Best VR Headset For VRChat
From wild degen nights mentioned in hushed tones to wholesome interactions and simply watching some YouTube videos with like-minded people, VRChat is something every VR headset owner should sample at least once.
Modeled on the chat rooms ubiquitous in the early days of the internet, VRChat is a compelling and engaging virtual world designed specifically for socializing with people from all walks of life from across the globe. The VR aspect adds an element of immersion you’d be hard-pressed to find other than in the real world, ranking VRChat as a must-play for those in need of some respite from the forced solitude of the Covid hellscape we’ve all grown so accustomed to.
But, before you jump in, you’ll need the right headset for the job. Which is the best? How much should you spend? And, what’s different about each headset on the market? In today’s guide to the best VR headsets for VRChat, we’ll endeavor to answer those very questions to have you primed and ready to experience VRChat in all its virtual glory.
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Products at a Glance
How We Picked
Though VR still hasn’t fully hit the mainstream, there’s no shortage of headsets to choose from, which can be daunting for VR first-timers or even seasoned users eyeing up their next upgrade. The rapid pace of developments and more manufacturers jumping onto the bandwagon with their own headsets only complicates matters.
We’ve hand-picked five headsets from a selection of major manufacturers to help narrow down your choices to guaranteed winners. We’ve covered various price points from premium headsets that cost near enough the price of a gaming PC, all the way to more value-packed picks that are easier on the wallet.
Read on to find out the specifications and features of each and the additional information you’ll need to make an informed choice. With that said, here are our top picks for the best VR headsets for VRChat you can buy right now.
Best VR Headset For VRChat
- Best-in-class visuals and audio
- Premium materials and build quality
- 144 Hz refresh rate and 130-degree FOV
- Best controllers out there
- Price
- High-end PC requirement
- Setup
- Affordable
- Dual mode - standalone and PC VR
- 90 Hz refresh rate and 90-degree FOV
- Easy setup
- Oculus Link cable required for the best VRChat experience
- Facebook login
- High-fidelity visuals and audio
- 90 Hz refresh rate and 110-degree field of view
- Comfortable to wear
- Immersive VR experience
- Expensive
- Not the best controllers out there
- 90 Hz refresh rate and 110-degree field of view
- Superb visuals
- In-built AKG-designed speakers
- Officially discontinued
- Expensive
Things To Consider
Comfort and Adjustments
Due to the type of game, VRChat tends to involve long sessions with the headset. As such, it’s of utmost importance to buy a headset that has good comfort features: sufficient and well-placed padding, adjustable, well-made headbands that relieve pressure, a balanced weight profile across the head, and lightweight yet strong materials. The Valve Index and PlayStation VR are excellent examples of headsets where all these features are well-balanced. It’s no exaggeration to say that these headsets feel as comfortable after the first minute as a couple of hours into a play session.
Ideally, you’ll want to try out each headset before buying, but short of that, we’ve offered up our take on each of our picks’ comfort chops. Reddit and reviews from respected media outlets are also a good resource for a genuine gauge of what to expect.
Features To Look Out For
Resolution – Resolution refers to the pixel count a headset can produce. Higher resolutions result in a higher level of detail and clarity, which is important in VR given how close the user is to the image and how much this accentuates graphical issues such as pixelation and the like.
Refresh Rate – Refresh rate is linked to frame rates and essentially dictates how many images the headset can display in any given second. In VR, a high refresh rate is crucial as it ensures a stutter-free experience, and by extension, reduces the chance of motion sickness in the user.
Field of View – Field of view indicates how much of a virtual world is viewable in the VR headset at any given point. A large field of view means the experience feels more immersive as it edges closer to what the human eye sees naturally.
System Requirements
One major limiting factor in what headset you can potentially buy is system requirements. Much like your favorite games, VR headsets need a decent PC to get the most out of them. Therefore, it’s imperative that you check that your PC is up to the task before committing to a purchase. An under-powered PC will result in sub par, choppy and stuttery experience defined by low frame rates, an issue that’s all too often linked with instances of motion sickness.
These are differences depending on the model, but the general trend is that the more you pay for a headset (higher refresh rates and lower latency), the better PC you’ll need. For example, headsets such as the Valve Index require a quad-core CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, and 8 GB of RAM to deliver a decent VR experience.
As for VRChat, the basic requirements are an Intel i5-6500 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600 equivalent or greater, 8 GB of RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060/AMD Radeon RX 580 or better. These specifications represent the absolute minimum you’ll need to play and are a good starting baseline for your PC.
Our Verdict
The Valve Index is hands-down the best way to experience VR, including VRChat. It’s a best-in-class headset with all the trimmings and niceties, including stellar visuals, superb comfort, and the best controllers in the business by a considerable margin. If you can stomach the $1000 price tag, then the Valve Index is a sure-fire winner.
Considerably more affordable and thus attractive to the average VR user, the Oculus Quest 2 is a versatile headset with standalone and PC VR functions. It’s comfortable and suitably powerful to fuel those lengthy VRChat sessions. It’s only let down by mandatory Facebook sign-in.
Another high-end, high-fidelity headset that pushes the immersion levels in VRChat, the HTC VIVE Pro features robust specifications, sleek and stunning visuals, and a comfortable fit for the majority of users. Decent, if unimpressive controllers and a steep price tag are the only issues to weigh up.
Our top pick Windows Mixed Reality headset is the Samsung HMD Odyssey+ for its excellent visuals and audio, full SteamVR support, and ease of use. Finally, for those looking for a value-packed headset, the Oculus Rift S is an excellent pick with near-premium performance and features. It’s discontinued, though, so you may struggle to source one.
Our guide to the best VR headsets for VRChat now comes to an end. Don’t hesitate to drop any questions, concerns, or suggestions in the comments section just below.