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Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
VR used to be something that people couldn’t experience without spending tons of money and hooking a headset up to a powerful gaming PC. Nowadays, anyone with a smartphone can step into an immersive virtual reality. All you need is one of the best mobile VR headsets!
We’ve scoured the internet and rounded up the top mobile VR headsets to make it easy for you to bring your games and movies to life. No more cables tethering you to expensive hardware. These headsets will let you experience VR anywhere!
Zoom In: The 8 Best Mobile VR Headsets
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best mobile VR headsets currently available!
1. BNext VR Headset
The best mobile VR headset overall
Manufacturer: BNext | Compatibility: 4” – 6.3” smartphones | Weight: 14.5 ounces | Price: 💰💰
Our number one pick is the BNext VR. This extremely affordable headset is compatible with a wide range of phones. In fact, it’s the best VR headset for 6s Plus all the way up through 12, and it fits plenty of Android devices too. It has a vent at the front to keep your phone from overheating and thick mesh padding at the eyes for comfort and breathability.
This thing takes the cake when it comes to viewing quality, comfort, and compatibility. There are certainly mobile VR headsets out there that come with more features, but there’s no better value-per-dollar in the headsets-designed-to-work-with-smartphones category. It’s great whether you’re playing the newest racing game or just watching some 3D video.
The only downside is that it doesn’t come with a VR controller. You’ll have to buy one like this separately if you want to use it for gaming.
- USERS LIKE
- Under $40
- Works with a wide variety of phones
- Comes with a tool to make sure your phone is centered
- USERS DISLIKE
- Made of ABS plastic
- Doesn’t come with a controller
- Need to open the “drawer” to access the phone
2. Oculus Quest 2
The best premium mobile VR headset
Manufacturer: Oculus | Compatibility: All-in-one, PC | Weight: 29.5 ounces | Price: 💰💰💰💰💰
Willing to spend more for a premium VR experience? Oculus is probably the biggest name in virtual reality, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that their mobile all-in-one unit made our list. The Oculus Quest 2 is the latest version of their wireless platform.
Three things separate the Quest 2 from other mobile platforms. The first is that it isn’t just a viewing box for a phone — it is its own console with its own screen! The second is that it can be used with a PC if you want to play games that require a bit more computing power, and the third is that it comes with two of Oculus’s own VR remotes.
This is definitely the one to get if you want to play any of the games from our list of the best VR games for kids or if you want to mess around with mods in Skyrim VR.
- USERS LIKE
- Accurate motion tracking
- Built in 3.5mm headphone jack
- More affordable than other high-end VR headsets
- USERS DISLIKE
- Only ~2.5 hours battery life
- Popup appears at 15% battery life
- You need a Facebook account to activate it
3. Topmaxions Cardboard V2
The best budget mobile VR headset
Manufacturer: Topmaxions | Compatibility: 3.5″ – 6″ smartphones | Weight: 5 ounces | Price: 💰
Looking to dip your toes into the world of VR without spending a ton of cash? Google Cardboard has been around for a while, but now other brands are taking the same premise and offering entry-level VR at an even lower price.
The Topmaxions Cardboard V2 is a simple cardboard headset with foam padding, a Velcro strap, lenses, and suction cups to hold your phone in place. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s functional VR for about the price of a latte!
- USERS LIKE
- Roughly $5
- Easy access to phone
- Works well for people with glasses
- USERS DISLIKE
- No instructions
- Strap is short for people with large heads
- Takes some work to get phone placement right
4. Destek V5
The best mobile VR headset for iPhones
Manufacturer: Destek | Compatibility: 5.5” – 6.4” smartphones | Weight: 13 ounces | Price: 💰💰
Looking for the best VR headset for iPhone? Well, look no further than the Destek V5!
This mobile VR headset has a 110-degree field of view. It fits smartphones between 5.5″ and 6.4″, and the front pops open for easy access to your phone. It has some quality padding where it fits to your face, and the strap is made of comfortable PU leather.
It also includes a Bluetooth VR controller, making it even more of a value option. That’s why this is the best VR headset for iOS.
- USERS LIKE
- Under $40
- Comes with Bluetooth controller
- Adjustments to get phone setting perfect
- USERS DISLIKE
- Some find it too heavy
- Nose grip is tight for some users
- Remote doesn’t work with all games
5. Samsung Gear VR
The best mobile VR headset for Samsung Galaxy phones
Manufacturer: Samsung | Compatibility: Galaxy S6 to S9 (standard, edge, and +), Note 5/8/9 | Weight: 25.5 ounces | Price: 💰💰💰💰
If you’ve got a Samsung Galaxy, then you’re in luck! Samsung actually makes their own VR headset powered by Oculus technology that only works with Samsung phones. It’s probably the best smartphone adaptive VR headset on the market — we even put it on our list of the best VR headsets.
The Samsung Gear VR has a 360-degree view, with access to the hundreds of games available through the Oculus library. It also comes with a controller featuring a touchpad instead of a thumbstick.
The downside? It’s expensive and hard to get ahold of new. Still, it’s the best VR headset for the Galaxy S7 and everything else in the platform’s all-star lineup.
- USERS LIKE
- Comes with a premium controller
- Has a removable multi-purpose jack
- Clear video, no blurriness or pixelation
- USERS DISLIKE
- Hard to find new
- Usually over $80
- Only works with Samsung smartphones
6. Nintendo Labo VR Starter Kit
The best mobile VR headset for Switch
Manufacturer: Nintendo | Compatibility: Nintendo Switch | Weight: 45 ounces| Price: 💰💰💰
The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console of last year. Wouldn’t it be great if there was some way to use it for VR?
There is! The Nintendo Labo VR Kit is a cardboard system that turns your Switch into a VR headset (complete with games)! It can also be adapted into a rifle-like build for shooters. It uses the JoyCons for motion control and the console’s screen as your display.
- USERS LIKE
- Easy to build
- Nintendo library of games
- Includes “blaster” adaptor
- USERS DISLIKE
- No head-strap
- Large and heavy
- More features available in the full kit
7. Koramizi VR Glasses
The best mobile VR headset for smaller smartphones
Manufacturer: Koramizi | Compatibility: 4″ – 6″ smartphones | Weight: 12 ounces | Price: 💰
Some phones are a little smaller than what most VR headsets are made to hold. The Koramizi VR Glasses are specified to hold smartphones as short as 4″ in length. It has a breathable foam pad at the eyes and an adjustable head-strap. It also has a dial for adjusting pupil distance, making it easier to fine-tune your image quality.
The BNext headset (first on our list) is better, and it fits these phones as well – but it costs more than twice as much! We think this is the best VR headset for iPhone 5 users and anyone else with a small phone.
- USERS LIKE
- Under $20
- Fits smaller phones
- Dial to adjust pupil distance
- USERS DISLIKE
- The headset itself is small
- Hard to get perfectly in focus
- Doesn’t work well with glasses
8. Likee VR
The best mobile VR headset for longer smartphones
Manufacturer: Likee | Compatibility: 4.5″ – 6.3″ smartphones | Weight: 17.5 ounces | Price: 💰💰
Want to get the best VR headset for Nexus 6p and other smartphones that are a little on the long side? Well, you should definitely check out the Likee VR!
This headset comes with a PU leather cushion that, while less breathable than other materials, is softer and more comfortable than most headsets. This set also features HD optical resin lenses with 8-layer nano-coating to give you a clear image, and it boasts an adjustable head strap for folks of all shapes and sizes.
If you’re not into the BNext, this is the next best VR headset for Android phones longer than 6″ as well.
- USERS LIKE
- Clear image
- Works with multiple iPhones
- Best “cardboard like” 3D VR headset
- USERS DISLIKE
- Cushion doesn’t breathe
- Has trouble scanning QR codes
- Clamps occasionally push volume buttons on some phones
Buyer’s Guide: Best Mobile VR Headsets
Here’s a quick buyer’s guide to help you decide which mobile VR headset is right for you.
1. Check phone compatibility.
First, look up the specifications on your smartphone and check that it’s VR compatible. They don’t all have the “gyroscope” feature necessary for VR built in. Next, check its length. Make sure whichever VR headset you pick can fit your phone.
2. What are you using it for?
Is this primarily for gaming or 3D movie viewing? Are you going to need a controller? Keep in mind that some VR headsets come with controllers and others require you to buy them separately. Most mobile VR headsets require a smartphone and can only play the games available on that phone’s mobile platform, while the Oculus Quest 2 is the only one on our list to have its own built-in platform and be PC compatible.
3. Consider your price range.
There’s a significant performance gap between a premium VR experience, like the Oculus, and the experience you’ll get from something like Google Cardboard. There’s also a significant price gap. Think about how much you’re willing to spend and what kind of experience you expect to get from your purchase.
Our Process
For this guide on the best mobile VR headsets, our writers spent 10 hours researching the most popular headsets from 20 brands and manufacturers big and small. After comparing this data, we then read over 200 user reviews (both positive and negative) and narrowed our list down to the top 8 best mobile VR headsets on the market. All of this research adds up to recommendations you can trust.
Thanks for reading our list of the best mobile VR headsets. Be sure to follow High Ground Gaming for news, reviews, and more lists like this one. Happy gaming!
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