Buying Guide: The Best VR Headsets for 2022 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
Virtual reality is a fascinating way to travel using nothing more than the power of technology. With a headset and motion tracking, VR lets you look around a virtual space as if you're actually there, or play a game as though you're in it. VR's been gaining traction in recent years thanks to compelling games and experiences, though it still seems very much in a state of flux, with headsets coming and going fairly rapidly. We're tracking the best of what's currently on the market here.
1. Oculus Quest 2
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + No cables required | - Short battery life |
| + Accurate motion tracking | |
| + Powerful processor |
Meta Quest 2
Why We Picked It
The Oculus Rift was the first big name in the current wave of VR, arguably because it was the first big name to make VR remotely affordable. While Facebook bought Oculus and has been phasing the name out in favor of Meta for both its VR platform and the entire company's name, the Oculus roots run deep.
The Oculus Quest 2 (or Meta Quest 2) is a $300 standalone VR headset, and the "$300" and "standalone" parts parts of that sentence are why we recommend the Quest 2 over other headsets. It's inexpensive for a VR platform, you don't need any additional hardware, and you don't have to deal with cables (which, no matter how long they might be, are always a risk to get tangled up in or trip over). It's powered by mobile components, specifically the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, and that's enough to run some very compelling VR experiences. It also has an incredibly robust library of those experiences, so you can find something that will entertain, excite, or exercise you.
The Quest 2 can be used as a tethered headset if you want more power and have a PC that can provide it, if you buy the right accessory. The $79 Oculus Link cable is a five-meter USB-C cable that lets you connect the Quest 2 to your PC and use it just like the tethered Rift S to play PC-specific VR games like Half-Life: Alyx. The cable is expensive, but considering the Quest 2 is $100 less than the original Quest, it still comes out ahead in value even after adding the accessory.
Who It's For
Simply put, the Quest 2 is for anyone interested in playing in virtual reality. It's inexpensive, has plenty of games and software, and you don't need to plug it into anything except to charge its battery. It's easily the most accessible VR headset, and so it's one we can readily recommend to almost anyone. If you want the most advanced graphics and are willing to spend two, three, or four times as much on a headset, and at least that much again on a PC, this might not satisfy you. For everyone else, though, it's an ideal entry point into VR.
Meta Quest Pro
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Improved design with a more comfortable fit than the Quest 2 | - Expensive |
| + Cool eye- and- face-tracking tech | - Meta Horizon's metaverse is often empty and sometimes buggy |
| + Colo pass-through camera | - Short battery life |
| + Rechargeable headset and controllers | |
| + Doesn't require a PC to operate |
Meta Quest Pro
Why We Picked It
We love the Meta Quest 2 for presenting a powerful VR experience without any cables. It helps that it's relatively inexpensive, but its hardware is also aging a bit. The Meta Quest Pro addresses the latter point at the literal cost of the former. Its display is better, its controllers are better, its processor is better, and it features eye and face tracking. It's also over three times the price of the Quest 2, which is why the "Pro" part is in the name.
Who It's For
This is for professionals who need a capable VR headset for collaboration and processing-heavy work, and for enthusiasts who want to play with eye and face tracking (and a more powerful processor than the Quest 2) before Meta releases the teased Quest 3 next year.
2. Sony PlayStation VR
| Pros | Cons |
| + Immersive VR experience | - Requires PlayStation Camera which is not included |
| + Works with non-VR apps and games | - Slightly less powerful than its main competitors |
| + Motion control support | - Some motion-tracking hiccups when playing in a brightly lit rooms. |
| + Low cost of entry compared with PC-based headsets |
Sony PlayStation VR
Why We Picked It
The PlayStation VR is aging, considering it came out in 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and still uses motion controllers that date back to 2010, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth considering if you're a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 owner. After all, it doesn't need any extra hardware if you already have one of those consoles (though if you want to use it with your PS5, you'll have to request a free adapter(Opens in a new window) from Sony for the required, and included in PS VR bundles, PlayStation Camera to work).
Sony backed its development and it's built a large library of games including PS VR like Moss, Rez Infinite, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, and Five Nights at Freddie's: Help Wanted. Many games don't even need motion controls, and can be played with the DualShock 4 or DualSense. Though you should be aware that the aforementioned 12-year-old PlayStation Move controllers might not be included with PS VR bundles if you do want two-handed motion controls, so make sure you check the product description.
Who It's For
This is for PlayStation fans who already have a PS4 or PS5 and want to play with VR on those systems. If you want to get the most out of your PS5, though, you might want to wait a bit. Sony is working on a new PlayStation VR system, PlayStation VR2. It's not clear when it will actually come out, but it appears to be more advanced than the PS VR in every way, including having all-new motion controllers(Opens in a new window).
3. Valve Index VR Kit
| Pros | Cons |
| + Immersive, finger-tracking controllers | - Expensive |
| + High, 120Hz refresh rate delivers smooth motion | - Occasionally frustrating thethered design |
| + Lots of VR software available on PC via SteamVR |
Valve Index Full VR Headset Kit
Why We Picked It
Valve's own PC-tethered VR headset is pricey, and on paper it doesn't stand out much from others. The headset is just one part of the VR experience, though, and the Valve Index really impresses because of the other major component: the controllers. They're revolutionary, able to rack individual finger movements and make games (that take advantage of the feature) much more immersive than the standard trigger grips on other controllers. It's amazing to see your fingers wiggle in a game like Half-Life: Alyx.
The headset itself, while not outstanding, still offers crisp, smooth graphics with a high refresh rate, too. And because the system integrates with Valve's Steam store through SteamVR, there's an incredibly large library of VR games, even if only a tiny fraction might bother with fingers.
Who It's For
This is the go-to VR headset for use with PCs, thanks to its strong performance and revolutionary controllers. If you're just starting with VR on PC, go with this one. If you already have a SteamVR-compatible headset, though, like the HTC Vive, Vive Pro 2, or Vive Cosmos Elite (not the regular Cosmos), along with their base stations, you can buy only the controllers for $280 to breathe new life into your VR experience without investing in the full Valve Index system.
4. HTC Vive Pro 2
| Pros | Cons |
| + The best resolution for VR gaming | - Expensive |
| + Smooth motion tracking | - Doesn't include necessary base stations or controllers |
| + Works with Valve Index controllers |
HTC VIVE Pro 2 Headset
Why We Picked It
This is one of the most advanced kind-of-consumer VR headset we've tested, targeting both enthusiasts and professionals with the sharpest picture available at 2,448 by 2,448 pixels per eye. It easily offers the best visuals we've seen in VR so far, though at a hefty price: The headset alone is just $799, and you still need to add the base stations and controllers (but on the bright side, you can use the Valve Index controllers with it).
It works with SteamVR just like the Oculus Quest 2, and has its own VR software store in the form of Viveport. The store offers the subscription-based Viveport Infinity(Opens in a new window) service that provides unlimited access to VR experiences, instead of a la carte software purchases. That's a nice bonus outside of SteamVR.
Who It's For
If you want the best VR experience available without diving into pro-level extremes, the Vive Pro 2 combined with Valve Index controllers is the combination to go with. It'll cost you at least $1,300 before factoring in a PC with the specs to take advantage of it, but you'll get an amazing picture and controls.
HP Reverb G2
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High resolution for the price | - Camera-based tracking has occasional hiccups |
| + Comfortable headset and controllers | - Much more expensive than the Oculus Quest 2, even when factoring the optional cable for PC tethering |
| + Works reliably with SteamVR | - Windows Mixed Reality is almost completely dead as a VR platform |
HP Reverb G2
Why We Picked It
Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality platform has been dwindling for a while, since HTC and Valve offer much larger VR games and software libraries. As a result, the previously WMR-specific HP Reverb has been reworked into the SteamVR-friendly HP Reverb G2. It's pricey compared with the Oculus Quest 2, but it's more affordable and easier to set up than the Valve Index for a tethered-only VR experience. It also features a high resolution for the price, at 2,160 by 2,160 for each eye.
This middle ground is appealing if you want to try PC-tethered VR gaming without spending a ton of money. It also uses camera-based tracking, so you don't need to set up base stations like you do with the Index or Vive Pro 2.
Who It's For
Give this one a shot if it's on sale, and you want to experience crisp VR on your PC. The Oculus/Meta Quest 2 is a better overall pick, since it costs less money and you can also use it with a computer, but the Reverb G2 offers a slightly sharper picture.
The Big Question: Which VR Headset Is the Best?
Modern VR headsets now fit under one of two categories: tethered or standalone. Tethered headsets like the HTC Vive Pro 2, PlayStation VR, and Valve Index are physically connected to PCs (or in the case of the PS VR, a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5). The cable makes them a bit unwieldy, but putting all of the actual video processing in a box that you don't need to directly strap to your face means your VR experience can be a lot more complex. Either external sensors or outward-facing cameras provide full 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) movement tracking for both your head and your hands, thanks to motion-sensing controllers.
The least expensive tethered options are currently around $400, and that's before you address the processing issue; the HP Reverb G2, Valve Index, and Vive Pro 2 need pretty powerful PCs to run, while the PS VR requires a PlayStation 4 (and the upcoming PS VR 2 will require a PlayStation 5).
Standalone headsets offer the greatest physical freedom by completely removing the cables and not requiring an external device to handle processing. The Oculus/Meta Quest 2 uses similar outward-facing cameras to the now-discontinued Oculus Rift S to provide 6DOF motion tracking, and similar 6DOF motion controls. The Quest 2 lacks a dedicated gaming PC's processing power, but its high-end mobile processor can still push detailed, smooth graphics. If you're ready to explore the best VR headsets, check out this in-depth breakdown.
Which VR Headset Is Best for the Metaverse?
The rebranded-to-Meta Facebook might eventually be pushing the Quest 2 and other Oculus devices even further, with a bigger eye for broad platform integration. The company's plans to build a "metaverse" will likely include AR and VR systems, and the Oculus division would be the natural means for that. VP of AR/VR at Facebook, Andrew Bosworth, has stated that the metaverse will "build the connective tissue" between Oculus headsets and other Facebook/Meta devices, so they will certainly be involved.
The metaverse is still a vague concept, and Meta hasn't been completely clear on what exactly it's doing with it. Our metaverse guide will help you understand what's happening, based on the few available details.
Should You Use a Phone-Based VR Headset?
VR headsets that use your smartphone to serve as both the brains and display of the system were once commonplace, with Google Cardboard and the Samsung Gear VR letting anyone with a compatible phone get a VR experience for under $150.
These headsets have slowed to a trickle, and Google has discontinued its Daydream View headset and Samsung has discontinued the Gear VR. You can still find cheap shell headsets, but the software ecosystem and support for them is almost nil. For now, phone-based VR is effectively dead.
The Best Augmented Reality Headsets
You might have seen some other famous visual headsets pop up over the last few years, including the Microsoft HoloLens and the Magic Leap One. They aren't on this list for a few reasons, but the biggest one is that they're augmented reality (AR) headsets, not virtual reality headsets. And yes, there's a difference.
Basically, these AR headsets have transparent lenses that let you look at your surroundings instead of completely replacing your vision with a computer-generated image. They project images over whatever you're looking at, but those images are designed to complement and interact with the area around you. You can make a web browser pop up in the middle of a room, for instance, or watch animals run around your coffee table. It's fascinating technology that could hint at the future of computing.
The emphasis here is on the future, as in several years away. That brings us to the second biggest reason the HoloLens and Magic Leap One aren't in this list: They aren't consumer products. Both devices are purely intended as development hardware, so AR software can be made for their platforms. Considering each headset costs several thousand dollars, you shouldn't expect a large library of AR experiences for a while. Outside of specific enterprise and education uses, AR headsets are an early adopter playground at best, and not for most users.
With that in mind, we'll continue to track the best new VR headsets as they are released, so make sure to check back soon for updates. And after you find the right headset, check out our best VR games list.