Valve
Valve Index
$999
Released 2019-06
Best VR Headsets · head-to-head
Valve Index vs Bigscreen Beyond
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Valve Index is cheaper at $999. Every spec and price links to its source.
Bigscreen
Bigscreen Beyond
$999
Released 2023-01
Which is better: the Valve Index or Bigscreen Beyond?
They split the 2 specs we compare evenly.
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Key specs, head to head
The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Valve Index | Bigscreen Beyond |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $999 | $999 |
| Brand | Valve | Bigscreen |
| Released | 2019-06 | 2023-01 |
| Display per eye | 1440x1600 | 2560x2560 |
| Refresh (Hz) | 144 | 90 |
| FOV (°) | 108 | — |
| Tracking | Lighthouse 2.0 outside-in (requires base stations) | SteamVR Lighthouse outside-in (base stations required) |
| Standalone | No | No |
| Storage (GB) | — | — |
| Weight (g) | 809 | 127 |
| Passthrough | Yes | No |
| Release | 2019-06 | 2023-01 |
Sources — Valve Index: en.wikipedia.org (verified 2026-06-15). Bigscreen Beyond: en.wikipedia.org (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Valve Index and Bigscreen Beyond?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Display per eye: Valve Index 1440x1600 vs Bigscreen Beyond 2560x2560
- Refresh (Hz): Valve Index 144 vs Bigscreen Beyond 90
- Tracking: Valve Index Lighthouse 2.0 outside-in (requires base stations) vs Bigscreen Beyond SteamVR Lighthouse outside-in (base stations required)
- Weight (g): Valve Index 809 vs Bigscreen Beyond 127
- Passthrough: Valve Index true vs Bigscreen Beyond false
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Valve Index
Three hands-on testers (RoadToVR, UploadVR, Engadget), all dated June 28, 2019, rate the Index the highest-fidelity PC VR headset of its era: standout off-ear audio, excellent comfort, wide field of view and high refresh rate. All three flag the $999/$1,000 full-kit price versus the ~$400 Rift S. None published instrument measurements. Finger-tracking value split the reviewers. (3 sourced reviews.)
Praised: Best-in-class integrated off-ear speakers deliver powerful, full high-quality audio; Superior visual fidelity: wide ~130-degree field of view and up to 144Hz refresh, clearest image of its class; Index controllers a genuine upgrade over Vive wands with natural grip/finger input.
Flagged: $999/$1,000 full-kit price far exceeds rivals like the ~$400 Rift S; LCD panels show greyish, low-contrast blacks versus OLED; Lens glare/god rays on high-contrast scenes.
Bigscreen Beyond
Two whitelisted VR outlets (Road to VR, UploadVR) published hands-on reviews of the original Bigscreen Beyond in September 2023, both explicitly as review-in-progress pending the forthcoming audio strap. Both agree it is exceptionally light and comfortable for long sessions, and both flag an unusually tight eyebox where the slightest misalignment ruins clarity and field-of-view, plus lens glare and edge distortion. Road to VR additionally praises the sharp OLED image (true blacks, no screen-door) and hammers the lack of built-in audio at launch; UploadVR is more reserved on visual quality. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Exceptionally light and comfortable for long sessions vs heavier headsets; Sharp microOLED visuals with true blacks and no screen-door effect.
Flagged: Extremely tight eyebox/sweet spot; tiny misalignment ruins clarity and FOV; Lens glare and edge distortion/internal reflections in high-contrast scenes; No built-in audio at launch (audio strap still forthcoming).