The best VR headsets in South Africa and where to buy them

While South Africans patiently wait for the release of the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR, they could be getting in on the virtual reality craze right now.

Several VR-headsets are available right now, from basic cardboard accessories to hulking VR-facemasks.

We took a look at some of the best VR headsets available to South African consumers right now:

Google Cardboard – R204

The cheapest VR solution but also the most user-friendly, Google Cardboard (and its various imitators) allow anyone to have a VR experience by harnessing the power of their phone and a cardboard box.

RIEM 2 VR Headset – R599

The RIEM 2 is one of the few headsets to feature an optical resin design at the sub-R600 price point (it’s not made of cardboard).

It will fit most modern phones and boasts special thermal vents to stop the headset from fogging up.

Samsung Gear VR – R2,831

The headset boasting the best quality and most features, Samsung’s Gear VR currently offers the best VR experience in South Africa.

The headset (which was co-developed by Oculus) offers a number of exclusive games, a 960 x 1,080p resolution and support for touch controls.

Alternatively you can try LG’s headset, the LG 360 VR.

VR BOX 2 – R950

The VR BOX 2 is one of the few headsets to actually ship with a physical controller, boasting a sturdy Bluetooth “nunchuck”.

The BOX 2 also boasts special support for myopic users, meaning you won’t have to take your glasses off when using it.

Other headsets to look out for:

While the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive still haven’t received any official South African confirmation or pricing, the PS VR is expected to be available in the country before the end of the year.

Razer’s Open Source VR project (OSVR) is also expected to arrive soon, with headsets currently being shipped to developers.