The holidays are almost upon us and this is the perfect time to read up on the best VR headsets to buy for Christmas.
The idea of virtual reality headsets are nothing new, in the 90s the video game industry tried to implement such devices, but the technology just wasn’t there yet. But things have changed a lot since then, and smartphones and breakthroughs in high resolution display technology have now made it possible for everyone to own and experience such technology. There are two types of main stream virtual reality headsets available right now: tethered and mobile. The tethered version of the VR headset is much more capable as it houses it’s own hardware and has to be powered by a high-end computer. On the other hand, the mobile VR headsets are much cheaper and very easy to use. You basically plug in your smartphone in the device, and run VR supported apps on it. But, your experience depends largely on the capability of your smartphone. Virtual reality headset for iPhone and Virtual reality headset for Samsung smartphones are some of the most popular in the market.
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As of now the most common form of VR apps are games, and speaking of games, the top end VR headsets are all designed with one thing in mind that is the ultimate gaming experience. The virtual reality headset for ps4 or Sony PlayStation VR and virtual reality headsets for PC like the oculus rift and HTC vive are proving to be really successful products. However, the only drawback to these devices is their very high price.However, these devices have proven themselves to be more than a gimmick and an actual interactive medium of entertainment that work really well. If you can afford it, then you should definitely go for these high-end VR headsets for the best experience, be it as a gift for Christmas to someone or for yourself. However, if you are on a budget, you should be able to pick up some VR headsets for dirt cheap on Amazon. Check out 10 Cool Tech Gifts and Gadgets to Buy on Amazon Under 100 Dollars to learn more.
If you are a smartphone person, then you have a lot of options for VR headsets as well. Depending on the model of your smartphone, the smartphone-based VR headsets can be bought for a relatively cheaper price as well. If you won a Samsung S5 or S6, then you should checkout 6 Best VR Headsets To Buy For Samsung S5 and S6. Now that the premise has been set, it is time to talk a bit about our ranking methodology. The first part of any research project is data collection, and for that, we sought help from various websites, like The Verge, PC Gamer, and Amazon. We also put Google’s trusty search engine through its paces for any additional information we bedded.
The second and most important phase of our article is the ranking. For that, we used Amazon’s rating system. After all, virtual reality headsets are all about the experience. If the users are satisfied with the products they purchase with their hard earned money, we can stand behind that. So basically the higher the rating a said VR headset has received on Amazon, we ranked it higher on our list as well. You should go for the one with the highest rated headset in our list in your budget, and you will be fine.
Let’s get our list of best VR headsets to buy for Christmas started.
8. OCT17 3D Glasses VR Virtual Reality Headset
Amazon rating: 3.7
We are starting off our list with first of two VR headsets which share the 8th place — the OCT17 3D Glasses VR Virtual Reality Headset. It is the lowest rated on our list, and it is also the cheapest of the bunch. There aren’t many left in stock, so if you hurry you can pick one up for a mere $9.99. It is the most basic of all VR headsets on the list, but it will get the job done, to say the least.
8. Sarlar 3D VR Headset
Amazon rating: 3.7
Sarlar 3D VR Headset takes the next spot on our list. The main selling point of this VR headset is comfort and ease of use. You can even use this particular headset comfortably with glasses. It has a lightweight construction and roomy interior to accommodate for even the bigger phones on the market. If you are looking for a product at a killer price where you do not have to sacrifice comfort, then this is the VR headset for you.
6. Google Daydream View
Amazon rating: 3.8
Google’s Daydream View ranks 7th on our list of best VR headsets to buy for Christmas. Itslide functions like the Google Cardboard. Here, you are still putting your smartphone inside an inexpensive headset, but the feel is completely different. To say the least, it feels much better and much more comfortable compared to the cardboard design. It comes with a controller, and that is the main feature of this new VR headset from Google. The controller makes it much easier to play games and interacting with the environment a breeze.
6. Sidardoe 3D VR Glasses
Amazon rating: 3.8
Next up on our list of best VR headsets to buy for Christmas are the Sidardoe 3D VR glasses. It also comes with a controller, but costs far less than Google’s Daydream view. Here still you need to insert your phone inside the headset to enjoy the virtual reality experience. However, as we discussed before, the addition of a controller makes the experience even more immersive and desirable.It’s compatible with phones up to 5.5-inch displays, which means, all your android flagships and iPhones can be used with this product.
5. Merge VR/AR Goggles
Amazon rating: 3.9
We are halfway through our list of best VR headsets to buy for Christmas, and at the 5th position we have Merge VR/AR Goggles. AR stands for augmented reality, which allows for superimposing virtual elements right in front of your eyes, as opposed to virtual reality. Anyway, if durability is your thing, then the Merge VR/AR goggles are the best option for you. You can get it for less than $50, which is a steal for such a device.
4. Samsung Gear VR
Amazon rating: 4.0
When it comes to phone-powered VR headsets, the pinnacle has to be the Samsung’s Gear VR. The only drawback to this particular device is that it cannot be used with any other smartphones, or at least it is not designed to be compatible with other smartphones. The gear VR has a big library of apps and games. If you own a Samsung smartphone, then you will not run out of VR content anytime soon.
3. Oculus Rift
Amazon rating: 4.1
It is now time to step up the game, and the Oculus Rift is the first fully-fledged VR headset in our list. You will not need a smartphone to run this device, but you will definitely need a pretty powerful computer to utilize its potential. The Oculus Rift is designed to display high-resolution images right in-front of your eyes so that you can immerse yourself fully in the virtual world. However, it costs significantly more than any other VR device on the list so far.
2. HTC Vive
Amazon rating: 4.2
At number 2 spot on the list of best VR headsets to buy for Christmas, we have the HTC Vive, the competitor to the Oculus Rift. It is arguably the more expensive device of the two, but as you can see, users find HTC Vive more desirable than the Oculus Rift. But, you have to factor in the price. The HTC Vive costs at least $150 more than the Oculus Rift. If you have the budget, then just go for the HTC Vive.
1. PlayStation VR
Amazon rating: 4.4
We have reached the very top of our list, and the best VR headset is the PlayStation VR by Sony. If you want a fully functional VR experience with motion control, then the PlayStation VR is the most affordable option out there. It also offers arguably the best experience out of the top three VR headsets on our list. But, you will need a PlayStation 4, and the setup can be a bit annoying at times. However, once you have it setup, you will definitely realize that all of that was worthwhile.
This wraps it up for our list of 9 best VR headsets to buy for Christmas.
