Category: VR Hardware

Best Phone VR Headsets in 2023

There are lots of headsets that are designed to work with your mobile phone. If you don’t want to put the money into a dedicated system, then one of these may be your best option.

Samsung Gear VR

Among other devices, the Samsung Gear VR is compatible with Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, Note5, S6 Edge+, S6, and S6 Edge. If you’re using a Samsung phone, there’s a pretty high chance that it’s going to be compatible, but, either way, it’s worth cross-checking with the Samsung website. There are various different models for the Samsung Gear VR and they’re all compatible with different phone models.

Google Cardboard

The Google Cardboard is about as compatible as phone headsets can get. It’s made to work with any phones that are up to 3.5 by 6 inches, so if you quickly measure your phone you’ll be able to determine whether or not your phone is going to work with it or not. It’s also the cheapest headset you can get at only $20. It’s a great first step into VR, but you’ll likely want to upgrade once you get used to the virtual world and want to get more out of it.

Merge AR/VR headset

You need a device that’s running on Apple IOS 11/Android 8 or above in order to run the Merge apps. When it comes to what will actually fit within the headset itself, the Merge website advises that you use iPhone 8 and newer, Galaxy S8 and newer, HTC M9 and newer, LG G4 and newer, or Google Pixel. They can be worn by anybody over the age of ten and can help to unlock a wealth of fascinating and educational experiences. They’re the perfect headsets for families and will help children learn a lot.

BNext VR Headset

BNext VR headsets are made to be compatible with all phones with a 4 to 6.3 inch screen, which includes practically every model of mobile phone. This includes the iPhone X, XR, XS, 8, 8 plus, 9, 9 plus, 10, 7, 7 plus, and many others. These headsets are best for Apple first and foremost. It offers FD and OD adjustments which means that it can provide an extra wide frame of vision for users. It’s designed to keep you comfortable even during long play sessions, with an eyesight protection system.

Oculus Quest 2

Finally, there’s the Oculus Quest 2, which can be considered a phone VR headset for 2023. Though not specifically designed for use with mobile phones, they are still compatible with them. Indeed, the Oculus Quest 2 uses Android as its operating system, meaning that it’s easy for them to work with the majority of mobile phones. If you use a phone that has Android 5.0+ or Apple iOS 10+ then you can download the Oculus app and then you’re pretty much ready to go. It’s definitely worth a look when you want a headset that you can get more out of as your VR experiences grow.

Best WiFi Routers for VR

There are lot of requirements when you want to hook your VR headset up to WiFi. There are also a lot of routers and modems that claim to be the very best for them. If they weren’t so expensive, it wouldn’t be a big deal to try them out and see which one is the best. As it stands, the best option is to read as much about them as you can before you make your decision. Once you know the one you want, you’ll be able to stream as much VR content as you want. Here are the best WiFi routers for VR.

TP-Link Archer AXE300

The TP-Link Archer AXE300 is a quad-band router with great support and port flexibility. It’s the second Quad-band router with three Multi-Gig ports — two 10GbE and one 2.5GbE. You can use any as the WAN port, and uniquely one of the 10GbE ports is an RJ45/SFP+ combo port. On the Wi-Fi front, you can dedicate either of its 5GHz band or the 6GHz band (when applicable) to VR usage. That, plus a robust web user interface and excellent performance, mean it’ll simultaneously deliver all bandwidth you’d need for any VR applications and other networking tasks.

Asus GT-AXE 16000

The Asus GT-AXE 16000 is a great gaming router for you to consider. It’s another quad-band router and it’s one of the best that you can find on the market. It can host a multi-gig mesh system that’s going to give you WiFi all over your home, no matter how big or small it happens to be. It has a lot of features that you can take advantage of to make sure that the devices you’re using are getting the most data. That’s going to let you easily send your VR headset everything it needs.

Synology RT6600ax

The Synology RT6600ax is very customizable so you can turn it into anything you need. It has lots to offer and is one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers you can find on the market. It doesn’t have a 6GHz band (Wi-Fi 6E) but is the first that supports the 5.9GHz portion of the 5GHz spectrum, making it somewhat future-proof. The router performs well in any testing that reviewers have put it up against. It always succeeds and has plenty of VR bandwidth when you dedicate one of its 5GHz bands for the task.

TP-Link Archer GX90

The TP-Link Archer GX90 is a single 2.5 Gbps, multi-gig LAN/WAN port. It’s the newest gaming router from the company and is meant to replace the Archer AX11000. It has a more stable and robust firmware package and it actually costs less than its predecessors. It’s fast as well as reliable and has a full web user interface. That’s going to let you customize it however you want and make sure that your data is getting where you want it to go. It’s more than worth a look when you’re trying to find a new router.

Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien

The Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien is a tri-band mesh router that also uses WiFi 6. The design makes it somewhat of a router for VR since it’s a bit out of this world. It’s not a gaming router, so it’s best for those using virtual desktop apps. It has a sleek design, sufficient web interface, and well-designed mobile app. As well as a convenient and free Teleport VPN. One of the best features is that it comes with a built-in ad blocking feature that’s going to save you from a lot of spam and wasted bandwidth.

Netgear Nighthawk

The Netgear Nightwawk is a 12 stream WiFi 6E router with tri-band wireless speeds up to 10.8Gbps. It’s a real powerhouse with coverage up to 3,500 sq. ft. and 60 devices. It sets up in minutes with the Nighthawk app – easily manage WiFi settings at the device and network level, test internet speed and monitor data usage. It also protects your family’s WiFi with an automatic shield of security across all your connected devices with a 30-day free trial. No matter which router you go with, this is going to be one of the final contenders and there’s just no way around that.

The best router that you can get is going to greatly enhance any VR headset that you have. It’s one of the most important pieces of equipment that you can have in your house. Get a great router and you’re going to have a great VR set up.

Best VR Headset for 2023

It doesn’t matter if you’re getting your very first VR headset or upgrading the one you already have. If you want the best VR headset for 2023 then you have to make sure you put some research into it. Each and every option has its own pros and cons that you have to weigh to get the best one for you. Every person’s needs are different based on how they want to use their headsets. Engadget has just released their take on the best headsets for your money. You might be surprised at which one comes out on top.

Meta Quest 2

The Meta Quest 2 has been around for two years but it remains the best option for most people. That’s because it’s relatively affordable and built for home use. There’s no sense in spending thousands of dollars on a headset when you’re not going to be using it to its fullest potential. It has a massive library of games that you can play and it will never let you down. It’s also wireless so you don’t have to worry about tripping whenever you use it. It’s a huge improvement over the original Quest and should be on your short list.

HP Reverb G2

If you’re okay with a headset that has to connect to your computer with wires, then you really want to take a long look at the HP Reverb 2. This one is currently $599 and it was developed with Valve for a seamless gaming experience. It also has sharp screens, near-field speakers, a 114˚ field of view and a 90Hz refresh rate. You can really do a whole lot worse than this headset. The best part is that it’s very comfortable to wear so you can game for as long as you want.

Valve Index

The Valve Index is seen as a set up form of the Reverb and the price tag reflects that. This one is going to run you at least $999, and that’s no small amount of money to spend on a gaming console. It has more to offer you, though. The field of view is 130˚ and the refresh rate is 144Hz. It’s made by Steam, so it’s perfect for anyone that uses the gaming service. Any of the VR games you get through them is going to be made specifically for this headset and that makes a big difference.