Astoria VR headset has been growing in popularity and there are many people interested in this VR headset which made me write the review. This Astoria VR headset review will let you know about the detailed specifications and if this VR headset is worth buying or not. So, let’s get down to a detailed review of the VR headset.
Price: $59
Website: www.vrastoria.com
Interpupillary Distance Adjustment: 55mm – 75mm.
Phone compatibility: iPhone, Android phones and Windows phones series with the screen size between 4.7-6.0 inches.
Overall Rating: 4/10
What I liked about the VR headset
1. The VR headset has a three-way strap that ensures really good weight distribution of the VR headset. The weight of the VR headset would be around 500 grams after inserting the mobile phone inside.
2. The VR headset has a nice cushioning done at the corners making it a really comfortable VR headset with plenty of room for the nose space which is usually rare in cheap Chinese VR headsets. The VR headset is pretty comfortable and has a really great designed for long usage periods.
3. The front cover comes off and the phone is held with the help of two spring-loaded arms. The arms hold your phone in the VR headset firmly during gaming and other activities.
4. Apart from being comfortable, it is pretty compatible with almost any phone with a screen size between 4.7-6 inches which is something standard for these VR headsets. However, it holds the phone pretty well and the head-straps are pretty good and comfortable.
5. There is a lot of ventilation which would prevent the overheating of the phones inside the VR headsets due to long hours of gaming. The VR headset has an average design and the overall comfort level of the VR headset is pretty good.
What I did not like about the VR headset
1. To be honest this VR headset looks like a dupe of Shinecon VR headset and the VR Box 2. I have not had great VR experiences with both of these VR headsets so I highly doubt the quality of the VR headset here.
2. The features of the VR headset are not unique and neither they are different from the features of the other VR headsets that we find online on Amazon. You get the same features in the above-mentioned VR headsets which are the Shinecon VR headset and VR box 2.0. I do not feel there is any difference in quality and looks of the two given VR headsets(Shinecon and Astoria).
3. There have been a lot of complaints about the manufacturer where people have claimed that they paid for the order and never received the VR headset or rather received the wrong number of products. The refund policy claims that you can ask for a refund within 14 days, however, there are many people who have claimed that there is no one to cater to their complaints.
4. Sadly, they have a bad customer support and the customers are unsatisfied with their products which are not a good sign, although it just looks like any other VR headset that you would get on Amazon.
6. You have some special discounts if you bought the VR headsets in bulk which is really odd, I mean why would someone buy 5 VR headsets of the same kind unless they have gone insane. If you buy in bulk you get some discounts and for some reason, I believe this is just a bait so that people would end up buying more number of the products. I have never seen any such discounts on the official website so if you have seen it, let me know in the comment section below.
Games on the VR headset
There are a lot of VR games for both Android and iPhones that you can play on this VR headset since most of the games these days are free. However, in order to play the Google Cardboard compatible game, it is necessary that you have a Bluetooth controller in order to pair with your phone.
The quality of this VR headset is really not as great so without wasting any more time on the VR headset, let’s get into the final conclusion.
Conclusion
I was turned off by so many things when it comes to this VR headset. Initially, I felt it looked exactly similar to the Shinecon VR headset which is priced at around $13. Expecting that at least the VR headset will be of a better quality than the Shinecon but neither did that happen.
When it comes to the price of this VR headset, $59 is way too much. You can easily get the premium Merge VR headset at the same price and the Merge is hundred times better in terms of quality than this VR headset. I do not get the hype around this VR headset and if you really want to get a better deal in the same price range then you should try the Merge VR headset instead of wasting your time with the Astoria VR headset.
Astoria VR headset if bought in bulk(5 VR headsets) would cost you around $29 (as per the information on the other review sites ) and to be honest that seems like the actual price of the VR headset. Instead, you could go for the Gear VR headset as the previous models are available for a discounted price and you can easily get more for your money.
Did you get the perfect pair of VR glasses after reading a review on our website?
Do leave your thoughts in the comment section below!
Hey man, very interesting review! It really is amazing how the VR world has exploded in the past few years. Just a few years ago I didn’t even know what VR is and there were only very few, very expensive options out there. But now You can buy VR headsets for as little as a few dollars. It is also quite astonishing how VR is now coming to smartphones aswell.
Yeah, that is true but this VR headset is seriously not the way to go for beginners 😛
Thanks for sharing this review, as i’m currently looking at Astoria’s VR and this really helps me to understand it well. When you suggesting to opt for either Merge VR or Samsung Gear VR, may i know which one will be your choice? Because i’m still havent got a chance to try it out, so your input may mean a lot for me for the pick.
If you have a Gear VR compatible phone then the Gear VR should be your obvious choice. However, in the case of other Android phones or iPhones you should get the Merge VR. There is a comparison post between the two VR headsets called Merge VR vs Gear VR, do check it out for detailed specifications.
This review is very informative, thank you! I believe you gave it a fair review based on the necessary research, and would definitely shy away from this product. I’m always looking for new technology and VR Headset is definitely the future of gaming, so thank you for your honesty!
How do you play games, while using this VR Headset? Do you have have to whole onto another smart phone or tablet?
You can use any smartphone and you have to download VR games and apps. When your phone is inserted inside the headset, you need to run the VR app. It is as simple as that.
Hope I could help.
I’ve never owned a VR headset before. One of the reasons is because I haven’t heard really amazing things about it. However, I’m very curious and I do want to try out. You said Merge VR is a way better one? What make Merge VR better than this Astoria VR headset?
Thanks for sharing.
Definitely the quality of VR experiences on the Merge VR is better than that on the Astoria VR headset. The price of both the VR headset is same so I really do not see why would someone want to invest money on the Astoria VR.
Comfort is really important, I bought three cheap VR headset which were extremely uncomfortable with almost no padding and that made for a bad gaming experience.
I have found in my experience that there is a lot of imitation in the VR headset world, plenty of headsets have identical designs and functions.
Thanks for knocking out another VR headset!
Yes absolutely true. There are a lot of imitations in the VR headset world and this VR headset is one among them. I think they should focus on improving the quality rather than building the same cheap stuff again and again for a different price tag.
Glad you found the post inforamtive 🙂
This review on the VR headset was awesome. It was thorough and well written. It had both the positives and negatives about the headset and it enabled me to make an intelligent decision whether to buy the head set or not.
IN this instance I opted not to buy it. The author also pointed me in a different direction and possible look up another vR Headset. This page was fantastic and an excellent read.
Glad you found the post helpful!
Glad to see this review! I’ve been looking into VR models for a few months now. I had the Gear VR until the whole Samsung Note 7 tragedy! LOL, I say tragedy because I loved my Note 7, in my book, nothing compared. I loved the Gear VR as well but gave me headaches. This model looks very much like the Gear. Do you have a suggestion on a model that might provide more comfort?
Sorry to hear that about your Note 7. It was a shock to all of us actually since we were hoping the new model to do really well in the market but unfortunately they had to stop its manufacturing.
You could try the Merge VR or the new Homido V2 VR headset for better comfort.
My children have been going on for ages about me buying them VR headsets. But there are so many to choose from! So it’s been very helpful to find your website. This market has exploded recently, but it’s good to find a site that lays out what headset is best for your budget or the device to connect it with. Thanks
I’m glad I could help Maggie. Virtual reality is indeed a fun experiences and it can get very appealing for the kids!
Hope you find the right VR headset for your kids!
Thank you for that honest review. It’s hard to come by these days since the only interest is in selling not worrying about the final user experience. So, my hats off for you. Could you recommend a VR headset for an iphone 6 out of your Best Budget VR Headsets for iPhones post? which would you buy?
Thanks in advance
I would definitely go for the Merge VR and it is worth the investment. You should definitely check out the post on the best VR headset for an iPhone post else if you want to go for something other than Merge VR, I think freefly VR would be good!
This site was interesting. My son wants a VR. It’s good to know that there affordable now. Your page had a lot of information that I would look for if I wanted to buy one. Actually it made me change my mind. Know I might buy one for my son.
Well, Astoria VR is definitely not something I would recommend! You should try finding a VR headset from the Best Budget VR headsets for Android Phones under $50 post.
In the case you have any further questions feel free to ask. Glad I could help!
Hey! Thanks for the review. I always wonder about these things, Glad to know it can be worn for long sessions, but too bad about the price being so much higher than the Shinecon. I will still keep this one on my list for the comfort factor. I haven’t been through your whole site yet. Is there one headset you recommend above the rest? -Geoff
You should check out the Merge VR, Noon VR Plus and Homido V2. They are pretty good quality VR headset.Hope this helps.
Thanks for posting this review. My nephew has the Shinecon headset and it was pretty cool for the low price. I’ve been thinking about getting one for my wife and will use your site as a reference point. Not going to get this one if you rate it 4/10. Keep up the good work!
How come I found out Shinecon pretty irritating. I guess the quality depends on the product piece that you receive. Apparently, there is a lack of uniformity when it comes to the production of the Chinese VR headsets.
I have been waiting for VR to really burst into the mainstream before I dip my toes in the water so to speak. I tried a VR headset a couple of weeks ago and it sure was a great experience. I am now looking to find one that is a good fit for me. You mention this headset should weight about 500g with the phone inserted. Do you find any strain on the neck or head after extended usage?
Strain on the neck and head, not really. I use it for an hour and then take a break and I see to it that it fits properly else in the case of unusual fitting there usually tends to be a pain in the neck. Just be a little cautious and you are good to go!
I have not had a chance to use any VR headsets yet, but they have always intrigued me. I hope to be able to get one soon to use with my iPhone. I also hope that this is not normal for most VR headsets because that would be very frustrating for such a new technology as this.
If you are an iPhone user then check out the Homido V2 headset , Noon VR headset , and the Merge VR. These VR headsets are pretty good for iPhones.
Thank you very much for the interesting and informative read Shrestha, I really enjoyed it
A few of my friends love virtual reality but I never really understood all the hype, but after reading your article I feel much more informed on the subject and I’m now even considering buying a virtual reality headset myself
Best wishes
-Finn
Yeah, the point is Astoria is really not that great, LOL. Any way, I’m glad that you liked the post!
I’m not a gamer but I am interested in this type of stuff. Does the virtual reality headset work with a specific game console or are they interchangeable? How much money would I have to drop to get the best gaming console out there? i know it is a big industry and a good niche for you, Keep up the good work.
Brad
Astoria is a VR headset is for mobile phone and it works with any mobile phone with the screen size range as mentioned in the review. If you need to buy a VR headset that comes with a gaming console then the PlayStation VR headset is one of the best choices.
A PS4 will work with the PlayStation VR and you need to purchase different game titles. In the case of a mobile VR headset, you have many free games and experiences that you can browse. So the choice is really yours on what you want to invest.
Hope this helps.
Thank you for your review! Actually now we are looking to buy VR headset to use with phones and to expand our current business. We already have Oculus headset. So as I get it you more recommend buying Shinecon VR headset or VR box 2.0 to use with phones yeah? Thank you for an answer.
Regards, Gedas
Actually, I would recommend the Merge VR and the VR Box 2.0 and Shinecon are similar in quality to the Astoria VR headset.
Thank you for your review! We are currently are looking forward to buying VR headset to use with phones and expand our business. We already have owned Oculus headset. So as I understood you suggest to buy Shinecon VR headset or VR box 2.0. to use with a phone I am right? Thank you for your answer.
Regards, Gedas
Hey Shrey,
Thanks for your review. I have tried a couple of VR headsets and thought this might be a good option so thanks for pointing me in a better direction and save me wasting my money on this one.
I think I’ll definitely check out the Merge VR Headset.
Thanks
Chris
I’m glad I could help you out!
Great review! I have looked into buying VR headsets myself and so far every one that I have bought I end up returning. They sound much cooler online and when I get them home I am normally disappointed.
Now amusement parks are even starting to convert older roller coasters into VR rides by giving riders a VR headset and sending them on the ride. I personally get motion sickness and I feel like I would get very sick being on a ride with one of these on. Have you ever been on one?
Cheap headsets always sound great but you end up being disappointed. That is the reason I recommend the Merge VR since it is just a few dollars more but provides a premium VR experience.
wow that’s some great information. I never knew vr technology has advanced so much. I always thought vr included big machines. thanks and I will try it out.
hi, I just reviewed your site and I was amazed at how far virtual reality has come. I especially like the vr porn section, didn’t even know such a thing existed. I will definetly try out the vr technology. very informative posts overall.
I always thought vr technology included headsets connected to large machines to gain the vr type of experience. I learned a lot after visiting your site, thanks.
That is great! I’m glad that now you know better on which headset is actually going to give you a better VR experience.
Wow! So glad I read this review, I was ready to get one of these asap. One of my biggest concerns, you actually addressed.
I would see sooo many people wearing these things, and most of them looked like they struggled balancing lol
Also, I didn’t know it was compatible for any phone, it just has to meet that size requirement, that’s it?
And that’s good to know about the features, a lot of companies are literally just copying each other nowadays. If they’re going to do that – the support has to be on point.
Doesn’t look like that from your review. I value your position 🙂
Thanks for the heads up!!
Well, I’m happy that you now know which VR headset is going to be a better investment.
In the world of virtual reality one is always searching for the best products to deliver the ultimate viewing experience.
After reading this detailed review, I find that VR headset is not delivering on it basic necessities and to think that sold at $59 it would at least better than the Shinecon.
Still on the look out for that product that will give me that wow factor.. any ideas?
You should look out for the Merge VR, Daydream VR or the Samsung Gear VR.
Hey Shrestha,
Thank you for the review! Good job 🙂
I was actually thinking to myself and my wife an Astoria VR headset. But I don’t think I will do that based on your review now. I have read a lot of reviews on this VR headset and most of them are promoting it. Your review is the most down-to-earth honest ones 🙂
Great job! You have just saved me $59 haha.
Regards,
Kenny Wong
Haha, I’m glad I could help!
Can you tell me if “focus” can be adjusted. I was trying the oculus rift few days ago and the interface was blurry all the time. That really got in the way with my fun and led to headache eventually.
Does it come with some games/apps already prepared?
Can you maybe recommend some in your future posts?
Yeah, the focus in Astoria is not that precise and I don’ t think they have any games of their own and you have to be dependent on the ones for Google Cardboard.
I really did not spend a lot of time exploring the headset because it was very similar to the typical Chinese VR headsets that I had tried before and it didn’t even have enough dedicated content.
Well, I am glad I read this review before I went ahead and bought this VR headset. It sounds like there are other options out there with better features that are less expensive. I am amazed at how much VR headsets have come down in price in general. As with any technology, that definitely happens. The biggest issue for me, would be the customer service or lack of. You mentioned that people have had a hard time returning the headset, or getting in touch with customer service at all. That is a huge problem as far as I am concerned. I will certainly try a product if the customer service is over the top. Thanks for sharing. I am still looking for a VR headset, but will mark this one off my list.
Yes, customer service was painful for many customers and they have been many complaints on that. THis is the reason why I would suggest you to get a VR headset like Merge or Daydream as neither do they have any issues and returning them would be easy as well.
When I first read this article, I was extremely surprised to see these headsets priced at such a low amount, I thought that VR headsets were hundreds of dollars, I must be behind in this genre of the news.
I like how you gave the honest review of it, and whether or not it was Chinese produced, it is good to know when products are garbage, or if the companies customer service is subpar.
I am looking to possibly get a VR headset for my PlayStation, but I do believe they sell their own headsets. If I were to get one for my phone, I would take your advice and go with the Merge. I would rather spend the extra money and get a quality product than trying to save and have to end up replacing it weeks later.
yes, exactly the problem with these headsets is that even if you end up buying them you might want to replace them after a few days. It is better to invest in something like the Merge VR or the Daydream VR.