Virtual reality is the current rage.
It has much to offer to people of all ages and backgrounds.
This is one of the reasons why virtual reality has become popular so quickly.
The pace at which virtual reality is making advancements, it is also sure to remain a ‘craze’ in the future.
At one time, the entire idea of ‘virtual reality’ seemed like a dream.
Who would have believed that you could be a part of your favorite action game and also interact within the game?
It sounded crazy until it was developed and people were able to experience it.
The world has witnessed the growth and development of virtual reality over the past decade.
This has included TV ads selling VR products, major companies collaborating to introduce products, gaming consoles like Playstation with new VR additions, and others.
These have been exciting times for virtual reality developers and users.
The Basics of Virtual Reality
What is virtual reality?
Virtual means near and reality means real.
Therefore, virtual reality means near to reality.
Humans have more than the basic five senses that are taught in school.
We see the world through our senses and perceptions.
The additional senses in collaboration with the smart sense-making mechanism of our brain, ensure that the flow of information from the outside world to our brain is uninterrupted.
When we assume that things are real, it is actually our senses working with the sense-making mechanism of our brain.
This means that if our brain is presented with made-up information, and tricked into believing it is real, our perceptions will change.
This is the logic behind virtual reality. Our brain and senses are forced into believing things that aren’t real.
Virtual reality is a computer-generated version of things that are not real.
However, these things are presented to us in a manner that we think they are real.
Virtual reality is a three-dimensional environment that offers an immersive and interactive experience.
Virtual reality has opened many new avenues for fun and learning.
Have you ever wanted to see the world from its highest peak, or dive deep into the ocean and swim along with the fishes?
Virtual reality has made this all possible without you having to step out of the comfort of your house.
All you need are the necessary components of a virtual reality system and you are good to go.
Virtual reality is an intelligent way to change our perceptions.
It is a unique blend of several technologies that trick our mind.
As a result, we think things are real, when they actually aren’t.
Virtual reality has rapidly progressed and evolved.
Virtual reality was first experienced through hand-held viewers.
It was the most basic form of this technology.
Technology has since advanced and large companies have strived to improve the VR experience.
VR developers have introduced many new products.
They are constantly improving them.
There are many different types of VR systems, ranging from simple, hand-held viewers to sophisticated stand-alone headsets.
The VR market has much to offer its users and will continue to make significant improvements.
This article provides all of the information required for the best phone supported VR headsets.
We will discuss the details of the phone supported VR headsets and what is necessary for an enthralling VR experience.
Smartphone held VR Headsets
The smartphone held VR headsets have a very simple design.
The user must slide their smartphone into the cavity provided in the headset or attach it with a clip.
However, the phone needs to fit inside the cavity.
Therefore, the size of the phone and headset should be compatible, so the phone’s screen is in the optimal position in front off the user’s eyes.
Due to the simple design and reasonable price, smartphone VR headsets are a convenient way to get started in VR The tethered VR headsets require more technical knowledge and take longer to set up.
By contrast, standalone headsets offer an unmatched VR experience but at a higher in price.
What to look for in a smartphone VR headset
You shouldn’t buy the first VR headset that is recommended to you.
You must check the headset features to determine if it is compatible with your smartphone.
Your smartphone should fit in the VR headset and have a gyro sensor.
Since some VR headsets are only compatible with certain smartphones, you should make sure that the VR headset that you intend to buy is compatible with your smartphone.
Smartphone VR headsets are basic, affordable headsets that are intended for the beginners.
Mobile headsets do not offer an immersive VR experience.
However, they allow you to access many inexpensive games and 360-degree videos.
These headsets are completely dependent upon the smartphones for tracking, internals, and display.
Immersion means the degree to which your brain can be tricked.
The more immersive the headset is, the more realistic VR experience you will have.
Sensors
The padding serves as a cushion between your face and the headset.
It prevents your face from feeling stressed during the long hours of use.
The screen and the vision are very important in VR.
The headset lenses are, therefore, very important.
You should check the lens adjustments allowed by the headset.
Most headsets now allow focal lens adjustments, as well as an option to adjust the distance between your two eyes.
This customizes your visual experience.
A tiny gap on the underside of the headset can be annoying, since it allows light to enter and ruin the VR experience.
Therefore, most headsets have a small pad in that area to keep light from entering.
If you wear glasses, you should look for a headset that can fit glasses easily.
You don’t want to strain your eyes and get a headache, just because your VR headset won’t fit your glasses.
The weight of the headset should not be overlooked.
If the headset is lighter, it will improve the user experience.
Sensors play an important part in smartphone VR headsets.
The important components of these sensors are:
- Magnetic sensor: This sensor detects whether the VR headset cover is open or closed and activates the screen.
- Gyroscope: This sensor determines the mobile phone’s orientation in 3D. This is used when the phone is tilted in all directions. This sensor is used when the user’s head is rotated while using VR.
- Accelerometer: This is also called the G-sensor. It is used to change the orientation of the smartphone screen from vertical to horizontal and vice versa.
Degree of Freedom
Most smartphone VR headsets offer 3DoF.
DoF means the degree of freedom.
It refers to the number of movement types that can be experienced within the VR.
3DoF (360 degrees tracking) allows you to stand in one location, look around, up and down, while wearing the headset.
However, any other movements would not be tracked.
Resolution and refresh rate
For an authentic and immersive VR experience, users prefer VR headsets that offer a full HD (high definition) resolution, with 1920 x 1080 pixels.
With the higher resolution the user will experience bright colors, sharp images and crisp text.
If a mobile phone has a low resolution, VR will be accessible but the experience will not be as immersive and realistic.
Refresh rate and resolution work together.
A headset with high resolution will be useless, if the refresh rate is not high enough.
A headset should have a refresh rate of at least 90 Hz. Refresh rate indicates the number of times your screen gets refreshed per second.
The higher the refresh rate, the more immersive the VR experience will be.
For anything lower than 90Hz, the user will not enjoy the VR experience and may suffer from motion sickness.
Field of view
Another factor to consider while buying a VR headset is the field of view.
An ideal headset will have a field of view of between 100-110 degrees.
Sound
Sound is important when choosing a VR headset.
Entry-level VR headsets may not provide premium quality sound, because the built-in headphones are not of good quality.
If you want a smartphone VR headset with high quality sound, you should choose a headset that does not have built-in speakers.
You can use your own headphones within the headset.
Comfort
Most of the VR games and experiences involve wearing the headset for long hours.
You can’t wear a headset for a long time, if it is not comfortable.
Therefore, comfort is an important element to consider when buying a VR headset.
First, examine how the headset is made.
The headset might be nice looking but its weight may not be balanced.
During long hours of gameplay, it will be uncomfortable to wear this type of headset.
You will feel stressed trying to balance it.
An ideal headset should have a head-strap to keep the headset comfortably in place.
Another design that involves a halo-strap is a good option, since it distributes the weight equally at the back and the front of the head.
The headset should have comfortable foam padding, which should be replaceable and washable.
It should not make you compromise your hygiene, when your headset is shared among friends.
What should you expect with a smartphone-based VR headset?
You shouldn’t have high expectations, if you plan to experience VR with a smartphone VR headset.
It cannot provide the same type of experience as a standalone VR headset.
Due to the low price, there are less sophisticated features in smartphone VR headsets.
The smartphone VR headsets have different levels of quality.
The basic models, like Google cardboard, are just funny looking cardboard boxes that can hold smartphones inside them.
The more advanced models have features like focus wheels, tracking sensors, built-in controls and their own screens.
Samsung Gear is the best smartphone VR headset, while other headsets, like the LG 360 VR, currently suffer from lag and poor design.
The Homido and Zeiss’ designs are more like Google Cardboard.
This article contains a general discussion of all smartphones.
The iPhone has not much to offer with VR.
All of the largest companies making progress in VR are Android oriented.
The iPhone has not been able to produce content or a VR headset for its users.
However, if you are an iPhone user, you can still experience VR on your phone.
Third-party developers have introduced VR headsets that are compatible with the iPhone.
Although the experience is very limited, it still allows users to enjoy VR.
You can experience VR on a smartphone VR headset at a modest cost.
If you have an average smartphone, you can just buy a compatible VR headset and install apps that support the VR content.
Best Smartphone VR Headsets
BNEXT VR Pro
BNEXT VR Pro is one of the favorite smartphone VR headsets because of its many features and low price.
The headset manufacturer is based in Israel.
This virtual reality headset is compatible with smartphones with all platforms, including Apple, Android, and Windows.
However, the only limitation is that the smartphone’s screen size must be between four and six inches.
The main features of BNEXT Pro are:
This headset is available from Amazon for $39.95 and is labeled as a best seller.
BNext VR headset boasts a built-in gyro sensor.
A poorly aligned headset ruins the enjoyment and fun of the VR experience.
BNext has a built-in focal display and optical distance adjustments that provides the best fitting VR headset comfort.
The wide field of view and unilateral myopic alignment significantly reduce the distortion.
The headset can be worn comfortably for many hours, since it has an adjustable head strap, an eyesight protection system, and a soft nose piece for reducing pressure.
It can also support drones that require a VR headset for control.
The headset comes with complete information about apps and content it is compatible with.
NEXT supports the following screen resolutions: HD, 3D, 720p, 1080p, 4k.
DESTEK V4
The best thing about DESTEK V4 headsets is that they are compatible with many different smartphones.
It has a very comfortable and ergonomic design.
This headset has a touch button on the HMD which facilitates improved interaction.
However, you can also buy controllers too.
Destek V4 offers a field of view of 103 degrees.
It provides excellent depth and perception and creates a mesmerizing and immersive VR experience.
This headset has an eye protection HD lens with anti-blue light coating and is anti-reflective.
This ensures that the user’s eyes do not get strained during extended hours of gameplay.
However, the manufacturers recommend taking off the headset after every half hour to rest your eyes.
Destek V4 has space to fit spectacles which is an advantage.
It also has a built-in button for pupil distance alignment and an adjustable head strap.
The face pad inside the headset is made of ultra-soft breathable and washable fabric and is removable.
Samsung Gear VR
This i the most well-known and popular VR HMDs available, due to the frequent updates.
The controller’s headset has a wide array of connectivity options.
The success is credited to Samsung and Oculus, which are two tech giants.
Samsung, the manufacturer of this headset is based in Israel.
Samsung Gear works with most Samsung Galaxy smartphones models after Samsung Galaxy 6.
Smartphones having Android Lollipop and later operating systems are required for working with the Gear VR headset.
Gear VR main features include an adjustable head strap for comfort during extended hours of use.
It is compatible with hundreds of apps in the Oculus library.
The controllers that come with Gear offer intuitive control while using apps and games.
This Samsung Gear smartphone VR headset paired with Gear controllers can be purchased from Amazon for $130.
Merge VR Goggles
This mobile VR headset has many child-friendly features.
It offers a comfortable user experience.
The Merge Goggles are made of soft foam.
They are lightweight with an adjustable strap that fits anyone between 10 years to 100 years of age; according to the manufacturer.
The Merge goggles are available at Amazon for $29.99.
These goggles fit all iPhone models.
However, fitting in and taking out larger models of the iPhone can be a little snug.
They are water and shock resistant and have two control buttons for better VR interaction.
These goggles can also be used for augmented reality.
You can pop out the little window in the front, launch the Merge AR app and hold the cube in your hand.
This lets you enjoy AR with Merge Goggles.
Homido
The headset by Homido offers a 100-degree field of view, compatibility with all iPhone models starting with 5s and Android phones that are equivalent in size.
It has a slimmer design. The latest design lets the headset to be worn with eyeglasses.
The headset has a faux leather interchangeable seal.
Homido has been working hard to cater to its users’ needs of its users.
It has VR glasses for users who do not enjoy wearing headsets although the experience will not be as immersive.
There is also portable Homido Grab, which is compatible with cardboard and offers a 100-degree field of view.
Homido has a series of other accessories, like 360-degree cameras and controllers for an immersive gaming experience.
The Homido Headset is available at Amazon for $34.99
Freefly VR Beyond
The Freefly VR beyond was previously launched only for Android.
The latest version supports iPhones with a 20 degree field of view.
It has cross-fire capacitive touch triggers for playing games.
The launch of the Freefly FF3 headset was announced in 2017.
However, everything related to it has vanished from the internet.
The FF3 is supposedly a hybrid headset that will let you enjoy augmented, virtual, and mixed reality experiences.
Everyone is still waiting to hear when it will be launched.
We hope to soon receive some good news from the manufacturers.
