The Best VR Headsets of 2021

Virtual Reality (VR) Headsets are becoming increasingly popular. Not only businesses but also consumers are starting to adopt Virtual Reality more and more in their daily lives. For instance, a Virtual Reality-headset can be used to play a relaxing game, but a VR-headset is also great for socialising (online) with friends.

The Oculus Quest 2 is the undisputed champion of the moment. Oculus, part of parent company Facebook, has made significant strides in making virtual reality mainstream with the release of the Oculus Quest 2. Due to its ease of use (the headset can be used entirely without a computer and without cables) combined with the relatively low purchase price (64GB is available from £349,-), the Oculus Quest 2 is the ultimate VR-headset for anyone looking to delve deeper into Virtual Reality-wereld.

The HP Reverb G2 is the successor to the previously released VR-headset from HP. Features of this headset include the highest possible screen resolution currently available. With a whopping 2160 x 2160 pixels per eye, there is little to no sign of the ‘screen-door-effect’. Additionally, the HP Reverb G2 uses built-in tracking sensors, eliminating the need to set up external sensors. The Reverb G2 is therefore particularly recommended for users who want to use the headset with a simulatie-racing game.

The HTC VIVE Pro 2 is the newer variant of the HTC VIVE Pro. The headset has some minor upgrades compared to its predecessor, such as a higher screen resolution (5K) and a wider field of view (120 degrees).

The HTC VIVE Pro 2 is a VR-headset that uses outside-in tracking. This means that you always need to use the headset with external tracking sensors. As a result, the headset is somewhat less mobile than, for example, an Oculus Quest 2 (standalone) or the HP Reverb G2 (inside-out tracking), but it has the advantage of much more accurate tracking. Additionally, it is also possible to use an HTC VIVE Tracker, which allows you to establish full-body tracking.

If you already own a PlayStation (4 or 5), then the Sony PlayStation VR Headset is a logical choice. The headset can be connected directly to the PlayStation, and you can immediately take advantage of the headset's functionalities. Using the headset is straightforward, and there are plenty of fun games available.

The PlayStation VR Headset can be used with special Motion Move-controllers, but can also be connected to the standard PlayStation-controller. This makes the VR-headset truly an ‘extension’ of the console.

If you are looking for a first VR-ervaring, then the BoboVR Z6 is a good choice. In this VR-headset, you can place your smartphone and, for example, watch a 360-graden video. This is a fun first experience, but be aware: a smartphone VR-ervaring is very different from a true Virtual Reality-ervaring, such as with the Oculus Quest 2. With a smartphone VR-headset like the BoboVR Z6, you will mainly watch static 360-graden videos, whereas with a virtual reality-bril like the Quest 2, you are truly immersed in a virtually simulated and interactive world.

The HTC VIVE Focus 3 is the newest VR-headset on this list. However, it is somewhat of an odd one out, as the VIVE Focus 3 is really only suitable for businesses and professional users. The hardware, such as the internal processor and tracking method, is excellent, but HTC has clearly chosen to focus the headset more on enterprises. This is particularly evident in the range of VR-applicaties and games available. There are (at this time) still few standard games available for this headset. However, there are plenty of useful applications available for businesses that want to use the headset, and HTC encourages users to install their own software on the headset.