Which VR headset should you spring for? We tried them all, and the winner is clear

Of the options on the market right now, our favorite VR headset is the HTC Vive. With room-scale experiences, bundled motion controllers, and PC gaming titan Valve behind it, it provides a remarkably immersive and fulfilling experience right out of the box. When the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive were in the Digital Trends office, almost everyone preferred the latter, from first-time gamers to veterans.

Of course, some gamers don’t have the space for a full room-scale VR setup. In that case, the Oculus Rift supports sitting and standing SteamVR experiences, with access to the Oculus Store. If you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves, the open-source OSVR headset has new found support for SteamVR, and modular design for tinkerers. Finally, Samsung’s GearVR runs without the help of a high-end gaming PC, but doesn’t match the clarity and depth of the more expensive options.

Why the HTC Vive is the best

HTC and Valve’s virtual reality headset is, at least at the moment, the most complete and engaging VR experience available. It’s specifically built for room-scale experiences and already boasts dozens of free and premium titles, all of which capitalize on the power and openness of the SteamVR platform.

The device also backs up that software support with powerful, well constructed hardware. The twin OLED displays tout a combined pixel resolution of 2,160 x 1,200, with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 720p camera for tracking and obstacle detection. The headset also includes a pair of motion controllers, two lighthouse trackers, and a pair of earbuds to go along with its $800 price tag.

Room-scale experiences are the biggest draw of the HTC Vive, though. The space starts at 5 by 6 and a half feet, and reaches 16 by 16 feet with the two bundled sensors. You can walk around freely in the space, and even crouch down and lean around corners for a closer look at what’s around you. It’s incredibly immersive, and it also sidesteps many of the issues early headsets had with motion sickness.

Motion controllers also contribute to the Vive’s lead over the Oculus Rift. Being able to reach out, grab, touch, and manipulate objects in a game makes a huge difference in regards to immersion — one that a traditional gamepad simply can’t match. The Vive’s motion controllers are incredibly intuitive as well, equipped with just a few buttons and powerful clicking touchpad that allows for precise movement and settings.

If there’s one thing that’s holding computer-based VR headsets back, it’s the price. That doesn’t just mean the $800 price tag affixed to the headset, but also the $1,000 or so you’ll need for a capable system. Both the Rift and Vive require at least an Intel Core i5-4590 or greater, along with a GTX 970 or AMD R9 290 for fully operational VR.