The Best VR Headsets of 2021

Virtual Reality (VR) Headsets are becoming increasingly popular. Not just businesses, but consumers too are adopting Virtual Reality more and more into their daily lives. A Virtual Reality headset can be used to play a relaxing game, for example, but a VR headset is also good for socializing (online) with friends.

The Oculus Quest 2 is the undisputed champion of the moment. Oculus, a part of parent company Facebook, has worked hard with the release of the Oculus Quest 2 to make virtual reality mainstream. Due to its ease of use (the headset can be used completely without a computer and without cables) in combination with the relatively low purchase value (64GB is available from €349,-), the Oculus Quest 2 is the ultimate VR headset for anyone wanting to delve further into the world of Virtual Reality.

The HP Reverb G2 is the successor to the previously released VR headset from HP. Characteristics of this headset are that it is the VR headset with the highest possible image resolution of the moment. With a whopping 2160 x 2160 pixels per eye, there is little to nothing noticeable of the 'screen-door-effect'. In addition, the HP Reverb G2 uses built-in tracking sensors, making it unnecessary to set up external sensors. The Reverb G2 is therefore especially recommended for users who want to use the headset with a simulation-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 image 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. The headset is therefore a little less mobile to use than, for example, an Oculus Quest 2 (standalone) or the HP Reverb G2 (inside-out tracking), but the advantage is that the tracking is a lot more accurate. In addition, it is also possible to use an HTC VIVE Tracker, with which you can achieve 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 directly connected to the PlayStation, and you can immediately use the functionalities of the headset. Using the headset is simple and there are plenty of fun games available.

The PlayStation VR Headset can be used with special Motion Move controllers, but can also be linked to the standard PlayStation controller. This means the VR headset can really be seen as an 'extension' of the console.

If you're looking for your very first VR experience, then the BoboVR Z6 is a good choice. You can put your smartphone into this VR headset and watch a 360-degree video, for example. This is a fun first experience, but be aware: a smartphone VR experience is very different from a real Virtual Reality experience, such as with the Oculus Quest 2. With a smartphone VR headset like the BoboVR Z6, you will mainly be watching static 360-degree videos, while with a virtual reality headset like the Quest 2, you are really in a virtually simulated and interactive world.

The HTC VIVE Focus 3 is the latest released VR headset on this list. However, this is a bit of an odd one out, as the VIVE Focus 3 is really only suitable for businesses and business users. The hardware, such as the internal processor and method of tracking, are really good, but HTC has clearly chosen to focus the headset more on enterprises. You can see this mainly in the range of VR applications and games. There are (currently) 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 putting your own software on the headset.