The 3 Best VR Headsets for VRChat (2023 Reviews Update)

VR — or virtual reality for anyone born before 2000 — has fully captured our collective imagination. 

Books like 1992’s Snow Crash first played with the concept of complete virtual worlds, and have fascinated sci-fi nerds for decades.

But, with more and more VR headsets making their way on to the market, virtual reality has moved from the realm of science fiction to that of actual reality.

And with thousands of virtual reality headsets flying off the shelves (more often virtual shelves, given the current circumstances) a ton of related infrastructure has grown around them, allowing us to inhabit new and amazing worlds.

It feels like a new frontier.

Best VR Headsets For VRChat At A Glance

1. Oculus Rift S (Best Value)
2. Samsung Odyssey (Editor’s Choice)
3. HTC Vive Pro (Best High-End)
4. Oculus Quest 2 (Honorable Mention)

What is VR Chat?

With the advent of virtual reality gaming, a new take on an old trend has emerged. 

The concept of chat rooms – where a bunch of anonymous people hung out and talked to each other – has waned over the years. 

But, VR has opened new doors.

One of the most expansive – and most popular – of the new roster of virtual chatrooms (though it’s so much more than that) is VRChat, where users create worlds where they and their friends (or total strangers) can explore and interact with one another.

The game is completely VR-driven, meaning players are immersed in the world of their choosing. 

Players can explore each new world controlling a host of different avatars – from Shrek to a digitized version of themselves.

Without getting too deep into this, VRChat provides plenty of laughs and some really fun, crazy times for everyone involved. 

Today, we’re going to be looking at some of the headsets that folks are using for this game, to find the best VR headset for VRChat. 

We’ll be covering some of the unique features that make these VR headsets so special, as well as some of the places where they fell short. 

So without further ado, let’s get to it!

Buckle up and get ready for the ride…

1. Oculus Rift S (Best Value – VR Headset for VRChat)

The Original Oculus Rift first made it to market in 2016, meaning it was one of the earliest pioneers in the field of VR. 

True, there were plenty of other attempts at successful VR before the Rift, but the Oculus was definitely in the first wave of products to make a splash on the market.

This reason alone gives so much confidence in the new and improved S Series. 

After all, Oculus VR nailed their first product, helping to spark the wave of VR mania we’re riding today. The fact that they’ve managed to isolate the best aspects of their original design – while implementing new tech and graphics – is even better.

And of course, we’d be remiss to not mention the affordability of this product. 

While VR is still a luxury pursuit, and systems can easily cost you an arm and a leg, the Rift S is the most affordable on our list.

Our Overall Takeaway

At the end of the day, virtual reality is a highly individualized pursuit. There are so many factors at play to make an immersive and comfortable experience, and one single VR system can’t hit all the buttons for everyone.

However, there’s one factor that impacts just about everyone: price.

Not only does the new Oculus Rift S maintain the good features – and improve on the not-so-good ones –  it also maintains an affordable price. 

So if you’re looking for a VR headset offering excellent bang for your buck, this is the one for you!

2. Samsung Odyssey (Editor’s Choice – Best VR Headset for VRChat)

Our choice for the best overall VR headset for VRChat goes to…

…drum roll, please…

… the Samsung Odyssey, Samsung’s only computer-based VR headset.

What makes this one quite so special? 

Hmmm…

Where to begin?…

All-in-all, the Samsung Odyssey offers the most well-rounded VR experience you’ll get from any of the products on this list. 

Its incredible resolution, matched with its relative simplicity – especially when compared to some of the more complicated rigs out there – means that you can completely immerse yourself without interruptions or distractions.

While Samsung is best known for its mobile devices, their first foray into computer-based VR has resulted in a really special product and one that gave us our best experience while testing.

The OLED screen provides the best image quality of any device on our list, and this crystal clarity can let you effortlessly inhabit whichever world you’ve just thrown yourself into via VRChat. 

As for the controls, these are fairly standard – nothing to write home about, but nothing that will detrimentally affect your experience, either. 

To be honest, we did prefer the movement control of the Oculus over the Samsung, but the difference wasn’t particularly noticeable.

Finally, though we’ve mentioned it before, the simplicity of this device takes it to the next level. 

In the case of most other devices on this list, external sensors, cameras, and cables can tie you up – both in setup and while you’re trying to hop into VRChat.

Thankfully, this is not the case for the Odyssey. 

Instead, this system uses a perfectly simple system without much downside. 

The lack of sensors can impact your movement in fringe cases – like when your arms are behind you – but there won’t be much of a change beyond that.

Now, it’s important to look at the price. 

Without getting too specific, this headset falls right in the middle of the higher price band and is slightly more high-end than some of the lower-end headsets, but certainly cheaper than the high-end rigs which do promise to set you back a pretty penny.

However, bearing in mind all the great features we’ve already mentioned, the Odyssey is a steal!

Why we liked this product:

• Simple setup
• Excellent visual quality
• Sleek design
• Reasonable price range

What we didn’t like:

• Some limited movement tracking due to simplified design
• Lower-quality controller design

Our Overall Takeaway

Let me make it simple: buy this one!

No VR headset is perfect, but the Samsung is the closest thing we’ve found. 

You get a great physical immersion experience with a comfortable headset and fewer annoying ‘bells and whistles’. And you also get the most crisp and clear visual clarity on the market. 

And all at a super fair price.

And while the controls did leave something to be desired, and there were some range-of-motion issues, the excellent features of this product certainly outweigh the little glitches.

3. HTC Vive Pro (Best High-End VR Headset for VRChat)

So bear with me on this one, because I’m sure most of you won’t necessarily be thrilled by the “expensive” in the title.

Yes, this system is expensive.

But…

Yes, we still think it’s worth every dime.

If product quality, immersion, range of motion, and comfort were the only factors we took into account, in a sort of vacuum where price doesn’t matter, this system would probably topple the Samsung as our favorite. 

The Vive Pro has a lot going for it, which I’m happy to break down for you right now…

Like Oculus, Vive has been around the block for a while, and that means they’ve had the chance to perfect many of the features in their design. 

Unlike newcomers Samsung, they’ve had some time to iron out the wrinkles in their design.

With the Pro, this shows.

Immersion includes more than just the video quality. So while the Samsung had the clearest video quality, I’d argue the Vive Pro has the best immersion of any device on the list. 

This is because the headset is designed to provide full visual continuity, meaning you won’t notice any peripheral boundaries that could take you ‘out of the experience’. 

Likewise, small oversights in other products, such as light passing through the nose piece – have been remedied.

While I know I’ve made a big deal out of it already, the video quality for this product is nothing short of stunning. 

In particular, we noticed how readable and clearly defined in-game text has become with the Pro. The headsets will have you squinting, but we found subtitles, health bars, and names very, very accessible.

Audio quality is also sharp, and the attached speakers fit comfortably over your ears. 

There’s an intangible factor in this product as well. 

And though it is, well, intangible, it’s worth pointing out.

When reading reviews for this one, you’ll find lots of people raving over it, and I believe that’s the combination of its great audio, visuals, and high price point. 

The people who buy this one are already in love with VR, and this system takes them to the next level.

But there are some areas where the system did fall short for us.

Setup, for instance, is much, much more complicated, and the entire system is more high-maintenance and intensive than some of the other VR systems.

And while the controllers are excellent quality and fit neatly in your hand, I preferred the more analog approach of the Oculus. 

Finally – and there’s no getting around it – the price is untenable for a lot of folks. You should expect to pay more for this system than just about any other mainstream VR on the market. 

We’ve already gushed about why this is, but make sure you consider this when you’re making your choice.

Why we liked this product:

• Excellent visual quality
• Wide field-of-vision
• The best overall immersive experience
• Great speaker technology

What we didn’t like:

• Very high price point
• Difficult setup
• Takes up a lot of space (sensors, wires, etc.)

Our Overall Takeaway

If you’re into VR and you have lots of moolah for the premium version, this is the best option on the market.

Immersion should always come first, and the Vive Pro will keep you completely engaged in any game you’re playing. In the case of VRChat specifically, you’ll feel as though you’re inhabiting your avatar and exploring whatever amazing world you’ve just entered.

Now, if you’re just getting started with VR…

This isn’t the one for you. VR isn’t for everyone, and it’s not worth spending so much on something that might make you nauseous. 

If you’re just starting your journey into VR, there are more affordable products out there, including the Original Vive. 

Conversely, those who are well-acquainted will notice the subtle improvements and incredible immersion.

4. Oculus Quest 2 (Honorable Mention)

Our second choice for an Oculus product on this list, the Quest 2, does hold some advantages over the Rift S. 

The most obvious difference between this system and the Rift S is its lack of wires. 

Though I’ve mentioned it a couple of times, I’ll say it again: too many wires and sensors can ruin your immersion. 

The Quest 2 seeks to remedy this by, well, not including any wires at all! 

It’s certainly a bold move, and it mostly works.

For more info, check out our review of the best standalone wireless VR headsets here.

But the convenience goes beyond avoiding irritating wires and plugs. 

The system is self-contained, meaning you won’t need an expensive VR gaming computer to get the most out of it. 

As for display resolution and graphics, the Quest 2 is right about on par with the Rift S, meaning it’s a little below the other two VR headsets on the list, but still decent. The processor can also handle some of the best VR gaming on the market.

However, there are enough technical limitations here to give the Rift S a higher spot. 

While the processor is fine for the current roster of VR gaming, as games come out which are more graphically complex, this system may begin dropping frames. 

Likewise, the actual selection of games available to the Quest 2 is smaller than PC-based systems.

And when it comes to the VRChat experience itself, you won’t be able to play alongside any PC-connected player, which is a huge downside.

Why we liked this product:

• Portability and lack of wires
• Easy setup
• Less initial investment

What we didn’t like:

• Less access to titles
• No compatibility with VRChat PC content

Our Overall Takeaway

Once again, depending on what you want and need from your VR system, this may be your best option. 

For the super-casual gamer who’s well-acquainted with mobile games and the like, the added simplicity and mobility will be right up your alley. 

Indeed, the graphics and immersion on this system are comparable to the Rift S, which are pretty good.

However, the lack of access to certain titles that PC-based systems can access is a real bummer. I’ve always rated access to titles as one of the top reasons you should buy a specific console, and the same holds for VR systems.

Further, you might want to access PC content for a better VRChat experience. 

Unfortunately, this is not an option for the Quest 2.

The Best VR Headset for VRChat

Though I’ve already spoiled it, the best VR headset for VRChat is the Samsung Odyssey. Here’s a breakdown of why it’s better than any of the other three systems I looked at.

When compared with the Oculus Rift S…

The Samsung Odyssey held the upper hand in a few categories. 

In particular, it has better immersion, with excellent video and audio quality that really adds to its immersive experience. We loved the Rift’s controllers, but the Samsung’s were completely functional.

The Samsung also had a simpler setup and a simplified motion-capture system. This kept everything nice n’ easy.

When compared with the Vive Pro…

Both systems featured amazing video quality, though I felt the Samsung edged out the Vive in this category (but not by much). The Vive had a more immersive experience overall, giving a wide and completely unobstructed range of view.

The real deal-breaker was the price. 

The Vive Pro is going to cost you a lot more than the Samsung. 

If the two had been more comparatively-priced, the contest would feel much closer.

When compared with the Oculus Quest 2 …

While the Quest 2 is a cool design, and we’ll be seeing more Android-based VR systems in the future, this wasn’t a close one.

While the Samsung Odyssey isn’t as portable or convenient as the Quest, it’s already more convenient and sleek than the other best VR headsets. And it comes with all the best features that PCs bring: better access to title (and VRChat content), a stronger processor, and higher video quality.

So there you have it!

Once again, everyone has their unique preference for this sort of thing. 

There are folks out there who love the Oculus Rift for its superior controllers. 

Then there are others who’re happy to shell out for the complete immersion the Vive offers.

Based on all the factors we tested, the Samsung Odyssey is the best virtual reality headset for your VRChat experience. 

But whatever system you decide to buy, you’re going to have a blast! 

The VR experience is just beginning, and we look forward to many more years of virtual fun!

There you have it, we’ve done all the hard work – now we pass the baton to you to make your choice – which will it be?