It can be difficult to find an appropriate virtual reality headset if you have an older smartphone.
You have to worry about compatibility as well as other factors to ensure that the virtual reality headset you buy can actually run properly with your smartphone.
That’s why, in today’s post, we’ve listed our top 3 picks for the best virtual reality headsets for the Samsung Galaxy S5.
Winner
Pansonite VR Headset
- Includes a remote controller.
- Effective control for VR games/apps.
- Adjustable interpupillary distance.
- Customizable and comfy.
Runner Up
Shinecon VR Headset
- Adjustable head strap for Comfortable.
- Fits phones between 4.7 and 6.2 inches.
- Ensures comfortable wear for all users.
- Includes controller.
Also Great
Utopia 360° VR Headset
- Immersive 360° experience.
- High-quality optics.
- Comfortable design.
- Wide compatibility.
- Adjustable lenses.
- Access to VR content.
Now that you’re acquainted with our highest-rated VR headsets, let’s delve deeper to see what they have to offer.
Best VR Headsets for Samsung S5 - Top 3 Reviews
#1: Best Overall VR Headset for Galaxy S5 - Pansonite VR Headset Review
Later in this post, we’ve mentioned how the interpupillary distance of the VR headset you buy is important.
This is the distance between your pupils and the lens(es) of the headset. The great thing about the Pansonite VR Headset is that it allows you to adjust the IPD.
This ensures that no matter what your ideal IPD is, you’ll be able to use it with ease.
It also comes with a Bluetooth remote control. The remote controller ensures you can control your VR apps and games with no issues.
The Samsung Gear VR headset, designed for use with the Galaxy S5, offers the following main features:
- Immersive virtual reality experience.
- Specifically designed for use with the Samsung Galaxy S5.
- Equipped with a touchpad and buttons for navigation.
- Adjustable focus for comfort.
- Access to the Oculus Store for VR apps and content.
- Lightweight and comfortable design.
- Provides 360-degree panoramic views.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Pansonite VR Headset :
Compatibility: Ensure that the headset is compatible with your smartphone or VR-ready device. Check for specific compatibility requirements, such as the size and type of smartphone it supports.
Comfort and Fit: Look for a headset with adjustable head straps, cushioning, and ergonomic design for prolonged comfort during use. Comfort is crucial for an enjoyable VR experience.
Visual Quality: Consider the resolution and clarity of the lenses and screens. Higher resolution and a wider field of view generally result in a more immersive experience.
Audio Quality: Check if the headset has built-in headphones or supports external audio. Good audio can significantly enhance the VR experience.
Tracking and Sensors: Assess the headset’s tracking capabilities and sensors (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers). Better tracking leads to more accurate and responsive VR interactions.
- Adjustable IPD
- Comfortable
- Intuitive to use
- Highly compatible
- Sturdy
- Relatively expensive compared to other options on our list
Best Overall VR Headset for Galaxy S5
The best overall VR headset for the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the Pansonite VR Headset thanks to its ease of use, comfort, and great compatibility.
#2: Best VR Headset for Galaxy S5 with Warranty - Shinecon VR Headset Review
Next, we have the Shinecon VR Headset (also known as the VR Shinecon Headset).
It supports a wide range of phone screen sizes (from 4.7 inches to 6.2 inches). This ensures that if you buy some other smartphone in the future, it’ll still easily be able to support it.
Furthermore, it comes with adjustable lenses to ensure that you get the crispest image possible when you play VR.
The Shinecon VR headset typically offers these main features:
- Virtual reality immersion for 3D and VR content.
- Adjustable head straps for a comfortable fit.
- Built-in headphones or audio jack for audio output.
- Adjustable lenses for personalized viewing.
- Compatibility with various smartphones.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Shinecon VR Headset :
Compatibility: Ensure that the headset is compatible with your smartphone or VR-ready device. Check for specific compatibility requirements, such as the size and type of smartphone it supports.
Comfort and Fit: Look for a headset with adjustable head straps, cushioning, and ergonomic design for prolonged comfort during use. Comfort is crucial for an enjoyable VR experience.
Visual Quality: Consider the resolution and clarity of the lenses and screens. Higher resolution and a wider field of view generally result in a more immersive experience.
Audio Quality: Check if the headset has built-in headphones or supports external audio. Good audio can significantly enhance the VR experience.
Tracking and Sensors: Assess the headset’s tracking capabilities and sensors (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers). Better tracking leads to more accurate and responsive VR interactions.
- Comes with a 3-year warranty
- Supports a wide range of screen sizes
- Easy to use and set up
- Great compatibility
- Budget-friendly
- Slightly flimsy
Best VR Headset for Galaxy S5 with Warranty
The best VR headset for the Samsung Galaxy S5 with a warranty is the Shinecon VR Headset. It comes with a 3-year warranty and is very user-friendly.
#3: Best Highly Compatible VR Headset for Galaxy S5 - Utopia 360° VR Headset Review
If you’d like a compact and easily portable VR headset to take wherever you go, this option is definitely worth considering.
While it’s very lightweight, it’s still quite sturdy and well-built.
The Utopia 360° VR Headset boasts incredibly polished lenses that ensure you experience stunning visuals within VR.
Not only that but it’s also highly adjustable to ensure that no matter what you prefer, you can adjust the VR headset according to your needs.
The Utopia 360° VR Headset typically main features:
- Immersive 360-degree virtual reality experience
- Adjustable head straps for comfort
- Built-in headphones for audio
- Compatibility with smartphones
- Adjustable lens focus
- Integrated touch controls or a remote for navigation
- Some models may include a Bluetooth controller or gaming functionality.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Utopia 360° VR Headset
Compatibility: Ensure that the headset is compatible with your smartphone or VR-ready device. Check for specific compatibility requirements, such as the size and type of smartphone it supports.
Comfort and Fit: Look for a headset with adjustable head straps, cushioning, and ergonomic design for prolonged comfort during use. Comfort is crucial for an enjoyable VR experience.
Visual Quality: Consider the resolution and clarity of the lenses and screens. Higher resolution and a wider field of view generally result in a more immersive experience.
Audio Quality: Check if the headset has built-in headphones or supports external audio. Good audio can significantly enhance the VR experience.
Tracking and Sensors: Assess the headset’s tracking capabilities and sensors (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers). Better tracking leads to more accurate and responsive VR interactions.
- Affordable
- Highly compatible
- User-friendly
- Small and compact
- Comfortable
- You may get motion-sick when you initially use it
Best Highly Compatible VR Headset for Galaxy S5
The best highly compatible VR headset for the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the Utopia 360° VR Headset. It works with almost every smartphone available in the market which makes it the perfect headset to get if you intend to upgrade in the future.
Best Virtual Reality Headset for Samsung S5 - Buyers’ Guide
In this section, we will discuss the different factors that you should take into account when you’re in the market for a new VR headset.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a fairly old phone so if you still have one, it’s important that you take certain factors such as compatibility into account.
There are also some other factors that will help you identify what your needs are and thus, help you make an informed decision.
These factors are:
Price
When it comes to the price of mobile VR headsets, you don’t have to invest too much to have a high-quality virtual reality experience.
That being said, it’s important to note that you should not go too cheap when it comes to virtual reality headsets. This is because there are a ton of shady manufacturers in the market that could take advantage of you.
The basic rule of thumb is “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.”
If you see a VR headset that’s extremely cheap from a manufacturer you have never heard of before, make sure that you do your research. Check out user reviews for the headset, go to the manufacturer’s website and check if they’re legit, etc.
You don’t want to buy a cheap VR headset that is poorly constructed and made from low-quality materials. In this case, it would just break down within a short amount of time and then you’d have to buy another one.
There’s nothing wrong with buying a cheap VR headset.
However, it’s important to conduct thorough research to ensure that the manufacturer of that cheap VR headset is trustworthy.
Compatibility
As briefly mentioned above, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a fairly old smartphone at this point. That’s why when you opt for a certain VR headset, you must ensure that that headset is compatible with your Galaxy S5.
Most VR headsets have a list of supported smartphones and operating systems when you look at their specifications. You can look up this information online and also check it out on the instruction manual for the VR headset.
Before you buy a VR headset, obviously, you must ensure that it can pair with your Galaxy S5 without any problems.
Additionally, you must also ensure that the VR headset you intend to buy can fit the Galaxy S5 within it properly to provide you with an immersive virtual reality experience.
The Galaxy S5 has a 5.1-inch screen.
This means that you must opt for a VR headset that supports smartphones with that particular screen size.
Design and Comfort
VR can be extremely physically intensive and you definitely want your VR headset to be highly comfortable to ensure you don’t get tired.
The best VR headsets out there balance the fine line between comfort and sturdiness.
They have foam that’s extremely soft but also breathable to ensure that you don’t get hot as you play VR.
It’s also a good idea to opt for a VR headset that has an adjustable head strap. This will ensure that no matter what your head size is, you can adjust it to ensure it sits comfortably on your head.
Not only that but this will allow other members of your household and also your friends to take advantage of the VR headset as well.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the Samsung Gear VR a Good Headset for the Galaxy S5?
Yes, the Samsung Gear VR headset is definitely a decent option for your Galaxy S5.
That being said, you must take into account that the Samsung Gear VR is discontinued at this point. What this means is that while it will still work perfectly with your Galaxy S5, it will not work with any other newer smartphone you buy in the future.
What’s the Difference Between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality?
Augmented reality takes into account your actual physical surroundings and adds digital elements to it that you can interact with.
Virtual reality creates entirely new, artificial surroundings that you can walk in and interact with.
What is Interpupillary Distance (IPD)?
The interpupillary distance or IPD of a VR headset is a very important factor that many consumers don’t think about. It refers to the distance between your eyes and the screen(s) inside your VR headset.
The best VR headsets have adjustable IPDs so that different individuals can use them easily. For most men, the ideal IPD is 63 mm whereas, for most women, it is 61 mm.
What Phone Screen Sizes do the Best VR Headsets Typically Support?
The best VR headsets out there can support a fairly wide range of phone screen sizes. Most commonly, you will see VR headsets that can support phones with screen sizes ranging between 4 inches and 6 inches.
If you have a phone that is smaller or larger, you may need to find a specialized VR headset for it.
Will the Samsung Gear VR Provide Me with a Decent Virtual Reality Experience?
Yes, the Samsung Gear VR headset is a decent option to get into VR if you have a Galaxy S5. It can run most of the VR titles available on the Play Store without any problems.
That being said, it won’t work with newer VR titles so if that’s something you want, it’s not the right choice for you.
Final Verdict
So what’s the best VR headset for the Samsung Galaxy S5?
In our opinion, it’s the Pansonite VR Headset. Not only is it highly sturdy and also very adjustable, but it even comes with its own remote control. Furthermore, it’s not too expensive either.
Which VR headset do you think is the best? Let us know in the comments section below.