Merkury Evo Next Virtual Reality Headset Review

Product status and source notes

Is it still sold? Not by Merkury. The Merkury Innovations website no longer lists any VR headsets; it now sells audio, mobile, lighting, home security and similar products. Any Evo Next you find today is old retail or reseller stock, and we could no longer check its specifications against a manufacturer page.

Can you still use it? Yes, as a basic phone holder. Phone VR still runs on Google's Cardboard platform, whose app is available for Android and iOS. The catch is size: the headset takes phones of 4 to 6 inches, which rules out many recent phones.

What to consider instead: a current phone headset such as the Destek V5 if you only want to try phone VR, or a standalone Meta Quest 3S for a much better experience. See What to buy instead.

Important Factors to Consider Before Getting a VR Headset

For choosing a smartphone VR headset, there are a bunch of aspects to consider. Since I have tried out quite a few, these are some tips I would like to share with you.

Smartphone Type – Do you have an iPhone or Android? The smartphone type can have a bearing on your VR experience. I have noticed that quite a few headsets with controllers pair up really well with Android smartphones.

The same cannot be said for iPhones, so you need to check compatibility before you get the headset.

Budget – I recommend chalking out a budget range before you start looking at headset models. You will find mobile headsets starting from as low as $20 to as high as a few hundred dollars and more.

If you want high-quality immersive experience with perfect ergonomic designs, be ready to shell out a couple of hundred dollars for it. If you wish to test the waters, you can pick a cheap headset and see for yourself before going headlong into it.

Screen size – Okay, so this is something so minor that you may miss it altogether. Majority of the VR headsets have a certain smartphone size with which they work. If your smartphone comes with a 6.5-inch screen, it is not going to work with a headset that accommodates a screen size of maximum 6 inches.

If you are looking to try out VR with your smartphone, a mobile VR headset is your best bet.

Just check the smartphone compatibility with a headset before you pick one and take a deep dive into virtual reality!

Presenting the Merkury EVO NEXT VR Headset

Specifications

Get ready to explore the world of 360-degree virtual reality when you get your hands on the Evo NEXT VR Headset. When unboxing the NEXT, I found the headset, a lens cleaning soft cloth and a black Bluetooth controller. The Evo also comes with a handy instruction manual that helps set it up.

• A comfortable fabric face padding
• Has a field of view at 90 degrees
• Weighs 1.3lb
• Has a smartphone load tray
• Comes with a Bluetooth controller for gaming
• Provides Augmented Reality Support

Pros

• Affordable VR headset
• Lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended gaming sessions
• Compatible with most of the iPhone and Android models from 4inches to 6 inches
• Has accessible headphone and charging ports
• Completely adjustable lenses

Cons

• Not compatible with bigger smartphones (more than 6 inches)
• Can be a bit uncomfortable for people with wide nose cavities

View the listing on AmazonPaid link · Historical or unverified listing

Features & Benefits of the Merkury EVO NEXT VR Headset

When I picked up the Evo, I wanted to have an affordable device with reasonably good immersive gaming experience. I went through the following areas and tested the device thoroughly.

Here are my thoughts.

Design and Comfort

I quite liked the lightweight and minimalist design that makes it a pleasure to wear. I tested it out with my Galaxy S9, and it paired up pretty well. When I mounted it on my head, I used the coated ABS and Nylon strap to fit it snugly.

The fit on the nose was a bit off. I adjusted it for a couple of minutes before I was comfortable to start playing.

If you wear glasses, remember to keep the straps a bit looser. Slip on your glasses first before strapping on the headset. To get a better viewing experience, try to keep the smartphone centered.

Setup

Setting up the headset took just a couple of minutes. Getting started was quite easy. I would recommend that you choose and download the VR apps and games you want to play before strapping it on.

I downloaded EVO VR Infinity Space War and was all charged up to play it with the Bluetooth controller.

I slid my Samsung Galaxy S9 into the smartphone tray and paired up the controller by switching it on. It took about a couple of minutes to adjust the lenses before I started viewing VR.

Viewing Experience

The Evo NEXT is one of the earlier models of EVO. I found the lenses of this model to be a bit on the smaller side. Wider and larger lenses are always helpful in enhancing the immersive experience as they let you view more of the VR display.

Next, I adjusted the lenses to get a unified and more centered view. I found the viewing experience to be much better once I did this.

Smartphone Compatibility

The best part of the NEXT is its compatibility with the majority of Android and iPhones.
Any phone that has a minimum of 4 inches of screen size should work well with this model. The largest screen size that can be accommodated is 6-inches.

If you have a Note 8 or another large-screen smartphone, you would be better off choosing another headset.

Many phones released in recent years have screens larger than 6 inches, so check your phone’s screen size before buying an Evo Next. Current phone headsets such as the Destek V5 are designed for phones of 5 to 7 inches, according to Destek’s store.

VR Content

There are many VR apps available in both the Google Play Store or iOS App Store. InMind VR, Jaunt VR, InCell VR are just a few of the games that are recommended by Merkury Innovations, the manufacturer of the NEXT.

For watching horror, the Insidious-3: 3D Horror Experience is an excellent choice on the iPhone.

If you are a fan of watching VR content or movies, go right ahead and choose the ones you like. Enjoy the 360 degree YouTube videos in the VR mode!

Note on apps today: we could not confirm that EVO VR Infinity Space War, the Insidious 3 experience or Jaunt VR are still available. InCell VR is still listed on the App Store, but it has not been updated since November 2016. YouTube’s Cardboard mode for 360-degree and VR180 videos works in the Android app only; YouTube Help says Cardboard is not supported on iPhone and iPad. Google stopped selling its own Cardboard viewers in March 2021 but kept the platform going as an open-source project, and the Google Cardboard app for iPhone was last updated in December 2025.

Social Proof

When I scanned the online user reviews for the NEXT, I found mixed responses. Many users liked the lightweight design and the fact that it works with a variety of smartphones.

Many users liked the comfort and design of the headset while playing games and watching content. Quite a few of the users complained of the lenses size. They suggested that bigger sized lenses would help in a better viewing experience.

View the listing on AmazonPaid link · Historical or unverified listing

Merkury Evo Next Alternatives

Though all mobile virtual reality headsets are quite similar, some features can make them feel very different.

A few elements can enhance your immersive experience and transport you to the land of virtual reality, quite literally! Let’s see what alternatives we have for the EVO NEXT VR headset.

Destek V4 VR Headset

If you are looking for a feature-rich and affordable headset, Destek fits the bill.

Simple and full of functionalities, you will soon have an affinity to the Destek.

Read our full Destek V4 VR headset review. Note that Destek’s own store now lists only the V5, not the V4.

Similarities

• Affordable smartphone headset
• High compatibility with a wide range of phones
• Portable and suitable for VR on the go

Differences

• The NEXT comes with a 90-degree field of view compared to 103-degrees in Destek
• Destek is known to fog sometimes
• Face padding of Destek is made of soft leather

View the listing on AmazonPaid link · Historical or unverified listing

Polaroid Virtual Reality 3D VR Smartphone Headset

Polaroid is the manufacturer of this headset that makes it quite popular.

If you prefer a simple headset with high-quality lenses, pick the Polaroid. Polaroid’s official store no longer lists a VR headset, though, so this one is also only available as old stock.

Similarities

• Both are branded models
• Possess high-quality lenses

Differences

• NEXT is heavier than the Polaroid
• Polaroid does not need power
• NEXT comes with a Bluetooth controller that Polaroid lacks

Oculus Go

Oculus Go is undoubtedly one of the best mobile headsets in the market today. If you want the best standalone headset and can shell out a couple of hundred dollars, get the Go.

One of our other writers reviewed the Go, and you can read his thoughts here.

Similarities

• Minimalist and lightweight design
• Suitable for people who wear glasses
• Both models come with a controller

Differences

• Go is a standalone headset that doesn’t need a phone to work
• Oculus gives a truly immersive, enriching VR experience
• Wireless and portable, the Go has built-in audio that the NEXT lacks

View the listing on AmazonPaid link · Historical or unverified listing

What to buy instead

If you only want to try phone VR: Destek’s current model is the V5, which its official store lists at $39.99, or $49.99 with a Bluetooth controller (prices checked 24 September 2026). It takes phones of 5 to 7 inches, so it suits more current phones than the Evo Next.

If you want proper VR gaming: a standalone headset such as the Meta Quest 3S doesn’t need a phone and has a far larger game library than phone VR. According to UploadVR, Meta raised its US price to $350 for the 128 GB model from 20 April 2026. For a closer look, read our Meta Quest 3 vs Quest 3S comparison.

Conclusion

If you want an entry-level model for checking out VR, the NEXT can do the job, as long as your phone is no larger than 6 inches and you can still find one in stock. The Oculus Go was the pick when this review was written, but it is discontinued; today a Meta Quest 3S fills that role.

For all the people searching for a budget VR headset, the Destek will be a good option (Destek now sells the V5 as the current model).

Why not check out the NEXT now here.

Research behind this guide

Check the linked specifications and support documents, or read how we research. Original review experience stays attributed to its author.

View 12 sources

• Merkury Innovations - official website
• Google Cardboard - Google AR & VR
• Google Cardboard app - Apple App Store
• Google Store stops selling Cardboard VR headsets - 9to5Google
• YouTube Help: watching VR and 360-degree videos
• InCell VR (Cardboard) - Apple App Store
• DESTEK - All products
• Polaroid - official website
• Oculus is winding down Oculus Go support - Game Developer
• Unlocking Oculus Go - Meta for Developers
• Meta Quest 3S - Meta
• Meta raises Quest 3 and Quest 3S prices - UploadVR

Explore the related guides in VR headsets.