Razer OSVR HDK 2

Razer's OSVR isn't a rival to the likes of Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR and Samsung Gear VR. Instead, it's intended to make life easier for developers to make applications for VR hardware, without technical (software and hardware) limitations getting in their way.

You can pick up the OSVR Hacker Developer Kit 2 now. Its 2160 x 1200 dual OLED display puts it right up against the big names. However, there are still some comfort issues to work through. As the name says, the headset still remains open source, allowing third parties to do whatever they want with it.

$399, razerzone.com

Fove 0

The Fove 0 differs from the likes of Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR because it offers interactive eye-tracking. Inside the headset is an infrared sensor that monitors the wearer's eyes; offering both a new control method and an edge on its competitors when it comes to realism.

Read this: We go eyes on with Fove 0 – less virtual, more reality

With Fove, simulated depth-of-field is possible, due to the system knowing exactly what you're looking at, and as a result, the virtual should appear more real. The Fove setup is an 5.7-inch, 1440p, display; a 100+ degree field of view; 90fps frame rate; and eye-tracking measured at 120fps.

With the redesigned developer kit, gone are the big side panels and quite a lot of the heft of the last prototype design. The company promises the new model offers "dramatically reduced weight, size and overall wearability, as well as better production efficiency." If you can wait, however, you can expect Fove to launch the full consumer version of the headset later this year.

$599, getfove.com

Microsoft HoloLens

Not a copycat of the big VR headsets, Microsoft HoloLens blends virtual and augmented reality to make one of the most ambitious launches ever planned – you can buy it now if you're a dev (and you've got money to burn). The device merges real-world elements with virtual 'holographic' images, meaning you can look at your Minecraft world on your kitchen table, or walk around the surface of Mars in your living room.

Must read: Everything you need to know about AR

Using Kinect-style tech to recognise gestures and voice commands, the headset has a 120-degree field of vision on both axis, and is capable of 'high definition' visuals, but it's still a letterbox compared to the likes of Oculus and Vive. More importantly, however, there's no connection to a PC – a full Windows 10 system is built into the headset and runs off a battery.

The Development Edition is available now for Windows Insider members with a price tag of $3,000.

$3,000, microsoft.com

Google Cardboard

Google announced its Cardboard virtual reality headset way back at I/O 2014. Popping a smartphone into a cardboard container and then strapping it to your head may sound like a joke, but it actually works and is a low-cost way to experience virtual reality.

After all, your smartphone contains all the necessary gyroscopic sensors and positioning systems to accurately track your head movements. There's actually a bunch of unofficial Cardboard headsets but Google also now sells the real deal in its store. It's better than you'd think... honest.

Take a look at the best Google Cardboard VR apps and games.

$15 | store.google.com 

Google Daydream View

The first headset born out of Google's Daydream VR platform, View was first revealed at I/O 2016 in late 2016. Google claims View is 30% lighter than other mobile headsets on the market – no names named but we'd guess they mean the newest Samsung Gear VR.

For now it's only compatible with Google's new Pixel phone, which is Daydream-ready, but Asus has announced one of its own is incoming, while we're expecting compatible phones from Samsung, HTC, Sony et al. We've done a full Google Daydream VR review and have to say the headset has gone down a storm at Wareable HQ. When it comes to mobile VR experiences, it's one of the best. It's also currently getting a bit of a discount, so it might be a good time to jump in.

$79 | store.google.com

Samsung Gear VR (2016)

The new Samsung Gear VR doesn't look much different to its predecessor but it has several upgrades that make it totally worth it. Gone is the hugely annoying lens fog thanks to new vents and more space inside the headset.

Of course, the visual experience of using Gear VR will depend on which Samsung smartphone you use.

But there are some improvements to the actual headset no matter which Sammie handset you've got – specifically Samsung has widened the viewing angle to 101 degrees (from 96 degrees) and darkened the colour tint to reduce glare and reflections.

The price of the new Gear VR hasn't gone up at all either – you'll just need one of the following compatible devices to plug in: Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, Note 5, S6, S6 Edge or S6 Edge+. Read our full Samsung Gear VR review for more details and impressions.

$95, samsung.com

Sony PlayStation VR

PS VR will be most people's introduction to 'good' VR. It's not perfect but it's going after console gamers hard and, ultimately, it is still a truly awesome PS4 accessory. There's nothing else in the PS VR's category of quality but affordable VR; therefore it is the benchmark for mainstream console VR.

Essential reading: Best PlayStation VR games

With its low price and PS4 compatibility, PlayStation VR has the chance to go big – even if, by its own admission, the tech isn't quite up to the standards of its competitors. Check out our full PlayStation VR review for all the in-depth details...

$399, sony.com 

HTC Vive

The HTC Vive is made in collaboration with PC games giant Valve and works with Valve's mammoth gaming ecosystem.

HTC packs in 70 sensors to offer 360-degree head-tracking as well as a 90Hz refresh rate; the stat that's key to keeping down latency, which is the technical term for the effect that causes motion sickness. Thankfully that wasn't an issue in our review, which can't be said about every device.

Essential reading: Best HTC Vive games

It doesn't rival PS VR for games you already know and love, but in terms of experimentation, there's plenty to explore. However the key to the HTC Vive's success is the Lighthouse room tracking, which enables you to move around with the headset on. It means mounting some sensors in your home, but the effect is next level.

For a long time, the Vive stood as the reigning champ of VR headsets but after revisiting the device in closer comparisons to Oculus Rift and PS VR, it's been moved to second place for a variety of reasons. That doesn't detract from our earlier experiences though, and it still won for best VR headset of 2016. It's also set to get even better with HTC's new peripherals, including the TPCast module for taking it wireless, and the new trackers, which will turn just about anything into a controller. Check out our HTC Vive review to see why we think it's an awesome VR experience.

$799, htcvive.com

Oculus Rift

Oculus Rift is the headset that started the current hysteria. Developed by Palmer Luckey, funded via Kickstarter and snapped up by Facebook for a cool $2 billion, the Rift plugs into your computer's DVI and USB ports and tracks your head movements to provide 3D imagery on its stereo screens.

The consumer edition Rift uses a 2160 x 1200 resolution, working at 233 million pixels per second, with a 90Hz refresh rate. It's high-tech stuff, which matches the HTC Vive for refresh rate, but lags behind PlayStation VR on this front. However, given its access to the power of the latest PCs, it's pushing a lot more pixels than Sony's headset.

Essential reading: Best Oculus Rift games

The Oculus Touch controllers have finally arrived and, through our testing, have pushed Rift to the top of the VR headset pile. Simply put, the Oculus Rift platform is finally a finished product that excels at giving you the VR experience the company initially promised. Now the price is still a sore subject, so it won't be for everyone, but it is the best all-round VR headset you can get right now. Be sure to read our definitive Oculus Rift review for more details.

$599, oculus.com

The best VR headsets: The top virtual reality devices to go and buy now

Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR and the HTC Vive have finally taken the virtual reality medium mainstream.

For the uninitiated, VR is an immersive experience in which your head movements are tracked in a three-dimensional world, making it ideally suited to games and movies.

Explained: How does VR actually work?

While VR was a non-starter back in the 90s, developers are now creating mind-blowing experiences that look set to revolutionise gaming and entertainment. Meanwhile, AR and mixed reality are starting to appear on the scene, blending our world with the virtual one.

But what are the best VR headsets and which one should you go and buy? We've put together the definitive selection of the most gob-smackingly awesome devices just waiting to be strapped to your face.

Best for outdoor pursuits: Casio WSD-F10

Casio's Smart Outdoor Watch landed at CES 2016 and is a million miles from another me-too everyday watch. Designed for outdoorsy types who are looking for a waterproof (50m), shockproof and vibration proof wearable that's certified to US military standards (MIL-STD0810).

The 1.32-inch LCD touchscreen has an interesting twist. There's a second monochrome display that can be used instead of the colour panel; instead of the single day usage from the main screen, using the monochrome screen boosts battery life to a month.

Forget trying to marry this with your work attire, you wouldn't even be able to get it under your jacket cuff, let alone your shirt. It's not uncomfortable though; it's much lighter than you'd think and the chunky rubber strap provides a secure fit.

Get our verdict: Casio Smart Outdoor Watch review. The follow-up, the Casio WSD-F20 is coming in April.

$500, shopcasio.com

For gnarly dudes: Nixon The Mission

Nixon's surf and skiing smartwatch shows that Android Wear can be more than just another OS on the wrist. The Mission is an unashamed monster action smartwatch, with the surf and slopes firmly in its sights.

The 48mm case dwarves most Casio G-Shock timepieces and it's every bit as large as the Casio smartwatch. The rugged design is water-resistant to 10 ATM and is adorned in 316L surgical grade stainless steel. That means you can take it skiing and surfing and it will withstand even the most spectacular wipe-out. There's also dedicated apps for the piste and the waves.

Have a read of our Nixon The Mission review for much more info.

$400, nixon.com 

For nostalgics: Fossil Q Marshal

icking up from the Q Founder and looking a heck of a lot like the Moto 360, complete with a chunky chassis and that ever-so-annoying flat tyre at the bottom of the circular display, the latest Fossil Android Wear smartwatch (alongside the Q Wander) went on sale in August 2016.

There isn't a great deal to write home about for Fossil's AW collection, but if you're a tech collector and like the look of a chunky metal watch, a watch from the Q range could be a useful addition. Especially if you happen to own the 2002 Palm Pilot.

Read our Fossil Q Marshal hands-on review.

From $295, fossil.com

The most unisex: Michael Kors Access

The Michael Kors Access series consists of two styles: the Bradshaw Access and Dylan Access, based on bestselling women's and men's Michael Kors watches. The Bradshaw is the more female-friendly version but is chunky enough to look good on a man's wrist too. At 14mm thick and weighing more than 110g, it is on the larger, weightier end of watches aimed at women.

For extra style points you get a collection of of 10 bespoke Michael Kors branded faux-analogue and faux-digital watch faces and you can set up day and night modes too.

A big tick for the Michael Kors Access is that it boasts the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip as well.

Have a read of our Michael Kors Access review.

From $350, michaelkors.com

Maximum customisation: Moto 360 2

The Moto 360 may still have that annoying flat tyre at the bottom of its circular display, but the rest of the setup is very promising indeed. It now comes in two sizes – 42mm and 46mm – although it's actually three if you count the different band sizes. Using the Moto Maker platform there are hundreds of different combinations of straps, bezels, finishes and colours to choose from.

On offer are two different sized displays: 1.37 or 1.56-inch. On the larger size, the resolution is 360 x 360 – a 233ppi count.

Put the new Moto 360 next to the first-gen Motorola watch and you can see the subtle differences that really turn this design into a 'watch' rather than last year's circle on a strap. 

From $199.99, motorola.com

Best value: Sony SmartWatch 3

Sony's third stab at the smartwatch comes with either a rubber sports strap in a choice of colours, or a slick stainless steel one, along with a 1.6-inch 320 x 320 pixel LCD display. The screen isn't spectacular but battery life benefits as a result, with two days of use easily achievable.

The big win for the SW3 is that it was the first Android Wear watch with built-in GPS, so it's great for tracking runs, cycle rides, and even tapping into golf apps. It's looking a little dated now though and Sony could be playing catch up if the Sony SmartWatch 4 doesn't make an appearance soon.

From $79 sony.com

Top pick: Huawei Watch

When we first reviewed the Huawei Watch, we called it the slickest looking Android Wear smartwatch but lamented that those good looks came at a premium.

Fast forward a year or so and, while the official RRP is still much too high, there are bargains to be had for the basic model and, given it plays nicely with the new Mode interchangeable bands and can run the dev preview of Wear 2.0, it's now our top pick.

The AMOLED display is a 1.4-inch, 400 x 400 screen with a 286ppi count. That's the highest on any Android Wear device so far. Huawei's effort is made all the more impressive thanks to a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Side by side with the smaller Moto 360 2 – its closest rival in terms of aesthetics – it's clearly a better display. Not just because it offers genuine 360-degree visuals, but because everything just looks sharper.

The best Android Wear smartwatch

Buying the best Android Wear smartwatch is more difficult than ever; there is a wide range of Android Wear smartwatches on sale, from a whole host of different brands - and there are more exciting models in the pipeline for 2017.

Android Wear 2.0 is just about to land, and with smartwatches from the likes of Michael Kors, Nixon and Polar hitting the shops in the last few months and new watches from New Balance, Casio and LG coming soon, there's plenty to be excited about.

If you want to buy one now – here's the main event: the juicy details on the top Android watches on the market…

(Getting to grips with the platform can be tricky, so when you do bag yourself a brand new smartwatch, make sure you check out our Android Wear hub of tutorials to help get the most from your device.)

Samsung Galaxy S7 review

SAMSUNG GALAXY S7 – DESIGN

After the massive, and much needed, change in design direction Samsung took with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge in 2015, all rumours pointed to things staying pretty much the same for the Galaxy S7.

Well, it’s not like Apple, HTC or Sony make drastic changes to their industrial design every year.

And that’s exactly the case here. Place the Galaxy S7 next to the S6 and you’d be hard pushed to instantly pick which one is which. Frankly, this doesn’t bother me in the slightest. The S6 was already one of the best-looking phones around, and the Galaxy S7 follows suit.

Both the front and back are covered in Gorilla Glass 4, while a metal rim snakes in between. Two volume buttons sit on one side, with a lock/standby switch on the other. It’s a clean look, with the back free from any markings aside from a Samsung logo.

The camera lens now sits just about flush with the glass body too. This might seem a small change, but it makes a big difference. I can now tap out an email with the phone flat on my desk without it jumping and rocking from side to side.

WHAT IS THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S7?

Update (16/01/17): Samsung has released the Android 7.0 Nougat update and it should start rolling out to devices soon. We've seen unlocked phones already pick up the updates, and carrier locked phones are sure to be next. We'll update our review with impressions when we get the chance to play with the final build.

To use a tired cliche, Samsung has had a year of two halves. After the release of both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, things were looking strong. It had a phone that was better than the HTC 10, better than the Huawei P9 and it’s still better than the iPhone 7.

But then the exploding Galaxy Note 7 landed and Samsung took a bit of a hit. Is it enough to make you think twice about buying a Samsung device?

In a word, no. The Galaxy S7 is still the best phone we’ve reviewed this year. Maybe the Google Pixel phone will have something to say about that though?