The 10 Best Mobile VR Headsets

The first true head-mounted display arrived in 1968, when American computer scientist Ivan Sutherland suspended computer screens from the ceiling.

Virtual reality is difficult to define, and for that reason its origins are disputed.

Something close to what we regard today as VR was outlined in Stanley G. Weinbaum's 1935 short story Pygmalion's Spectacles. Weinbaum described a set of goggles that made and replayed holographic recordings of fictional experiences.

The earliest real-world example of a VR predecessor was the Sensorama, built in 1962. This mechanical device offered a seated user what its creator called "experience theater." The Sensorama presented users with a series of short films, and appropriately timed sensory elements -- including scents.

The first true head-mounted display arrived in 1968, when American computer scientist Ivan Sutherland suspended computer screens from the ceiling. Only capable of displaying primitive wire-frame models, Sutherland's creation lacked realism and an effective user interface.

The term virtual reality was popularized by computer philosophy writer Jaron Lanier, and by the 1980s it assumed a prominent place in American culture thanks to films like 1982's Tron. While it was a subject of fascination in 1980s art and films, VR was, for the most part, available only for medical and military training, automobile and airframe design, and flight simulation.

After years of research in college science laboratories, the first major VR consumer product was announced by Sega in 1991. The Sega VR headset, which consisted of a visor containing multiple LCD screens, stereo headphones, and inertial sensors, could be used to play arcade games and alongside the Mega Drive gaming console. The Sega VR project was canceled before release because its users suffered motion sickness and headaches, according to CEO Tom Kalinske.

Later in 1991, the first mass-produced VR entertainment system, known as Virtuality, was released. This multiplayer system, which boasted headsets and interactive gloves, was pricey, costing as much as $73,000 per installation. This expense limited the products' reach to arcades and malls.

Nintendo's foray into VR, the Virtual Boy, rolled out in 1995. Employing stereoscopic 3D graphics, this device sold a mere 770,000 units worldwide, and was panned for its high price, monochrome display, and lack of immersion.

Attempts at similar consumer VR devices also failed, and by the early 2000s interest in VR was on the decline. It wasn't until Oculus founder Palmer Luckey designed and demonstrated the first Oculus Rift in 2010 that consumer interest in virtual reality was renewed. Luckey's Rift prototype featured a previously-unheard-of 90-degree field of view.

Games maker Valve entered the VR space in 2013, publicly sharing their low-persistence display technology, which would become the standard upon which later head-mounted displays were based.

The Oculus Rift received millions of dollars in public support via Kickstarter, and in 2014 the promising company was purchased by Facebook for $2 billion.

By the time the first Oculus Rift was released in March 2016, competing headsets by Sony, Microsoft, HTC, and a number of other manufacturers were either announced or released. The Rift's chief competitor was the HTC Vive, which, like the Rift, relied on powerful consumer PCs to run its virtual reality experience.

As smartphone computing power increased and display quality improved, mobile VR headsets grew in popularity. One of the earliest headsets, which made use of the consumer's own phone, was Google Cardboard. An open standard, Google Cardboard made virtual reality accessible at a far more affordable price than before.