Virtual Reality headsets come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s often no right answer to the question ‘which headset is best?’. There are hundreds of headsets out there now, they’re all different and some are better at certain jobs than others. Below, we take a look at the various types of headset and run through the pros and cons of each.

You can use Google Cardboard to watch a whole host of VR content available on your smartphone, whether from a VR app, YouTube 360º or Facebook. The social platforms are a fantastic way of sharing VR, and when paired with the low price of the Cardboard, make for an attractive proposition for brands & content creators alike. It’s worth noting too that currently, Google Cardboard is (unbelievably) the only headset that works with Apple iPhones.

The nature and price of the Google Cardboard also means that they can be custom branded and also flat packed, which is ideal for direct mail or inclusion with a newspaper/magazine. The downside is the quality of the image is limited to the resolution of the phone screen, which when magnified through the lenses, is less than perfect. However, for its ability to offer access to VR to a large audience at a low price, the Google Cardboard has an important role to play.

These are the most popular choice for brand activations as they offer a good balance between cost and quality – for around £500 you can get a smartphone, a headset & a pair of headphones. The whole setup is very portable and doesn’t require a computer, external power or tethering.

The biggest downside of these headsets is that they only work with specific smartphones. The Samsung GearVR, for example, only works with Samsung Galaxy series phones and the Google Daydream only works with Google Pixel phones. However popular these phones may be, this still greatly limits the amount of people who could use these headsets. Another limiting factor is that the processors in the current crop of smartphones aren’t quite fast enough to run many high quality VR experiences which can make playback jittery.

The Oculus Go is bound to have a huge impact on the VR headset market. It retails at £200 and requires no other attachments or accessories, not even headphones. It runs from the same system as the GearVR so it has a whole host of apps & programs ready to go. It’s the perfect entry point for someone new to VR and at an accessible price. The Vive Focus (when it finally escapes China!) is also worth keeping an eye on, as it will allow for six degrees of freedom, meaning you’ll be able to walk around the content.

Current examples of this type of headset include the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive & Vive Pro (pictured), the Asus Windows ‘mixed reality’ headset, and the Pixmax 8K. We have the HTC Vive Pro in the office for premium VR development (and the occasional bit of gaming!) and it really is a superb piece of kit. Whilst these systems are undoubtedly the best way to experience high quality VR, they are by no means the best solution for everyone. You’re looking at a minimum of £2000 for the headset and a powerful computer, and then this requires external power and ample space to be used properly. This type off system is usually reserved for VR developers and VR geeks!

So there we have it, the current range of VR headsets, from the Google Cardboard to the HTC Vive Pro. We use many of the headsets mentioned above on a weekly basis, whether it’s the Oculus Go if we’re doing a demo at a client’s office, or the Vive Pro if we’re quality-checking some work at the office.

To learn more about VR headsets and their various applications, check out Virtual Reality Marketing by Henry Stuart. Our CEO’s new book compiles years of experience and case studies into a concise manual for both VR filmmakers and those looking to include VR into their marketing strategy.