Top 5 BEST VR Headsets of 2025

Top 5 BEST VR Headsets of 2025


The best VR headsets for your needs, tested by us

(Image credit:Tom’s Guide)

I will utilize my almost 10 years of experience reviewing VR headsets to assist you in selecting the best one for you.

Let’s be clear right away: there isn’t a single right answer when it comes to the finest VR headset. There are a few questions you may ask yourself to determine what is best for you.

Why would I want to utilize virtual reality?
Picking up a VR headset has several applications, which we may utilize to narrow down your options: Gaming is arguably the most common justification for purchasing a headset. If you choose this path, the PSVR 2 is fantastic for console VR experiences with PC VR as a side order (thanks to the adaptor), or the HTC Vive Focus Vision is a nice option if you’re PC-specific.

Work and productivity: Although spatial computing isn’t quite ready for the mainstream just yet, it’s still a fantastic way to accomplish tasks. Both the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 are fully equipped to do this. Fitness: Would you prefer to work out at home rather than at the gym? Workout VR apps are amazing, but you’ll need a device that’s lightweight and has an ecosystem. Consider taking the Meta Quest 3S.

All of the above: It’s possible that you don’t belong to a single camp. A comfortable fit, a large field of vision, and decent display quality are all necessary for this. The Meta Quest 3 or Quest 3S are your best options if you want to hit every category.

THE QUICK LIST

Best overall

1. Meta Quest 3

 best premium 

2. Apple Vision Pro

best budget

3. Meta Quest 3S

 best gaming

4. PlayStation VR 2

best PC 

5. HTC Vive Focus Vision



(Image credit:CNET)

1. Meta Quest 3

Our evaluation of Meta’s most recent VR headset begins with the statement that the Meta Quest 3 “is undoubtedly the best VR headset I’ve ever tested.” A brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor and twin LCD lenses with 2K resolution in each eye for a total of 4K resolution are just two of the many ways it surpasses the Quest 2.

Meta’s dedication to upgrades is one of the headset’s main long-term strengths; most recently, we saw an incredibly remarkable travel mode and ongoing enhancements to provide a more complete mixed reality experience.

It’s still not flawless, though. We were not impressed by the battery life; we were able to drain it in less than two hours.

However, the Quest 3 remains the best option in spite of this drawback. Unless you’re searching for something really entry-level, it’s a bad idea to choose the earlier Quest headset because of its improvements over the Quest 2. And even if the PSVR 2 has eye-tracking capabilities and is more powerful, the Quest 3’s resolution improvement truly makes up for it. Additionally, the Link connection or Air Bridge (separately offered) allows you to play PC VR games, something the PSVR 2 is unable to do. This is similar to the Quest 2.


(Image credit:CNET)

2. Apple Vision Pro

Although the Apple Vision Pro is more mixed reality than virtual reality, that is the current trend for this entire category. And Cupertino’s new headgear is the greatest option if you want the best possible VR and AR technology implementation (and price isn’t a barrier).

Apple has handled a lot of the basic difficulties for headsets with some pretty outstanding inventiveness in both hardware and software. For instance, microOLED displays, which have pixels smaller than red blood cells, allow for extremely sharp pass-through (at just 12 milliseconds, they currently have the lowest response time in the industry).

Furthermore, the futuristic hand and eye tracking experience is far superior to the tracking offered by the competition.

Indeed, there are certain problems with it. In addition to its outrageous $3,500 asking price, the device has an attached battery that can occasionally cause issues, strange-looking personalities during FaceTime talks, and lacks certain popular apps like Netflix and YouTube (though the latter will be available soon).

But with the upcoming VisionOS 2 update, you’re looking at the most inventive thing Apple has produced since the iPhone. This is undoubtedly the most technically advanced VR/AR system of the group and is a revolution in the making.


(Image credit:CNET)

3. Meta Quest 3S

All of the Quest 3’s essential qualities, including as excellent color passthrough and quick performance, are included in the Meta Quest 3S, which is everything you could possibly want in a low-cost VR headset. For this reason, Tony Polanco has referred to it as “the best VR headset for the money.”

Are there reductions? Naturally. Although this is a less expensive entry-level headset from Meta, the team has made thoughtful sacrifices to ensure that the experience is not significantly impacted. For instance, you get a lower resolution display with a narrower viewing angle inside, along with less expensive Fresnel lenses than pancake. The Meta Quest 3S has everything you could possible desire in a low-cost VR headset, with all of the Quest 3’s key features, such as fast performance and superb color passthrough. Because of this, Tony Polanco has called it “the best VR headset for the money.”

Are there cuts? Of course. Despite being a less costly entry-level headset from Meta, the team has made deliberate compromises to guarantee that the experience is not adversely affected. For example, it has a narrower viewing angle and a lower resolution display. It also has less expensive Fresnel lenses than pancake ones.

Aside from that, you’re still getting the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor that keeps all the newest and best experiences (like Batman: Arkham Shadow, which is free with every purchase) running smoothly; the mixed reality experience improves over time as more developers support it; and the battery lasts longer on this device due to the lower display quality. Oh, and if you wanted to dip into the best PC VR games, that’s just one Meta Quest Link cable away. At $299, this is the best value for your money when it comes to starting out in the virtual reality space.


(Image credit:CNET)

4. PlayStation VR 2

With a dazzling OLED display and other high-end features, Sony’s new PSVR 2 is possibly the best wired VR headset available. However, because it is exclusive to the PlayStation ecosystem and requires a PS5 to function, it lags behind the Quest 3. Additionally, because the Quest 3 has a new CPU and display, the difference between it and the PSVR 2 is significantly less than that between the Quest 2 and the PSVR 2.

Nevertheless, the PSVR 2 is great, particularly for gaming. With only a comparatively thin but robust connection connecting it to the PS5, the headset is comfy. The screen is superb, offering 4K quality and remarkable passthrough capabilities.

However, the Sense controllers are the true secret weapon. These have great haptic feedback, which is an area where other VR headsets fall short, in addition to being reasonably comfortable and tracking well.

Additionally, special titles like Horizon Call of the Mountain and Gran Turismo 7 in virtual reality are made possible by being a part of the PlayStation ecosystem. The PSVR 2 is among the greatest virtual reality systems available today when combined with VR technology.


(Image credit:CNET)

5. HTC Vive Focus Vision

The HTC Vive Focus Vision is a mixed reality headset that costs $999 and is most effective when used with a PC VR system. It’s an incredibly immersive experience with that crisp 5K display that has a 120-degree field of view and fits comfortably for extended periods of time.

When you combine robust hand and eye tracking with hot swappable batteries, this really shines in the PC gaming market.

Its use of the outdated Snapdragon XR2 chipset, which is the same as the Quest 2, surprised me, though, as it restricts its performance when used alone. When combined with the smaller program library than the Quests, standalone can be a rather isolating experience. Additionally, using Fresnel lenses feels a little archaic, resulting in chromatic aberration and edge distortion.

Therefore, connecting this via DisplayPort is a fantastic, high-quality experience — perfect for enthusiasts and pros — if your primary goal is to get a headset especially for your PC VR gaming. However, I would think twice if you’re searching for something more versatile.


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