The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 was one of Samsung’s most popular smartphone models when it was initially released in 2017.
While it’s still an impressive phone with many appealing features, Samsung has released several Galaxy Note models since then. This means that compatible accessories for the Note 8 are becoming increasingly hard to find.
One of the common problems Note 8 owners face in 2021 is finding a compatible VR headset.
Back in 2017, the year in which the Note 8 was launched, Samsung also released a new Gear VR headset. This was done out of necessity because, at the time, there were no VR headsets on the market for the Note 8.
Today, although the majority of VR headsets are not compatible with the Note 8, owners of this smartphone do have a few more options.
If you own a Galaxy Note 8 and want to experience gaming, movies, and simulations in virtual reality, you can read our reviews of the top 5 VR headsets for the Note 8 right now!
The Top 5 Best VR Headsets for Note 8
OUR TOP PICK
If you’re looking for the best Note 8 VR headset overall, in terms of compatibility, quality, and price, we recommend the DESTEK V5 VR Headset.
This headset is widely compatible with a great many smartphone models, including the Galaxy Note series all the way up to the Note 10. This means that the DESTEK V5 works perfectly with the Note 8 in terms of screen alignment, so there are no issues on that front.
Weighing just 11.3 ounces, this VR headset doesn’t feel overly heavy on the face, making it an ergonomic choice that won’t put any strain on your neck muscles. With that being said, the goggles do start to feel a bit uncomfortable against the bridge of the nose after a while.
The DESTEK V5 VR Headset also helps to protect your eyes, which is very important given the damage that blue light can do to your ocular health.
The headset uses anti-blue light technology, which means that you don’t need to sacrifice your eyes for the sake of an HD virtual reality experience.
Additionally, because the space inside the goggles is relatively large, the headset also fits over most glasses frames. Glasses wearers often struggle to find VR headsets that work for them, so this is a massive plus.
The field of view provided by the DESTEK V5 is 110 degrees. This isn’t the widest field of view in the VR headset market by any means, but since 95 to 105 degrees is generally considered a solid field of view for VR, 110 is definitely above average.
Pros
- 110° field of view - Immersive
- Anti-blue light - Protective for eyes
- 11.3 ounces - Lightweight and ergonomic
- Large goggles - Fits over most glasses
- Compatible up to Note 10 - Wide compatibility
Cons
- Slightly uncomfortable on the nose - Could use extra padding
EDITORS CHOICE
A slightly more expensive, but still versatile and highly functional VR headset for the Note 8 is the Atlasonix VR Headset.
The Atlasxonix VR Headset is compatible with phone screens between 4 and 6.3 inches. Since the Note 8’s screen measures 6.3 inches, this headset is a good fit.
Speaking of a good fit, the foam padding on the areas of the headset that make contact with the face is soft, breathable, and comfortable, so you can wear this headset for hours without any discomfort.
Because the Atlasonix headset is OD and FD adjustable, any distortion can be easily minimized for a flawless VR experience through the high-quality, HD-optimized Premium XL lenses.
An eyesight protection system is also built into this headset, ensuring that the blue light from the display won’t damage your eyes.
This headset also comes with a remote control included for easy setting and control navigation. However, while the inclusion of the remote is an advantage, it takes quite a long time to connect to mobile devices, which can be a little frustrating.
Pros
- Premium XL lenses - HD optimized
- Foam padding - Breathable and comfortable
- OD and FD adjustable - No distortion
- Eyesight protection system - No eye damage
- Screen-compatible up to 6.3 inches - Suitable for Note 8
Cons
- Some remote connectivity issues - Takes a long time to connect
BEST VALUE
Contrary to expectations, buying a VR headset doesn’t have to set you back financially. This Virtual Reality Headset from VR Wear is one of the most affordable headsets that can be paired with the Galaxy Note 8.
The screen compatibility for this headset ranges from 4.5 inches to 6.5 inches, easily encompassing the 6.3-inch screen of the Note 8.
This VR headset provides an AR (augmented reality) experience for an enhanced visual experience. Considering the budget-friendly price of this headset, the AR functionality is a very exciting feature.
You can also tailor the focus of each individual lens using the adjustment controls. This means that you’ll never have to experience blurred images or double vision.
The VR Wear headset is very comfortable to wear thanks to its leather cushioning and lightweight (11.36 ounce) design. If you’re looking for an affordable, ergonomic VR headset, this is a fantastic choice.
Unfortunately, the affordability of the VR Wear Virtual Reality Headset does not come without certain drawbacks. The main one is the fact that the headset does not come with a remote control, which is an issue if you want to be able to interact with virtual reality.
Pros
- Provides augmented reality - Enhanced sensory experience
- Individual lens adjustability - Tailorable focus
- Leather cushioning - Comfortable
- 11.36 ounces - Lightweight
- 4.5 - 6.5-inch screen compatibility - Ideal for Note 8
Cons
- No remote included - Difficult to interact
BEST PREMIUM
Our premium pick in the top 5 best VR headsets for the Note 8 is the Samsung Gear VR Headset.
The field of view for this Samsung headset is 101°, which is within the recommended range for an immersive VR experience.
In terms of comfort and ergonomics, the cushioning around the edges of the headset is high-quality and very supportive, so you won’t have to readjust because of discomfort.
One of the best things about the Samsung Gear VR headset is the Oculus system, which allows for social connectivity via the headset. Using the Oculus social features, you and your friends can all connect to Hulu and watch a movie together!
This headset also comes with a remote control that features advanced motion technology. Thanks to this technological advancement, the remote is highly responsive and easy to use with intuitive, natural hand movements.
The only negative we found about this headset is less about the product itself and more about the price point. In fact, the main reason why this headset isn’t our best overall pick is that the price makes it inaccessible for many customers.
Pros
- 101° field of view - Optimal range
- Supportive cushioning - Very comfortable
- Oculus system - Social connectivity
- Remote motion control included - Immersive interaction
- For Galaxy S6 to Note 8 - Note 8 compatible
Cons
- High price point - Not budget-friendly
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Finally, the TSANGLIGHT 3D Virtual Reality Headset is also compatible with the Galaxy Note 8.
With a 110° field of view and HiFi headphones attached, this headset provides a highly immersive experience that allows you to transform your Note 8 into your own personal theater!
This is a fantastic headset for watching movies, but you can also enjoy simulations through VR apps or play games using your phone’s gravity control.
The headband around the back of this headset is easily adjustable, as is the phone holder, making this a very versatile product.
Its compatibility is actually one of the widest on the market, fitting various IOS and Android models, including most of the Samsung Galaxy Note series, as well as PC systems.
A Bluetooth remote comes included with the headset, which you can use to control your phone settings while immersed in the VR experience.
However, compared to some of the other Galaxy Note 8-compatible VR headsets on the market, the TSANGLIGHT headset doesn’t always provide the clearest image quality.
It’s recommended that users pair the headset with a phone with at least a 1080P resolution for the best experience. Luckily, the Note 8 surpasses this resolution.
Pros
- 110° field of view - Immersive
- HiFi headphones included - Personal theater experience
- Adjustable headband and phone holder - Versatile
- Includes Bluetooth remote - Easy to control
- IOS, Android, and PC compatible - Wide compatibility
Cons
- Not the clearest image - 1080P phone resolution recommended
Best VR Headsets for Note 8 Buying Guide
Since all of the VR headsets we’ve reviewed in this guide are compatible with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, you might be wondering how to choose the best one.
If you haven’t finalized your decision yet, take a moment to consult this buyer’s guide. There’s advice here on how to prioritize headsets based on brand, image quality, ergonomics, and other features.
Note 8 Compatibility
As you know, each product we’ve reviewed for this article is compatible with the Galaxy Note 8 in terms of size.
However, it’s always best practice to verify the specifications of a product yourself before you buy, especially if you plan on doing further product research of your own.
The key information you need to remember about the Note 8 is that the screen measures 6.3 inches. This means that the headset you choose needs to accommodate phone screens of this size.
If you read the specifications of the products reviewed above, you’ll see that their compatibility ranges significantly. Some fit both IOS and Android phones, while others support PC systems as well.
It’s worth reading through the devices that are compatible with VR headsets so that you know whether your chosen model will fit with any other devices you might own.
Another reason why it’s helpful to know the different screen sizes accommodated by your chosen VR headset is that if you change phones in the future, you’ll be able to base your choice on sizes that will fit your headset.
Brand Name
Generally speaking, your safest option when it comes to buying a VR headset is to stick to trusted brands.
There are some lesser-known brands featured in our review section, and while these are excellent VR headset models, buying from a well-known, respected manufacturer will stand you in good stead if you ever need to make use of the customer support or warranty service.
It goes without saying that Samsung is one of the best brands you can buy from if you’re looking for a Note 8-compatible VR headset, purely because the Note 8 is a Samsung model and the brand’s VR Gear Headset was designed specifically to fit this model.
However, the VR Gear Headset is more expensive than some of the other products we’ve reviewed, so if you’re on a tighter budget, the other featured brands might be better options.
Field of View (FOV)
The field of view (also referred to as the FOV) is one of the most important features to check before you purchase a virtual reality headset for the Galaxy Note 8.
If you’re not familiar with this term, the field of view is the amount of the visual field that you can see at any one point in time.
For VR headsets, the average recommended range is between 95° and 105°. All of the headsets we’ve featured in this article either fall within or surpass this range, with a couple boasting FOVs of 110°.
Definition and Resolution
The quality of your virtual reality experience depends significantly on the definition and resolution of the image. This comes down to the quality and functionality of the headset as well as the resolution of your phone.
The Note 8 has a pretty decent maximum resolution of 2960 x 1440 pixels. With some VR headsets, the quality of the VR experience is better on higher-resolution phones, and there is often a minimum resolution if you want to enjoy the experience at its full potential.
You should also make sure that the lenses are High Definition (and, ideally, adjustable) if you want to experience virtual reality in the highest possible quality.
Eye Protection
Looking at screens for long periods of time can have a detrimental effect on your ocular health and eyesight, and using a virtual reality headset is no exception.
Luckily, many of the headsets that are compatible with the Note 8 also come with built-in eye protection.
Protective VR headset features for eyes can include anti-blue light technology and individual lens adjustability to prevent blurring and, by extension, strain on the eyes.
Something which is also relevant to eye protection features is glasses compatibility. If you wear glasses, you will also need to ensure that your new VR headset has enough space underneath the goggles to accommodate them.
Headsets that are compatible with glasses will usually advertise this in the key product information because this is such a crucial feature for so many users, so it should be easy to separate glasses-friendly models from the rest.
Ergonomics
A good VR headset should not only be functional in terms of technology. It should also be comfortable and ergonomic to wear for long periods of time.
One of the main uses of VR headsets is for watching movies, which means that you’re likely to be wearing your headset for at least a couple of hours at a time.
To ensure that the headset doesn’t feel uncomfortable, it should be lightweight as well as padded in the right places. The bridge of the nose is probably the most important area for padding since this is where most of the headset’s weight will rest.
A handheld remote control can also help to make a headset more ergonomic in general because it means you don’t have to reach up to adjust controls on the headset itself.
High-end controllers with advanced motion technology are your best bet for a fully immersive experience, especially when paired with a set of attached headphones (which should also be padded for comfort).
Augmented Reality?
Some VR headsets also provide something called AR, which stands for Augmented Reality.
Augmented Reality is different from standard Virtual Reality because it actually enhances your experience of the real world around you by projecting images onto your field of vision.
If you want to be able to see the world in a different way through your Note 8 smartphone, Augmented Reality is a good feature to prioritize.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this article has simplified the process of finding a high-quality VR headset for your Samsung Galaxy Note 8.
To ensure compatibility, remember to check that your chosen headset accommodates 6.3-inch screens. Once you’ve verified this information, it’s up to you to prioritize the features you need for your intended use of VR, whether that’s gaming, watching movies, or app simulations.
Any of the 5 headsets featured in this article should provide you with an exciting VR experience that works perfectly with your smartphone.
I want to share my passion for VR gaming with others through Moggles. This site is dedicated to providing others with all of the information they need to know about VR. From the best zombie games, the most suitable headsets, and how to successfully mod games, we have got you covered.
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