Evo Next Virtual Reality Headset Review

Merkury EVO NEXT VR 360 Virtual Reality Cell Phone Smartphone 3D Headset with Bluetooth Controller (Black)
  • Experience immersive 360 °games, movies games, and 3D worlds directly on your your smartphone. Field of View: 90 degrees
  • Universally compatible with iPhone & Android and phones 4" - 6"

Are you looking for an affordable VR headset with a Bluetooth controller?

If gaming is on your mind, the Evo NEXT VR Headset may be a suitable choice for you.

Let me share that I am a gaming freak and have tried out a host of gamepad options.

Recently I came across the EVO and tried it out.

In my Merkury EVO NEXT VR Headset review, I share the good and bad aspects of the device.

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

Merkury EVO NEXT VR 360 Virtual Reality Cell Phone Smartphone 3D Headset with Bluetooth Controller (Black)
  • Experience immersive 360 °games, movies games, and 3D worlds directly on your your smartphone. Field of View: 90 degrees
  • Universally compatible with iPhone & Android and phones 4" - 6"

Specifications

Get ready to explore the word 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.

Pros
Cons

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.

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!

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.

Play Video
Play Video

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.

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.

Similarities
Differences

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.

Similarities
Differences

Oculus Go

Sale
Oculus Go Standalone Virtual Reality Headset - 64GB
  • Personal Viewing: The littlest, big screen. Crystal clear optics and state-of-the-art 3D graphics make your headset feel more like a personal theater
  • Viewing with Friends: Watch with friends. Meet up in VR with friends and fans from around the world to catch live sports, concerts, or just your favorite TV show

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
Differences

Conclusion

If you want an entry-level model for checking out VR, the NEXT can do the job. For a top quality immersive experience with a premium model, the Oculus Go is your best bet.

For all the people searching for a budget VR headset, the Destek will be a good option.

Why not check out the NEXT now here.

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