The cheapest VR headset deals in February 2023

Cheap VR headset deals are not always easy to find – even if the tech is now more widely available and affordable compared to previous years. Depending on the model, though, you can sometimes save money throughout the year or during major sales events. If you’re looking today, all of the latest prices for the best VR headsets are right here.

At least competition has shrunk, with the Meta Quest 2 (previously the Oculus Quest 2) now firmly established as the go-to option for those looking to get into VR gaming. It recently received a substantial price hike of $100 / £100, though, so it’s not as good value for money as before. At least you get a copy of Beat Saber included with the headset until the end of the year.

We’ve gathered all the best VR headset deals you can find today on the Meta Quest 2, as well as the HTC Vive and PlayStation VR right here.

We’ll also add the PSVR 2 once that launches in on February 22, 2023 – though you need to register for a PSVR 2 pre-order if you want to get one at launch as it’s only available directly from the PlayStation Direct store in most regions.

We’ve also included some of the cheapest headsets that only require your phone in order to function. The possibilities with this are limited but it can be the least expensive way to try out VR for yourself before taking the plunge on some more expensive kit.

Meta Quest 2

Meta 2 VR headset with two controllers

(Image credit: Oculus)

Meta Quest 2

The best VR experience on the market

$65.99

at Amazon

$399

at Meta Quest

$399.99

at Best Buy

Impressive wire-free VR

Accessible all-in-one device

Strong portfolio of games

Just got more expensive

The Meta Quest 2 is the most approachable VR headset on the market for first-time buyers, but it’s now less attractive after a recent $100 / £100 price hike. That means the recommended price for the standard option with 128GB of storage is $399 / £399. Even though it’s more expensive, it’s still likely the best option for beginners right now.

There’s some significant power under the hood without paying extreme enthusiast prices – and you don’t need a turbo-charged gaming PC to make the most out of it either. This all-in-one headset operates completely wire-free (but the option is there to plug it into a gaming PC for certain games) and offers an incomparable experience for the price.

The Meta Quest 2 has been incredibly popular since its launch and stock has flown off the shelves, to the point where it has been difficult to buy in the past. However, that’s now settled down significantly. You still won’t find it for cheap, though, as there are rarely any discounts outside of the big sales events like Black Friday.

If you buy direct from Meta you tend to get the best offers, which include bundles with discounted accessories. For the rest of the month, though, the VR headset comes with a copy of Beat Saber to try and dull the sting of the price increase.

It doesn’t help much, so keep an eye on our hub dedicated to all the latest Meta Quest 2 deals to ensure you don’t miss out on the next saving.

HTC Vive

HTC Vive VR headset

(Image credit: HTC)

HTC Vive Cosmos

A mid-range PC headset

Wired: Yes | Minimum specs: i5-4590 or FX 8350 / Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290 / 4GB RAM / DisplayPort 1.2 / USB 3.0 | Resolution per eye: 1440 x 1700 | Refresh rate: 90Hz | Field of view: 110°

$773.99

at Newegg

$1,099

at Amazon

Powerful VR headset

Larger library of games and software

Improved motion controls

A little pricey

The HTC Vive Cosmos range has all but replaced the original line of 2016 headsets. Aimed with a slightly lower price tag, this is a headset designed for mid-range PC use – so perfect if you’re looking for a good quality VR experience but don’t want to delve into the enthusiast’s world of $1,000+ price tags.

You’re still paying a good wad of cash here, however, but with a solid performance and some fairly low specs, there’s a strong proposition here. Plus, you can pick up separate accessories to enable the level of external tracking available in the Cosmos Elite headset below.

As it ages, you’ll be able to find more VR headset deals on this particular model available.

HTC Vive Cosmos Elite

(Image credit: HTC)

HTC Vive Cosmos Elite

External tracking for your Cosmos headset

$449

at Adorama

$746.48

at Amazon

$1,126.32

at Newegg

SteamVR external tracking

New controllers

Accessories available for Cosmos

The HTC Vive Cosmos Elite is a strange one. It’s the same headset as the HTC Vive Cosmos, but with tracking base stations and controllers for extra precision in matching your movements.

If you’re looking to grab these accessories for your Cosmos headset, then, you might as well grab an Elite bundle – as you’ll likely also receive some free software goodies at the same time.

We haven’t seen too many VR headset sales featuring this bundle, but it’s worth keeping your eye out for HTC Vive deals because they can appear during larger discounting events.

PlayStation VR

PlayStation VR headset

(Image credit: Sony)

Since it originally launched for the PS4 back in 2016, PlayStation VR offered one of the more affordable ways to get into VR gaming. Today, however, the production of Sony’s VR headset has slowed so it’s almost impossible to pick up a new one. It’s also a challenge to find a second-hand PSVR for a reasonable price, so hopes of any deals are slim.

The good news, though, is that PSVR 2 is on the way. Sony has announced its next-generation VR headset will release on February 23, 2023. You need to head to the PlayStation Direct (opens in new tab) store if you want to place a preorder, though, as that’s the only place it will be available in most regions.

The PSVR 2 will work exclusively with the PS5, so you’ll need to upgrade to Sony’s latest console before you can make use of it. Our PS5 restock live blog can help you with that if you’re still looking for one.

More information is released about the upcoming tech all the time so stick with TechRadar for all the latest updates. You can already take a look at our PSVR 2 vs PSVR comparison to see what major differences to expect between the two headsets and browse through our list of the best PSVR games so you know what you need to play when the VR headset is available to buy.

Once it’s out in the wild, we’ll also be on hand to bring you all the best PSVR deals as well as assist in the hunt for a PSVR 2 amidst all the inevitable stock issues.

Cheap VR headset deals

If you just want to dip your toe in the world of virtual reality, you don’t need to spend too much. VR headsets that run off your smartphone or a cheap display cost as little as $20 / £20 and give you a basic experience without breaking the bank.

Specific apps available on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store give you the chance to see if virtual reality is for you before investing in a more advanced system like the Oculus Quest 2.

Everything you need to know about VR headsets

VR headsets come at a range of price points, with the more high-end options sometimes running you close to $1,000 / £1,000 and cheap VR headsets costing as little as $10 / £10. That means it’s difficult to work out exactly what you should expect for your cash, but there are a few key requirements you’ll want to check for before picking up your new toy.

Cheap VR headsets under $50 / £50 will likely use your smartphone for content and, in most cases, controls. You’ll be playing small movement-based arcade-style games or making the most of the 3D VR content that’s filling YouTube and other apps these days.

That’s where you should start when making sure your VR headset is worth the cash – will it run a good selection of apps on your smartphone? Not only does that mean making sure you can use Android and iOS apps with your device, but also ensures that the headpiece itself will fit your smartphone.

If you’re stretching up to $150, you might find an included screen and processing unit on board. This won’t be up to the standards of the Oculus or HTC just yet, but with some controllers included you might get a better variety of proprietary apps as we saw on the Oculus Go.

Beyond that, you’re moving into Oculus Quest territory, with the $150 – $300 bracket offering a step up in performance. If you’re not opting for an Oculus Quest headset, ensure you’re still getting that 70 – 80Hz refresh rate, and a resolution of around 1832 x 1920.

Moving to the $300 – $600 bracket you’re likely in the world of a PC headset. That means you’ll likely find refresh rates of 90Hz and higher, extra tracking features like the SteamVR external sensors with the Vive Cosmos Elite, and you’ll want to ensure you’re getting access to a substantial game and app library like that of Steam as well.