Best virtual reality headsets of 2019
Oculus Quest
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5
The good: The Oculus Quest magically creates really immersive VR on a standalone headset with fantastic controls and full positional tracking. It requires no phone, PC or game console, and costs $400, which isn’t bad. Passthrough cameras allow easy setup of the play area, and a way to check your surroundings without taking off the headset.
The bad: Its closedoff design will run only apps and games for the Quest, and your favorite Oculus Rift and Go titles may or may not make the leap. It’s not meant to be used outdoors (though maybe that’s a good thing). Its mobile processor means it’s not always as good as what PCs can do. The cost: $400
The bottom line: There’s no better mobile VR experience than the Oculus Quest, and its fullmotion untethered design feels like the future. Let’s see how good the app library becomes.
HTC Vive
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5
The good: The HTC Vive offers a flatout amazing virtual reality experience with sharp visuals, great motion controls and fullroom sensing to walk around in virtual space. Vive hardware can help indicate where your walls are, and an inhelmet camera can be used to see your space with the headset on.
The bad: It requires a highend PC to run. Long wires and lots of equipment take time and space to set up. Steam VR offers a lot of software but it isn’t always beginnerfriendly. The cost: $628 to $680
The bottom line: Vive is the best virtual reality experience you can have right now, thanks to its motion controls and roomscale tracking. It’s the closest thing to having a holodeck in your home.
Oculus Go
Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5
The good: A completely selfcontained, standalone, no-phone-or-PC-necessary VR system. Comfortable design and feel. Sharplooking display and effective builtin speakers with spatial audio. Hundreds of apps. Oculus setup app works with iOS and Android phones. Connects for social chats with Go, Gear VR and Oculus Rift owners.
The bad: Twohour battery life. It’s a sitdown experience (no room tracking). No expandable storage. No kidsafe settings. Lacks multiple account options. The cost: $200
The bottom line: Oculus Go is VR for the masses: A selfcontained, standalone virtual reality headset that’s portable, affordable and delivers a great experience for the price.
Sony PlayStation VR
Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
The good: The PlayStation VR is the most accessible, affordable and userfriendly full virtual reality option on the market today. Sony has promised support from a long list of game developers down the track, but the VR titles that are already available are pretty solid.
The bad: Its singlecamera tracking system occasionally feels lacking, and you may have trouble when you turn around. The graphical fidelity is occasionally noticeably lower than what is possible with HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. The cost: $234 to $246
The bottom line: While the motion tracking trails its PC virtual reality counterparts, Sony’s PlayStation VR otherwise manages to pack a solid and satisfying virtual reality experience into an existing PS4 game console.