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Best VR headsets in 2024

Discover the best VR headsets for blurring the line between the physical and the virtual

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In the past few years, virtual reality has gone from an obscure novelty to a fixture of the tech space. And with VR creeping ever deeper into the gaming and creative communities, it seems inevitable that this tech will become a household standard within a decade. But what are the best VR headset options for those looking to get on board with this new technology today?

Pico 4 VR headset on a stool, showing the front with sensors and the over-head strap
5 reasons why I'm all in on VR, and you should be too

Virtual reality may not have taken the world by storm, but there are still plenty of reasons why it's worth diving into the VR rabbit hole

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Believe it or not, VR headsets trace their roots back to the early 1960s when Morton Heilig developed the first head-mounted display. VR HMDs have come a long way since then, and thanks to improvements to technology and hardware, they've introduced an entirely new dimension to the gaming industry.

Pico 4 VR headset on a stool, showing the front with sensors and the over-head strap
Pico 4 VR headset review: The best VR you've never heard of

The Pico 4 VR headset is some of the best VR that you've probably never heard of, and there's a lot to love about it.

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I've been a big fan of the Meta Quest 2 since I bought one nearly two years ago. I used it regularly for a long time, and while my usage has certainly fallen off in recent months, it's still a fantastic VR headset that sells well, too. What if I told you there's an even better VR headset though?

Woman using a VR headset with hand gestures
7 reasons why people won't get on board with VR

Tech companies want consumers to get on board with the VR bandwagon, but many people are reluctant for these reasons.

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There has been an ongoing debate for several years now about whether VR will take off as the next big thing, or if it will crash and burn like 3D TVs. After years of technological improvements, we are finally at a point where VR looks really good. Unfortunately, it seems that average consumers are not interested anymore.

Meta Quest 2 with Meta app
I love my Meta Quest 2, and this is why Cyber Monday is the perfect time to buy one

Trust me, you won't regret picking up the amazing Meta Quest 2 this Black Friday

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Black Friday sales might have wrapped up, but with Cyber Monday around the corner, it’s still possible to find some worthwhile discounts on gaming peripherals, including the Meta Quest 2. I bought the device back when it was called the Oculus Quest 2, and despite being over three years old, it still holds up in 2023.

While Meta Quest 3 headset in the center, flanked by two game controllers
Meta Quest 3 mixed reality headset is now official, starting at $500

It's a substantial upgrade over the Quest 2.

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At its 2023 Connect conference on Wednesday, Meta launched its Quest 3 mixed reality headset as a successor to the popular Quest 2. The Quest 3 was originally announced earlier this year by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg just days before Apple unveiled its Vision Pro headset. Back then, Meta announced a few interesting tidbits about its next-gen headset, including its price and ETA, but most of the tech specs remained a mystery.

Qualcomm, Samsung, and Google on stage at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked February 2023
Samsung's alleged AR headset leaks online with new images and detailed specifications

Samsung's new AR headset finds its way online, giving us a look at its current form and alleged specifications.

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Samsung first shared its plans for a new XR device back in February during its Galaxy Unpacked event. While it didn't show off any new products or software, it did bring partners Qualcomm and Google on stage to share the news. The three touted their partnership for new experiences, sharing how working together, the companies would bring a new augmented reality experience to consumers. Several months later, we're getting our first look at what this partnership looks like, with leaked images of a prototype headset, along with the device's specifications.

While Meta Quest 3 headset in the center, flanked by two game controllers
The Meta Quest 3 gets conveniently unveiled ahead of next week's expected Apple AR/VR headset

Meta announced the pricing and ETA for its next-gen VR headset, but most of the tech specs are still a mystery.

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled the Meta Quest 3 virtual reality headset as a successor to the Quest 2 that was released in the fall of 2020. The new device, which is expected to hit store shelves this fall, will start at $499.99 for the 128GB model. Meta also said it will offer higher storage variants for folks who want some extra space, but didn't reveal their prices or storage capacities.

Apple mixed-reality headset mockup
Apple's upcoming headset could leverage familiar apps and services to sway users

With the headset reportedly arriving in a couple of months, the latest update shares details about the device's software ambitions.

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For years now, we've heard about Apple's mixed-reality headset and how it's going to be a revolutionary new product for the company when it arrives. And while anticipation runs high for some, so far, we're still just waiting to get a sliver of confirmation that thing really exists. Although we've already had plenty of iPhone leaks for this year, Apple is playing this one extremely close to the chest, with all current and past reported information simply coming in the form of leaks and rumors.

Apple mixed-reality headset mockup
Apple's mixed-reality headset reportedly suffers another setback as optimism for the product dwindles

We've heard it before, and we're hearing it again, as it's being reported that Apple will reportedly delay the release of its headset.

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It looks like Apple has suffered another setback with its mixed-reality headset, as analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has chimed in, sharing that mass production for the product has been delayed. While it's unclear whether this device will make an appearance at Apple's upcoming WWDC set to take place on June 5, at the very least this new development will push back the release of the product by a few months. Kuo expects that the headset could release sometime in the third quarter of this year, but quantities of the product will be much lower.

Head over to the Samsung Store to see everything that the retailer has on sale this week.
Samsung trademarks AR 'Galaxy Glasses' and health-focused 'Galaxy Ring'

A new competitor looks to be on the way.

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It looks like Samsung could be seriously considering a leap into AR/VR technology as a couple of curious filings surface.

Meta Quest 2 with Meta app
Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro will become more affordable with new price drop

Meta is going to lower the price of its Quest 2 and Quest Pro VR headsets starting March 5.

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Despite a heavy push from companies like Meta, Sony, and HTC, virtual reality really hasn't taken off, and still remains a niche product category for consumers. But that hasn't stopped the aforementioned companies to continue innovating in the space, offering new and more powerful headsets.

PS VR2 Headset Teardown
Sony's PlayStation VR2 teardown gives us a fascinating look at the technology within

Sony's teardown allows us to take a look at the components that make up the PlayStation VR2 ahead of its retail release.

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It's been a long road, but the time has finally arrived, as we are just a week out from the release of the PS VR2. As you might expect, consumers are getting quite excited for Sony's next generation VR accessory, especially since its last one offered quite a bit of bang for buck. But since then, a lot has changed, with the price of consoles, games, and accessories coming in at an all-time high. Furthermore, VR hasn't gained that much traction since the release of the PS VR, but there is hope that the PS VR2 will change things. Ahead of its debut, Sony is offering a more intimate look at its upcoming device, showing off its innards with a teardown, giving users a detailed look at what makes up a PS VR2.

Apple Mixed Reality headset on person with AR elements around them
Apple's mixed reality headset will now reportedly makes its debut in June

There have been numerous reports of delays, but this latest one puts Apple's mixed reality headset debut on course for the middle of the year.

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While there hasn't been an official announcement or even a teaser, it's been rumored for quite some time many news outlets that Apple's next major product will be its mixed reality headset. Although dates for the device's unveiling have been swirling around the past year or so, it now looks like it might make its debut in a few months time, set to take center stage during Apple's WWDC event in June.

Apple mixed-reality headset mockup
Anticipating Apple's mixed-reality headset reignites my enthusiasm for tech events

Mainstream tech events have been exceptionally boring as of late, but waiting for Apple's rumored mixed-reality headset renews my shriveling hope.

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Once upon a time, mainstream tech launches were exciting events, but that's no longer the case. I'm aware that certain companies still preview some innovative yet niche phones, tablets, and laptops (hence the emphasis on "mainstream"), but these devices almost never gain traction or get serious attention from their respective manufacturers after they're released.

Apple Mixed Reality headset on person with AR elements around them
Apple reportedly postpones AR glasses and pivots efforts toward affordable mixed-reality headset

Apple has indefinitely postponed its AR glasses and will instead shift its focus to an affordable mixed-reality headset.

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After making a splash with the announcement of its latest MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16, it's now being reported that Apple's augmented reality glasses are now being postponed. While the company initially had plans to launch the glasses sometime in 2023, it was pushed back to 2025, and now, it no longer has a release date. While it hasn't been canceled, it unfortunately won't be arriving anytime soon.

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HTC's VIVE XR Elite is an aggressively priced consumer-focused flagship VR headset

HTC has unveiled its new consumer-focused VIVE XR Elite VR headset, which is now available for pre-order and is priced at $1,099.

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After teasing the world with a new mixed reality headset, HTC has finally announced its latest product, the VIVE XR Elite at CES 2023. The headset is a consumer-friendly device that looks most likely to take on the Meta Quest Pro. As far as pricing goes, the VIVE XR Elite comes in at $1,099.

HTC VR headset for CES
HTC teases new mixed-reality Meta Quest Pro competitor ahead of CES

It looks like next year could be a little exciting for AR / VR enthusiasts and newcomers, as HTC has teased a new headset set to be announced at CES.

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The excitement around AR/VR has been pretty lukewarm this year, despite Meta releasing a new headset and PlayStation touting a new VR unit for next year. For the most part, there really aren't too many companies in the space that have managed to create excitement around VR, AR, or mixed reality.

mixed reality headset
Apple's mixed reality headset might face shipment delays due to "software-related issues"

Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the headset might arrive in the second half of 2023

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Apple has been working on a mixed reality (MR) headset for quite a while, and we've seen several leaks and rumors about the product over the last few months. In June this year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that the headset could finally make it to the market early next year, with mass shipments to follow in Q2 2023. However, in a recent string of tweets, Kuo has now revealed that the headset might face a significant delay due to "software-related issues."

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PlayStation VR2 is set to arrive in February, priced at $549.99

The PlayStation VR2 finally has a price and a release date, with the accessory costing $549.99, VR won't come cheap this generation.

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Sony has been teasing the PlayStation VR2 since the beginning of the year, little by little sharing details and images of its next-generation virtual reality accessory. After what seemed like an eternity, today, we finally get a release date and a price for the device, and it definitely isn't going to be as cheap as the last generation's offering.

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