What are the best VR smartphone frames?

12

Options
Considered

10

User
Recs.

Nov 9, 2017

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

12 Options Considered

Best VR smartphone frames	Price	Last Updated
-- Google Cardboard	$15	Nov 9, 2017
-- Samsung Gear VR	$99	Jul 17, 2016
-- Daydream View	$79	Dec 8, 2016
-- Durovis Dive	-	Mar 4, 2015
-- Zeiss VR One	-	Mar 4, 2015

Google Cardboard

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Top Pro

Very low barrier to entry

Google Cardboard was specifically designed to make it easy to try out VR. The cost is low, and virtually any phone you have in your pocket today can power it. Content is even available on the Google Play Store - it can't get any simpler than that. See More

Top Con

Requires an Android phone

The low price is somewhat deceptive, since it does require an Android phone to work. However, you might already have one. See More

Experience

WhiteLilac

Somehow got it off Amazon or Ebay for just a few dollars, had it for over a year and it’s still in one piece. I like taking photos with the cardboard camera app when travelling. With the sound recording and 360 view you can really go back to the places later. I also love playing horror games with it, great stuff(make sure to use headphones though). Overall, it's an awesome gadget for this price. See More

Top Pro

Android Daydream ready

New Android "Daydream" ready devices (i.e. that meet certain criteria) get an improved VR experience with high performance sensors, high density, low-persistence displays (i.e. high refresh rate). See More

Top Con

Your experience will vary

Older hardware won't perform admirably, whether it be the SoC (system on a chip), display (resolution as well as sub-pixel arrangement make a huge impact on display quality for VR), or battery life (VR takes a lot of power). See More

Top Pro

Android Daydream ready

New Android "Daydream" ready devices (i.e. that meet certain criteria) get an improved VR experience with high performance sensors, high density, low-persistence displays (i.e. high refresh rate). See More

Top Con

Very basic

Google Cardboard was Google's way of generating interest for phone powered VR, and is literally just a piece of cardboard (or plastic) and glass lenses. The software is integrated into the Google Play Store, and Google more-or-less put Cardboard out there to see what developers would do with it. Later in 2016, Google will be making their next push forward with Daydream which will be a more modern, well thought through platform. See More

Top Pro

Works with any Android phone

Depending on the version of cardboard, there may be some size limitations which limit your options. However, if you aren't picky about the hardware phones from 4" all the way to 7" are supported. See More

Top Con

The official box is for Nexus 5 only

Even though you may apply the technique to other phones, the prebuilt one is only working well with Nexus 5 because of the screen size, NFC sensor, camera position, and magnetic sensor. However all of these are optional and it'll work as long as your phone screen size is roughly 5 inches. [Additional Information:] Many phones can fit with minimal modifications to the Cardboard. See More

Samsung Gear VR

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Top Pro

Complete freedom of movement thanks to being untethered

Gear VR doesn't have any wires that limit your movement, allowing for complete mobility. The device works when any modern Samsung phone is connected and is controlled with a touch sensitive panel on the side of the headset or through a controller (although some games require the controller). See More

Top Con

Phone is prone to overheating

The Gear VR does have a USB charging port, but in practice this doesn't extend the play time much. When the phone overheats, it interrupts your game, then instructs you to remove the phone and let it cool off. See More

Top Pro

Consistent development as it is powered by Oculus

Gear VR uses Oculus Mobile SDK and a variant of Oculus Tracker and firmware (Oculus being developed by Facebook and having consistent money backing it). It comes with Oculus Home, an interface for the Oculus Store, Oculus Cinema, a virtual movie theater and Oculus 360 Videos and Oculus 360 Photos that allow panoramic content playback in a VR setting. These add up to an experience that is already fleshed out with support for many types of media access built in. See More

Top Con

60hz refresh rate causes flicker issues for some people

This can also increase the movement-to-picture delay, which can cause sensory dissonance in quick movements (when the eyes see a change that doesn't match how far they can sense their head has turned) and therefore (possibly) cause nausea. See More

Top Pro

Big enough for most glasses

You can wear your prescription eyeglasses under the headset, though with the adjustable focus, this might not be necessary. See More

Top Con

Not future-proof

The Gear VR uses a micro-USB port in an age when virtually all phones are releasing with USB-C ports. With no room for an adapter in the casing, this means that the hardware connector will be outdated shortly. Also, in Fall of 2016 Google is expected to be unveiling 'DayDream' - a standard for mobile VR. Current generation phones aren't expected to make the cut, and because Gear VR is powered by Oculus, it is very likely going to be ineligible for DayDream. See More

Top Pro

USB charging port

The headset features a USB charging port, so you can keep the phone battery charged while it's still in the headset. See More

Top Con

Blurry text

Even though all of the supported phones all have a 1440p resolution, text can be a bit pixelated (especially near the edge of one's vision) and straight lines end up looking jagged. In games the resolution isn't a problem, as moving around helps blur the images together, but it's noticeable on menus and other static pages. See More

Top Pro

Comfortable

Top Con

Not as powerful as a desktop PC

Phones currently can't offer the power of a desktop PC. Graphics will not be as crisp as a PC can offer. Also, the experience is prone to lag because of thermal throttling or power saver modes reducing performance. See More

Top Pro

Focus can be adjusted

The dial on top makes it easy to adjust the focus (even while playing), unlike most Cardboard models where that's fixed. See More

Top Con

Touchpad is finicky

While quite an improvement over Cardboard's simple magnet switch, the touchpad on the side is hard to use. It's easy to input the wrong direction and click when you don't mean to. This makes the Oculus store hard to navigate in VR mode and some games almost impossible to play without a Bluetooth controller. See More

Top Pro

Quick reaction time to movement

The delay between head movement and screen refresh is below 20ms, allowing for low latency refresh rates. This helps to reduce motion sickness, which can be caused by delay from the time you move your head to the time you see the movement. See More

Top Con

Only works with specific Samsung phones

Only supports Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S7, S7 edge, and Note 5. Which limits the available devices and userbase. While Samsung is one of the biggest manufacturers of mobile devices, those that have already bought into a device manufactured by a different company will be out of luck. This can also be exacerbated by the fact that most mobile phones in the states are locked to a two year agreement, so being able to switch to a compatible device is not really an option for those people. See More

Top Pro

Good 1440p Amoled display

The Gear VR is compatible with a number of high end Samsung phones, all of which have high quality 1440p Amoled panels. While the PPI varies with the actual phone used, they each offer a good viewing experience. See More

Top Con

No positional tracking

VR without positional tracking significantly increases user VR sickness. The Gear VR can only track rotation just like Google cardboard. It's ok for short bursts for the most part, but wearing it for extended lengths can cause motion sickness. See More

Daydream View

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Durovis Dive

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Zeiss VR One

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Merge Goggles

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Pinc

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Top Pro

Tracks hands

Immersion-Vrelia Go

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Altergaze

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3D printable

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Android and iPhone compatible

LG VR for G3

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XinGear

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Homido

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