The Best VR Headsets to Buy in 2019

If you thought the virtual reality takeover was still years away, think again. Virtual reality has been proving to have many more applications beyond the gaming world, in pretty much every industry. Along with augmented reality, VR has already started to transform industries like the retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and medical industries. VR and AR are now being used to train employees, allow customers to test products before purchase, and aid employees in highly-specialized fields to virtually practice dangerous or otherwise difficult-to-replicate scenarios.


But for many, the focus is still on how VR and AR can transform gaming, offering gamers a truly immersive experience unlike anything they’ve ever experienced before. As the technology behind it all improves, VR and AR are quickly marching into the mainstream, and they’re now bringing with them all new consoles and gear. If you’re looking to really amp up your VR gaming experience, here are some of the best VR headsets to buy in 2019:

Oculus Rift S

For the hardcore gamer, the Oculus Rift headset is simply one of the best VR headsets money can buy — especially for the price. Originally released in 2016, it was lightyears ahead of its competition. And to retain its status, Oculus recently released an updated version of this headset called the Oculus Rift S. Like the previous version, the Rift S still requires a connection to a gaming PC to work.

Among its features are an updated tracking system that has inside-out tracking, a streamlined and more comfortable design, and improved optics. For all that this headset offers, it’s also fairly affordable at roughly $399, the same price as the original Oculus Rift headset.

Valve Index

In comparison to other VR headsets on the market, the Valve Index is not cheap — it costs $999. This is Valve’s first VR headset they’ve produced. As a leader in the VR world, fans have waited a long time for the company to release such a product. It requires a gaming PC to function, which can be a downside for those looking for portability or wireless use — but it’s a product designed for truly hardcore VR gamers, not casual VR gamers. The headset features stunning visuals, a comfortable and user-friendly design, an impressive speaker system, and the best VR controllers currently on the market. It also has additional features that many headsets don’t have, such as two front-facing cameras, a Type-A USB port, and adjustable lenses, among others.

Oculus Quest

While plenty of incredible VR headsets are now being announced, Oculus is still pretty unbeatable in the VR world. To further improve their standing, they released the Oculus Quest earlier this year. The Quest is a powerful standalone headset with impressive specs and power for a device not tethered to a computer. Like the Rift S, it has 6DOF motion-tracking capabilities and a sharp visual display. If you’re looking for a device that doesn’t require a computer to function, then the Quest is your best bet. The Quest is available in two versions, a 64GB version, which retails for $399, and a 128GB version, which retails for $499.

Sony Playstation VR

Roughly several years old, Sony’s VR headset is still one of the best headsets you can buy in 2019 — mostly because of all of the games that it offers. It requires a Playstation 4 to use, which is great if you already have this console. So, if you just need to purchase the headset, it’ll only set you back around $200 to $350, and you can sometimes find it used for even less than that. If you’re a more casual gamer who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on a VR headset, this is the one to buy.

Otherwise, in terms of specs, it doesn’t even compare to the latest models on the market, and it has worse controllers and visuals. But it all depends on what you’re looking for in the world of VR gaming.


No matter what kind of VR gamer you are, there’s likely a headset on the market for you. There are even numerous headsets available for under $45. Take your pick!