(Pocket-lint) – The idea of virtual reality or VR isn’t new of course. It’s been circulating in the tech space for a number of years, but recently, the technology has broken through some of the long-standing barriers.

In recent years, these VR headsets have become more and more accessible both in terms of price and usability. It might have started with devices like Google’s Cardboard opening the door for anyone with a smartphone, but even the high-end headsets are now easier to use and more appealing too. 

Modern gaming machines are also more capable and can help deliver lifelike virtual environments in the comfort of your home and this makes it a much more exciting time for VR.

We’ve listed some of the top VR systems available in this feature based on headsets we’ve tested, enjoyed and reviewed. 

Pocket-lint

Oculus Quest 2

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The Oculus Quest 2 is quite possibly the best VR headsets money can buy and that’s not just because it’s one of the most affordable virtual reality headsets around. 

It’s a wire-free headset that doesn’t need a PC to run but still packs enough hardware inside to play some of the best VR games around. 

Wireless VR is glorious and gives you plenty of freedom. Other highlights like hand-tracking, inside-out tracking (meaning no external sensors), passthrough cameras and a clever guardian system make Quest 2 incredibly fun to play with. 

Great visuals, superb audio and the ability to plug in and play more with Oculus Link make Quest 2 even more special. 

• Oculus Quest 2 review: VR superstar

Pocket-lint

Oculus Rift S

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The Oculus Rift S is the flagship VR headset from Oculus.

It’s a tethered virtual reality headset that requires a decent gaming PC to run, but delivers a fantastic gaming experience with brilliant visuals, audio and room-scale play. This headset is designed with “inside-out” tracking meaning all the sensors are built right into the device and as such, it’s one of the easiest PC tethered headsets to use. 

The best part is the Oculus Rift S is compatible with Rift games and you can buy new experiences from Steam or the Oculus store. This means there’s access to thousands of games, so plenty to play. It’s also comfortable, capable and fantastic fun to boot. 

• Oculus Rift S review: It’s not wire-free but it’s still marvellous

Pocket-lint

HTC Vive Pro

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The HTC Vive Pro is the upgraded and enhanced version of the original HTC Vive and is pitched by HTC as the “professional-grade” VR headset. With an increased pixel density, enhanced resolution and improved audio which includes Hi-Res certified headphones and spatial sound capabilities, this headset is the pinnacle of the VR experience. 

The HTC Vive Pro needs a powerful machine to run well, but it will truly blow your socks off. This is headset takes the solid foundations of the original Vive headset and improves upon them in every area. It’s more comfortable, more visually stunning and offers an incredibly immersive gaming experience. 

This headset does come with a hefty price tag though, almost as much as the gaming PC you’ll need to run it. You do get what you pay for though and this headset is no doubt the very best VR experience currently.  

If this package doesn’t sound appealing enough, you can always splash an extra bit of cash on another version of the Vive Pro that has eye-tracking built into it as well. The HTC Vive Pro Eye is a nod to the future of VR and controller-free experiences and gaming too. 

• HTC Vive Pro review: The best VR experience, bar none… if you can afford one

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Oculus Quest

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The Oculus Quest is the original wireless headset from Oculus that represents a middle-ground for virtual reality gaming. It’s a standalone device that packs some clever hardware that allows for six degrees of freedom movement thanks to built-in tracking. It doesn’t need to be tethered to a gaming PC or phone in order to run and yet is capable of delivering some impressive gaming experiences. 

The Oculus Quest is also cross-compatible with the other Oculus headsets, meaning if you own one, you can play with friends who own an Oculus Rift with no troubles at all. 

• Oculus Quest review: A cable-free VR experience that’s surprisingly satisfying

Pocket-lint

HTC Vive Cosmos Elite

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The HTC Vive Cosmos is one of the latest additions to the HTC VR headset line-up and was originally a competitor to the Oculus Rift S with inside-out tracking and an easier setup process than previous Vive headsets. The tracking wasn’t perfect though, so now HTC has released the superior HTC Vive Cosmos Elite. Specs-wise this is one of the best VR headsets on the list, we also found it comfortable, capable and fun to use. 

• HTC Vive Cosmos Elite review: The best VR headset yet?

Pocket-lint

Sony PlayStation VR

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Rather than presenting a complete VR system, Sony’s PS VR is an accessory for the PS4, PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro consoles, meaning it is less costly to own than something like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.

PlayStation VR uses the same technologies as the others, although its screen resolution is lower than those used by HTC and Oculus.

It tracks the movement of your head and uses the PlayStation Camera, in combination with your regular PS4 controller or PlayStation Move motion controls, to present the VR experience. This is an extension of your PS4, which is likely to see it as an easy VR choice for many.

There is a hearty line-up of content available, with Resident Evil 7, Driveclub VR, Skyrim VR, Doom VFR, Gran Turismo Sport and others all supporting PS VR.

• Sony PlayStation VR review: Virtual reality for the masses

Google

Google Cardboard

Google Cardboard was first unveiled in 2014, as quite literally a folding cardboard container into which a smartphone could be placed. The beauty of Google Cardboard is two-fold: firstly, the hardware cost is almost minimal, often free, and secondly, it’s universal, supporting a wide range of smartphone models – essentially, anything that will fit into the front and stay secure.

Google Cardboard was something of a breakaway success, allowing people to sample VR content (be that from Google or elsewhere), without having to invest in a more substantial system: Google reported that five million Cardboard viewers had shipped up to 2016.

Google has a range of applications for the device, and has highlighted VR for development and investment in the future. Importantly, Cardboard is not only this cardboard viewer, but also the name of a VR platform from Google, now superseded by Daydream. 

Cardboard is really an ad hoc VR viewer: there’s no head strap and if there was it would be uncomfortable to wear, instead intended to be held to the face to view the content. There are a range of Cardboard apps for content, as well as being able to view 360 environments such as Google Street View or watching 360 content on YouTube.

• Google Cardboard review: The cornerstone of mobile VR

Microsoft

Microsoft HoloLens 2

Microsoft surprised everyone when it entered the world of virtual and augmented reality. It unveiled the Microsoft HoloLens headset, which works with Windows Holographic, a technology that adds 3D images in the world around us all. Technically this is more augmented reality than virtual reality, but it’s playing in the same space as some of these other systems, with Microsoft calling it Mixed Reality.

Microsoft wants to introduce augmented reality objects into every aspect of our world. Obviously, that won’t happen with the naked eye, but users wearing HoloLens will be able to see holographic images overlaid onto real objects in front of them. A full Windows 10 system is built into the headset and it runs off a battery, so it’s completely untethered.

The headset displays digital images into your real-world field of view. You can then view and even interact with these digitised-objects as if they were in the room with you. Using Kinect-style tech to recognise gestures and voice commands, the system features a 120-degree field of vision on both axis and is capable of high definition visuals.

• Microsoft HoloLens 2 initial review: A much improved headset opens up lots more possibilities

Writing by Chris Hall and Adrian Willings. Editing by Max Freeman-Mills.