Need a virtual social circle to stave off lockdown boredom? One of these new-gen headsets should ensure you’ll never be alone again…

[ Words Andrew Hayward, Tom Morgan ]

HTC Vive Cosmos Elite

What’s the story?

Effectively succeeding the HTC Vive, the Cosmos Elite uses a lot of the same hardware but gains an upgraded headset for better visuals, and swaps the inside-out tracking of the Vive Cosmos (see panel) for the pinpoint precision of base stations. Eventually you’ll be able to pick bits of the package, like an external tracking faceplate, but right now it’s a full house: headset, faceplate, base units and controllers.

Is it any good?

Unfortunately, instead of feeling like a complete upgrade from the original Vive, the Cosmos Elite is two steps forward and one step back.

It has superior motion tracking but less capable controllers than the basic Cosmos, because it forces you to use the same Wands that came with the Vive (as they play nicely with the base stations). The Cosmos controllers might have their flaws but they’re so much better for gaming, and quite why HTC didn’t create a version for the Elite headset is a mystery.

The potential for future upgrades might make this the most forward-thinking VR headset on sale, and we’re sure HTC has a lot more hardware planned for the future, including new controllers; but for now, this doesn’t feel like a very tempting package.

Price £899 / stuff.tv/CosmosElite

Tech 2880x1700 LCD with 110° FoV, 90Hz refresh rate • Valve Sense 6DoF sensors • Cosmos Wands • 702g

Stuff says Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Modular VR is a neat idea, but without upgrades this is just an OK headset

Valve Index

What’s the story?

The people behind Steam and the Half-Life games (see p78) have had a few previous dalliances with hardware, but none really stuck. The Steam Controller? Interesting, but awkward. The console-inspired Steam Machine PCs? Didn’t sell. Given all of that, the prospect of a high-end VR headset priced north of £900 seems like a tough sell – but if you can swing it, the Valve Index might just be a real gem.

Is it any good?

While not revolutionary, the Index carries enough subtle upgrades to put it atop the PC-based headset pack. Even if it doesn’t solve some of the familiar hang-ups seen with rivals, at its best the Index experience can be mesmerising. Half-Life: Alyx looks fabulous, and actually, so does everything else. Meanwhile, the off-ear speakers deliver superbly immersive sound.

On most VR headsets, the controllers wouldn’t warrant much attention. That’s not true with the Valve Index. Its bespoke controllers – affectionately nicknamed the ‘knuckles’ – deliver the most fluid-feeling VR interactions to date.

This is a high-priced product in an already niche category; but if you’re out for the best of the best in VR gaming and can handle a hefty spend, it’s the device of dreams.

Price £919 / stuff.tv/ValveIndex

Tech 2880x1600 LCD with 130° FoV, 144Hz refresh rate • SteamVR 2.0 sensors • Index controllers • 809g

Stuff says Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Amazing hardware makes this the best of the performance-PC VR options

OR, FOR A BIT LESS…

HTC Vive Cosmos

£699 / stuff.tv/Cosmos

With its simple setup and mostly accurate tracking, anyone getting their first taste of VR will be rightly impressed with the Cosmos.The potential for upgrades sounds tempting too, but at £699 it’s hardly entry-level.

In fact, if you don’t plan on buying any upgrades in the near future, the Oculus Rift S offers a similar experience with only slightly inferior visuals for £300 less. And anyone wanting the very best VR right now needs to bite the bullet on the Valve Index. So as a one-box system, the Cosmos is tough to recommend.

Stuff says Rated 3 out of 5 stars

1 Flips like sugar

You can flip the Cosmos Elite’s visor up in mid-shootout for a peek of the outside world without having to pull the whole headset off.

2 Halo, I love you

The halo-like fixed headband, with integrated cables and headphones, is a major upgrade over the old Vive’s underpanty elastic straps.

3 Down with the bases

The Index doesn’t have tracking cameras. Instead, you set up two (or more) chunky external sensors to enable room-scale experiences.

4 Close to view

Adjusting the closeness of your eyes to the screen is a must for comfort. A physical slider adjusts the distance between your eyes for focus.