If you’re a fan of Elite Dangerous, then the thought has already crossed your mind: should I play Elite Dangerous using a VR Headset?
The answer is, almost certainly, yes.
The vast expanse of space is something you’re going to want to experience with VR. Moving almost freely in any angle, setting off along any path uninhibited by gravity is the ideal Elite Dangerous experience.
Sadly, VR can’t do anything about gravity, but it can give you the expanse of space. Once you’ve got the best VR headset for Elite, you’ll have an immersive interstellar flight simulator.
The Best VR Headsets for Elite Dangerous
- Oculus Quest 2 – best lower-cost VR headset for Elite Dangerous.
- HTC Vive Cosmos – best Elite Dangerous VR headset for tracking accuracy.
- Oculus Rift S – best Elite Dangerous VR headset for games library.
- HP Reverb G2 – best image quality VR headset for Elite Dangerous
1. Oculus Quest 2 – best lower-cost VR headset for Elite Dangerous
The first thing we should point out about the Oculus Quest 2 is its cost. Compared to the other headsets in this round-up, it is a lot cheaper. They’re all a lot more expensive than this all-white, stylish headset.
The second thing is that the Quest 2 can be used as a standalone VR headset, so you don’t need the PC. This is great if you want to take a break from playing Elite Dangerous and instead want to use the library of Quest games.
When it comes to tech, the Quest has two wireless touch controllers, in-built 3D positional speakers for immersive surround sound, and more than 50% greater pixel density than the original Quest.
One downside of the Quest 2 is that it requires your Facebook account to log in and operate. This might be okay for some, but if you’re privacy-conscious, then this is certainly an invasion.
Pros:
- Cheaper than other options around.
- PC compatible and stand-alone.
Cons:
- Requires Facebook account.
2. HTC Vive Cosmos – best Elite Dangerous VR headset for tracking accuracy
- Lighthouse tracking - base station 1.0 provides up to 160 sq. Feet of play space for those that demand the best in Vive VR gaming.
- Crystal-clear graphics - see the virtual world through a 2880 x 1700 combined Pixel resolution. All-new LCD panels reduce the distance between Pixels, minimizing the screen-door effect.
- Flip-up design - go easily between reality and virtual reality with the flip-up design, without disrupting your VR journey.
- Vive port - Get the most out of VR with Infinity. Enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of VR games, apps, and videos.
- Vive reality system - Vive reality system lets you navigate seamlessly between virtual experiences. Discover new content, launch titles from your library, play a video, or browse the web.
Whilst the HTC Vive Cosmos is the most expensive Elite Dangerous VR headset on our list, it has the internals and specs to justify that price point.
The first standout feature of the Vive Cosmos is its external tracking. It comes two Lighthouse tracking base stations (version 1.0) which give 160 square feet of externally tracked and navigable space.
This gives you more accuracy when you’re moving, especially if you add additional Lighthouse sensors, and it reduces latency significantly, which reduces the potential of nausea.
The second noteworthy feature is the Vive’s resolution. The system boasts a combined resolution of 2880 x 1700 pixels density, which is more than a three-quarter increase over the previous Vive model.
One downside of the HTC Vive is that it’s a higher-end system that requires a high-end PC to work to full capacity. If you’ve not got a great gaming rig, then we suggest a different model. But, if your rig is up to scratch, you should certainly consider an Elite Dangerous VR headset that matches.
Pros:
- External tracking VR sensors give better accuracy and reduce latency.
- Great image quality – ideal for space travel.
Cons:
- Highest priced system on our list.
- A high-end system requires a high-end PC to work optimally.
3. Oculus Rift S – best Elite Dangerous VR headset for games library
- Custom-designed Fresnel lenses with LED display; 1280 x 1440 pixels per eye with an 80 Hz refresh rate.
- Headphones-Free 3D Positional Audio: With positional audio built directly into the headset, you can hear your teammates or what's sneaking up behind you even without headphones.
- Built-In Room-Scale Oculus Insight tracking: removes the need for external sensors to convert movements into virtual reality.
- Fit Wheel Adjustable Halo Headband: The Rift S features a halo headband that's engineered to be comfortable during long gaming sessions. Simply twist the built-in fit wheel to secure the headset in place.
- ▌Authorized BROAGE Bundle ▌Bundled with BROAGE 4ft USB Extension Cable USB 3.0 Extender Type A Male to Female Data Transfer Cord.
Where does the Rift stand in our round-up? Well, it’s the mid-price option, so it’s affordable but not the cheapest. It has some great features that set it apart from the Quest, but also some that lag behind.
Firstly, the resolution in the quest is, overall, better. The Rift has a resolution of 2560 x 1440, whereas the Quest 2 has 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye.
Second, the Rift works only with a PC and cannot be used as a standalone device. This means if you’re sick of being tethered, you can’t do anything about it.
Nevertheless, the Rift S is a solid device that will give you a fully immersive VR Elite Dangerous experience. It has 6 degrees of freedom, so you can move in all directions without hindrance.
The real prize, however, is that Rift games store/library. Because it uses the PC store, the library is much bigger. This is a great advantage if you want to play games other than Elite Dangerous.
Pros:
- Mid-market price.
- Large games library.
Cons:
- Poorer resolution than the less expensive Quest.
- Equal in performance power to the Quest.
4. HP Reverb G2 – best image quality VR headset for Elite Dangerous
- THE NO COMPROMISE VR HEADSET - Realistic visuals, soundscapes, and superb performance come together to form a more immersive experience
- IT’S ALL INSIDE - Packaging includes HP VR Headset, 6m headset cable for desktop and mobile PCs, 2 motion controllers, 1 DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort adapter, 1 Power Adapter, and easy set up instructions
- EXCEPTIONAL VISUALS AND SOUND - Seeing and hearing is believing with high-quality resolution and fully immersive spatial audio with mura-free 2160 x 2160 LCD panels per eye
- A HEADSET THAT ADJUSTS TO YOU - Flexible material, increased cushion size, and lenses that adjust to suit different eye distances, allow you to bask in your virtual world comfortably
- MORE CAMERAS. BETTER TRACKING - With 4 built in cameras, and ergonomically designed controls, tracking more movement with the VR headset just got a whole lot easier
The HP Reverb G2 is the second most expensive item in our round-up, but it’s also got the ability to perform at the higher end. Like the Quest 2, the HP Reverb G2 is great value for money – it just costs more of it.
The Reverb 2 has an impressive resolution that delivers crystal clear images. The per eye pixel density is 2160×2160. In addition to this, the system uses an RGB stripe LCD, whereas many of its mid-range competitors don’t – e.g. the Vive pro.
What this means is that the screen has 3 times as many sub-pixels as standard, which in turn makes for a much sharper image.
Alongside this the Reverb G2 has a refresh rate of 90hz, so you’re not going to get any ghosting or lag.
One downside is that the headset uses a four-camera internal tracking system. This is good because it gives you infinite space to navigate, but the accuracy and latency are lower than other systems pushing in the higher end.
Pros:
- Well priced.
- Very good resolution and image quality.
Cons:
- Price is at the higher end of mid-range.
- Internal tracking.
If raging around the cosmos trying to assassinate, rob, or mine is growing tired, then you may want to try some alternative games:
- Check out our round-up of the best headsets for Rainbow Six Siege.