If you take a look at the current landscape of Virtual Reality headsets, whether they are going to be sold as standalone devices or ones that require a PC, most of them require an expensive investment.
This can be difficult for people who want to experience VR but don’t have the budget. Phone VR headsets are a viable alternative to these headsets because they create the immersive VR experience without forcing users to spend too much money up front.
The headset itself usually doesn’t have any electronic components, consisting of lenses strapped to a casing with the phone being used for computing power and all of the sensors needed for tracking your head movements.
These portable headset allow for untethered use with some fairly significant compromises from more dedicated versions that link up to main computers.
But if you’re comfortable accepting these limitations in exchange for affordability and ease of use, then phone VR headsets are an excellent way to experience virtual reality without having to shell out a lot of cash upfront.
Products at a Glance
The Destek V5 VR Headset is a premium-feeling device that was made to give you an immersive virtual reality experience with plenty of sharp and crisp visuals.
It features anti-distortion lenses, anti-blue light lenses, aspheric lenses, and T-shaped headbands that allow for a snug fit while maintaining an access point for interpapillary distance adjustments and simplifying navigation regardless of device. And best of all, the headset has a comfy and cushioned body that prevents light bleed in so your experience doesn’t get diluted.
Best Phone VR Headset
The Merge AR/VR Headset is designed to be comfortable and durable, perfect for use with all sorts of VR mobile apps and games. The headset features a pair of 42mm lenses with a 96-degree field of view, along with IPD adjustment and enough room for users wearing glasses.
Additionally, the headset features two input buttons so you can easily navigate content on your phone in the headset. It’s also compatible with any phone measuring between 4.8 inches and 6.2 inches in size, whether that’s an Android or iOS device.
Popular phones that pair well with the Headset include the iPhone 6, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, Samsung S20, S10, and Note 10 to name a few.
For those that want to maximize the value of their money but don’t want to spend a lot, the BNEXT VR Headset is a strong option with pleasantly low price tag and quality components. Comfortable and highly adjustable, this headset provides everything you need to get started in phone VR.
The sliding phone casing also makes it easier to align your phone correctly. We’re impressed by the quality on offer without too much cost given price point.
While $30 to $50 is a reasonable price to pay for a decent VR experience, you might find that you can get even lower thanks to some copycat headsets that came out of the woodwork in the wake of Google Cardboard.
The Topmaxions Cardboard V2 is one of the best among them, and only costs $6. Much like Google’s headset, the Topmaxions Cardboard V2 features a strip of sponge padding on the nose pad, headband, and fore pad making it hands-free.
The headband can’t be adjusted but is made of flexible material suitable for most head sizes. Overall, these features work well enough to add a bit of comfort to the VR experience, something we would not expect at such a low cost.
The Top axions Cardboard V2 accommodates any phone measuring 3.5-inches to 6-inches – including models from Apple, Samsung, etc. It’s hard to avoid the fact that the Top axions Cardboard V2 is made out of cardboard albeit AAA grade corrugated cardboard and as such durability isn’t really built into it either by design or manufacturing process. It may last for several months and possibly longer provided proper care is taken but it
Our top choice is the Destek V5 VR Headset, which is affordable. It can be set up to fit just about any type of phone and has plenty of adjustments for vision, not to mention its accompanying controller.
A close runner-up is the Merge AR/VR Headset, which features everything you need in a comfortable headset from cutting-edge tech like virtual reality to a tunable range of depth and clarity.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive but immersive way to experience VR, we recommend the BNEXT VR Headset with adjustable depth and comfort.
With a good entry point and plenty of features, the Destock V5 VR headset makes for an affordable, comfortable way to experience virtual reality without destroying your wallet Warmer weather means that we’re seeing more people looking to spend some happy hours outside. The Merge AR/VR Headset is just one of the best choices for folks who want to do so in style and comfort.
Our Verdict
Our top pick is the Destek V5 VR Headset for offering users an affordable entry-point into VR without sacrificing on comfort or design.
It’s compatible with a good range of phones, features plenty of adjustments to find the right fit, and comes packed with a simple controller that you’ll use more than any other device.
A close runner-up, the Merge AR/VR Headset is another strong option for those looking to experience VR without spending a fortune. It’s comfortable, easy to use, adjustable, and grants access to a broad range of free apps via the Merge Miniverse (which includes most Android phones).
Some misgivings surrounding durability are easily effaced by this headset’s surprisingly immersive VR experience, not least if you use it for educational purposes. Even lower down the pricing scale we have the BNEXT VR Headset.
It’s an uncomplicated pair of headsets with ample padding and adjustments that features everything needed to transform your phone into a virtual reality ready device.
