Best Phone For VR

You don’t need a Vive or an Oculus Rift. A Galaxy Note 7 will do just fine.

Listen, we get it: You don’t have space for an immersive virtual reality experience like the HTC Vive, nor do you want to shell out upwards of $600 for a fancy Oculus Rift setup. Thankfully, you don’t have to—at least, not for the headset. If you’ve already got a high-end flagship in your hands from the likes of Samsung or Google, chances are it’s ready for VR.

Right now, Samsung’s Gear VR is leading the charge. It’s in households and on roller coasters. And it’s an affordable $99 for Oculus-blessed virtual reality.

Best Overall

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

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We have to pick the latest and greatest from Samsung for virtual reality. The Galaxy Note 7 launched alongside Samsung’s newly revamped Gear VR headset, which features USB-C, a responsive D-pad button on the unit, and a slightly wider field of view. The Note 7 itself comes with top of the line specifications, including a Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM, as well as a massive 3500 mAh battery. Samsung has also been touting its Vulkan API graphics compatability precisely because it’ll make games run more smoothly, which should translate to virtual reality, too. And since it sports a giant 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, you’ll have an easier time with a smartphone that takes up your entire field of vision. The bigger, the better!

Bottom line: If virtual reality is your main concern from your next smartphone, the Note 7 is the one to consider.

One more thing: Samsung is still in the midst of a Note 7 recall. Read up on it before hitting the buy button.

Why the Galaxy Note 7 is the best

Big, beautiful, and well-equipped for virtual reality.

The Galaxy Note 7 is the best precisely because it’s fully equipped to deal with all that virtual reality requires: a powerful processor, a capable graphics processor, and enough memory to handle rendering the visuals on screen. It’s also worth nothing that Samsung’s offers the most established virtual reality ecosystem at the moment. The company has been actively commissioning interactive games and video content for the Gear VR over the years, and it’s been pushing headsets as add-ons with every new device launch. The Gear VR will surely be around for a while, and if you’re already a Samsung user, it’s a great way to become acquainted with virtual reality.

Best battery life

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

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You need a VR machine that can keep you in the zone for a long time. The Galaxy S7 edge’s 3600 mAh battery is about two percent larger than the Note 7’s, but it lasts that much longer. Every little bit counts when you’re in a virtual reality.

Inside, the Galaxy S7 Edge is essentially the same hardware as the rest of the Galaxy family of smartphones that have launched this year. It also offers a beautiful 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display and powerful processor.

Bottom line: If you’re scared of the Note 7, try on the Galaxy S7 edge for virtual reality.

One more thing: The Galaxy S7 edge works with the second-gen Gear VR headset, too!

Best Daydream phone

Google Pixel/Pixel XL

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We certainly couldn’t ignore the fact that Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones are the next big thing to happen to virtual reality. With its launch comes the arrival of Daydream, which is Google’s next step into virtual reality. Daydream is a comfortable alternative to Samsung’s Gear VR. It’s easy to set up, light to wear, and comes in an array of neat colors. You can read more about it here.

The Google Pixel and Pixel XL are the company’s newest smartphones. They replace the old Nexus lineup and come with some impressive specifications, including a Snapdragon 821 processor and 4GB of RAM. The biggest difference between the two are their display types. The Pixel features a 5-inch 1080p AMOLED display, while the Pixel XL comes with a 5.5-inch QuadHD AMOLED display. However, both smartphones fit inside the newly announced Daydream VR headset.

Bottom line: We haven’t reviewed them yet, but our first impressions were promising. You’d be fine if you decide to be an early adopter of Google’s new virtual reality push.

One more thing: If you’re curious to try Daydream before the Pixel lands on your doorstep, check to see if your device is already Daydream-ready.

Best Overall

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

See at AT&T
See at T-Mobile
See at Verizon
See at Sprint
See at U.S. Cellular

We have to pick the latest and greatest from Samsung for virtual reality. The Galaxy Note 7 launched alongside Samsung’s newly revamped Gear VR headset, which features USB-C, a responsive D-pad button on the unit, and a slightly wider field of view. The Note 7 itself comes with top of the line specifications, including a Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM, as well as a massive 3500 mAh battery. Samsung has also been touting its Vulkan API graphics compatability precisely because it’ll make games run more smoothly, which should translate to virtual reality, too. And since it sports a giant 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, you’ll have an easier time with a smartphone that takes up your entire field of vision. The bigger, the better!

Bottom line: If virtual reality is your main concern from your next smartphone, the Note 7 is the one to consider.

One more thing: Samsung is still in the midst of a Note 7 recall. Read up on it before hitting the buy button.

Best screen protectors for the Galaxy S7

What are the best screen protectors for the GS7?

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is one of the best phones of 2016. With its beautiful glass curves, you’ll want to try and protect the screen from scuffs and scratches.

Typically, we’d recommend a tempered glass screen protector — tempered glass offers the best protection for your screen. But in the case of phones like the Galaxy S7, those sexy curves cause major problems for tempered glass. The rigid glass can’t warp around the edges, meaning you’re left with less than full screen coverage, with edges that can collect dust and pocket lint. It’s just a mess you won’t want to deal with.

So instead, we’ll be recommending film screen protectors — not as tough as tempered glass, but providing much better coverage for your screen.

• Yootech Curved Edge to Edge Screen Protector 3-Pack
• Maxboost Liquid Skin Samsung Galaxy S7 Screen Protector
• IQ Shield LiQuidSkin 2-pack

Yootech Curved Edge to Edge Screen Protector 3-Pack

Yootech’s 3-pack of screen protectors provides edge-to-edge coverage for your phone with precise cutouts for the ear speaker, camera and fingerprint scanner. The kit includes everything you’ll need for installation — alcohol prep pad, squeeze card and dust removal tape.

This screen protector uses dry installation, meaning it adheres to your phone’s screen via magic! Actually, they use static electricity to cling to your phone. That means you’ll want to be quite careful during installation to be in a dust-free environment. A good tip would be to steam up your bathroom to get all the dust in the air to settle, then do the installation in there.

If you completely mess up your first installation attempt, you at least get two spares here, so you can give it another shot and still have a replacement to swap out if your first one gets too beaten up.

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Maxboost Liquid Skin Samsung Galaxy S7 Screen Protector

The Maxboost Liquid Skin protector includes two screen protectors for the screen — one with precise cutouts around the bits you want exposed, and the other a case-friendly option with cutouts from the edge around the top and bottom of the screen. It also includes a protector film for the back panel of your phone, because it’s made of glass to and susceptible to scratches and scuffs too!

As you may have gathered from the name, these protectors require a wet installation with the included spray bottle. You spray down the sticky side of the screen protector, place it down on your cleaned screen and adjust it until it’s just right. Then you’ll want to use the squeegee card to clear out any bubbles then leave it to dry overnight. You’ll want to be careful with it for the first few days, too, especially if you plan to slap a case on your phone too.

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IQ Shield LiQuidSkin 2-pack

Another wet installation option, the IQ Shield LiQuidSkin includes two screen protectors that IQ Shield claims each screen protector consists of four layers of protection. Cutting through the marketing buzzwords, these screen protectors feature a layer of TPU, will adhere well to your phone and should provide durable, transparent protection without yellowing over time.

Installation requires you to spray the adhesive side of the screen with the included spray bottle, then squeegee out the excess and any bubbles then leave it to dry for a few hours. The benefits of a wet install over a dry install include crystal clear transparency, and you’re able to adhere the protector around the curved edges better.

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Which screen protectors do you trust?

If the screen protector brand you use isn’t on our list, let us know in the comments!

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

• Galaxy S7 review
• Galaxy S7 edge review
• U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7
• Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
• Best SD cards for Galaxy S7
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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Really blue wallpapers for a Really Blue Pixel

Beyond silver, white, and black, we usually have few choices in phone colors.

There are golds that clash with so, so much (sorry, Jerry). There are occasionally pinks and reds that pop up months after launch. There are even sometimes greens… gorgeous, gorgeous greens. Now, blues aren’t unheard of in phone colors, but it’s rare to see one that’s this bold.

Look at that! That’s not sapphire, that’s not eggshell, that’s BLUE. Really Blue. And now, for your enjoyment and pleasure, some really blue wallpapers!

Look at this detailing! Look at the curves on this fractal! It’s clinically precise, gracefully fluid, and stunningly beautiful. Bonus: the black background of the fractal will help it pop on the Pixel’s AMOLED screen.

The Blue Flower by zmastah94

Space is really black, but this deep cerulean spacescape just makes me want to ask Google about life in the rest of the galaxy… and other galaxies. It’s frosty, it’s mysterious, it’s awesome… literally awesome.

Deep Blue by QAuZ

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic’s underappreciated Princess of the Night is a fabulous blue pony with a really blue and really sparkly mane. A guardian of dreams (and an avid gamer in fan artwork), Luna is a pony with taste and style, and she would absolutely rock the Really Blue Pixel XL, with as many games as she could load on it as possible.

The Rise of Midnight by Jamey4

Okay, Google, how many stars are in the universe?

Space is filled with stars, including a lot of blue stars, like Blue Dwarfs and Blue Giants (not to be confused with the Giants that crushed the Mets last night). While we will likely never reach out through the galaxy and see other stars and other worlds up close, that doesn’t mean we can’t reach for the stars… especially on our home screen.

Blue, Blue Sky by Esherymack

Sometimes simple really is best, and while you wait for your Really Blue Pixel to arrive, you can have a Really Blue home screen. Grab a bold icon pack and you’ve got yourself a swank little theme ready to jump to your new phone in a few weeks.

Really Blue

REVIEW: udoq corrals your gadgets with style — and a high price tag

Take it from a guy with too many phones: Finding the right charging station is well worth the effort. Striking the right mix of style and utility in a docking station can be tough — but the folks behind the cheekily-named udoq might just have found it.

It’s a machined aluminum shelf that comes in four different sizes and lets you charge smartphones, tablets, or other pocketables… and unlike much of the competition, this docking station lets you use your gadgets while they top up. But is the udoq stylish enough to justify its steep price tag?

Check out MrMobile’s udoq 400 review to find out!

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AT&T to sell LG V20 starting Oct 7 for an outrageous price

LG is going toe-to-toe with the highest-end phones out there.

High-end smartphones are expensive, often inexplicably so. But even when recognizing that they’re generally expensive across the board, we were still surprised to see the announcement today that AT&T will be offering the LG V20 for a rather massive $830 when pre-orders start on October 7.

There’s no doubt that LG has thrown a massive number of specs and features into a really nice design on the LG V20, but the pricing of $830 puts it in some pretty rare company. Looking down AT&T’s device offerings, the iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769, the Galaxy S7 edge at $794 and the Galaxy Note 7 at $879. Of course the just-announced Google Pixel XL will start at $769 as well. For what it’s worth, the LG V10 debuted at $700 this time last year.

Can LG really get over $800 for a phone today?

AT&T offers 24- and 30-month 0% financing for its phones, but that doesn’t erase the fact that hardly anyone was expecting the V20 would cost well over $800. Seeing as how the LG G5 hardly flew off store shelves at its flagship price, it’s hard to see how many people will buy the V20 for some $150 more. Very few companies can charge that kind of money for a phone, and despite the Note 7’s issues slowing down Samsung, we’re not so sure that LG is one of those companies.

Until other carriers reveal pricing — T-Mobile announced availability but not pricing earlier today — we’re going to reserve completely judgement for a moment, but $830 for the LG V20 is really going to test how much people are willing to go with an LG phone over other equally competitive models at lower prices.

LG V20

• LG V20 preview
• LG unveils the V20
• LG V20 specs
• LG V20 vs. Galaxy Note 7
• Discuss the V20 in the forums!

Oculus Touch controllers: What are they, how much do they cost, and when can you buy them?

Facebook-owned Oculus VR is in the middle of its main keynote, where it has shed new details on the Oculus Rift’s Touch controllers.

The virtual reality company’s third-annual Oculus Connect conference kicked off on 5 October and will go until 7 October, but the big event is the main keynote, which began at 10 am PT on 6 October. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stage to reveal Oculus is making a standalone VR headset that works without cords, among other things.

But if you only care about the Touch controllers, no worries. You don’t need to watch the entire keynote to catch up, as we’ve detailed everything you need to know, including how much they cost and when you can get them. We also have this piece that details what they are and how you can use them with Rift.

• Oculus Rift and Oculus Touch eyes-on
• Oculus Touch controllers price revealed
• Best VR headsets to buy in 2016, whatever your budget
• Oculus Rift: Price, shipping date and everything you need to know
• Oculus Rift preview: The VR revolution begins here

What is Oculus Touch?

According to Oculus, Oculus Touch is a “pair of tracked controllers that deliver natural ‘hand presence’ – the feeling that your virtual hands are actually your own.” The controllers, which were first announced last year, work with the Oculus Rift VR headset. For more information, see our Oculus Touch guide.

How much does Oculus Touch cost?

Oculus Touch is priced at $199.

Oculus promised the Touch controllers would work at room scale, but you’ll need to use a third camera placed in the back of the room. Those cameras will cost $79 each. The Rift’s $599 headset package, when combined with the controllers’ $199 price and the extra camera’s $79 price, makes the full Oculus platform more expensive than the $799 HTC Vive, which has two Lighthouse tracking boxes and two handheld controllers.

There’s no word yet on UK pricing.

When can you buy Oculus Touch?

Oculus Touch will be available on 6 December. Preorders open 10 October. The controller bundle will come with two titles (VR Sports Challenge and The Unspoken) as well as a second camera. Remember, a third sensor, which will release 6 December, is needed for the Touch controller to room-scale. 

There’s no word yet on availability outside of the US.

Do other games work with Oculus Touch?

Yes. Other games, such as the sci-fi shooter Arktika and Lone Echo from Ready at Dawn, will launch with Touch compatibility. Oculus is even showing off demos for Touch-compatible games like Luna, Quill, Landfall, Kingspray, The Unspoken, VR Sports, I Expect You to Die, Killing Floor, and SingSpace.

Visit Oculus’ blog for more details on these games.