The Ultimate VR Headset Comparison Table: Every VR Headset Compared

Which VR headset should you buy in 2020? It’s the question anyone who’s ever considered getting into VR has asked themselves, I know I have. Despite a huge amount of enthusiasm around VR it’s still proving difficult to work out which headsets are good, which are bad and what they require to work.

What’s needed is a simple comparison between all the major headsets (there are more than listed here, but they are mostly copycats). Check out my comparison table and quick summaries of the most popular VR headsets out now and it might make your decision slightly easier.

VR Headset Comparison Table 2021

Specs	Oculus Quest 2	Oculus Quest	Valve Index	HTC Vive	HTC Vive Pro	Oculus Rift S	Oculus Rift	PSVR	Samsung Odyssey	Oculus Go	HTC Vive Pro	Lenovo Explorer
Image
Max Field of View	100°	100°	130°	110°	110°	115°	110°	110°	110°	100°	110°	110°
Max Resolution	3664×1920 per eye	2560 x 1440	2880 x 1600 (1440 x 1600)	2160×1200 (1080×1200 per eye)	2880 x 1600	2560×1440	2160×1200 (1080×1200 per eye)	1920×1080 (960 × 1080 per eye)	2880 x 1600 (1440 x 1600 per eye)	2560 x 1440	2880 x 1600 (1440 x 1600  per eye)	2880 x 1440 (1440 x 1600  per eye)
Screen Type	Fast Twitch LCD	OLED	LCD	Dual AMOLED	Dual AMOLED	Fast-switch LCD	Dual AMOLED	AMOLED	AMOLED	Fast-Switch WQHD LCD	Dual AMOLED	LCD
Pixel Density		538ppi		461ppi	615ppi	538ppi	456ppi	386ppi	615ppi	Unknown	615ppi	706ppi
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyroscope, Internal Cameras	Accelerometer, gyroscope, Internal Cameras	Accelerometer, gyroscope, External Cameras	Accelerometer, gyroscope	SteamVR Tracking, G-sensor, gyroscope, proximity, IPD sensor	Accelerometer, gyroscope, 5 x Internal Cameras	Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer	Accelerometer, gyroscope	Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer	Accelerometer, gyroscope	6-Axis ACC & Gyro, 3-Axis Compass, Proximity sensor, IPD Sensor	Gyroscope
Max Refresh Rate	120Hz	72Hz	144Hz	90Hz	90Hz	80Hz	90Hz	90Hz, 120Hz	90Hz	60Hz	90Hz	90 Hz
Tracking	6DOF Inside Out Tracking (wireless)	6DOF Inside Out Tracking (wireless)	6DOF Inside Out Tracking with Finger Tracking Controllers	6 DOF IR Laser-based 360-degree tracking using “Lighthouse” Base Stations	6DOF Room Scale Tracking	6DOF Inside Out Tracking	6 DOF Constellation camera optical 360- degree IR LED tracking	6 DOF PlayStation Camera optical 360-degree LED tracking	2 x 6 DOF camera	Orientation Tracking	–	2 x Inside-out motion tracking cameras
Weight	503g	570g	570g	563g	563g	563g	470g	610g	644g	468g	–	380g
Extra Requirements	None	None	PC with 8GB RAM and Graphics Card	PC with VR ready specs	PC with VR ready specs	PC with VR ready specs	PC with VR ready specs	Playstation 4	WMR Compatible PC	None	PC with advanced VR ready specs	WMR Compatible PC
Price	Check Price on Amazon	Check Price on Amazon	Check Price on Amazon	Check Price on Amazon	Check Amazon	Check Amazon	Check Price on Amazon	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

What you should lookout for

If you’ve just become interested in getting a VR headset you may not understand some of the terminology or what it means, so let me try and clear things up for you.

Field of View: The higher the better. This refers to how much of your eyesight will be covered when wearing theVR headset. The human eye has a field of view of around 180 degrees, so a field of view of 110 will pretty much cover your whole vision

Resolution: Again, the higher the screen resolution of your headset the better. Higher resolution screens are able to produce a clearer image and more immersive experience.

Pixel Density: Many technology journalists consider pixel density to be a more accurate measurement of how clear a VR headset image will be. The pixel density is essentially how many pixels are visible in a square inch. The more pixels the less likely you are to see the individual pixels and the clearer the image will be.

Screen Type: Most headsets utilize AMOLED screens which are considered superior to LCD screens.

Tracking: This is a slightly more complicated subject, as some headsets are not designed to track your whole body and some can track you around an entire room. The PSVR uses a camera to track hand movements, however you’ll be limited to the wire attaching you to the system.

The same is true for more advanced HTC VIVE and Oculus Rift, however these utilize more accurate body tracking. Some headsets are stand alone and require no wires or cameras, however these usually don’t allow for advanced body tracking.

Oculus Quest 2

Considered to be one the best value VR headsets ever, the Quest 2 represents the most mainstream VR product yet. The Quest 2 received a significant upgrade in terms of raw power compared to the first generation headset, with a new processor that’s 5 times more powerful.

The design has also been changed to be smaller and lighter, making the Quest 2 more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. The screen technology has also changed from ALOMED to LCD. While the new screen has a higher resolution there is a downside to using LCD; dark areas on your screen won’t look as good due to the backlight that LCD screens require.

Controllers were also redesigned to be more comfortable to use and I’ve found this to be one of the best changes. On the down side the head-strap is far more basic and a little uncomfortable. There is an alternative available but you have to pay extra.

The Quest 2 is capable of running more complicated games at a higher refresh rate – up to 120 hz in some cases – which makes for an excellent wireless VR experience. There’s literally hundreds of titles to choose from and the number is growing almost daily.

You can even connect your Quest to a VR ready PC and play the most advanced VR games. All of this makes the Quest 2 the headset to beat in my opinion.

Oculus Quest

The much anticipated Oculus Quest was the companies first attempt at an all-in-one 6DOF VR headset. This means you can have full room tracking without the need for external cameras, wires or a PC. This is probably the VR experience that everyone was hoping for years ago and it’s finally here.

The Quest has a huge library of content right away with exclusive games being released throughout the years. While the Quest is a great innovation it can’t compete with wired headsets in terms of rendering high end graphics.

The processor that powers the Quest isn’t the best and can’t compete with a PC graphics card, so games look more basic. Still, you’ll have no wires to content with and a high resolution screen that will ensure the image is as crisp as possible. The Quest is pretty much discontinued now as the Quest 2 overtook it as the Oculus’ main focus.

See Also: Quest 2 vs Quest

Valve Index

Since its release the Valve Index has been considered by most to be the most advanced VR headset ever. It features a super high resolution screen that all but eliminated the screen door effect.

The very high 120 Hz refresh rate means objects move smoothly and limits blur. You’ll also find the most advanced tracking system which can track finger movements, however there are few VR games or experiences that take advantage of this as of now.

The Valve Index also has the most advanced in built audio providing professional quality sound with noise cancelling capabilities. Overall this headset is the best around, but it’s also the most expensive and awkward to set up – you’ll have to have some patience and a pretty powerful system to run it off.

HTC Vive Pro

HTC released the Vive Pro as a direct upgrade to the original Vive and rings with it some key upgrades. The headset itself has been redesigned to be more conformable, new screen technology to reduce the screen door effect that plagued the Vive and a bump in resolution to boost image sharpness.

The Vive Pro uses external and internal room scale tracking to provide the more accurate tracking experience ever on a HTC headset, this makes it perfect for professional use as well as gaming.

Oculus Rift S

The Rift S represents an incremental upgrade to its original Rift headset. You’ll find a higher resolution screen and improved controllers with more options for controlling the VR environment. The biggest change compared to the Rift is the addition of the 6 internal cameras for inside out tracking, this allows tracking without external cameras, reducing the need for accessories and wires.

You’ll still need to tether the headset to a VR ready desktop in order to use it, but this setup is cleaner and easier. While not technically as advanced as its HTC counterpart the Rift S is significantly cheaper and has access to more games and experiences.

HTC Vive

The HTC Vive is often considered to be the pinnacle of VR headset technology thus far. It’s been in a constant battle with the Oculus rift for best selling full headset. The Vive now has to compete with several other headsets (including it’s new big brother, the Vive Pro) which have some superior specs, however the Vive has a huge backlog of compatible games and software.

Oculus Rift

The Oculus rift is the device that sparked the VR revolution and since Facebook took over development, has become one of the most popular headsets yet. The Rift utilized two AMOLED displays with an average pixel density.

The Rifts main strength is the huge amount of games available on its ecosystem, which is even larger than the Vive. While you’ll need a fairly powerful PC, the requirements are not as extreme as some other headsets.

PSVR

The PS4 VR headset is proving to be a very popular option for VR enthusiasts, and developers are taking notice with a constant flow of new games. The PSVR is considered a less powerful but cheaper option, and it’s guaranteed to work with your PS4.

If you already have this console then it might be a no brainer to at least try out the PSVR and see how you feel with it. While the headset itself isn’t too expensive, you’ll need the camera and move controllers for the best experience, which can make the full package a bit pricey still.

Samsung Odyssey

The Samsung Odyssey is one of a range of headsets designed for the Windows Mixed Reality ecosystem, which is essentially Microsoft’s way of getting into the VR game. These headsets are all designed to work with Windows PC’s and Laptops, but usually the requirements aren’t as high as other headsets.

The Odyssey is the most advanced WMR headset yet and comes packed with one of the best screens and ppi of any VR headset. If clarity is what you are after then the Odyssey might be for you, however some have said the tracking capabilities are not as good as the HTC Vive or Rift.

Oculus Go

The Oculus Go is probably the best selling headset ever thanks to the famous name and low price. The Go is designed to be accessible to anyone and doesn’t require a laptop or a phone to work. The first stand alone VR headset comes with a high resolution screen which makes for a pretty clear experience when viewing VR video or playing games.

The low price makes the Go one of the best ways to get into VR but you need to be aware that it’s not the same experience as its bigger brother the Oculus Rift. The Go can only track your head and controller movement, this is known as 3 degrees of freedom and limits when you can do in the VR world.

The Go is best used for viewing VR video and playing simple games and thankfully there’s almost an endless supply of such content on the Oculus Store.

See Also: Oculus Go vs PSVR

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The 360 Guy

Owner of threesixtycameras.com. Writer, photographer and videographer. You can see my YouTube channel for guides of how to shoot 360 video. I've written for The Times, Digital Photography School and Sunday Express. 

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