Best VR Headsets – March 2017

VR is consistently getting better and more content for the hardware continues to find its way to the market, but if you find yourself without a VR headset to enjoy such content then you’re in luck, as there are quite a few options out there for you to choose from and many of them are pretty excellent choices. If you’re not sure exactly where to start, not to worry as we’ve put together a list of some of the best VR headsets you can get your hands on.

Beusoft VR Headset

Kicking off this list is this simple VR headset from Beusoft. It boasts a similar design to a lot of the other VR headsets that are modeled after Google Cardboard, but made with plastic. It has a front cover to hide the mounted phone, and it has heat dissipation vents which are designed to help prevent the phone from overheating. It supports phones that are as small as 4.5-inches and all the way up to 6.3-inches so it should be compatible with most smartphone types, and it even comes with a controller similar in style to the one you’ll get with the Daydream View.

Magicoo 3D VR Box

This one is a little more akin to something like the Gear VR with the headstrap that goes around the back as well as over the top of your head for a more secure fit, although it’s not as stylish as the Gear VR. The nice thing is that this headset has built-in headphones which means you don’t have to mess around with connecting a pair to your phone. It will support phones that are 4-inches in size all the way up to 6.2-inches.

View-Master Deluxe VR Viewer

The View-Master Deluxe is aimed at kids and is built with Google Cardboard technology, blending the worlds of VR with the experiences that have been enjoyed through the View-Master for decades. While most of the features are pretty standard here as it’s a more basic headset, it does have a nifty little headphone connector. This connector is fitted on the inside where your phone slots in and plugs into the headphone port on your device, while the other end is an open port on the bottom of the headset for you to plug in a pair of headphones, making it less cumbersome to use a headset with the device.

Xiaomi Mi VR Glasses Headset

Xiaomi’s entry into the VR space offers a similar feel to other headsets but it also carries a little of its own style with the zipper enclosure where you mount your phone. It supports popular devices that are anywhere from 4.7-inches to 5.7-inches in size, and to access VR content you’ll need the Xiaomi VR app which is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

Google Cardboard

Next up is the headset that more or less started it all, the original and official Google Cardboard headset. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a headset that comes in at such an inexpensive cost which is part of the appeal here. It’s compatible with a wide range of apps from the Play Store as there is a pretty big list of Cardboard compatible apps these days, and it fits a wide variety of phones.

Oculus Rift

The Oculus Rift transitions things into the more expensive VR territory as it’s designed to be used with a PC, and this is a high-quality headset which means it’s going to deliver a high-quality experience. There’s a rapidly growing list of VR content to access through the Rift, and for the gamers there are tons of titles to keep you engaged. It comes with an Xbox One controller in the box to control content, and it has integrated VR audio to make immersing yourself a little easier.

HTC Vive

Stepping things up a bit is the HTC Vive. This is significantly more expensive than the Oculus Rift but it’s also a slightly nicer headset, and you get the Vive controllers included in the box. With the Vive you have the camera and sensors on the front of the headset that allow you to sense objects around you and in front of you so you can mostly move around freely in the room to make for a more immersive experience, and it’s backed by Valve which means loads of games and other VR software from Steam.

PlayStation VR

Moving the price down the ladder a little is the PSVR, which is designed to work with the PlayStation 4 console. You won’t have as large of a list of games and content just yet compared to the Vive and Rift headsets, but it is more affordable and a perfect companion for those who prefer to play games via PS4.

Samsung Gear VR

This list wouldn’t be complete without Samsung’s Gear VR as this is one of the better headset options out there for those that want a more mobile experience. While not as powerful as something like the Oculus Rift, is does come powered by Oculus software and there is a pretty decent sized list of games and other content to enjoy through the headset if you have a compatible Galaxy phone. There are home and back buttons on the right side of the headset as well as a touchpad to help with navigation, though you could also connect a Bluetooth controller if you like.

Google Daydream View

Finishing this list off is Google’s Daydream View headset. It provides a similar experience to that of the Gear VR up above, but also has its own unique user interface and it works with non-Samsung phones with a growing compatibility list of devices. It comes in a few different color options and it comes with the Daydream Controller which is easy to use, has a touchpad and other buttons for navigation, and it’s rechargeable.