REASONS TO BUY
Super easy to set up
Very user-friendly
REASONS TO AVOID
Not very interactive
Merge VR Review
This relatively inexpensive headset designed for kids is compatible with many different types of phones
RELATED: Best VR Headset of 2023
Our Verdict
If you are searching for a budget VR headset that is comfortable enough for frequent use, then look no further than the Merge VR from our best VR headset review . This headset is designed particularly with kids in mind, with its soft foam material making it particularly durable against abuse. There are a handful of accessories available for this product, to even further increase the gaming fun. It's not the best headset around, but it's a good choice for a budget headset that works with Android and iPhone and a step up in comfort over cardboard models.
Our Analysis and Test Results
This VR headset is relatively unremarkable compared to the rest of the headsets in the group, only excelling as being one of the easiest headsets to set up overall and is one of our favorite smartphone options.
Performance Comparison
As a VR set that employs your smartphone, the Merge is one of the best. This end of the market, though, is generally best for kids. The many available apps for this product are also largely geared toward a younger audience.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Interactiveness
We based the score of this metric on how easy it is to interact with the headset and the accuracy of the motion tracking. The Merge VR didn't perform terribly well in this metric, receiving one of the lowest scores out of the entire group.
The Merge didn't have a terribly good way of interacting with the device, only having two buttons on top of the headset. This tracks with most devices that require the insertion of a phone.
A button used to interact with the screen or slide from side to side to adjust the lens width.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The Merge tracks your gaze as you look around your VR environment, but like the other mobile VR headsets, it does not take into account your movement throughout the room. This motion tracking relies on the internal sensors of your smartphone, which limits the interactiveness of the device compared to higher-end VR headsets. The lack of any hand controls did hurt the Merge in this metric, dropping its score substantially.
The Merge proving that VR is not a fashion statement.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Visual Immersiveness
The Merge's performance improved slightly in this metric. This score is based on the sharpness and overall quality of the image shown, the field of view, and if the headset suitably blocked out ambient light.
The Merge has a decent field of view. It does feel slightly more zoomed in than other models when comparing test images side-by-side.
This carried over into our assessment of the overall image quality, costing the Merge a few points as the image would appear to be slightly distorted when compared to the other models in the group. The Merge did do a great job of blocking ambient light, only letting in a little light through the ventilation slits.
The Merge was decently comfortable, but the material it is made out of felt a little sticky after wearing it for awhile.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Comfort
Our Comfort metric consisted of evaluating if it is possible to wear glasses with each headset, whether or not your face would get sweaty after long periods of use, and if the headset is comfortable, even after prolonged use. The Merge delivered a decent performance.
The Merge is exceptionally comfortable, with its soft and pliable construction. There is plenty of room to wear glasses, with only a few issues with exceptionally large-framed spectacles. However, this headset is the least breathable of the bunch and can cause your face to get sweaty after longer periods of use, even with its ventilation slits.
The Merge is user friendly.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
User Friendliness
Our User Friendliness metric assessed each headset on how much work it took to get your smartphone set up in it, whether or not you are prone to inadvertently pressing buttons or if you have to remove the case from your phone to install it in the headset, and the amount of difficulty in attaching headphones. The Merge did very well in this metric,
The Merge provides plenty of space to easily reach the headphone jack for most smartphones, making it a breeze to connect. It is also one of the easiest headsets to install a mobile phone into, simply sliding it in from the top.
Very easy to slip your phone inside. The flexible material allowed phones with cases to fit easily.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
We also had zero issues with buttons being pressed accidentally. There is also plenty of room for your case to remain on the phone when using it in this headset.
The Merge is very easy to put on.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Ease of Setup
We based Ease of Setup assessments on the amount of work it took to set up the hardware, configure the software, and the system requirements to make the VR system run properly. The Merge did extremely well here.
It is only necessary to remove the Merge from its packaging and adjust the lenses to get the hardware ready to go. Once that is completed, all that remains is to download the desired app(s) from the Merge Miniverse and you are finished. This headset works with all Cardboard-compatible phones.
Value
The Merge is an alright value, as it is the best discount headset for frequent use.
Conclusion
The Merge is a great option when shopping for kids and teens or if you are looking for an inexpensive VR headset that is still comfortable enough to wear for longer periods. This headset has a wider range of compatible phones and is the best VR headset that we have tested that is compatible with iPhones.
The Merge virtual reality device is well-suited for kids, but not so much for adults.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
—
David Wise and Austin Palmer
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