Huh interesting. I had no idea. The more you know I guess 🤷

@Reply #3 - good point! Most people here are spot on about the Samsung gear being the best bang for your buck if you can find one, but the heat issue mentioned earlier is definitely a real buzzkill. If you really want to stick with your phone and have a decent budget, maybe just get any VR viewer from Zeiss. You cant go wrong with their glass optics. Honestly tho, a big part of the fun for me is the DIY side of things. Ive spent way too much time modding cheap plastic headsets with better headstraps and even little portable fans to keep the phone cool. Basically, just find a solid brand like Google or Zeiss and then mess around with it until its comfortable for you. Its way cheaper than buying something super fancy that might not even work with your next phone upgrade. Lemme know if you want some tips on modding the airflow or the padding!

Regarding what #6 said about using glass optics, I honestly had issues with that route. I spent way too much on premium viewers back in the day, and unfortunately, the experience just wasn't as good as expected compared to modern standards. If you really want a solid mobile experience, here is my take:

• Skip the phone-based viewers entirely if you can.
• Look into standalone hardware from Oculus if you want actual comfort.
• Just get any reliable unit from Pico if you want to try something different. Everything else feels like a total waste of time after a few weeks. The heat, the weight, it all just sucks the joy out of it. Save yourself the headache and go with something built from the ground up for VR. Trust me, I've been down this rabbit hole for years.

Hey! I actually grabbed a used Samsung Gear VR for like $40 last year. Works great with my S8. Be careful of compatibility though, make sure to check your phone model!

Gear VR's optics are decent, but phone heat-throttling ruins long sessions. Consider dedicated standalone headsets instead.

Forget new. For Samsung, check eBay for used Gear VR (SM-R325) models. I've tried many; these are robust and often under $50. Newer isn't always better for mobile VR; phone compatibility is key. Save your cash for better screen protectors and phone upgrades; those make a bigger difference in the long run.

Before diving in, be careful with mobile VR. Neck strain and disorientation are real. Maybe try a used Oculus Go first. See if VR agrees with you before spending big.