy at times.

Key Features
  • 4K resolution for both eyes
  • 200-degree field of view
  • 90Hz refresh rate
Specifications
  • Brand: Pimax
  • Resolution (per eye): 3840x2160
  • Display Type: CLPL; 90Hz
  • Storage: N/A
  • Connectivity: 2x USB-C, 1x DisplayPort, 1x audio jack
  • Battery Life: N/A
  • Tracking Technology: Eye tracking, hand tracking
  • Audio: N/A
  • Weight: 1.04 pounds
Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Ergonomic design for long sessions
Cons
  • Buggy software
  • Requires a powerful GPU to run at maximum resolution
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Pimax Vision 8K Plus
Editors choice

2. Valve Index

8.20 / 10
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The Valve Index is one of the most high-performance VR headsets for PC gaming available today. The device uses dual 1440x1600 LCDs, which have a variable refresh rate, adjustable between 80Hz and 144Hz. The headset has two off-ear speakers built-in to offer an immersive listening experience. Since the speakers don't touch your ears, you're able to use the headset for more extended periods without the discomfort of your ears getting too warm.The headset is also comfortable; the Valve Index can be adjusted to fit any head size, face angle, and ear position for maximum immersion. The headset uses antimicrobial fabrics to ensure a fresher and hygienic experience. With the two controllers, you're looking at a low-latency, natural input for your headset. The controllers have 87 sensors that track hand and finger position and can detect force, meaning you can squeeze the controllers to make grabbing and throwing objects more natural.The only minor annoyance with the Valve Index is you need to set up Base Stations for the headset to track you, and this can be difficult to do in smaller places where you don't have a lot of room for those units. You can purchase games from Steam directly, and you can play games you've already purchased on Steam for other VR headsets like the HTC Vive, Vive Pro, Oculus Rift, or Windows Mixed Reality headsets.Overall, the Valve Index offers a gratifying experience that makes VR PC gaming more realistic and natural. The Valve Index is ideal for those who want to have the most well-rounded VR experience on the PC.

Key Features
  • Ergonomic design
  • 130-degree maximum field of view
  • Uses the Steam library
Specifications
  • Brand: Valve
  • Resolution (per eye): 1440x1600
  • Display Type: LCD; 80Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz
  • Storage: N/A
  • Connectivity: USB 3.0, DisplayPort 1.2
  • Battery Life: N/A
  • Tracking Technology: SteamVR 2.0
  • Audio: Open-back speakers
  • Weight: 1.78 pounds
Pros
  • Good off-ear audio
  • Controllers are comfortable and natural to use
  • Variable refresh rate: 144Hz, 120Hz, 90Hz, 80Hz
Cons
  • Requires Base Station for tracking
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Valve Index
Best value

3. Oculus Quest 2

9.60 / 10
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The Oculus Quest 2 is considered one of the best VR headsets released in recent times, and with good reason. This VR headset is one of the most consumer-friendly devices in the VR gaming market, allowing almost anyone to plug and play with ease.The Quest 2 is a standalone headset which means you don't need to plug it into your PC to start enjoying it, and with Oculus's extensive game library, you can find a diverse selection of games.The headset has sufficient resolution per eye at 1832x1920, and you're going to be getting a highly responsive screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. For high-performance titles, you can plug your headset into a computer using the Oculus Link cable. This is the most effective way to connect to a PC, but the cable is relatively expensive and needs to be purchased separately. Still, the Oculus Quest 2 is an excellent choice for newcomers and offers exceptional value.

Key Features
  • 120Hz refresh rate
  • Oculus Link lets you connect the headset to your PC
  • Ergonomic design
  • 3D audio
Specifications
  • Brand: Oculus
  • Resolution (per eye): 1832×1920
  • Display Type: Single Fast-Switch LCD; 120hz
  • Storage: 6GB
  • Connectivity: 1x USB-C
  • Battery Life: 3 hours
  • Tracking Technology: Inside out, 6DOF
  • Audio: Integrated, in-strap
  • Weight: 1.83lbs
Pros
  • Great standalone performance
  • Offers a variety of games through the Oculus library
  • Ergonomic controls
Cons
  • Requires an additional and expensive Oculus Link cable
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Oculus Quest 2

If you're someone who already owns a gaming PC, the Oculus Rift S might be the perfect VR headset for you to dive into VR gaming. The headset uses Oculus's Halo headband to offer a comfortable experience and has positional audio built into the headset itself to provide a surround-sound atmosphere.The headset has a resolution of 2560x1440 per eye and doesn't require additional cameras for tracking like previous Rift models. While this headset is priced reasonably well, it was first released in early 2019. As a result, you miss out on more recent features like wireless tethering.Like Oculus's other headsets, you will get access to the company's game library with a diverse selection of titles to choose from. Given the comprehensive package, the Oculus Rift S is an excellent purchase for first-timers.

Key Features
  • Compatible with Oculus's game library
  • 80Hz refresh rate
  • Ergonomic design
Specifications
  • Brand: Oculus
  • Resolution (per eye): 2560x1440
  • Display Type: LCD; 80Hz
  • Storage: N/A
  • Connectivity: 1x USB 3.0
  • Battery Life: N/A
  • Tracking Technology: 6DOF
  • Audio: Integrated, in-strap
  • Weight: 1.1 pounds
Pros
  • Has positional audio built-in
  • Halo headband offers a comfortable experience
  • Touch controllers are easy to use
Cons
  • No wireless connectivity
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Oculus Rift S

The HTC Vive Cosmos is one of the most practical VR headsets you can buy for the PC. This headset features a resolution of 1440x1700 per eye and has a refresh rate of 90Hz. The Vive Cosmos can run titles from Steam and HTC's VIVEPORT library. The headset has on-ear headphones built-in, and the ventilated display on the front allows for reaching long gaming sessions without getting a sweaty face.One unique feature of the Vive Cosmos is that you can flip up its display unit at the front to allow you to exit VR without having to take off the headset. This feature is great for when you need to chat quickly with someone or take a break but without the hassle of taking off your headset.This headset is on the heavier side, coming in at 1.8 pounds, but overall you won't be disappointed with its performance, comfort, and experience.

Key Features
  • 90Hz refresh rate
  • Steam and VIVEPORT libraries
  • Headphones built into the headset
Specifications
  • Brand: HTC
  • Resolution (per eye): 1440x1700
  • Display Type: LCD; 90Hz
  • Storage: 8GB
  • Connectivity: USB-C 3.0, DisplayPort 1.2
  • Battery Life: N/A
  • Tracking Technology: Six-camera tracking
  • Audio: Stereo headphones
  • Weight: 1.8 pounds
Pros
  • Six-camera tracking system is great and covers a wide field of view
  • Ventilated display makes longer sessions more comfortable
  • Flip-up display makes it easy to jump between VR and the real world without taking off the headset
Cons
  • The headset is heavy
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HTC VIVE Cosmos

The HP Reverb G2 is the company's second-generation Mixed Reality headset, and it offers a great set of features for VR gaming on the PC.

The Reverb G2 is equipped with two 2160x2160 LCDs with a 90Hz refresh rate and improved optics designed by Valve compared to the previous Reverb G.The Reverb G2 also features an immersive pair of Valve speakers designed to sit off of the ear and allow for more comfortable gaming for more extended periods. The headset is compatible with SteamVR and Windows Mixed Reality libraries, allowing you to choose from a diverse selection of titles. The headset has a four-camera system for tracking and uses the 6DoF (6 Degrees of Freedom) tracking architecture. The controllers are acceptable, although the large tracking rings might make the experience less comfortable. Overall, the HP Reverb G2 is an incredibly powerful headset capable of delivering an enjoyable VR experience to beginners and well-practiced gamers.

Key Features
  • Uses Microsoft's Mixed Reality library
  • 1440p LCD panels
  • Four-camera tracking system
Specifications
  • Brand: HP
  • Resolution (per eye): 2160x2160
  • Display Type: LCD; 90Hz
  • Storage: N/A
  • Connectivity: 1x DisplayPort 1.3, 1x USB-C, 1x power input
  • Battery Life: N/A
  • Tracking Technology: 6DoF
  • Audio: Valve speakers
  • Weight: 1.2 pounds
Pros
  • Ergonomic design
  • Valve speaker system offers great sound quality
  • 90Hz refresh rate
Cons
  • Not the best controllers
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HP Reverb G2 VR Headset

The Pimax Vision 5K Super is another mid-tier VR headset from the company for PC gaming. This headset features a resolution of 1440p per eye with a 200-degree field of view.This headset has near-feature parity with the Vision 8K Plus, although the resolution is lower. The Vision 5K Super also has an exceptionally high refresh rate of 180Hz. If you're someone who wants to have the most responsive screen on your VR headset, the Vision 5K Super is an incredible buy. Just like the Vision 8K Plus, do be warned that depending on your PC, you might run into buggy software.

Key Features
  • 200 degrees field of view
  • 1440p resolutions for both eyes
  • Ergonomic design
Specifications
  • Brand: Pimax
  • Resolution (per eye): 2560x1440
  • Display Type: CLPL; 180Hz
  • Storage: N/A
  • Connectivity: 2x USB-C, 1x DisplayPort, 1x audio jack
  • Battery Life: N/A
  • Tracking Technology: Eye tracking, hand tracking
  • Audio: Modular speakers
  • Weight: 1.02 pounds
Pros
  • Lightweight headset
  • Incredibly responsive 180Hz refresh rate
Cons
  • Buggy software
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Pimax Vision 5K Super

FAQ

Q: What's the Difference Between VR and MR?

VR or virtual reality is the total immersion into a digital environment with the use of a headset. This means you're interacting with purely digital objects. MR or mixed reality adds digital elements to the real world to interact with them in a physical space.

Q: Does High Refresh Rate Matter for VR Headsets?

Yes, higher refresh rate panels on VR headsets enable better immersion into games or content. The screens are refreshing themselves more frequently, making the headset feel more responsive and smooth. High refresh rate headsets make games feel realistic and more dynamic.

Q: Do I Need to Purchase an Expensive PC to Run My Headset?

Depending on the headset, your PC will need to have a moderately powerful graphical performance to allow games to run smoothly. The manufacturer usually lists the minimum specifications required to run the VR headset and the recommended specifications for the headset on their product pages.

Still, generally, the higher the resolution or refresh rate of the headset, the more powerful your PC needs to be to enable the headset to run at maximum resolution.