Despite the increasing popularity of standalone VR, there are several good PC VR headsets out there. Whether you want to immerse yourself in the world of PC VR headsets or already own a Valve Index, HP Reverb G2 or something else, we have it all for you. Our Ultimate PC VR Gift Guide takes you through all headset options and the best accessories for each.
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PC VR headsets: which ones to buy?
Unlike our Quest 2 and PSVR Gift Guides, there are several options when purchasing a PC VR headset. Regardless of which headset you choose, you’ll first need a VR-enabled PC to run the content.
From there, there are basically three big players, each at different prices and with different advantages and disadvantages – Valve Index, HP Reverb G2, and Oculus Quest 2. These aren’t all PC VR options available, but we believe they do these three are the best choices.
Valve index
The Valve Index is the most expensive headset on the list and has long been the leading PC VR option. The headset offers great optics, controls and tracking, as the latter are controlled by an outside-in tracking system via lighthouse sensors. While this system offers by far the best accuracy, it is also the most cumbersome to set up. Once set up, it can no longer be moved easily.
The valve index is a fantastic overall experience, but it comes at a high cost and has a system that locks you into a play area near your computer that is difficult to reconfigure. You can read our full review here and order the full Valve Index VR Kit for $ 999 on the Steam Store.
HP Reverb G2
In terms of pricing, the HP Reverb G2 is a collaboration with Valve that offers a similar PC VR experience to the Index, but with some notable limitations that can lead to deal-breakers for certain people. But first the good things – the Reverb G2 offers a display that is among the best, if not the best on the market. It also has wonderful over-ear speakers and is one of the most comfortable headsets around.
The controllers aren’t the best, however. And although inside-out tracking has been improved over the original Reverb, it is missing in edge cases where the controllers are on the edge of the camera lens area and are no longer visible. Depending on the type of VR games you want to play, this may affect you more or less than others. For PC VR simulator enthusiasts, the issues with the controller may be negligible as you may be spending more time on a bike or HOTAS anyway, which otherwise makes the Reverb G2 more than worth it. For the nervous expert + Beat Saber VR gamer, you may be more affected.
You can read our full review here and pre-order the Reverb G2 for $ 599 from HP.
Oculus Quest 2
Now I know what you’re thinking – you’re right, the Quest 2 is technically not a PC VR headset. It’s Facebook’s standalone headset, a follow-up to the original Quest from last year. However, it can also leverage the power of Oculus Link to deliver a highly serviceable (albeit identical) PC VR experience. This requires purchasing a long, reliable USB cable for use with Link. Even so, Quest 2 remains one of the cheapest options for PC VR with few drawbacks.
If you’re happy with using a Facebook account and are ready to buy a USB cable to set up the Oculus Link (or even play PC VR wirelessly with Virtual Desktop), Quest 2 is one of the best options. You get a fantastic VR experience both inside and outside of PC VR content for an insanely low price.
You can read our full review here and order the Quest 2 on Amazon for $ 299.
PC VR Gift Guide: Best PC VR Accessories
VR coverage
VR covers have been around for a while and it’s known for making accessories that improve hygiene and make headsets more comfortable while sitting on your face. It offers a variety of different face covers for most of the popular headsets that allow you to choose a material that is more comfortable for you.
View VR Cover’s range of face covers and accessories here.
headphone
Depending on the headset you’re using, you may need headphones. Some PC VR headsets like the Valve Index and the HP Reverb G2 have fantastic over-ear headphone solutions built in. Headsets like Quest 2, Oculus Rift S, and other older headsets don’t always have great audio quality.
To fix this, we recommend detachable over-ear VR headphones like the Bionik Mantis. Although we were advertised specifically for PSVR, we tried them on PC VR tapes and found that they are still attached well.
You can read our review of the headphones here. They start at $ 42 on Amazon.
was standing
Saving headsets can be a bit of a chore. If you’re looking for a way to keep your headset on your desk, consider a headset stand.
These stands are an elegant way to store your headset when not in use while keeping it on display and ready to use right out of the box. In most cases, the stands also include hooks for holding controllers, making them a good all-in-one solution.
We tried the AMVR headset stands and found that they work very well and can look very elegant on the display.
The AMVR stand for Rift and Quest headsets is available on Amazon for $ 21. Alternatively, you can search other headsets on Amazon for a suitable AMVR stand.
Ceiling cable management
One of the disadvantages of PC VR headsets is the often thick, restrictive cables between your PC and your headset. These can make it difficult to move around freely and require you to manage the cable while gaming, which can get frustrating.
One solution to this problem is to install a ceiling pulley system in your play area so that the cable from your headset is fed through the ceiling bracket and then fed back to your PC. We haven’t personally used either of these systems, but it seems like a great way to manage your messy PC VR cables.
A VR ceiling cable management system is available for $ 17.99 on Amazon.
Microfiber cloths
The lenses of a VR headset get foggy and dirty between uses. Hence, you should use microfiber clothing to quickly clean the lenses between games and meetings.
Buy a pack of five microfiber dresses for $ 7.79 on Amazon.
PC VR games
The main advantage of PC VR is that you are not limited to console or mobile hardware when it comes to VR content. Because your PC does the hard work, you can run many games with higher fidelity. There are some absolutely stunning games and experiences out there on the PC VR platform. Some of the most popular and intense VR titles like Boneworks or Half-Life: Alyx are only available for PC VR headsets.
If you want to know where to start, check out our list of the best SteamVR games and experiences, as well as the best Oculus Rift games and experiences.
What do you think of our PC VR gift guide? Is there anything you would like to add? Let us know in the comments below!
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