VR Headsets Size, a full guide for standalone, phone, thetered models

March 19, 2022September 5, 2023 by Thomas Vandepitte

What are VR Headsets and why is a good VR Headset size important?

Virtual reality is a digital environment with objects and footage that make the user have immersive experiences in 3D by use of either virtual reality headsets or head-mounted displays.

The main purpose of a VR headset is to enable the user to be fully engrossed in the visual experience and detached from the real world.

Types of VR headsets.

Tethered headset(high-end headset) – this type of headset is connected to computers by use of cables a USB or HDMI. In addition, they deliver a high-quality experience. some of the examples are HTC Vive pro, oculus rift, and Sony PlayStation VR.

Standalone headset – it uses battery technology and one has to create an account in order to access the Vr platforms available. Since it’s a wireless device it allows movement from one place to another. However, they are less powerful and produce quality graphics. Examples are Lenovo solo mirage and pico neo.

Smartphone headsets – they use smartphones for the virtual reality experience. the smartphone is placed on a headset and the central display is in front of the individual’s eyes with a set of lenses. However, it is very expensive therefore a cheaper device is the handheld VR headset or Google cardboard.

VR headsets have a range of applications, depending on the purpose for your purchase size is one of the major factors to consider. A head strap should of the right measurement not too tight or loose to give comfortability to the user when they’re using it for longer hours.

Moreover, the size of the screen of different devices not only affects the screen resolution and advanced sensors that come with it but also the type of headset you pick since the size of the phone is a necessity.

Comparison table of various VR Headsets Size

The table below illustrates the different types of VR headsets available and their functionalities.

	Google cardboard 2.0	Oculus rift	HTC Vive	Samsung HMD Odyssey	Holo lens
Type	With mobile phone	Headset with a PC	Headset with a PC	Headset with a PC	Standalone device
Platform	Android, iOS	Oculus home	Steam VR, viveport	Windows mixed reality	Windows 10
Resolution	Smartphone resolution	2160 * 1200	2160 * 1200	2880 * 1600	1268 * 720
Display type	Smartphone display	OLED	OLED	AMOLED	See-through holographic lenses
Field of view	90 degrees	110 degrees	110 degrees	110 degrees	35 degrees
Sense of immersion	Medium	Medium-high	Medium-high	Medium-high	Low
Multiple concurrent users	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Controller	Magnet	Oculus Touch, Xbox one	Vive controller, PC compatible gamepad	Samsung HMD odyssey	Gaze, gesture, voice
Head tracking	No (stereo panorama)	Outside-in Tracking	Outside-in Tracking	Inside-out tracking	Inside-out tracking
Primary input device	No	Controllers	Controllers	Controllers	Gaze and gesture
Portability and setup	Easy	Medium	Hard	Medium	Easy

Size comparison of VR headsets by New Atlas

VR Headset size table

The table below shows the approximate size of different VR headsets.

High-end electronic devices or headsets	Length size in millimeters and inches	Width size in millimeters and inches	Height size in millimeters and inches
Oculus rift	184 millimeters 7.2 inches	114 millimeters 4.4 inches	89 millimeters 3.5 inches
Samsung Gear VR	208 millimeters 8.1 inches	123 millimeters 4.8 inches	99 millimeters 3.8 inches
Sony PlayStation	187 millimeters 7.3 inches	277 millimeters 10.9 inches	185 millimeters 7.2 inches

How to Choose the Right VR Headsets Size

When purchasing a VR Headset for either video games or watching movies there are a number of factors to consider first, the type of headset, the price, the hardware specs, screen resolution, and the size of the VR headset.

How to measure your head for a VR headset

With advanced technologies from a VR headset with cables to a wireless device for a better experience. To find the best fit for your head one has to adjust the straps.

First, hold the straps from the backside and hold the plastic sliders. The sliders will adjust the circumference of the straps from smaller size to larger size and vice versa when they are moved.

Place it on your head and place the display part against your face and the straps on the back, once you have the approximate size you can either loosen or tighten the straps until you find the comfortable fit for you.

How to measure your VR headset for your phone size

The mobile headsets have an affordable buying experience and are a basic option for virtual reality. There is a number of components to be considered for the VR headset to fit the phone you have for example focal length – smartphones with larger screen sizes give a larger field of view and a better experience.

IPD adjustment – adjusting the distance between the eyes will help to see the screen size clearer.

lens and display adjustment – the size of the phone display and the lens needs to be adjusted in order for a sharper image focus

the VR box must have the right heat dissipation tool to avoid excess heat that might injure the human vision.

Find all Iphone Dimensions here, Samsung Galaxy Sizes are discussed here.

What size phone fits in a VR Headset?

With the rising age of smartphones with advanced features, several companies like Google and Samsung developed high-end devices that are compatible with their phone models that enable users to experience the virtual reality world.

The google cardboard style headset supports certain types of android phones and iPhones. It has an affordable price but the quality display and screen resolution are low.

VR Headset sizing explained

Headsets sizes for VR by Juan Camacho

Conclusion

Virtual reality technology enables the users to experience the 3D images in a prerecorded 360-degree video therefore one can maneuver that environment like in a normal world.

In addition, traditional devices used in the older days of virtual reality had tethered hardware that was expensive and bulky headsets but nowadays with the development in the headset industry advanced VR-enabled smartphones have spread into the consumer market.

VR headsets come in various designs and size therefore choosing the type you want one has to consider the size of the phone and measurement of your head to fit the headset of your choice.

Other additional features include positional tracking, resolution display controllers, and many more. Therefore many manufacturers develop their headsets to suit the needs of the user, some famous brands are the Oculus Quest 2, Valve Index just to name a few.

In summary, apart from the gaming and movie industry, headsets have a broad adoption and have ventured into other fields like medicine and the military. For medical students, they are trained on how to perform surgery in preparation for real work while in the military the soldiers use it as a mechanism to improve their skills in a non-violent environment with no weapons.

The future of virtual reality headsets is wide with developments in industries by researchers wanting to create headsets that are of a much smaller size like eyeglasses. The lenses will be thinner and holographic films will be used to focus the images to the eyes and are not bulky devices, unlike the common ones in order to provide user comfortability. If the Facebook company holographic prototype becomes a reality it will be revolutionary to the virtual reality world.

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