Oculus Rift Headset Review: Is the Original Rift Still Worth It?

Product status and source notes

Is the Oculus Rift still worth buying?

Not sold new: production of the original Rift (CV1) ended in March 2019, according to Wikipedia, and its successor, the Rift S, was discontinued in April 2021 when Facebook stopped making PC-only headsets. Today you can only find the Rift second-hand.

Still usable? A working Rift can still play PC VR games, but it needs its external sensors, a Windows gaming PC and Meta’s PC software. Meta’s current Link setup guide covers only Quest headsets and we found no official statement on how long Rift support will last, so treat a used Rift as a cheap experiment, not a long-term buy.

Consider instead: a Meta Quest 3S or Quest 3, which run standalone and also connect to a PC (see current alternatives). Checked 24 September 2026.

Original review introduction

In the tech world, the Oculus Rift is considered older than that nasty pair of underwear you’ve been keeping for the last eight years. There have been countless new headsets released since the Rift launched in 2016, but the OG headset stayed popular for years.

In this Oculus Rift review, I’m going to give you a look at the headset, letting you know if it’s still worth your time and money.

Things to Consider Before You Buy a PC VR Headset

If you’re looking to get a PC VR headset, you likely know a bit about the technology. VR headsets for PC give the best experiences currently available and are much better than the mobile headsets you see old people picking up for their grandkids at Walgreens.

The primary consumer for a PC VR headset is someone who is tech-savvy and knows how to update drivers, install equipment, and more. If you’re comfortable with that, then you’ll probably love PC VR.

With that said, you should consider the following before dropping coin on a headset:

Your PC Build

You’re not going to get away with using VR using that laptop that your mom picked up from Target for $300.

VR requires heavy-duty graphics cards, as there’s double the image processing going on (one for each eye).

You need to make sure that your rig can handle VR before you buy a headset, otherwise, you’re going to have a bad time.

What’s Your Budget?

VR is one of those things where I recommend buying the best you can within your budget.

Cheap headsets are crap, and features only get better the higher up the price chain you travel. I’m not saying you need to drop a huge wad for a Vive Pro, but you don’t want to buy some cheap junk that doesn’t do VR justice.

Do You Get Motion Sick?

Are you someone who is prone to getting queasy when you ride rollercoasters?

If so, you may want to stick to standard gaming experiences. No joke, I once saw a girl ralph all over Vive controllers while riding a virtual rollercoaster. Don’t be that girl.

Presenting the Oculus Rift

The Oculus Rift is the granddaddy of VR headsets.

The original device was created by Palmer Luckey, who had a wildly successful Kickstarter to fund the device. Oculus was eventually sold to Facebook, who helped get the Rift to the market.

Since then, Oculus has been at the forefront of the VR industry, releasing an updated Rift (Rift S), mobile-style headset (Oculus Go), and completely wireless solution (Oculus Quest). All three have since been discontinued: the Oculus Go in 2020 (Meta), the original Quest in September 2020 (Wikipedia) and the Rift S in April 2021 (Wikipedia).

The Rift has six degrees of freedom and brings built-in 3D audio and the awesome Touch controllers.

The Rift launched at $599.99 in 2016 and dropped to $499 in March 2017 (Wikipedia). New units are no longer sold, so today you’ll mostly find it used.

Specs

• Display: Pentile OLED
• Resolution: 2160 x 1200 (1080 x 1200 per eye)
• Built-in 3D audio headphones
• 90Hz refresh rate
• Field of view: about 110°
• Includes Touch Controllers and Constellation sensor
• Weight: 470 grams

Pros

• Very immersive
• Excellent Oculus ecosystem
• Touch controllers work well

Cons

• While it’s great, the headset is getting dated
• Not as accurate as some newer headsets when it comes to tracking
• Screen door effect is present

Features and Benefits of the Oculus Rift

The Rift has a lot going for it, and I’m going to spell out the different aspects of the device for you.

While the Rift is great, it’s certainly no spring chicken in the world of technology.

Visual Experience (Still Good, Not Fantastic)

The display on the Rift is good, but it’s not nearly as advanced as some of the newer headsets coming out these days. Still, Oculus did good by putting in a Pentile OLED display with 2160 x 1200 resolution (1080 x 1200 per eye). Apps generally look good in bright environments, but when things get a bit darker you’ll notice the dreaded screen door effect.

Still, visually speaking, the Rift delivers, and there are certain points where they lead to total immersion to games you’re playing.

Audio Experience (Amazing and the Real Deal)

On the surface, you may not think that audio is all that important, but it’s vital to make VR totally immersive.

Oculus delivers in spades here, as the 3D audio headphones are fantastic and attached directly to the headset. Even though it’s three years after release, I still consider the Oculus headphones and audio to be the best in the industry.

Controller Interface is Great

The Oculus Touch Controls have been awesome since their release, as they let you interact with your environment with relative precision. The controllers track well with the Constellation system, and I prefer them over the inside-out solution found on the Quest and Rift S.

A Fantastic Ecosystem

The Oculus ecosystem is wonderful and is easily the best currently available. I find it easy to navigate to different areas, and it’s easy to browse your library or pick up new games.

While you can use Steam VR to pick up and launch games, most of the good stuff is available directly from Oculus and it remains my preferred launcher.

Still a Great Value Proposition

Even though the Rift is more than three years old, it’s still a great piece of hardware. It’s been discontinued in favor of the Rift S, but that means that you can often find them for a great price on the used market.

This stands up as being a good deal, even when you compare to the HTC Vive, which is equally as old.

There is a Big Caveat Though

I have to say that while the Rift is awesome, Oculus discontinued the headset in the spring of 2019 so that they could bring out the Rift S. This has made the Rift harder to come by, and supply will continue to become more scarce as time goes by.

If you’re thinking you want an OG Rift, you should probably strike now, as they’ll become a relic where folks seek them out like Indiana Jones searches for golden idols.

What Others Have to Say About the Oculus Rift

The Rift was a big hit among users and reviewers alike. Over the years, opinions haven’t changed too much, as users praise the immersion, build quality, ecosystem, controllers, and more.

Alternatives to the Oculus Rift

While I love the Rift, it is getting older and isn’t the cutting edge tech that it once was.

Because of this, I wanted to provide some good alternatives that also serve as great PC VR headsets. The three below were the original picks and are all discontinued now; the headsets you can still buy new are listed under current alternatives.

Oculus Rift S

The Rift S is the refreshed version of the Oculus Rift.

It has a better screen, different Touch Controllers (notice that I didn’t say better?), and better weight distribution for increased comfort. It’s very similar to the original device but does feature inside-out tracking. It uses a 2560 x 1440 LCD at 80Hz and was co-developed with Lenovo (Wikipedia).

The Rift S was discontinued in April 2021, so it is now also a used-only purchase.

Similarities

• Both Oculus headsets
• Require gaming PC to run headset
• Built-in audio

Differences

• Has inside-out tracking
• Touch Controllers aren’t as great for tracking

Check availability of the discontinued Rift S

HTC Vive

The HTC Vive launched just after the original Rift and has served as the device’s main competitor since that time. The device is also similar to the Rift, as they have the same resolution, but the Vive Controllers are a bit more accurate than the Touch.

You’ll have access to Steam VR, which is great, but it’s not as good as the Oculus ecosystem (at least in my eyes). HTC has since succeeded the original Vive with newer headsets such as the Vive Pro 2 and Vive Focus Vision (Wikipedia), and the original is now mostly found used. Read our HTC Vive review for more.

Similarities

• Both launched in 2016
• Includes controllers
• Comfortable to wear

Differences

• Doesn’t feature Oculus ecosystem
• No headphones included in the box
• Has better tracking through base stations

Check availability of the original HTC Vive

PlayStation VR

If you want a good VR experience but don’t want to drop for a gaming PC, then the PlayStation VR may be for you. Connecting to your PS4 or PS4 Pro, the PSVR is very comfortable and has some excellent games to play, including Ace Combat 7 and Astro Bot VR Rescue.

While the Move Controllers aren’t nearly as good as the Touch Controllers, PSVR is a capable system (and the best-selling headset of all-time). I highly recommend this route if you don’t have a PC.

Sony no longer makes the original PSVR, which was on the market from 2016 to 2024 (Wikipedia). Its successor, the PlayStation VR2, works with the PS5 and, with Sony’s $59.99 adapter, with a PC running Steam VR (PlayStation Blog).

Similarities

• Six degrees of freedom
• Comfortable to wear for long periods of time

Differences

• Controllers aren’t as accurate as Rift/Vive
• Has earbuds that don’t attach to the headset
• Games can be more expensive than on the Rift

Check availability of the original PSVR

Current Alternatives to Consider

If you want a PC VR headset you can still buy new, these are the options we checked. Prices are US list prices as of 24 September 2026.

Meta raised Quest prices in April 2026 because of higher memory costs (Meta). Quest headsets connect to a Windows PC with a USB-C cable or over Wi-Fi (5GHz recommended), according to Meta’s Link setup guide. See also our Oculus Rift alternatives.

Conclusion

I’ve been using the Rift for years, and I still think it’s better in some ways than the new Rift S.

I highly recommend the headset if you can find it. Seeing as how it’s discontinued, you may have a hard time finding one that’s not used, but the Rift S is a good option if you don’t mind the inside-out tracking.

Today the Rift and Rift S are both discontinued, so a used unit is only worth it at a low price. For most people, a current Meta Quest headset is the simpler way into PC VR. If you still want one of the originals, check the Rift S here.

Research behind this guide

Check the linked specifications and support documents, or read how we research. Original review experience stays attributed to its author.

View 14 sources

• Oculus Rift CV1 (Wikipedia)
• Oculus Rift (Wikipedia)
• Oculus Rift S (Wikipedia)
• Facebook will discontinue the Rift product line in 2021 (Road to VR)
• An update on the evolution of the Oculus platform (Meta)
• Oculus Quest (Wikipedia)
• Set up Meta Horizon Link and Air Link (Meta support)
• Compare Meta Quest headsets (Meta)
• An update on Meta Quest pricing (Meta)
• Vive Focus Vision Wired Bundle (HTC Vive store)
• HTC Vive (Wikipedia)
• PlayStation VR (Wikipedia)
• PlayStation VR2 (PlayStation)
• PlayStation VR2 players can access games on PC with adapter (PlayStation Blog)

Explore the related guides in VR headsets.