iPhone-Compatible ZEISS VR ONE Plus Headset Launches for $129

Beware! Many cheap headsets have a narrow FOV.

But ViewMaster's headset is under $20 and quite nice. A little bulky, but it's a winner in the "casual no-strap" category. I have no problem with the res on my 6+: it's not high-end VR, but it's very cool! (TONS of dud apps out though—you have try and reject many that SAY they work with Cardboard but are not calibrated right—or are needlessly slow, which = nausea.)

And it allows some AR with the iPhone camera. (Potentially, anyway. Haven't seen much done with that.

I don't know about wearing these things. My mother always told me not to sit too close to the TV so having this literally an inch from my eyes seems weird.

Modern VR headsets put your focal distance at infinity using lenses—you're nor focussed inches away. Infinity is the natural resting point of your eyes when closed. Don't let your mom fret :)

Holiday gift guide: Can only choose one, vr headset or a drone?

Drone. At least that can capture cool video and/or pics. This VR/AR stuff is nonsense and a fad.

So we can buy a WAY overpriced item for $129
OR
buy THESE ('https://www.amazon.com/VR-015-Version-Virtual-Reality-Smartphones/dp/B0186T14MY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1471886184&sr=1-1&keywords=VR+Glass+VR-015') by on amazon, which are basically the same thing (and work great as I have some), for $12

A big part of the VR experience is the quality of the lens and how well it generates the optics to create the correct focal length. I am guessing the cheap ones use fernel and/or crappy plastic lenses and zeiss uses Hugh quality/good optics glass lenses?

I understand you said AR. But you're saying "better" implementation. Better implementation of what? They are not different implementations of the same thing. It's pretty hard to say one is better than the other when the use cases are so different. It's like saying an airplane is better than a kite. Use case dictates better.

Usefulness today - driving/walking directions are only applicable to AR. It would make no sense for VR. Conversely, gaming and racing/flying/military training syms are some of the real world useful applications for VR. None of those benefit from AR.

Okay, I concede. Your argument is too strong. I did not consider any of the VR use cases given they are not mine, but they are somebodies so they count. I will go eat my humble pie now, but will do so with lots of wine so it won't be so bad.

Mattel VR headset $19 at Walmart

Just give me the holodeck. That's the VR future I think we all want.

I imagine Seven of Nine would be a pretty popular DLC. :D

Now you're on to something! We need to get in on the ground floor of this thing right away!