I can’t tell you how exciting it was the very first time I tried the Samsung Gear VR. Honestly, it was amazing and I instantly could see how this was going to redefine our culture in so many ways.
I do think that virtual reality is hyped up a lot, but at the same time, ask anyone who has actually tried a headset. It’s a completely new user interface that has so many consumer and business applications.
If you follow my other blog, you’ll know that I talk a lot about new products emerging on crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The Oculus rift was actually funded as a Kickstarter campaign before it was bought by Facebook for $2 Billion.
In this post, I’m going to share the top virtual reality headsets on the market that you can check out on Amazon! Hope it’s helpful.
1. Oculus Rift
The Oculus Rift really pioneered the virtual reality movement and has since licensed its technology to other companies in the industry. It’s definitely on the premium end of VR headsets, but oh boy, is it sexy and powerful!
One of the positive Amazon reviews reads, “I have not seen it’s equal. It’s an amazing product. It really is a wonder.It’s kind of like explaining the movie The Matrix. You can’t be told what it is. You have to see it for yourself. It’s kind of like those movie experience rides at Universal Studios, but BETTER!”
Some of the reviewers believe that the HTC Vive is a better product for newcomers to the VR space. Others have said that, after prolonged use, they experienced motion sickness.
“Now what I can’t handle about this. I’ve played games for years and never had motion sickness problems. I played one game of EVE: Valkrie and I felt sick within 5 minutes. I don’t think I can get used to it either. It’s just too real of a feeling. The resolution isn’t amazing so you don’t feel like it is too real, but the motion and feeling of it is beyond anything I’ve experienced.”
At the time of writing, a Windows PC and an internet connection is required to use the Oculus Rift.
2. HTV Vive
The HTV Vive is another high-end virtual reality headset with precision tracking, virtual immersion, and real-world awareness.
One positive Amazon review reads, “What ever you expect virtual reality to be, it’s way better!! Seriously I’ve been a gamer since the inception of games…. Pong. This is completely mind blowing the people jumping in early are simply getting a glimpse at what’s to come this is only the beginning, nvidia just announced the ability to dedicate a Gpu per eye for future games and titles the possibilities are simply endless, I can’t believe some of these games.”
For the high price tag, I would only recommend this headset and the Oculus for serious early adopters with the cash to spare. Like any new technology, it’s going to take several iterations before we see mass adoption (I think 10 years) and ironing out of all the kinks.
A negative review reads, “Not ready for prime time, wait for the next generation”
3. Samsung Gear VR
Okay, let’s get some of the more affordable options for VR headsets. The first one that I’d like to mention, which I also talked about about the beginning of this article is Samsung Gear VR.
I love this headset! It’s not that expensive, quality made, and easy to use. I really think this is a great one to break into this industry without breaking the bank.
One positive Amazon review reads, “This thing is amazing. For the cost of a family of four to see a movie with drinks and a popcorn (wow, that use to be about $10!), you get to experience whole new worlds. Even the pictures of foreign and local places are amazing! I love watching my little ones reach around to touch things that aren’t there or watching friends jump while watching horror videos.”
To be quite honest, I think that every VR device is going to have things that it needs to improve. Just think about how much early smartphones sucked! This is also true of the Samsung Gear VR.
A negative review reads, “I will first say that this thing has a few major cons:
1. Overheating – It will run on my Galaxy S6 Edge for maybe 10min with video before it overheats. This makes it very tough to enjoy with friends out of the box.
2. Most of the games can not be played because it does not come with a controller.
3. The sensor that detects if the device is being worn also makes it very tough to let little people watch or use the device.”
Clearly, it’s not a perfect product, but I do think it’s a good leap forward from some of the more expensive units out there.
4. Google Cardboard Kit
Another affordable and easy to set up headset is the Google Cardboard Kit! This is a great option if you already have a smartphone and want something that will work out of the box.
One positive review reads,“This is my first foray into the VR world, I’m quite impressed! When I saw these Cardboard glasses I was wondering if this was some sort of joke, but it definitely wasn’t…
They came with easy to follow directions OR you could scan the QR code to view a video of the directions on your smartphone. It was fairly easy to assemble and did’t take more than a few minutes.”
This unit also has received a fair share of negative reviews, mainly related to smartphone compatibility and how it fits on the user’s face.
A negative review reads, “One of the common questions is “does this work with the iphone 6”, and the accepted answer is “yes”. However, I’m having a different experience. The iphone doesn’t quite fit in the goggles and when I scan the QR code with the Google Cardboard app, it sets the size to VRSMALL. When looking into the goggles, there are two clearly distinct images rather than a single image. Really a let down.”
Another reads, “Good introduction to Google VR, and it was cool trying it out! Unfortunately, I can’t get rid of double vision problems while using this device. It seems because my pupillary distance is different than how this was configured, I see double. And the lenses aren’t adjustable.”
I think it’s important to reiterate that at the moment of writing, VR is not in the consumer phase and mainly early adopters are interested in this type of technology, which is a fancy way of saying that it’s a work in progress. I think that the last two options are good items for getting started in the VR world.
Other Headsets to Consider
Even though I’d consider the previous headsets to be the most popular in the VR world at the time of writing, there are a lot of other ones throwing their hat in the ring!
I’m going to link to a page that details all the different VR gear that you can check out on the website.
Since this is still a new and growing industry, I’d love it if you could take a second to leave a comment below and let me know what your favorite gear is and why. Hope this list helped!