Virtual reality has become a reality, allowing us to connect with the digital world in unimaginable ways. Thanks to amazing VR headsets, we can enjoy digital content, including games and movies, like never before. These state-of-the-art gadgets provide an exceptional cinematic experience by immersing users in a virtual theater-like environment. But, among the dozens of options, how do you find the best VR headsets to watch movies and TV shows?
VR headsets may not offer the utmost comfort for extended binge-watching sessions. However, they offer an incredibly immersive experience that disconnects you entirely from the real world. Also, with some models supporting 360 reality and 3D content, the experience is even better, particularly while watching visually rich content.
So, follow along as we try to hunt the best VR headsets to watch movies and TV shows in 2024.
8 Best VR Headsets to Watch Movies in 2024:
To find the best VR headsets to watch movies, we have tested many models across the platforms, such as standalone, mobile bases, and tethered (PC or Gaming console). Based on our in-lab performance results and the popular user feedback from various e-commerce platforms, we have curated this list of the finest options.
Mind you, to watch movies on these VR headsets, you must download the necessary app supported by the headset hardware and software. You can also upload the media using the internal storage and enjoy the movies if your headset allows.
Let’s take a look:
| Model | Resolution | Refresh Rate | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Quest Pro | 1920×1832 pixels/eye | 90Hz | 1.59 lbs | $989 |
| HTC Vive Pro 2 | 2440×2440 pixels/eye | 120Hz | 1.9 lbs | $789 |
| Sony PlayStation VR2 | 2000×2040 pixels/eye | 120Hz | 1.23 lbs | $549 |
| Meta Quest 2 | 1832×1920 pixels/eye | 120Hz | 1.1 lbs | $299 |
| HP Reverb G2 | 2160×2160 pixels/eye | 90Hz | 1.1 lbs | $529 |
| Valve Index VR Kit | 1600×1440 pixels/eye | 120Hz | 1.78 lbs | $1,379 |
| Samsung Odyssey+ | 1600×1440 pixels/eye | 90Hz | 1.3 lbs | $499 |
| Oculus Go | 1440×1280 pixels/eye | 72Hz | 1.03 lbs | $349 |
1. Meta Quest Pro
Price – $989
- Type – Standalone
- Resolution – 1920×1832 pixels per eye
- Refresh Rate – 90Hz
- Controls – Motion controllers
- Hardware Platform – Standalone
- Software Platform – Meta
- Motion Detection – 6DOF
- Battery Life – 1.5-2 hours
Quest Pro is a premium VR headset from Meta that significantly updates the popular Quest 2. Not only does it feature a more comfortable design, but it also packs more performance
It comes with a Snapdragon XR2+ processor along with 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage. Regarding the viewing experience, The headset shows a 1932×1832 resolution picture to each eye, similar to Quest 2. However, it features a local dimming backlight system, improving contrast, and a 130% higher color gamut than Quest 2. The headset also features eye and face movement to read your positioning better.
The power button and 3.5mm headphone jack are on the left side, while on the right, you will find a volume rocker and an additional headphone jack. It also has built-in speakers with reasonable sound quality.
| PROS | CONS |
| ✔ High contrast display
✔ Comes with wireless charging dock ✔ Very comfortable fit ✔ Doesn’t need a PC to operate |
✖ Premium price
✖ Average battery life ✖ Software has glitches |
Rating – 9.3 ★
Verdict – At a price of nearly $1000, it can be an overkill to watch movies. But it’s an ideal pick if you are looking for a premium VR headset for collaboration purposes.
2. HTC Vive Pro 2:
Price – $789
- Type – Tethered
- Resolution – 2440×2440 pixels per eye
- Refresh Rate – 120Hz
- Controls – Not included
- Hardware Platform – PC
- Software Platform – SteamVR
- Motion Detection – 6DOF
- Battery Life – Up to 2.5 hours
HTC Vive Pro 2 is a top-tier VR machine featuring a new-age comfortable design, with an option to adjust the headset for better alignment. But what makes it among the best VR headsets to watch movies?
Apart from the forward-facing cameras, the headset also has a pair of built-in headphones, volume controls on the left, and a mic/mute button on the front section of the headset. The headphones can be removed, but there is no 3.5mm headphone jack. On the back is a display port, accompanied by a USB 3.0 port.
The HTC Vive Pro 2 shows 2440×2440 pixels, the highest we’ve seen in a VR headset. The 120Hz refresh rate makes the experience more fluid and enjoyable. However, you would require a PC with Intel i5/AMD Ryzen 1500 and a dedicated graphic card to enjoy the movies in the highest resolution.
Rating – 8.4 ★
Verdict – It’s a complex design which can be annoying to some. It’s a good choice for less than $800 if you don’t need the headphone jack.
3. Sony PlayStation VR2:
Price – $549
- Type – Tethered
- Resolution – 2000×2040 pixels per eye
- Refresh Rate – 120Hz
- Controls – PlayStation VR2 Sense
- Hardware Platform – PlayStation 5
- Software Platform – PlayStation 5
- Motion Detection – 6DOF
- Battery Life – Up to 3 hours
It’s undoubtedly the best VR headset for PlayStation owners, offering an immersive movie-watching experience without needing a PC or smartphone. An industry-leading 4K display offers one of the best VR experiences, matching the PC-tethered headsets.
On the headset, you will find outward-facing cameras and adjustment controls, with power and function buttons and the mic at the bottom. Slipping the visor forward or backward is very easy using the adjustment control button. It also comes with snap-in 3.5 mm earphones with decent sound quality.
The OLED display displays 2000×2040 pixels to each eye at a refresh rate of 90Hz or 120Hz. The viewing experience on PlayStation VR2 is second to none, thanks to the 110-degree field of view, built-in eye movement, and vibration.
Rating – 8.5 ★
Verdict – If you own a PlayStation, pick this VR headset without a second thought. For $549, you will get a fantastic movie-watching and gaming experience.
4. Meta Quest 2:
Price – $299
- Type – Standalone
- Resolution – 1832×1920 pixels per eye
- Refresh Rate – 120Hz
- Controls – Oculus Touch
- Hardware Platform – Standalone
- Software Platform – Oculus
- Motion Detection – 6DOF
- Battery Life – 2-3 hours
The Quest 2 from Meta is an entry-level model offering some competitive features. At just $299, it’s definitely among the best VR headsets to watch movies in virtual reality.
Meta Quest 2 has a compact and lightweight design, allowing you to use the headset longer. The front faceplate houses the four cameras for position tracking. The left side features a USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack, while on the right, there is a power button and LED indicator. The volume rocket and two microphones are located at the bottom.
It is equipped with a Snapdragon XR2 processor and 6GB of RAM and offers three storage options (64GB, 128GB, and 256GB), with no possibility of expandable storage. The picture resolution is 1832×1920 pixels for each eye, which is decent at this price. However, the 120Hz refresh rate smooths things out and enhances the viewing experience dramatically. The built-in speakers are there, but not very impressive.
Rating – 8.7 ★
Verdict – Under $300, you can’t go wrong with the Meta Quest 2. This is your best option if you are looking for a cheap VR headset solely to watch movies.
5. HP Reverb G2:
Price – $529
- Type – Tethered
- Resolution – 2160×2160 pixels per eye
- Refresh Rate – 90Hz
- Controls – Motion controllers
- Hardware Platform – PC
- Software Platform – SteamVR
- Motion Detection – SteamVR
- Battery Life – 10-15 hours
HP Reverb G2 offers a balanced option for those looking for a VR headset powerful enough for professional use while not punishing the budget. Based on Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality platform, It’s one of the best VR headsets to watch movies and TV shows.
The soft plastic visor features two forward and two side-facing cameras for position tracking. You will find a slider at the bottom to adjust the pupillary distance. A pair of speakers is on the side of the headband that doesn’t pack your ears entirely. Unfortunately, this is your only sound option, with no 3.5mm headphone jack. For connectivity, you have USB-C and display port as well.
The headset displays 2160×2160 pixels 90Hz to each eye, which is more than we can expect at this price point. The high-definition content appears smooth, and a lot of details and color vibrancy is available. You will need a PC with an Intel Core i5 CPU and an Nvidia GeForce 1080 or AMD Radeon 5700 GPU to use the headset.
Rating – 8.1 ★
Verdict – Buy it only if you want to experience the Windows Mixed Reality platform, which seems outdated in 2024.
6. Valve Index VR Kit:
Price – $1,379
- Type – Tethered
- Resolution – 1600×1440 pixels per eye
- Refresh Rate – 120Hz
- Controls – Valve Index controllers
- Hardware Platform – PC
- Software Platform – SteamVR
- Motion Detection – 6DOF
- Battery Life – Up to 7 hours
Valve Index is a high-end virtual kit suitable for professional gamers and collaborators. While for $1379, it doesn’t offer much as a headset alone, it’s the controllers that take it to the next level.
This Windows-tethered headset features a sturdy and premium design, with two cameras at the bottom of the front plate; the cameras can show nearby objects and your hands so you can reach out to objects even while wearing the headset. The headset has a PD adjustment slider, a knob to adjust lens distance, and a pair of speakers. Additionally, you get a power button, a USB-C port, and a display port to connect to your PC.
The picture quality is nothing to brag about, showing just 1600×1440 pixels per eye. However, the LCD has a refresh rate of 120Hz, which will make your movies look silky smooth. The color reproduction is decent, and the contrast ratio is also respectable.
Rating – 9.0 ★
Verdict – Invest only if you want an immersive top-tier VR gaming experience. Even though you might be disappointed by the low-res display.
7. SAMSUNG HMD Odyssey+:
Price – $499
- Type – Tethered
- Resolution – 1600×1440 pixels per eye
- Refresh Rate – 90Hz
- Controls – Windows Mixed Reality
- Hardware Platform – PC
- Software Platform – HMD Odyssey Home
- Motion Detection – 6DOF
- Battery Life – Up to 3 hours
Samsung HMD Odyssey+ is one of the best VR headsets to watch movies alongside the Windows Mixed Reality platform. Although it’s not a huge upgrade to its predecessor HMD Odyssey, at a price of just $499, it offers a solid yet compact design, a stunning viewing experience, and a powerful built-in audio system.
It has inside-out tracking cameras, over-ear adjustable headphones on each side, and dual AMOLED lenses in the front. On the left, a 4-meter cable with a USB and HDMI connection to your PC is attached. You also get a ‘flashlight’ feature to check your surroundings without taking off the headset.
Like their smartphones and tablets, Samsung has done an incredible job with the Odyssey+ display. The dual AMOLED displays 1600×1440 pixels to each eye at a respectable 90Hx refresh rate.
The company has introduced a new technology called the Anti-screen food effect (SDE), which eliminates the situation where the distance between the screen and the eyes is so small that you start seeing pixels as fine black lines. Overall, we had the best viewing experience on Odyssey+, with crisp visuals, deep blacks, and vibrant colors.
AKG powers the sound system and supports spatial audio to enhance your audio-visual experience.
Rating – 9.3 ★
Verdict – Get this VR headset for stunning picture quality and an immersive movie-watching experience. Be mindful of the annoying setup procedure.
8. Oculus Go:
Price – $349
- Type – Standalone
- Resolution – 1440×1280 pixels per eye
- Refresh Rate – 72Hz
- Controls – Oculus Go controller
- Hardware Platform – Android
- Software Platform – Oculus
- Motion Detection – 3DOF
- Battery Life – 1.5-2.5 hours
Oculus Go is another cost-effective standalone VR headset you can purchase to enjoy an immersive cinematic experience without breaking the bank. At just $349, it’s one of the best VR headsets to play games and watch TV shows and movies.
The headset has a minimalistic polycarbonate design featuring a volume rocker, indicator light, and power button on the front edge. On the left side of the headset, there is a micro USB port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
There is no card slot to expand memory, so you are stuck with only 32- and 64GB options. The headset also has a pair of built-in speakers, but the sound is below average and doesn’t offer privacy.
The headset runs on Oculus VR software, where you can tons of movies and TV shows apps, including Netflix, Hulu, and Showtime. There is also a built-in web browser to enjoy 360-degree YouTube videos.
Although it has a respectable 1440×1280 pixels per eye resolution, the viewing experience differs from an OLED panel. The blacks aren’t dark enough, and the color reproduction is not as punchy as the Samsung Odyssey or HTC.
Rating – 7.8 ★
Verdict – While it’s among the top VR headsets to watch movies, however, Meta Quest 2 offers better features at a more affordable price.
Frequently Asked Questions:
To watch movies on a VR headset, download a VR video app (compatible with your headset software) and upload your desired content. Next, wear the headset and enjoy an immersive cinematic experience.
Yes indeed! VR headsets can provide a cinematic and immersive movie-watching experience, making them a good choice for enjoying films in a virtual environment.
Samsung HMD Odyssey+ and HTC Vive Pro 2 are the Best VR Headsets for watching movies and TV shows. They both offer crisp visuals at a high 120Hz refresh rate.
Oculus Go and Meta Quest 2 are the cheapest VR headsets to watch movies. The price is $349 and $249 respectively.
Final Word:
There you go! This compilation of the best VR headsets to watch movies includes models from various categories, price segments, and hardware/software support. While the standalone headsets offer better convenience and portability, the tethered VR headsets connected to a PC or gaming console usually provide superior quality and viewing experience.
Also, suppose you are looking for a virtual reality headset for watching movies only. In that case, the headset’s weight is crucial, as nearly all headsets tend to feel uncomfortable after a certain period.
This is Samuel Tector, a full time DOP Artist and writer. My lifetime interests are in Movies & Music, completely into entertainment and I love to capture the greatest shots for Movies, Events, and Wildlife and recently started a brand called New Vision Theatres.
