Virtual reality was supposed to be THE the next big thing in 2016 when the Oculus Rift and the original HTC Vive launched. It was the technology whose time had finally come. Or so we thought. It turned out that VR was still a bit too expensive and perhaps too alienating to take over the gaming world. Then there was the hype around the “metaverse”, and now we’re seeing companies that have invested heavily in VR starting to jump ship, so keep that in mind when considering investing in a new headset.
Still, virtual reality can be a cool way to experience certain games, art experiences, and even sexual technologies. For those interested, here are the best headsets we’ve tried.
Update June 2023: We’ve added advice on Apple Vision Pro.
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VR connected or wireless?
Before we dive deep, there’s a question you need to answer: Do you want a connected or wireless headset? Tethered VR gives you more graphical detail because you are connected to a PC. The downside is you’re, well, connected to a PC. There’s no denying that cables are difficult to handle, especially when you can’t see them. You’ll probably trip over it at some point too. But if you’re looking for absolutely top-notch graphics and you’ve already shelled out for a great gaming PC or laptop, then you’ll want to tune in.
For most people, myself included, wireless VR is a much better option. It’s more comfortable, you don’t have to worry about getting tangled up in your own cables, and it’s totally portable. You can bring this type of VR headset to any room in the house without having to lug around a PC. Additionally, in the case of Meta Quest 2, you can plug it into a PC if you want the extra graphics power. Below we present the two types of helmets. Look at.
