Features:

  • Enter the world of virtual reality with the View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack
  • This kid-friendly device will surround you with stunning 360-degree environments so you feel as if you are really there
  • Download one of the View-Master VR apps to your smartphone
  • Then slide your smartphone into the viewer, look at the Preview Reel and simply click the lever to launch yourself into 360-degree immersive experiences
  • The Preview Reel included with the View-Master VR Starter Pack allows you to demo available apps so you can try all Experience Packs
Not only a toy - Best VR headset at a budget price on the market

I have become nothing but an evangelist about this product! Google cardboard has to be one of the coolest things out there right now on the VR market. It's cheap, available to everybody, but it just falls apart and is finnicky cardboard! Enter the View Master. This thing is plastic, heavy duty, drop-proof, and comfortable against the forehead. I have zero qualms about letting my little three year old nephew use it because I know he won't damage it even if it falls. HOWEVER - this has to be the best cheap, plastic VR phone machine on the market. It includes a button - in the classic spot of the View Master button we all know and love. Many VR headsets do not include this button and it's aggravating to watch a lot of VR things as a result. This also will fit just about any phone. I can fit my iPhone 6s in there comfortably and my SO can just fit his Droid in there (albeit without cases on).

Best Google Cardboard headset quality for the price

After having worn out my homemade google cardboard headset, I wanted something that rested between cardboard and the higher end options in both price and build quality. For me, The Viewmaster VR headset is the best quality/budget option out there. My Nexus 6 fit right in, even though it's one of the biggest phones out there. As a google cardboard device, its perfect. Scan the QR code on the inside and you're set to go - i wish there was more to write on the process, but the fact is, its just that simple. I was worried that the audio would be muffled when sealed inside the viewmaster, but i can still hear my phone loud and clear (supposedly the next gen of this device has a dedicated audio jack, which comes with an increase in price). My phone has front-facing speakers, so results may vary on how well you can hear your device when inside the device. For $20, you cant go wrong with this as a google cardboard device. I havent used the included viewmaster discs.

great vr headset with a silly nostalgic touch

Ive been looking for a decent VR/Cardboard viewer that was sturdier than, well, cardboard. I have tried no less than 3-4 different viewers, and this is the WINNER. excellent quality, sturdy build. Google Approved. Only drawbacks are the lack of holes for charge cable and headphones, and lack of a headband. Any of those could be custom added potentially though, with parts from the other viewers i've bought and not liked (their field of view was terrible, or had terrible quality lens). I prefer to use my bluetooth headphones instead, which work great. My phone takes less than a hour for full charge, so i'm good to go. The starter pack that comes with it is pretty much useless... you don't need to use it. Just a nostalgic marketing gimmick. You can also bypass the expensive apps they want to sell you. This device shines using the Google Cardboard VR apps you can find on the play store. many many of them 100% free. The Youtube app on your phone has thousands of VR #360 videos to watch, as well.

The best 30 bucks i've spent in 10+ years

What can you get for thirty bucks these days? Probably not a whole lot. But now, you can open up an entire new virtual world. The kids (and us) have experienced the Grand Canyon, roman ruins, an eclipse in the arctic, Apollo 11 landing, a rollercoaster and a fighter jet ride all on a rainy afternoon in the living room. The View-master is "Google Cardboard compatible" and works great on YouTube and all Android/iOS applications. While a high DPI phone (such as iPhone 6S, latest Samsung or LG) is a must have, it is not required to have fun. The 3D + 360 videos are probably the most amazing. The 3D effect is very immersive...to the point where it is downright disturbing at times. You can sometimes forget that it is not reality. It is a constant fight who gets to use it next. Be careful though -- you may never see your phone again. For the grown ups later -- the "Space Girl" series on YouTube is freaking hilarious.

Great Simple VR Headset

Great cheap VR headset, when I bought it the price was just barely more than Google Cardboard. Feels very solid and works fine with my HTC One M8 phone. Wouldn't mind some more padding on the eyepiece, it's a little too big for my face and lets in outside light, think this might be contributing to my VR sickness a little. Need to buy some padding and try modding it myself. Haven't done a headband mod yet, not sure if I will unless I can get rid of VR sickness in regular use. VR actually makes me a little queasy, not sure if it's the technology or the gaps in the side of the headset. Recommend sitting down while doing this, it seems to help. Definitely a toy for me and not an environment I would be able to spend a lot of time in. Glad I bought an inexpensive headset for now, don't think the technology is there yet, which isn't surprising because smartphones were never designed for this. Will try with Google Daydream down the road and see if there's any improvement.

Good present for long-distance family

I bought this for my mom, who lives across the country from me. I take pictures of my life through the app and send it to her over text/email, and she can look at the pictures in the View-Master and show them to my grandma as well. My favorite feature is the sound recording. I can talk to my mom while I'm taking the picture, like audible captions.

Hours of fun

I bought this along with the wildlife, underwater, and space pack. The graphics for these three packs is certainly lacking... but it's for kids and their imagination will take care of the rest! Younger kids than recommended can enjoy but the learning and educational sections will be hard to navigate by those of a younger age. Nonetheless whether your kids will be learning or just want coloring the environments they will certainly enjoy the experience. Fully immersive so it's everywhere you look there is something to see. Well worth it! Just don't expect 4K mind blowing fun as an adult with these

I was not sure how he would like it or if he could figure it out

I bought this for my grandson for his 5th birthday. I was not sure how he would like it or if he could figure it out. Of course it needs some adult assistance because it requires the use of a smart phone. But when he put the View-Master up to look through it...He said Whoa!....then he turned and we got another WHOA!! He was so excited by the experience. We chose the National Geographic Dinosaurs. It displays in 3-D and is just like being in room where you can turn around and see something new. He kept saying over and over "I love this!". He could hear the sounds of the birds in the trees and see the dinosaurs moving and one dinosaur actually acts like it sees you and runs toward you roaring. It was so much fun seeing his reaction. His dad bought him the Space adventure, which also brought a lot of excitment. We have not had the viewer long so I cannot speak to how it will survive a 5 year old...but I can tell you it was wonderful to see him and hear the excitment in his voice as he explored the dinosaurs and space.

Great alternative to the cardboard

If you like a cheap way to play with the VR, but hate the 'aesthetics' of the ugly google cardboard - get this. It works with all VR apps. I wish though that the ViewMaster had their own apps developed better. They look promising but the quality just sucks.

Great fun for less than $15

The local children's science museum had a virtual reality workshop where the kids made their own VR mask and experimented with the View-Master. All of the parents were asked to download Google Cardboard and give up their phone to a bunch of 8 - 12 year old kids (that we didn't know). The phones fit VERY securely. My phone is a Galaxy S5, but parents had all types of phones and no one had a problem. The phones seemed really well protected, so in the end I was comfortable handing it over. The kids and adults had a blast. I was really impressed that the button you use to select worked well with all the different phones. When I went to Amazon to see how much they were, and found the sale price was more than half off, making them only a few dollars more than the cardboard versions, I picked up a few for Christmas gifts. There are a lot of other masks out there, but since I had already tried this one out, and many of the others were more expensive, the View-Master was the winner. They don't look as high tech as some of the others, and there is no head strap, but everyone was entertained and the kids didn't want to walk away at the end.

Full Reviews