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What are the best VR smartphone frames?

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12 Options Considered

12 Options ConsideredPriceLast Updated
Google Cardboard
Nov 9, 2017
Samsung Gear VR
Jul 17, 2016
Daydream View
Dec 8, 2016
Durovis Dive
Mar 4, 2015
XinGear
Mar 4, 2015
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Google Cardboard

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HardwareHero
Andris Pelcbergs
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.
thermoplastics
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).
thermoplastics
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).
HardwareHero
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.
thermoplastics
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.
HardwareHero
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).
HardwareHero
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 i...
Andris Pelcbergs
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. [Add...
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Samsung Gear VR

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thermoplastics
Andris Pelcbergs
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).
thermoplastics
Andris Pelcbergs
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...
thermoplastics
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.
thermoplastics
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.
Andris Pelcbergs
Top Pro

Comfortable

•••
thermoplastics
Andris Pelcbergs
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.
thermoplastics
Andris Pelcbergs
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.
HardwareHero
Andris Pelcbergs
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.
thermoplastics
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.
Andris Pelcbergs
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.
thermoplastics
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...
thermoplastics
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 notice...
thermoplastics
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.
thermoplastics
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...
thermoplastics
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 exa...
thermoplastics
Andris Pelcbergs
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.
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Daydream View

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Durovis Dive

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XinGear

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Pinc

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Andris Pelcbergs
Top Pro

Tracks hands

•••
Know any negative aspects of this option?

Homido

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Zeiss VR One

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LG VR for G3

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Merge Goggles

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Immersion-Vrelia Go

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Altergaze

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Andris Pelcbergs
Top Pro

3D printable

•••
Andris Pelcbergs
Top Pro

Android and iPhone compatible

•••
Know any negative aspects of this option?
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10 Community Recommendations

Gkaragkanis Yannis
Bryan
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thermoplastics
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Google Cardboard
Recommended 5 months ago
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 s...
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