Should You Buy the Valve Index in 2025? Our Straightforward Advice

For several years, Valve’s Index headset stood out as a top choice for PC VR enthusiasts. But with 2025 upon us, is this once-dominant device still a wise purchase, especially given its age? Let’s dive into a straightforward evaluation.

Valve Index in 2025: A Hard Pass

Having relied on the Valve Index as my primary PC VR gear for many years, I feel confident in saying that by 2025, it simply doesn’t warrant the $1,000 price tag for the full kit. While there are aspects of the 2019 headset that remain impressive, like its superb headphones, the hefty cost, intricate setup, bulkiness, and outdated specifications make it a less attractive option these days for most users.

If you’re on the hunt for a premium PC VR experience, I’d point you toward the Quest 3. It offers an appealing mix of affordability, user-friendliness, and visual excellence.

Quest 3 shines with its superior lenses offering exceptional clarity and an optimal sweet spot. Its resolution far surpasses that of the Index, and you won’t need to deal with the hassle of setting up external tracking beacons due to its excellent inside-out tracking. For enhanced comfort, consider upgrading the headstrap to something like the ANNAPRO Battery Head Strap, which not only elevates comfort but also incorporates an onboard battery, making the headset easier to wear and prolonging your VR sessions.

Another highlight of the Quest 3 is the freedom from cables while engaging in PC VR. Thanks to Valve’s Steam Link app on the Quest 3, wireless play of SteamVR games is a breeze. By bypassing Meta’s Quest Link, it allows you direct access to your SteamVR library. Plus, with the Quest 3, you have a versatile standalone headset; for less graphically intensive games, its independence and portability are unbeatable.

A heads-up if you choose the Quest 3 path: a solid network setup is crucial for an optimal wireless VR experience.

Ensure your gaming PC connects directly to your router with an ethernet cable. At a minimum, your router should be Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), though Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) would be ideal. If you’re refreshing an older router to accommodate wireless VR, we have a recommendation to keep you ahead. Ideally, keep the router in your gaming room, but if it’s close by, you should still enjoy a seamless experience.