Is a VR Headset Worth Buying in 2024?

Virtual Reality can hardly be called a nascent technology anymore. Over the past decade, VR headsets have come a long way, making it easier than ever to not only afford, but use a VR headset in a variety of ways.

But is this technology just a fad or something really worth investing in? This guide takes a look at the situation from all sides to help you determine whether a VR headset is worth buying in 2024.

FYI: looking to sideload games onto your Oculus Quest headset? Check out the best SideQuest games for Oculus Quest/Quest 2.

Reasons a VR Headset Is Worth Buying in 2024

Over the last five years, both the awareness and adoption of VR headsets have grown steadily. According to a report, this will only continue, as VR headset shipments reach 24.7 million units by the end of 2028, growing at a five-year CAGR of 29.2%. It’s expected that close to 8.5 million VR headsets will be shipped to the market in 2024.

Sure, VR is getting mainstream, and the following reasons show why 2024 is finally the year to care about VR.

1. The Advancements in VR Games

Five years ago, you’d be hard-pressed to name more than five VR games that were any good. Besides Beat Saber, Tetris Effect, Moss, and Blood & Truth, there wasn’t anything worthwhile to justify the huge investment into a VR headset.

Fast forward to today, with some of the best VR games we’ve ever had.

• Half-Life: Alyx
• Superhot VR
• Elite Dangerous
• Microsoft Flight Simulator
• No Man’s Sky
• Resident Evil 4
• Horizon Call of the Mountain
• Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR
• Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
• Minecraft VR

These are just a few of the many standout titles gracing VR gaming these days. The industry has seen a clear shift in its approach to VR games. From being dominated by ports of PC games to genuine AAA titles, VR gaming is enjoying its time in the sun.

2. VR Headsets Are Next-Gen

I’m not even referring to the Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s $3,500 glimpse of the future. There are more than enough affordable VR headsets to get you started on your VR journey.

And even affordable VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3 or PlayStation VR2 feature game-changing hardware that’s a far cry from that seen in headsets just a few years ago. They have:

• Dedicated VR processors
• Dual-2K resolution
• OLED displays
• 120Hz+ refresh rates
• Color pass-through cameras
• Pancake lenses

This is the kind of hardware powering the VR headsets of today, and it shows.

These headsets are able to deliver stunning VR experiences, impressive head tracking, touch detection, and even some AR fun. And they’re more comfortable than ever before. While in most cases you’ll need a PlayStation or PC connected to the headset for the best experience, standalone headsets like the Meta Quest 3 are damn impressive too.

3. VR Is Not Just for Gaming

Finally, no one said you can only use your VR headset for gaming. There are so many more VR use cases to explore and enjoy:

• Watching movies
• Exploring foreign countries
• Touring museums
• Using multiple screens for work
• Visiting other planets
• Meditating and accessing therapy
• Industrial training, prototyping, design, and manufacturing

Once you experience an immersive VR experience in a niche you enjoy (whether it’s gaming or something else), you’ll find it underwhelming to return to the vanilla experience. 2024 will even see the launch of new VR headsets focused on productivity, such as the Immersed Visor. Rest assured that non-gaming applications of VR are also set to expand quite rapidly.

Tip: excited about VR? Learn about the hardware you need to be ready for virtual reality.

Why a VR Headset Is Not Worth Buying in 2024

Despite a huge momentum boost, VR headsets still haven’t matured enough to go mainstream yet. Depending on who you ask, there are multiple reasons for this, but these are the most prominent:

1. VR Headsets Are Still Too Expensive

You can buy quality VR headsets under $250 (Meta Quest 2), but the best ones still cost around $500 or more. That’s the cost of a PlayStation 5. VR headsets have improved technically, but they’ve also become more expensive over the years. Someone getting into VR for the first time will either have to shell out $550 for the PSVR2 after buying a PS5 for around $500 or get one of the standalone VR headsets such as the Meta Quest 3 for $500.

But the latter has its own issues: standalone VR headsets simply aren’t as impressive as the ones that require a separate device, such as the PS5 or a PC. You need to decide between saving money and experiencing VR games in their full glory.

2. Truly Wireless VR Isn’t There Yet

There’s perhaps a bigger roadblock to VR headsets becoming commonplace: wireless VR just isn’t good enough yet. Keeping headsets like the PSVR2 and Valve Index aside, wireless devices, such as the Meta Quest 3, suffer from a two-hour battery life, discomfort for some users, no OLED displays, and underwhelming mixed reality content.

If I need to have a cable running around my legs and body, breaking the immersion, just so the headset doesn’t run out of juice in two hours, what’s the point of buying an expensive VR headset? I need to again choose between a wireless experience and an objectively better one (with, say, a PSVR2).

Recap: Is a VR Headset Worth Buying?

VR headsets are undoubtedly exciting and are enjoying superior tech and much-improved content. But they aren’t without their annoying issues and inexplicable drawbacks. Whether VR is worth it for you in 2024 will depend on a few key factors.

Buy a VR headset if you …

• are genuinely hyped about particular games and other experiences available on a particular headset
• don’t mind a short battery life or a cable plugged into a separate device all the time
• are okay with a sub-par experience on standalone headsets

Skip buying a VR headset if you …

• can wait for truly wireless VR to improve further
• expect top-tier VR experience under $250
• suffer from motion sickness or other similar conditions

VR is still evolving. From VR headsets connected to PCs and consoles, to completely standalone headsets, there’s something for everyone. There may still be a few crucial kinks to iron out, but the market is showing signs of growing into the tens of billions of dollars.

Most importantly, VR isn’t on the fringe anymore. There’s enough momentum from manufacturers, developers, and consumers to propel this technology into the mainstream. Although mixed-reality headsets are one of the tech trends I’m concerned about, it’ll be an exciting few years as we see the next-gen VR and AR headsets capture the imagination of millions.

Image credit: Unsplash.