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While most other VR headsets feel like experiments put out into the world for users and developers to figure out what’s cool and fun, the Oculus Go is different. This headset was created to offer you an unforgettable experience from the moment you open the box to the moment you excitedly hand the headset to someone else to share what you saw. This is an evolution of the Samsung Gear VR headset, replacing the need to put your phone in the front slot with a separate processor and display. It’s portable, feature-packed, and by far the easiest-to-use VR system released to date.

The best thing? It’s yours for $200. No external hardware is required and there is no cable dangling from the back of the head. This is a VR headset that you take with you on a plane or for your kids to enjoy watching you. It’s a complete entertainment system, from a game console with hundreds of titles to an immersive HD TV that you can take with you wherever you go.

Have questions? We have answered them right here.

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What is Oculus Go?

Simply put, this is a virtual reality headset designed for everyone. Oculus Go is the third headset from Oculus and it exists between Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift for phones. It’s slightly more efficient than a phone-powered headset, but not quite as efficient as it is on a PC. But as a standalone system, that is, not requiring connection to anything, Oculus Go offers something unique.

speculation Oculus Go
screen 2560×1440 @ 72Hz
lenses Custom Fresnel
FoV 101 degrees
SoC Snapdragon 821
RAM four
Storage 32 / 64GB
battery 2600mAh
connection Wi-Fi
audio Speakers / 3.5 mm jack
The weight 177grams
Price $199 / $249

The headset itself is plastic on the outside, with easily removable foam around the eye sockets for easy cleaning and sizing. Most prescription glasses fit into the headset just fine, but Oculus included guides in the box to replace the spacer if your lenses don’t fit right away. If you’re not sure which configuration you prefer, switching back and forth is pretty easy.

On the front, you’ll see that the Oculus Go has been designed to reduce heat in a way that overheating shouldn’t be a problem when wearing the headset. The metal front panel conducts heat well, and the clearance around the entire front rim helps airflow where it’s needed most. In all of our tests, the headset has yet to show a temperature warning.

The Oculus Go comes in two models, available for those who prefer more or less storage space in their headset. These headsets are visually identical, but one has a total capacity of 32GB while the other supports 64GB.

  • Not sure which storage size is best for you? That’s how you choose the right Oculus Go for you!
  • Already know which one you want? Here are all your buying options!

What is the difference between Oculus Go, Samsung Gear VR and Daydream Standalone?

The Oculus Go isn’t the only VR headset to come out this year with its own built-in computer and no messy cables. The Google Daydream Standalone project exists to take the phone-based VR experience it calls Daydream and extend it into its own headset system. Then we have the Samsung Gear VR, a headset that demands your phone from us. Like the Oculus Go, Daydream Standalone does not require a phone. Unlike the Oculus Go, it’s $400.

The reason for this price increase is the availability of features you won’t find on the Oculus Go, such as a better head tracking system and a tough plastic construction that can take a few hits. Choosing between these three headsets is more about the ecosystem you want to live in, whether you want Facebook and Oculus to run the store that sells your apps or Google.

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What can I do with Oculus Go?