TL;DR:
- Macs aren’t constructed for VR, however you possibly can nonetheless make it work with the correct setup
- Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional is your greatest all-in-one possibility (in case you’ve bought the price range)
- HTC Vive nonetheless works with Intel Macs and SteamVR (with some effort)
- Most different headsets don’t formally help macOS
- Use CleanMyMac, WiFi Explorer, and iStat Menus to spice up the efficiency of your Mac
In 2020, the brand new actuality of social distancing brought about an enormous spike. If you concentrate on it, VR could be an effective way to assume exterior the Zoom field. As a substitute of seeing your pals’ or colleagues’ faces in small squares on a display screen, you may truly get everybody into one room.
A lot of cool VR tech has been out there for a while now. On this article, I am going to stroll you thru all of the steps of how to decide on the most effective VR headset for Mac. Whether or not you’re enthusiastic about VR or just get pleasure from gaming, this information is for you.
Tips on how to arrange VR on Mac
Till the discharge of macOS Excessive Sierra, digital actuality hadn’t been out there to Mac customers. Apple computer systems weren’t technologically outfitted to help VR. However instances have modified, and there is been big progress over the previous few years.
So, what does it take to create the most effective VR setup for Mac in 2025? Listed below are three vital issues:
- Appropriate Mac: In case you’re going for the most effective VR expertise, an Intel-based Mac from round 2015 to 2020 with a Thunderbolt 3 port is your greatest wager. These Macs can work with exterior GPUs so long as you are working macOS Excessive Sierra 10.13.4 or later. Macs with Apple silicon (like M1 to M4 chips) have nice built-in graphics, however they don’t help eGPUs and have fairly restricted VR choices proper now.
- Exterior GPU (eGPU): To essentially increase your Mac’s graphics energy, you’ll wish to join a strong exterior GPU — one thing just like the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT — by means of a suitable eGPU enclosure (just like the AKiTiO Node Titan). It’s principally a must have if you would like nice efficiency in demanding VR video games or apps.
- VR Headset: Choose a headset that matches your setup and what you propose to do with it. In case you’re on an Intel-based Mac with an eGPU, the Meta Quest 3 and even the PS VR2 can work — simply be ready for a bit setup. In case you’re on an Apple silicon Mac, the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional is your greatest shot. It is not a full VR headset within the conventional sense, nevertheless it does offer you a digital show that works wirelessly together with your Mac (so long as you are working macOS Sonoma or newer).
Greatest VR headset 2025 engaged on Mac
I might love to provide you an enormous checklist of choices for VR headsets which are suitable with Mac, however the choices are restricted. The primary cause for that is {hardware} limitations in macOS techniques. Most VR producers are primarily centered on PCs.
Listed below are three VR headsets you possibly can select from.
HTC Vive and HTC Vive Professional
HTC Vive and HTC Vive Professional are two Vive fashions that work on Mac. The improved model was launched in 2018 as an improve to the unique HTC Vive. However is it actually value it? The primary enhancements you’ll discover within the HTC Vive Professional embrace:
- Twin-lens setup. An additional lens has been added to allow new monitoring capabilities. Not like the unique mannequin, the HTC Vive Professional can monitor hand gestures.
- Constructed-in headphones. No want so as to add your individual pair of headphones to have an immersive VR expertise; the Professional model has it.
- Upgraded decision. 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye versus 1080 x 1200 in HTC Vive.
The unique HTC Vive is fairly arduous to search out model new as of late, however you possibly can often get it from third-party sellers for round $400 to $600. The HTC Vive Professional full package, which comes with the headset, controllers, base stations, and cables, prices about $1,199. In case you simply need the headset, it is round $599, relying on the place you purchase it.
Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional
The Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional is a high-end, standalone mixed-reality pc headset that may do what no different VR headset can. Not like most VR headsets, which concentrate on video games and immersive artistic and work apps, Imaginative and prescient Professional helps many iOS apps within the digital workspace.
These are the highest three issues I like concerning the headset:
- Highly effective tech specs: Apple launched VisionOS for Imaginative and prescient Professional. Plus, it’s powered by Apple’s M2 processor and augmented by an R1 chip that hastens the headset’s 5 sensors, 12 cameras, and 6 mics.
- Excessive decision show: Two 4K microLED shows (one for every eye) are filled with 23 million pixels, taking part in motion pictures extremely properly.
- Eyes, fingers, and voice monitoring: One other cool factor is that it has a controller. Each interplay is finished together with your fingers, eyes, or by chatting with Siri utilizing built-in microphones. It even works at nighttime. Simply think about mendacity in mattress at evening and watching your favourite film on the ceiling!
Just lately, Apple has added a powerful first set of highly effective Apple Intelligence options to Imaginative and prescient Professional, all with extraordinary steps to take care of customers’ privateness. For instance, with the Writing instruments, you possibly can rewrite, proofread, and summarize textual content almost in all places.
Supply: apple.com
Picture Playground allows you to create enjoyable photos from themes, costumes, locations, and equipment. The brand new Spatial Gallery app offers entry to spatial content material spanning sports activities, tradition, artwork, and extra.
The issue is that Imaginative and prescient Professional is approach too costly ($3,500). At its present value, I really feel it’s higher off to attend for Apple to drop the worth and increase the options.
In spite of everything, it doesn’t make sense (no less than to me) to spend round $3,499 on one thing that isn’t a buy-it-for-life merchandise. Give it a attempt provided that you’re a die-hard Apple fan or you possibly can afford luxurious.
Meta Quest 3
In case you’re like me, somebody who prefers consolation and ease of use, the MetaQuest 3 VR headset could be an important possibility. This cord-free headset has good-enough specs and the most effective mixed-reality skills to offer an immersive expertise with motion pictures and video games.
Listed below are a few of its greatest options:
- Excessive-res show: Its decision stands at 2,064 by 2,208, leading to 1,218 pixels per inch, with a wider area of view at 110 by 96 levels.
- Tech specs: Meta Quest 3 makes use of a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor with 8GB of RAM.
- Intuitive controllers: The headset makes use of intuitive and easy-to-hold controllers, which supply restricted hand-tracking help.
I’ve personally used this VR headset for Mac, and its show high quality and graphics efficiency are gorgeous for its value (round $500). However what disillusioned me was the restricted and not-so-perfect hand monitoring. However given its reasonably priced value and flexibility, I believe it will proceed to be one of many best-selling VR headsets for the subsequent few years.
Is it doable to make use of Fb’s Oculus Quest 2 with a Mac?
The Oculus Quest 2, now known as the Meta Quest 2, isn’t being made anymore, however you possibly can nonetheless discover it secondhand fairly simply. It’s not formally supported on macOS, however some folks have discovered workarounds. In case you’re utilizing a robust Intel Mac, you would possibly have the ability to run Home windows by means of Boot Camp and get the headset working that approach. It’s a little bit of a undertaking and doesn’t at all times work completely, so preserve that in thoughts.
In case your Mac has strong specs and also you’re up for experimenting, you would possibly nonetheless get an honest expertise with the Quest 2. Simply keep in mind, it does want a Meta account to make use of. When it first got here out, it began at round $299, however now costs depend upon the place you purchase it and what situation it is in.
Are there HTC Vive options for Mac?
No, there are no HTC Vive options for Mac. Some customers say you can also make Oculus Rift work with a Mac, which is one other top-rated VR system. Technically, some latest MacBook Professional and iMac fashions appear to have the correct specs, however the GPU efficiency remains to be not good for VR. Plus, the creators of Oculus Rift say they don’t intend to concentrate on macOS help for now. This leaves you with the HTC Vive VR headset for Mac, and a little bit of hope that Apple will produce one thing extra reasonably priced.
Learn additionally:
Tips on how to optimize your Mac for VR
Possibly you wish to get Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. Or perhaps you wish to follow a extra conventional setup just like the HTC Vive. No matter possibility you select, you have to ensure your Mac is working optimally. Macs weren’t constructed with VR in thoughts, so by doing just a few small tweaks, you possibly can obtain a smoother efficiency and a greater expertise.
In case you’re utilizing the HTC Vive or one other SteamVR-compatible headset, you’ll want a strong {hardware} setup. Which means two base stations to trace your actions, a pair of Vive controllers, and an non-compulsory adapter if you wish to go wi-fi. It’s often simpler to only seize the complete Vive package slightly than piecing all of it collectively.
Able to roll? Let’s take advantage of out of your Mac’s efficiency.
Release house on Mac
Steam video games are heavy for a median arduous drive. This implies your Mac’s storage must be ready. You may undergo your folders and clear away all of the litter and stuff you don’t want. The issue with decluttering your Mac is that some tough file leftovers and previous caches will stay undetectable, and also you would possibly spend hours doing a radical cleanup.
Personally, I am utilizing an app known as CleanMyMac. The app will run a sensible scan in your pc and examine each nook for hidden junk. My favourite characteristic is CleanMyMac’s Uninstaller. In Uninstaller, you press a single button to release each gigabyte of litter. Plus, you possibly can bulk uninstall apps to hurry up the method.
Make your Wi-Fi work for VR
play wants top-notch streaming high quality, which depends in your community connection. WiFi Explorer is a Mac utility that works as a sensible community analyzer that controls your WiFi when you keep centered in your work or Steam video games. The most effective factor is that WiFi Explorer not solely supplies insights on the state of your community connection, nevertheless it additionally helps troubleshoot it. You’ll repair your Wi-Fi issues with none skilled expertise, just by utilizing WiFi Explorer’s built-in toolkit.
Monitor your Mac’s efficiency
You may verify some primary efficiency stats in your Mac with none further instruments. Simply open Exercise Monitor (present in Functions > Utilities) to see issues like CPU utilization, reminiscence load, and vitality influence. It’s an important start line if you would like a fast take a look at what’s happening.
However if you would like a extra detailed, real-time view, particularly for VR, attempt iStat Menus. This useful app sits in your menu bar and offers you all the things from CPU and GPU load to temperature, fan velocity, disk exercise, and even frames per second. It’s an ideal software to verify your Mac gained’t get caught or freeze when you’re taking part in.
Compatibility of various Mac fashions with VR
VR know-how has lengthy struggled to work properly on Macs as a consequence of {hardware} and software program limitations. However Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional is altering the narrative.
Apple silicon Macs supply sturdy efficiency and help Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, however have restricted compatibility with third-party VR headsets.
Prior to now, Steam VR, Valve’s PC-based digital actuality platform, had been the one VR system Mac customers may use for gaming, together with the HTC Vive headset. Valve ended SteamVR’s help for macOS (together with Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon Macs) in Might 2020. Some customers have discovered workarounds like boot camp and digital machines, nevertheless it’s arduous to say if these work properly or safely.
Intel-based Macs working macOS Catalina or earlier don’t help Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, third-party VR, and even SteamVR.
Remaining ideas on how to decide on the most effective HR headset for Mac
Selecting a VR headset on your Mac actually relies on what you’re working with, what you wish to use it for, and the way a lot you are okay spending. In case you’re into the thought of the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional for that easy, Apple-only vibe, otherwise you’re fascinated by the HTC Vive for extra gaming motion with SteamVR, the primary factor is realizing what your Mac can deal with and take advantage of it.
To get the most effective expertise, just a few useful apps could make a giant distinction. CleanMyMac helps filter out all of the junk slowing you down, WiFi Explorer checks that your web’s sturdy sufficient to maintain issues working easily, and iStat Menus allows you to regulate your Mac’s efficiency when you’re deep within the VR world.
The most effective half is you do not have to buy these apps individually. All three can be found with a month-to-month subscription to Setapp, a hub of 260+ highly effective apps for Mac and iOS. You may attempt all of them without spending a dime with a 7-day trial and get your Mac totally equipped for VR in a single go.
FAQ
Are you able to join a VR headset to a Mac?
Sure, you possibly can join a VR headset to a MacBook for a 360° video expertise. The expertise will range relying on the Mac mannequin, the VR headset, and the app you’re utilizing.
Can Mac deal with VR?
Sure, Mac can deal with VR, however you can not anticipate high-level efficiency, particularly when taking part in video games. That is significantly because of the lack of SteamVR and Oculus help.
Which VR headset ought to I purchase?
You may select from the HTC Vive versus HTC Vive Professional, Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, and Meta Quest 3 VR headsets out there for Macs. Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional is the costliest possibility, priced at $3,500, so in case you’re searching for one thing extra reasonably priced, go for the HTC Vive or Professional and Meta Quest 3.
What’s the greatest VR mannequin?
Meta Quest 3 is called the most effective VR mannequin as a result of it completely balances efficiency, options, accessibility, and pricing.
