8 Best VR Headsets for iPhones

1. DESTEK V4 Virtual Reality Headset

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Editor’s Rating: 4/5

The Destek V4 is one of the most popular headsets on Amazon with over 600 reviews. On the surface it is a pretty standard VR headset, however, it does include a controller which is good to see.

The controller is also equipped with plenty of buttons as well as an analog stick making it very functional. This functionality will likely be somewhat limited though when being used with iOS devices. The controller also seems to be a bit cheap looking. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to break easily but it’s something to bear in mind.

The headset has a field of view of 103 degrees which is rather good for a mobile headset. It is important to note, however, that the field of view could become narrower if being used with smaller iPhones. This is because of the screens on the smaller phones potentially not covering the entire field of view.

The compatibility of this headset is also pretty good if being used with iPhones. The only iPhone it might not be compatible with is the XS Max. Although it claims to support this phone on the website, the screen size of the XS Max is 6.5 inches, so the information is a bit conflicting.

Doesn’t do a lot wrong and it has a decent field of view, however, the controller seems to be cheaply made and users may run into compatibility issues with certain devices.

2. View-Master Deluxe VR Viewer

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Editor’s Rating: 3.6/5

The View-Master Deluxe is slightly different to the other headsets in this guide. For starters, it is the only headset in this list not to include a head strap. The reason for this is because this device has been marketed as a competitor to the Google Cardboard which is more of a ‘VR Viewer’ rather than a fully fledged headset.

This doesn’t mean the View-Master is without its perks though as it happens to be one of the cheapest VR options available on the market. This makes it the perfect product for those wanting to try VR before investing any serious money into it.

The device doesn’t include any controllers which is no surprise considering it isn’t really a hands-free headset. Again, this device is intended to be used as more of an introduction to VR, therefore, anyone looking for the sort of experience a controller can provide should really look at some of the other headsets in this guide.

The field of view for this device is 98 degrees and considering its price point, this is actually really good. The Google Cardboard, for example, has a field of view of 90 degrees. There isn’t much in it but the View-Master does edge it in this category.

Unfortunately, the compatibility of this device has not been specified. Most regular sized iPhones should fit this device just fine but if you own a larger iPhone such as the XS Max or 8+, it’s probably best to avoid this product as some users have reported needing to remove their cases in order to get their phones in the headset.

Since these reports, phones have only gotten larger so it’s worth looking at some of the other options on this list, just in case.

If you are just looking to dip your toes into VR without spending a lot of money then this could be a good option for you, otherwise, look at something else.

3. Merge VR

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Editor’s Rating: 4/5

The Merge VR Goggles have been marketed towards a slightly different demographic than the other headsets on this list as its main priority is to provide an educative experience through the use of VR.

It has been developed as a STEM learning tool and boasts over 300 different learning experiences that have predominantly aimed towards children. Some of these experiences include exploring caves and watching volcanoes erupt.

This doesn’t mean, however, that the headset cannot be used for regular VR, it’s just that general-purpose VR is its secondary objective rather than its primary. Having said that, this device actually offers a few pros that aren’t found on the other headsets in this guide.

For starters, this device is possibly the most durable headset on this list. It is made from foam which might not sound very durable but it actually acts as a shockproof shell. This means that if the headset is dropped the phone inside will likely survive without any complications. The headset will also likely survive as the flexibility of the foam will absorb the impact, unlike plastic headsets which have no choice but to take the impact with full force.

A downside to this headset is that it doesn’t include a controller. This isn’t the end of the world, however, it would have been nice to see one implemented on a device that is so focused on education. A controller would have added an extra dynamic to the learning experience by making it more interactive.

The field of view of this device is 70 degrees. This is disappointing by today’s standards as most headsets generally offer a field of view of about 100 degrees. For some of you, this might not be an issue but it’s something to keep in mind if you are looking for the most immersive experience possible.

The headset is compatible with all phones between 4.8” and 6.2”. This refers to the size of the phone itself rather than its screen, meaning that larger phones such as the XS Max might not fit. Some users of other large iPhones such as the 6+ have also reported tearing at the sides of the headset when using it with the 6+ so it could be a risky purchase for you if you own a large smartphone. If your phone fits the boundaries specified, however, then compatibility shouldn’t be an issue for you.

In terms of durability, this headset is great, however, it does suffer from a narrow field of view and the lack of a controller is also disappointing.

4. Best Budget: neutab VR 2nd Gen Virtual Reality VR Headset

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Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5

The neutab VR Headset is possible one of the best-looking budget VR headsets on the market. Ther fabric sides are very reminiscent of Googles own Daydream headset and it really finishes off the look of this device, helping it stand out from the other headsets at this price point.

The headset includes one controller and the controller itself has a nice ergonomic design and offer a decent amount of functionality. It is equipped with an analog stick as a number of different buttons which should allow users to do everything they would need to with a VR controller. If you are going to use this controller with iOS though, bear in mind that the functionality will be somewhat limited.

Disappointingly, the field of view for this headset has not been specified. Although this is pure speculation, it is fairly safe to assume a field of view of around 100 degrees simply because this is being offered by many of its competitors. Of course, as this is just speculation there is a risk of the field of view being significantly narrower, so it’s probably best to avoid this device if you care about this aspect of a VR headset.

One thing that is great about this device though, is its compatibility. As it stands, this headset should be able to fit most, if not all iPhones. However, given how much phones have grown in size over the past few years, there is a chance this headset might not be compatible with future phones. This is the case for every headset but it is still worth thinking about if you plan to upgrade to something larger in the coming years.

Overall, this headset doesn’t do a lot wrong, however, the fact that the field of view hasn’t been specified is an issue. Having said that, it is one of the more stylish looking headsets and it offers an excellent level of compatibility.

5. Top Pick: Canbor VR Headset

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

The Canbor VR headset shares many similarities with a few of the other devices on this list. However, one of its standout features has to be its field of view.

The Canbor headset has a whopping 120 degrees field of view which is among the widest, not only in this guide but in VR in general. As a comparison, this is close to double what you can expect with the Merge Goggles which is quite extreme considering one of the main focuses of VR is to provide an immersive viewing experience.

Another good thing about this device is the head strap. It is very adjustable and the third strap that goes over the head keeps the headset very stable when in use. There is also a pad that rests on the top of the head for further stability.

The headset also includes a controller. This controller isn’t quite as functional as some of the others in this guide, however, it is still equipped with an analog stick and plenty of buttons. Also, if you plan to use the controller with an iPhone then it really won’t make a difference as any controller will have limited functionality when being used with iOS.

The compatibility of this headset is also really good. It will fit most phones including the Samsung Note8 which is one of the biggest smartphones on the market. This means that you should likely have no issues using this headset with an iPhone that is currently available. This doesn’t rule out the possibility of the headset being incompatible with future iPhones but that probably isn’t an issue for most people.

Excellent field of view and compatibility. The only letdown of this device is that it is rather cheap looking compared to some of the other headsets in this guide.

6. Pansonite 3D VR Glasses Virtual Reality Headset

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

Pansonite has been a major player in the mobile VR space for a number of years and they recently upgraded their flagship headset for 2019. The upgrade sees a reduction in the volume and weight of the device, as well as improvements to the internal components.

The latest version still includes the controller from the previous model which unlike most VR controllers is a two-handed remote rather than a single-handed remote. On one hand, this increases some areas of functionality by keeping similar to a traditional gaming controller, however, VR controllers are often required to point at things which is why so many companies favor single-handed remotes. As always, the functionality will also be limited somewhat by iOS if being used with an iPhone.

The field of view on this device is on par with Canbor VR headset, meaning you get a wide 120 degrees field of view. This means the Pansonite will give you a far more immersive experience than many of the other headsets on this list and it is probably one of the main reasons this device is so popular.

The compatibility of this device is where this headset becomes a bit of a letdown. Although it will be able to house most phones, it will likely not be compatible with larger phones such as the XS Max. This is very disappointing when you consider that the headset has only recently been updated and it is quite surprising that this issue wasn’t solved, considering how many people favor larger phones nowadays.

One the cooler features of this headset though are the built-in speakers. Although this device is a bit more expensive than its competitors, it does offer the option of not having to buy headphones if you don’t already have any. If you do wish to use your own headphones, the Pansonite speakers can also be moved out of the way, although, this may prove to be a hassle for some people, especially if they have a large pair of headphones.

In most areas, this is a fantastic headset and the added bonus of having built-in speakers is a nice touch. However, the lack of compatibility with larger phones is a real shame and it means that this device is only really worth purchasing if you have a regular sized smartphone.

7. Best Value: VR Shinecon Goggles

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Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

The VR Shinecon headset is another device that has clearly taken style advice from the Google Daydream. This is evidenced by the fact that it too has implemented a fabric cover around the headset. Having said that, there are also many other aspects of this headset that help it stand out from the Daydream as its own unique product.

Unfortunately, the only real downside to this headset is the fact that it doesn’t include a controller. This isn’t the end of the world for iPhone users as the functionality will be limited anyway but in general, a controller is somewhat expected nowadays. This is especially true on devices such as this where companies try to compete with the likes of Google’s Daydream and Samsung’s Gear headsets by including as many features as possible.

The field of view on this device is really good. It has a viewing angle of 110 degrees which is among the highest on this list and the immersion that this gives you is pretty incredible considering it uses a smartphone. The phone you use could cause the viewing angle to vary, however, as smaller phones will create a narrower field of view.

The compatibility of this headset is reasonable but not ideal. It will fit phones with screens of 4.7” – 6.0”, but this is somewhat poor considering how many larger phones there are nowadays. It may be due to the headset not having been updated for a while but either way, the compatibility could do with an improvement.

Like the Pansonite headset, this device also includes a set of built-in speakers that work like headphones. It is not clear which of the two sets of speakers are better though and the likelihood is that you can expect similar levels of performance from both. Those of you who would rather use your own headphones can still do so but it does mean either moving the built-in speakers out the way or removing them completely.

Very similar to the Pansonite headset but it does differ in the fact that it doesn’t include a controller. It is, however, a very competent unit with a great field of view.

8. VeeR Falcon VR Headset with Controller

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Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5

The VeeR Falcon headset is another headset offering built-in speakers. Again, not enough information has been given on the quality of these headphones, but it should be expected that they will perform similarly to the other headsets that offer this feature. They also give you the option of moving them out the way if you wish to use your own headphones instead.

This headset also includes a controller. It offers most of the buttons found on the other controllers on this list and, therefore, general functionality should be about the same. Of course, this will depend on the operating system of your device as iOS will limit the controller’s functionality.

The field of view has, unfortunately, not been specified. Obviously, there is no way of knowing exactly how wide the view is until you put it on your head, however, 100 degrees or thereabouts would be a fair assumption, given the headsets price point. If the field of view is important to you though, it’s probably best to look at another headset in case you run into disappointment.

The compatibility of this device is very good. The headset should be able to fit most, if not all smartphones. Larger phones such as the XS Max might be a bit of an issue but given the slim bezels on that device, there is a good chance it will fit just fine.

Another great headset that has unfortunately been let down by the fact that certain specifications have not been given. It does, however, have a lot of great selling points so if the field of view isn’t that important to you, then this could still be a great purchase.