VR has made great strides in recent years and as a result, there are a ton of different brands that you can choose to buy a VR headset.
Not only that but you also now have a ton of affordable options and unlike before, you don’t need to dish out a hefty amount of cash to get your hands on VR.
In this post, we will discuss our top 3 picks for the best VR headsets under $100 so you can look at their details and decide the best one for you.
Winner
Samsung Gear VR
While the Samsung Gear VR is not as cheap as the other models on the list, it’s definitely a go-to if you have an older Samsung phone. It’s the highest quality VR experience you can get for the price.
Runner Up
Google Cardboard
The Google Cardboard is a simple but effective solution for virtual reality. You can get it for an extremely cheap price and pair it with any smartphone to bring VR to life right in your own home.
Also Great
Google Daydream View
The Google Daydream View is one step up from Google Cardboard but you can still get it at a very low price. It comes with pre-installed VR apps and games and you can also install more by pairing it with your smartphone.
Now that you know a little bit about our top picks, let’s delve deeper to determine the most suitable one for your needs.
Best VR Headset Under $100 - Top 3 Reviews
#1: Best All-Around VR Headset Under $100 - Samsung Gear VR Review
While the Samsung Gear VR headset is discontinued at this point, it’s still a great option if you want to experience older VR titles and you have a low budget.
Obviously, since it’s discontinued, the Samsung Gear VR does not support newer VR titles and newer Android versions.
However, if you have a relatively older Samsung smartphone, then the Samsung Gear VR is a no-brainer if you want to get a budget-friendly VR headset.
Factors to Consider Before You Decide to Buy Samsung Gear VR
Price: While the Samsung Gear VR headset is the most expensive out of all the headsets on our list, it’s still quite cheap. You can get it easily for under $100.
Compatibility: As mentioned earlier, the Samsung Gear VR headset is discontinued. That means it’s not compatible with newer Android versions and does not support newer VR titles.
Build quality: Samsung is reputed to be one of the leading tech companies in the world and the build quality of the Samsung Gear VR is proof. It’s built from high-quality materials that are sure to last you a long time.
- Easy to set up
- Easy to use
- Compatible with all older Android versions and VR titles
- Sturdy build quality
- Affordable
- Does not support newer Android versions and newer VR titles
Best All-Around VR Headset Under $100
The best all-around VR headset under $100 is the Samsung Gear VR headset thanks to its great build quality and user-friendliness.
#2: Best Budget VR Headset Under $100 - Google Cardboard Review
The Google Cardboard VR headset is the cheapest option on this list. It’s definitely the one to get if you want to try out VR for the first time.
If you like it, then maybe you can set aside some money in the future to buy a full-fledged high-end VR headset.
The Google Cardboard headset is incredible with Google’s Street View as you can travel all around the world and really immerse yourself in any landscape you choose.
Factors to Consider Before You Decide to Buy Google Cardboard
Price: As mentioned earlier, the Google Cardboard headset is extremely cheap and if you want to spend as little on VR as possible, this is definitely worth considering.
Compatibility: The Google Cardboard is also discontinued at this point but you can still get them on Amazon from private sellers. However, this does mean that it will not continue to support VR titles that are released in the future.
Build quality: When you judge it by its appearance, it may seem like the headset will break down within a few days. However, while it’s not the sturdiest headset out there, it’s certainly not poorly built either.
- Requires very little space
- Easy to use
- Easy to set up
- Great visual depth
- Extremely cheap
- Will not support future VR titles
Best Budget VR Headset Under $100
The best budget VR headset under $100 is the Google Cardboard thanks to its extremely cheap price and the fact that it’s super easy to use.
#3: Best Ergonomic VR Headset Under $100 - Google Daydream View Review
The Google Daydream View is another discontinued venture from Google. However, similar to the Google Cardboard, you can still snag this gem up on Amazon.
It’s a step up from the Google Cardboard as you can probably tell by its appearance.
The headset is super easy to set up and the head strap is adjustable to fit your head just right. The ergonomic design makes it super easy to experience VR without feeling fatigued.
Factors to Consider Before You Decide to Buy Google Daydream View
Price: While it’s slightly more expensive than Google Cardboard, Google Daydream View is still extremely cheap and you can easily get it without having to spend too much.
Compatibility: Similar to other headsets on our list, the Google Daydream View is also discontinued. This means you can experience everything it supported up until it got discontinued. However, all titles after that are not supported by this VR headset.
Build quality: The Google Daydream View is extremely well-built and it’s sure to last you a very long time. Not only that but its ergonomic design ensures that you’re extremely comfortable as you experience virtual reality through it.
- Great ergonomic design
- Easy to use
- Sturdy
- Easy to set up
- Budget-friendly
- Discontinued
Best Ergonomic VR Headset Under $100
The best ergonomic VR headset under $100 is the Google Daydream View thanks to its comfortable and sleek design.
Best VR Headsets Under $100 - Buyers’ Guide
It can be very difficult to choose a VR headset when you’re on a low budget. Obviously, when you don’t have a lot of money to spend, you have to make some compromises.
At the same time, you also must be sure that those compromises are worth making. You don’t want to spend as little as possible just to get your hands on a VR headset that is barely compatible with anything and breaks down within a few weeks.
Hence, you must be very careful with what you buy and do thorough research by taking important factors into account.
These factors are:
Price
First off is, of course, the price of the VR headset. Since we are talking about sub-$100 VR headsets in this post, all of the VR headsets on our list are fairly budget-friendly.
That being said, you have to be very careful when you go for a budget-friendly VR headset. This is because sometimes, a VR headset is cheap because it’s poorly constructed and made from cheap-quality materials.
If you want to buy a cheap VR headset, make sure you buy one that is produced by a reputable manufacturer.
Compatibility
When you buy a budget-friendly VR headset, oftentimes, it might be a VR headset that is older or might have been discontinued.
If that is the case, you may run into compatibility issues when you try to run with newer devices.
For example, the Samsung Gear VR is a great VR headset for the price. That being said, it has been discontinued and does not work with newer versions of Android.
Hence, if you intend to buy a Samsung Gear VR headset, you must ensure that you have an Android device with an Android version installed which is compatible with the VR headset.
This is just an example of how outdated VR technology can really put you in a bind if you don’t have the right devices to run it properly.
If you want to buy a budget-friendly VR headset that happens to be outdated, make sure that you have the correct devices to run it smoothly.
User-Friendliness
User-friendliness when it comes to VR is extremely important.
Have you ever had to deal with clunky UI or a user experience that is just frustrating to navigate through? Well, multiply that frustration by 100. That is what it’s like to deal with clunky UI when you’re in VR.
In VR, you’re already disoriented and getting used to the artificial space. You don’t need clunky or buggy UI to further mess up your experience.
When you are browsing through budget-friendly VR headsets, make sure to go through the reviews to ensure that they are easy to use and also, easy to set up.
Build Quality
We mentioned briefly earlier that many budget-friendly VR headsets are budget-friendly because they are made from extremely cheap and mediocre materials.
Not only that but they are also poorly and carelessly constructed.
This isn’t the case with all budget-friendly VR headsets but it definitely does happen.
Hence, if you intend to buy a budget-friendly VR headset under $100, make sure that its build quality is decent. If you’re buying it in person, that’s definitely preferable as you can check it out and judge whether it’s well-built or not.
If you’re buying it online, then it’s a good idea to check out user reviews to get an idea of what its build quality is like. If you see a lot of complaints about the VR headset breaking down in a few weeks or months, definitely avoid buying it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I Need a PC to Experience Virtual Reality?
You don’t necessarily need a PC to experience virtual reality.
Some VR headsets are PC-dependent and thus, require a PC to run properly. Others are stand-alone and thus, they can run without any other external device.
The cheaper VR headsets that we talk about in this post are ones that run with the help of a smartphone.
What Are Some Cheap VR Headsets?
We’ve defined some cheap VR headsets above. Some other cheap VR headsets that you can consider include:
- Homido VR Headset (Link)
- Merge VR Headset or VR Goggles (Link)
- Hootoo VR Headset (Link)
- ShineCon VR Headset (Link)
What Are Some Free VR Games and Apps?
Some free VR games and apps that you can get into once you get your virtual reality headset to include:
Is it a Good Idea to Buy a Discontinued VR Headset Because It’s Cheap?
Unfortunately, if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on VR, you will have to compromise on older or discontinued VR headsets.
They are great if you want to experience VR for the first time without burning a hole in your pocket. However, you will not be able to experience the latest VR titles since they probably will not be supported by your discontinued VR headset.
Should I Take Breaks Between Virtual Reality Sessions?
Absolutely. It’s very important that you take regular breaks between VR sessions to ensure that you don’t develop any eye strain or nausea issues.
We recommend that you take a 15-minute break after every 30 minutes that you are in VR.
Final Verdict
It can be difficult to find VR headsets under $100. However, if you look hard enough, you’ll find that there are some options that are definitely worth the price.
In our opinion, the best VR headset under $100 that’s currently still available is the Samsung Gear VR. Not only is it highly sleek with great build quality but it also supports a fair amount of titles.
Which cheap VR headset do you think is the best? Let us know in the comments section below.