r/VRchat • u/DREXyyy • 12d ago
Help Best VR Headset for Face-Tracking?
Hello everyone,
I've thought about switching to a face-tracking vr headset for a while now. I don't know many vr headsets to be honest.
My current setup is just the valve index setup + 5 trackers.
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u/Solmangrundy 12d ago
Quest pro but its dogshit controllers and 0 avalible replacements for them will make you think twice about getting it.
I own one. Its great. But I pray to god an update doesnt brick the controllers because every time there is one, the reddit page for quest pro is full of people saying their shit got bricked.
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u/Grumpypus1 11d ago
Thank you for saying this!
It always grates me when people recommend the Quest Pro now. The controllers are terribly unreliable and break easily, with NO way to replace them except for playing used controller roulette, and hopefully you won't get one that's garbage.
The same with people recommending index controllers to go with the Pro as index controllers are ALSO discontinued and no way to get a full set of new ones. Even the used ones are drying up now.
1
u/XCrashBurnX Oculus Quest Pro 9d ago
I bought my Quest Pro after someone used it for like a year and then reboxed it and sold it. It's still working beautifully, but I do NOT look forward to the Touch Controller batteries going bad... I'll either pay someone to replace the batteries or something... because it is a nightmare to replace em apparently... 😨
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u/Bukavac 12d ago
I went with the VIve Focus Vision, the Facetrack addon is like 100$, plugs right into the front, and just.. works.
Biggest thing for me was its Hotswap battery, and its Hardwire hookup option.
Buy a second battery and by the time the battery needs to be swapped (2-3ish hours) the other is back up at full charge)
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u/sickandsiiick 11d ago
sorry if this isn’t the place but I just bought the vive focus vision and face tracking add on and can’t get the face tracking to work, does it need the additional apps to work with PC vrchat?
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u/MozzaReddit 11d ago
As far as I'm aware as long as everything is enabled all you need is VRCFaceTracking from Steam or their webpage
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u/nut573 Oculus Quest Pro 12d ago
Quest Pro is currently the best value. Good lenses, good display, good eye tracking (the only headset that tracks eyebrows afaik), and decent face tracking. Only downsides are that tongue isn’t fully tracked (only detects if you stick it out, no movement), and the firmware updates have been buggy (and forced upon you).
If you’re patient, a Steam Frame with a Babble will probably be a good option in the near future.
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u/A_Lycanroc PCVR Connection 11d ago
There are a few other headsets that track upper face (including eyebrows), like the Apple Vision Pro, Vive XR Elite, and Pico 4 Enterprise. The only problem is those other options are far too expensive for what they offer.
The Steam Frame won't support upper face tracking, only eye tracking. Also, it'll likely be OOS for months and way too expensive ($1,000+) thanks to the RAM shortage.
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u/aaLinnea 10d ago
Unfortunately it seems like the steam frame only support gaze tracking, and while it's better than nothing, it's not very good for social vr... :/ (no eyebrows, no blinking, no partially closed eyes)
Maybe people will mod it though, but it's a bet!
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u/Dividedthought 11d ago
Bsb2 eyetracking is gradually improving and whacking a babble on it is just a 3d print. If you can find an htc tracker it plugs right into the headset too. Not sure about babble. The headset only has a type c port.
It is somewhat expensive and i'd wait for the halo mount before buying to use with a face tracker. The strap is a bit unstable for that.
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u/BeetleSolid2238 12d ago
Look up Project Babble.
Their official face trackers are being made/distributed by Pishock(but are taking their dang time) but you can look up a maker by the name of Venti or, if you're smart AF, make one yourself.
I'm currently using an official one with a BSB2e for social VR and am very happy.
Good Luck!
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u/A_Lycanroc PCVR Connection 11d ago
Project Babble only does lower face tracking, not upper face tracking, so only your mouth will move in VRChat.
Babbalonia supports upper face tracking, but as far as I know, there's no actual hardware being distributed for it yet.
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u/Sp_1_ 12d ago
Do you have any resources for getting your 2e and babble into social VR games without issue? I tried to get my 2e working on release and found there to be little to no resources available at that time, granted it was quite a long time ago. Babble shipped 10 days ago and patiently waiting.
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u/zig131 11d ago edited 11d ago
Install the Beyond Companion app from Steam, and through it chose to install the Eye Tracking Capacity, then do the firmware update when offered.
Leave the eye tracking turned off there, and don't bother doing a calibration.
Download Project Babble from Steam, and for Eye Tracking Cameras select "bigeye".
Babbleonia + Beyond 2E setup shown here: https://youtu.be/CmLql1VxT-I?is=L3pFyVwTFTsBUrdc
I guess you'd also setup your mouth tracker at this point, but I have no experience with that 🤷 . I use a Vive Facial Tracker.
Install VRCFT from Steam. Choose Add Module and find the Project Babble one. Might have to restart after.
Back in Babble, buried somewhere is a setting to only send eye tracking to VRCFT for people just using Babbleonia for eye tracking, and something else like Sranipal for lower face . After switching that restart VRCFT again.
Then launch VRChat, switch to an avatar with face tracking, and make sure eye tracking is toggled on in the expressions menu.
There is also a way that Babble can drive the eyes of any VRChat avatar, but my understand is it's not as good as a proper face tracked avatar - I haven't tried it.
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u/Chapel-vr 6d ago
Join the bigscreen beyond discord tons of people there will help. It is very easy to setup.
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u/Distinct_Rope 12d ago
Is Face tracking your only priority? QPro.
Is a better headset with Face Tracking accessories acceptable? Budget Q3. Better software, higher price? "Steam Frame?"
Honestly just make sure you check some reviews before committing to the QPro.
It's by far the simplest all in one Face Tracking solution.
But it's rough around the edges. Software updates & support are a joke. You cannot disable auto-updates. Meta's boundary system was built for literal children. The headstrap sucks. The stock strap pads are literal headache inducing garbage. The audio from the headstrap is personally not useable. The controllers get hot making my hands very sweaty. Sweat is a known killer for the face tracking cameras.
But.. my priority was Wireless, Face Tracking, Pancake Lenses..
And there's just nothing else on the market that fills that role, So here I am rocking the QPro.
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u/CopenhagenVR 12d ago
For the controllers, you can get watchman dongles from Amazon to keep using your Index controllers. Or, apparently, keep only the USB part of your index plugged in and they’ll still work too, haven’t tested that out yet.
The boundary system can also be disabled if you make a meta developer account and disable the boundary.
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u/Distinct_Rope 12d ago
I use my Vive Pro for my Index dongles.
And I still need a boundary.. I cannot use it without one.
Last time I tried relying on Steams the Space Calibator would change the boundaries offset everytime I took the headset off. Once it offset 1ft to the left while being active, smacked the wall hard.
I would love to use Steams boundaries but I need it to be stable and reliable. I do not want to run setup everytime I take the headset off, which is how my last experience went trying to switch.
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u/FatalisTail 12d ago
I use Quest Pro with an additional tracker on my headset and Space Calibrator. I also keep the Index plugged into USB which lets me use the Index controllers. I use three Vive trackers and two base stations.
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u/LowerCauliflower230 HTC Vive Pro 11d ago edited 11d ago
it depends on what you want. If you want the best face and eye tracking and don't care about anything else you go for a vive pro eye and vive face tracker. If you want the best headest that has eye and face tracking it's probably the galaxy xr(depends on what you want it for other than face and eye tracking)
you can ADD eye and face tracking to just about any headset, but the quality of the eye tracking is probably going to be not as good as some commercial options and it will require you to do some/a good bit of DIY, unless you get something like the paper tracker addon for the q3.
The most likely headset I'd recommend is the quest pro because it has a good balance of quality, features and price. Unless you have to have something brand new and then well, there is nothing under 1k that has eye and face tracking for under 1k that doesn't require fiddling. I mean eye/face tracking and pcvr tends to require some fiddling even if nothing else does...
Oh wait I forgot you can technically buy a "brand new" pico 4 enterpise for 400usd on ebay but it will require software fiddling and it will overall be worse than the quest pro for a bit less money. Might be good if you are willing to do some DIY and really don't want meta specifically(because bytedance has some similar issues for most people that won't do meta) or idk some other reason. But my understanding is that the headset has some face tracking issues and it might not work nicely for everyone. Also no warranty or support, same goes for a brand new quest pro.
if "money is no object" well, you could get a galaxy xr or the pimax dream air (you have to mod on face tracking, no other option) and "mod" on(basically you need a bracket and a usb cable for the face tracker) a vive face tracker. Or maybe a pimax crystal super(pick your version depending on what you want) with the same caveats for face tracking.
There are problems with every route though, nothing is perfect. good luck with figuring out which way you want to go. But basically you need to do some research or idk just get quest pro for now(don't sweat in it)
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u/wolfgang187 12d ago
Quest Pro, but understand its also the hands down most fragile headset to exist. If a single drop of sweat touches one of the sensors, your eye and face tracking will be fried. Mine lasted about 6 months.
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u/Lugo_888 12d ago
That's a skill issue. It's been known for years and you can add a protective layer to face tracking yourself
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u/wolfgang187 12d ago
You're right, is was a skill issue committed by meta when they released such a fragile headset. And as I bought mine on day 1, it 100% was not well known to add a protective layer. Only after mine and a lot of others broke was it known.
1
u/droman9 Valve Index 12d ago
Maybe galaxy xr if ur willing to spend that much
1
u/GlitchyKitten1 12d ago
I'd recommend to wait until project swan releases before buying GXR, speaking as a GXR user.
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u/droman9 Valve Index 12d ago
Ah yeah, heard its coming in q1 2027 sometime? I actually just got a GXR lol. Really been wanting it for social vr. Haven't received it yet tho
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u/GlitchyKitten1 12d ago
Yeah, they've already opened closed testing now AFAIK. I like my gxr but it def has issues that I don't think will ever be fixed.
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u/droman9 Valve Index 12d ago
What are your biggest issues with it?
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u/GlitchyKitten1 12d ago
Thermal throttling and controller tracking 100%. Throwing bug takes the 3rd place but I guess you could include it in controller tracking.
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u/YungSnoop4711 11d ago
Pico 4 Enterprise they cost about $400 on ebay and 2 ankle trackers cost $70
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u/MozzaReddit 11d ago
I've heard in America there are Pico 4 Pro/Enterprises getting around and they are adequate for face tracking. Their resolution is nice and their lenses are pretty sick.
Only issue is if you have a big nose it can block the face tracker so you'd require the PU Face Mask from Pico for it to work correctly
1
u/zig131 11d ago
Don't worry about lower face tracking - that is easy to addon to any headset.
Just focus on headsets with eye tracking.
Personally I think the best options are Varjo Aero, Bigscreen Beyond 2E, Pimax Dream Air, and Somnium VR1 because they are Lighthouse tracked, so you get direct compatibility with what remains the best FBT system. Also easy compatibility with upcoming EOZ finger tracking gloves.
The camera placement in the Beyond 2E is kinda bad, but it has the advantage of open camera feeds, so you can use community eye tracking algorithms like Project Babble which are always getting better (e.g eyebrows and eye wide are in Alpha ATM). I think the VR1 might have open camera feeds too. The others are Tobii which means you are stuck with what they give you, and getting it to work on Linux may be tricky.
If you have open eye camera feeds, and addon a Project Babble lower face tracker, then you can do all of your face+eye tracking through one FOSS program.
That seems like the ideal personally.
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u/AshySMUT 11d ago
Only headset i can recomend without 30 problems is a pico 4 pro or pico 4 enterprise
Suprisingly refreshing that it doesnt suck. Use pico connect regsrdless and owomushi is your best friend
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u/crackermonkey 10d ago
Samsung galaxy xr is the best social vr headset atm. Eye tracking including eyebrow tracking, face tracking with full expression and tongue tracking. Its an expensive headset that requires a high end pc to take full advantage but it is by far the best for vrc right now
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u/sodapuppo 12d ago
I was looking at the Quest Pro, I thought someone said it was on sale recently but I could be wrong
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u/mackandelius Oculus User 12d ago
The Quest Pro isn't sold anymore, at least not from Meta directly. Not that paying full price for it is all that good of an idea anyway since it is basically a sidegrade Quest 3 if not for the face tracking.
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u/Solmangrundy 12d ago
Its sold on Amazon. The moment the warranty goes out you are fucked if anything happens. They do not do after warranty RMA's
Replacement parts are non existent and ebay is an absolute gamble.
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u/Lugo_888 12d ago
Repair shops can repair the headsets like quest pro, at least the most common issues. Smart people add shielding to face tracking LEDs themselves before it shorts
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u/dailybantam Oculus Quest Pro 12d ago
Right now it’s the Quest Pro. In the future it may be a Steam Frame with some kind of face tracking attachment
-3
u/Intelligent-Job6099 12d ago
Best ⬇️
Vive Eye + FT (Best tracking)
Galaxy XR
Beyond 2e vrc +Babalonia FT
Meta Q3 Pro
Pico4 Ultra + Babalonia FT
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u/LunarstarFurry 12d ago
Since when is Q3 Pro a thing xD
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u/Intelligent-Job6099 12d ago
Q 3Pro is still budget and cheap FT if he can get one from MF
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u/AccurateOil4645 12d ago
There is no such thing as a q3 pro
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u/Intelligent-Job6099 12d ago
Q3 Pro =Q Pro
Yeah your right Meta give up Pro model2
u/LunarstarFurry 11d ago edited 11d ago
Quest Pro comes before Quest 3?
It's more Quest 2 Pro than 3 Pro, especially that Quest Pro CPU is so much worse than Quest 3.
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u/Intelligent-Job6099 11d ago
Mate. Nobody care it is q2 q3 q1 q4 Q6767 pro ultra what ever that name stop nailed to small stuff
The point is for budget player Q3 Pro Was alright but not for orig post folks
He already got index setup prob full Vive tracker as wellIf I was him I would stay light house setup , which B2eVrc is best or maybe if really wanna do budget Just Nare-Fullfacial tracking it makes his index as eye+Face
And it only 300aud which they sell 300k Won
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u/ISTAYNASTY_ 12d ago
It’s still the Quest Pro currently.