Virtual reality is mainstream. While that seems like an overnight phenomenon, it’s far from it. Back in the 1960s, there were immersive stereoscopic videos. In 1961, we had a motion-tracking headset. Interactive Google Street View-like experiences? Those, of course, were around in the late 1970s.

But that stuff could only be found in research labs and in prototype form. These days, VR-capable hardware is everywhere. Tack-sharp displays, powerful processors, and versatile sensors are in everyone’s pockets. And to spur the next wave of immersive entertainment, VR directors and developers are creating the language of a new medium on the fly. Virtual reality is going to be awesome. Then it’s going to get even better. And fast.

So fast, in fact, that the VR systems available today will seem adorably primitive by year’s end. But that doesn’t mean you should wait: Today’s VR options are affordable, impressive, fun, and phone-powered. Here’s what to keep in mind if you plan on taking the VR plunge, from the price of admission to the capabilities of each headset to what you should do with them.