Onn Virtual Reality Headset Review: Features, Performance, Pros and Cons
Onn VR headset review: a very cheap phone viewer with focus adjustment and a 6-inch phone limit, plus whether it is still sold and what to consider instead.
In this guide
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Is it still sold? We could not confirm it. The Amazon listing linked in this review still loads, but it showed no price or stock when we checked, and we found no current ONN phone VR headset on a manufacturer or retailer page we could access. Treat any unit you find as old stock or second-hand, and the prices in this review as historical.
Can you still use it? Yes, if your phone fits. It is a passive viewer with no button, so it suits 360-degree video and phone VR apps that you control by gaze. The Google Cardboard app is still offered for Android and iOS, although Google stopped selling Cardboard viewers in March 2021 and now supports the platform through an open-source SDK, which was last updated in August 2026. The bigger problem is size: the ONN takes phones up to 6 inches, while the smallest standard iPhones Apple currently sells, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17e, have 6.1-inch screens.
What to consider instead? For real VR, a standalone headset such as the Meta Quest 3S; see our alternatives section.
You are thinking of getting a virtual reality headset, but you don’t want to spend much money.
These days, there are several low-cost headsets on the market, so which one will work best for you?
In this Onn Virtual Reality headset review, we’ll tell you the features of the ONN VR headset as well as its pros and cons so you can decide if it’s a good fit for you.
Things to consider before buying a VR Headset
Despite virtual reality being relatively new, there are a lot of VR headsets on the market, and there are significant differences between them.
- Do you want a stand-alone, mobile, or PC-connected/console headset?
There are three kinds of VR headsets, those that use smartphones for the content, those that have a built-in computer/screen and don’t need anything else, and those that connect to a computer or gaming console. Mobile headsets, like this ONN headset, are the least expensive but tend to be the most limited. - Is this for a serious user or little kids?
Serious users will want a high-quality device with good lenses and quality construction. If, on the other hand, you are buying the headset as a fun “toy” for your kids, then you probably would do better with a less expensive option because even a high-quality headset, when dropped onto the tile, will break…unless it’s made of foam. - Are you planning to use the headset much?
When you wear a virtual reality headset, you are essentially wearing glasses in front of a screen. As with any pair of glasses, the more you use them, the more important the quality of those lenses is. - What is your budget?
As with pretty much anything in this world, you get what you pay for. Don’t expect to get the best headset for just a few dollars. Generally speaking, as the price goes up, so does the quality and features.
Introducing the ONN VR Headset
The ONN Virtual Reality headset is an ultra-low-cost VR headset.
Headsets can range from a couple of dollars to over $500.
The ONN headset is a mobile VR headset, meaning it uses your smartphone for the screen and computing.
It has a front phone compartment with a hinged door and room for your power and headphone wires to pass through.
The headset allows you to adjust the lenses distance between your eyes and the screen (optical focus) for better focus, though several users have reported they could never get the focus quite right.
This is likely due to the low-quality nature of the lenses.
Three-point adjustable nylon straps hold the goggles to your face, and the area that touches your face is padded. There are no buttons nor a remote for controlling your phone while it’s in the headset and there are no headphones, so you need to use separate earbuds or headphones.
The headset fits both iPhone and Android smartphones 6 inches or less.
Pros
- Very inexpensive
- Adjustable optical focus
- Comfortable head straps
Cons
- Low-quality lenses
- Some users reported the phone compartment door cracking their phone screen
- No button or remote for controlling the phone which means you have to remove the phone to start and stop videos and most games cannot be played using this headset
- No built-in audio
- Some customer reviews report fragile construction
Features and Benefits
The ONN VR headset is an inexpensive way to start experiencing virtual reality. Below are some of the features and benefits.
Comfortable Headstrap
Some virtual reality goggles, like Google Cardboard, are simply lenses in a box that you can hold up to your face with your phone. The ONN headset’s 3-point adjustable vinyl straps free up your hands.
Adjustable Optical Focus
Everyone’s eyes are different, and everyone’s eyesight is different.
ONN’s adjustable optical focus allows you to adjust the lenses until you have a better focus on the screen. Even allowing you to compensate for some level of bad vision.
This is important since you most likely will not be able to wear your eyeglasses while using the ONN headset due to the limited amount of space between your face the headset.
Universal Fit for Smartphones 6 Inches or Less
Whether you own an Android or iPhone, you can use the ONN VR headset with it as long as it fits in the phone compartment which fits phones with a diagonal measurement of 6 inches or less.
Don’t try to fit a larger phone in this headset and be careful when closing the phone compartment door as some people have reported their phone’s screens breaking when closing the door.
Note: this limit rules out many current phones. As of September 2026, the smallest standard iPhones Apple sells have 6.1-inch screens, according to its iPhone comparison page, and many Android flagships are bigger still, so check your phone’s screen size and outer dimensions before buying an ONN.
Openings for Wires
If your phone is low on power, no worries. You can plug your phone’s power cord in while using this headset and still be able to close the phone compartment door. Similarly, you can plug your headphones in during use.
It’s Super Inexpensive
The reality is that at $9, most phone cases cost more than this headset. I’ve seen it as low as $5 as well. You would be hard-pressed to find another headset (with straps) for less.
The low price makes this headset worth looking into if you are just trying out virtual reality, if you are getting it for your kids, or if have to get a gift for a party and want to get something pretty cool.
The ONN VR headset may not be the most fantastic headset out there, but it has good features for the price-point.
What Are People Saying?
I looked all over the internet and found some pretty positive reviews for the ONN Virtual Reality headset.
The complaints in those user reviews are the ones listed in the cons above: focus that is hard to get sharp, a phone door that has cracked some screens, and fragile construction.
Alternatives to the ONN
The ONN is just one of many headsets out there. If you aren’t sure that the ONN is the right choice for you, here are some alternatives to check out.
NOON VR - Virtual Reality Headset
The NOON VR headset is a much more expensive headset that was sold on Amazon when this review was written. It has a magnetic cover for the phone compartment which means there are no moving parts to break and you won’t accidentally crack your phone screen. It fits phones from 4.7 to 5.7 inches which is less than the ONN (up to 6 in).
The NOON has adjustable optical focus and higher quality lenses and, while it doesn’t have buttons to control your phone, it does have a new tap and stare feature to selecting items on your phone by tapping the back of your phone and then staring at what you want to select.
The NOON VR headset might be a good choice if you want a higher quality headset, but don’t mind spending more.
Note: we could not confirm that NOON VR headsets are still made. The noonvr.com domain now redirects to an unrelated website, so any NOON headset you find is likely old stock.
Similar to ONN
- 3-point head strap system
- Adjustable optical focus
Different from ONN
- Higher quality lenses
- Tap and Stare navigation system
- Magnetic phone compartment door
- Only fits phones up to 5.7 inches
Andoer Portable 3D VR Glasses
Andoer has a cost that is comfortably in the middle, check it out on Amazon.
It is very similar to the ONN headset, with a 3-point adjustable strap system, hinged phone compartment door, and padded faceplate.
It also fits phones up to 6 inches. The Andoer headset has an adjustable optical focus and space for power cords and headphone cords. It has spherical lenses which appear to be higher quality than the ONN.
The Andoer headset is very similar to the ONN other than the cost and the lenses may be of a higher quality. If you are concerned about lens focus, the Andoer may be a better choice for you.
Similar to ONN
- 3 straps for your head
- Adjustable optical focus
- Hinged phone compartment door
- Padded faceplate
Different from ONN
- It costs more compared to ONN’s price tag
Merge VR Goggles
The Merge VR Goggles are marketed for kids, but adults can enjoy it as well. Where it helps with the kids is in the durable design. It is made of strong, flexible foam instead of plastic. Kids can be rough with devices, and the Merge headset is built to withstand that.
Merge also offers the Merge Cube, an interactive AR/VR cube which has hundreds of games and educational experiences. You must purchase the Merge Cube separately.
Beyond the durable design, the Merge headset has several other features which are different from the ONN headset. It has a slot insert for your phone instead of a hinged door. It does not have adjustable optical focus but does have enough room for most eyeglasses. It also has adjustable pupil distance which allows you to adjust for the space between your eyes (width). Lastly, the Merge has buttons for controlling your phone while in the headset.
The Merge may suit you better if you are giving the headset to kids, particularly if you purchase it with the Merge Cube. Also, if you want to use AR functionality on your phone, it will do that where the ONN does not.
Merge’s current pricing page lists subscription plans for its Merge3D education platform and mentions the Merge Cube as optional hardware, but no headset, so the Merge VR/AR Goggles may only be available as old stock.
Similar to ONN
- 3 strap system for your head
- Padded faceplate
Different from ONN
- Durable design, made of durable, flexible foam instead of hard plastic
- Insert slot for your phone
- No adjustable optical focus, but you can wear your eyeglasses
- Adjustable pupil distance
- Can be paired with the Merge Cube
- It cost about $40 when this review was written
What to consider instead
We could not find the ONN, NOON or Merge headsets on any current manufacturer page. If you only want to try 360-degree video or a few Cardboard apps, an old viewer you already own still works, as long as your phone fits. Our guide to phones that work well for VR covers what to check.
For actual VR games and apps with hand controllers and head tracking, a standalone headset is the practical choice today. The Meta Quest 3S runs games and apps on its own, without a phone or PC, and after a price rise in April 2026 it starts at $350 for 128 GB in the US, according to UploadVR (price checked 24 September 2026). Our Quest 3 vs Quest 3S comparison explains the differences, and our VR headsets for kids guide covers age limits and child-friendly options.
Conclusion
The ONN Virtual Reality headset is a basic VR headset which can be fun and start you off in the world of virtual reality for almost no money. If you are really tight on cash or you are looking for a cheap gift, this may be a good choice for you. However, with its lens issues, the potential to damage your phone, lack of durability, and since it has no buttons to control your phone while it’s in the headset, the ONN fits the adage, “You get what you pay for.”
Note: we could not confirm that the ONN is still sold new, and its 6-inch limit excludes many current phones. If yours fits and you already own the headset, it is still fine for 360-degree videos and simple Cardboard apps; if you are buying today, a standalone headset is a far better use of money.
Sources
Explore the related guides in VR headsets.