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Homido Mini Virtual Reality Glasses Review

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Homido Mini: still sold and still usable?

Consider the Homido Mini for brief Cardboard apps or 360° viewing on a compatible phone, especially if portability matters. It has no strap, so your arms do the work. Check the phone’s size, sensors and available apps before buying; choose a standalone headset if you want games with positional tracking and tracked controllers.

Headset alternatives discussed in this guide

Meta Quest 3S

Meta Quest 3S

128 GB configuration

Standalone VR

Standalone games with Fresnel lenses.

Check first: Check the app library, optical fit and return policy.

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The Homido Mini clips two lenses onto your phone. Its small size suits a quick look at phone VR, but you have to hold the phone to your face. Phone fit, screen quality and the apps you can install matter more than the viewer’s size.

In this review, check the phone requirements first, then read Dustin’s original notes on video, audio and comfort. The alternatives section explains how a strap-on phone viewer changes the experience.

Concept illustration of folding twin VR lenses clipped to a horizontal smartphone beside a carrying pouch and lens cloth.
AI-generated editorial illustration; device shapes and interfaces are conceptual.
Product status and source notes

Still sold: yes. Homido's own e-shop lists the Mini at €14.99 and in stock (checked 24 September 2026). The V2, Grab and Prime headsets are also still listed on Homido's website.

Still usable: yes, with limits. According to Homido's product page, the Mini fits Android and iOS phones from 4.5 to 7.0 inches that have a gyroscope and accelerometer, so most current phones fit. The catch is content: Google open-sourced the Cardboard SDK in 2019 and stopped selling its own Cardboard viewers in March 2021 (9to5Google), and far fewer phone VR apps are released today than when this review was written.

What to consider instead: for a strap-on phone headset, see our best VR headsets under $50. For real VR with games and hand tracking, a standalone headset such as the Meta Quest 3S (from $349.99 in the US since 19 April 2026, per Meta) is a much bigger step up.

Original review: The first-person observations below are Dustin Jermalowicz’s review published in 2020. Later status notes are marked separately.

You can use a simple device like Homido’s Mini VR Glasses to experience VR by just putting lenses on your phone. I was curious as to whether these would work, as there is nothing else included but the lenses.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Mobile VR Headset

If you’re reading this, I assume that you’re probably thinking about buying a mobile VR headset.

That’s fantastic, and I want to make sure you get the device that suits you best!

With that said, there are some things to consider before you lay down your hard-earned cash. I recommend you think about the following:

Expectations

What are you looking for with VR? Do you want to consume media, play games, or both?

You should make your decision on a headset based on what you want to do. Some headsets are good for media but aren’t good for games.

Screen size

The size of your screen will affect the compatibility of most headsets.

Many older phone headsets only handle screens up to about six inches, while most current phones are larger than that. If you have a larger screen, check the headset’s supported size range before buying. Homido lists the Mini as fitting 4.5 to 7.0-inch phones with a screen resolution of at least 720p, and calls 1080p comfortable and 1440p optimum.

The ideal customer is someone who’s interested in the technology but not ready to spend several hundred dollars on a standalone headset.

Presenting the Homido Mini VR Glasses

Homido is known for their unique VR headsets, and the Mini VR Glasses are their smallest form factor. The glasses are literally just a set of lenses that clip to your phone. According to Homido, they weigh 22 g, fold to fit in a pocket, offer a 100° field of view, come with a carrying pouch and cleaning wipe, and are certified under Google’s “Works with Google Cardboard” programme.

Even though they’re simple, they provide a full VR experience.

This shocked me, as I thought things wouldn’t work as well as they do.

This set of glasses is meant for those looking for a good portable VR experience. It doesn’t have any bells and whistles, but it does the job well.

Pros

  • Provides a surprisingly good VR experience
  • Portable
  • Wide field of view of the screen
  • Fits well in your pocket

Cons

  • Light bleed from no cover
  • Lenses scratch easily
  • You have to hold the phone up to your face

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Features and Benefits

The Homido Mini VR Glasses do make a compelling case for those who want to experience VR without completely shutting out the outside world. I wanted to give you my thoughts on the various aspects of the glasses to let you know what I like and what I hate about them.

Video

In terms of the video clarity from these glasses, I was impressed. I thought you’d be getting a bottom of the barrel experience from the design, but this is actually quite good.

Of course, you’re going to get some light bleed onto the phone due to there being no cover, but for the most part, I was happy with the results.

You do want to take care of the lenses though, as they can scratch easily. Keeping them in a case when in your pocket is a must.

Audio

Audio is a big part of VR, but there obviously isn’t anything related to this with the Mini VR Glasses.

This is a blessing and a curse. Many headsets don’t have anything else either but make getting your headphones in difficult.

This isn’t the case with these glasses, as there’s nothing blocking the port. Still, there are times I miss having built-in audio.

Many current phones no longer have a headphone jack, so you may need Bluetooth or USB-C headphones.

Comfort

Admittedly, comfort is the Achilles’ heel to me with these glasses. Sure, they’re lightweight, but you have to hold the phone up to your face as there aren’t any straps built in.

This kind of sucks, especially when you want to use VR for more than a few minutes. Even holding my iPhone XS, I was feeling my arms ache after 5 or so minutes.

Software

One perk that comes with Homido headsets is that the group has its own VR portal software.

The software works to pool together the best VR apps for your phone and is available on iOS and Android devices.

I have used this extensively and have been impressed with the content pushed my way.

The highlight is 360 videos, which make you feel like you’re right in on the action.

Update: Homido's older "Homido Center" app was replaced by VR Center, a curated catalogue of phone VR apps and 360° videos. Its Google Play listing is still up but was last updated on 9 September 2024, and we could not find a current App Store listing, so treat it as a bonus rather than a reason to buy. Any Google Cardboard-compatible app or YouTube 360° video works with the Mini.

What Others Are Saying About the Homido Mini VR Glasses

Homido is a decent-sized VR headset developer. They have put out a series of products over the years and have generated some clout because of them. I took to the internet to see what others had to say about these glasses.

New Atlas called the Mini a hard-to-beat bargain for pocketable VR at around $15. It praised the lack of setup, the wide phone compatibility and the fact that you can keep your glasses on. Its criticisms match ours: you have to hold it to your face, there’s light leakage and glare with no enclosure, and the experience depends heavily on your phone’s screen.

Alternatives to the Homido Mini VR Glasses

While these glasses are a good intro to VR, they aren’t going to be for everyone.

I decided to throw in some alternatives for those looking into mobile VR but don’t want to break the bank.

The devices below were all good choices when we reviewed them. Check current phone-size support before buying, as some of them only fit phones of about 6 inches or less.

Homido V2 VR Headset

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the Homido brand. If you want a more substantial device but want to stick with a known company, then the Homido V2 VR Headset is for you.

The headset can be used with phones up to 5.7 inches and is comfortable, allowing you to free your hands. While not as portable as the glasses, the V2 is an excellent alternative.

Homido now lists the V2 as fitting 4.5 to 6.5-inch phones.

Similarities

  • Homido brand device
  • Includes Homido VR portal app
  • High build quality

Differences

  • Includes headband
  • Supports phones up to 6.5 inches (per Homido)
  • Is a handsfree device

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Polaroid Virtual Reality Headset

I conducted a review on the Polaroid VR Headset and was impressed by the build quality.

The comfort of the device has let me watch full movies in it. While the sound could be better, this is a decent option if you don’t want to have to hold your phone to your face.

Note: as of September 2026 its old Amazon listing returns a “page not found” error, and we could not confirm that this headset is still sold.

Similarities

  • Great lenses
  • From a known brand
  • Lightweight

Differences

  • Has a head strap
  • Fogs up a bit
  • Handsfree headset

Destek V4 VR Headset

I am so impressed with the Destek V4 VR Headset.

The device feels like a premium product and has offered some of the best comfort I’ve come across for VR.

It includes a touch interactive button, face foam, head strap, and wide 103-degree field of vision. It is listed for phones with 4.5 to 6.0-inch screens, so many current phones will be too large, and as of September 2026 Amazon US lists it as currently unavailable. See our full Destek V4 review.

Without a doubt, this is a device I recommend you consider if your phone fits, as it’s among the better mobile VR headsets we’ve reviewed.

Similarities

  • Excellent visual quality
  • Compatible with a wide range of phones
  • Portable

Differences

  • Can fog a bit
  • Doesn’t require you to hold your hands up to your face
  • Includes foam piece for face

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Conclusion

I didn’t think I’d like the Homido Mini VR Glasses as much as I do.

The portability factor and lens quality is fantastic.

While it’s not as complete a solution as some of its competition, this stands as an excellent entry point to VR.

I highly recommend them if you haven’t used VR yet.

As of September 2026, the Mini is still a cheap way to try 360° video and simple Cardboard apps on your phone. Just don’t expect the games and tracking of a standalone headset, and be aware that the phone VR app scene is much smaller than it was.

If you’re interested in purchasing these glasses, you can do so by clicking the link below.

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Research behind this guide

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

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