Last year, Samsung announced the Gear VR, its first virtual reality headset. The Note 4 was showcased during the launch event and only worked with the Note 4, not to mention the price out of reach for many. Now, a year later, the Samsung Galaxy VR has partnered with Oculus and is finally on sale this week for just $99. Below are a few things potential buyers should know.
Virtual Reality headsets are a unique product with a lot to offer and the future of mobile entertainment and gaming according to some. Below is a quick video showing the new “consumer edition” Gear VR, which is on sale this week, a few examples of what it has to offer, and more.
Samsung has partnered with Oculus, promising to deliver the best possible VR experience, and their approach is a headset without a screen. Instead, it uses the power behind Samsung’s latest flagship HD smartphones to bring the virtual world to our eyes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4vhtpa8JRA
The Gear VR was originally released as a limited beta product with a single device and was priced at $199, so many were unable to enjoy everything it had to offer, try virtual reality games, watch movies like never before, and more.
However, all that is about to change eventually. While others like the Google Cardboard are inexpensive and the steam-powered HTC Vive isn’t yet available, the new Gear VR is affordable, multi-device works and will be ready in time as the perfect gift for the holidays.
How does it work
All it takes is to plug a smartphone into the headset and download a few apps, connect it to your head and users can start enjoying VR for the first time. Any smartphone screen is used to give users a full view of nothing but a virtual world. Perfect for enjoying movies, playing games, visiting cities and other worlds, or even sitting on the sidelines at the latest LA Lakers Basketball game, all without leaving your couch.
The power behind Samsung’s smartphones is the heart of the device, and with 8-core processors and high-resolution displays, it has more than enough power to push the experience. As shown in the video above, the Gear VR has controls on the sides, is easy to wear on the user’s head, and delivers stunning visual experiences.
The original Oculus Rift was designed with gaming in mind, but if the VR trend catches up and gains popularity, the possibilities are endless. It all starts with the cheap Gear VR for $99 this holiday season, and a host of other options will be available in 2016.
Supported devices
The original Gear VR only worked with the Galaxy Note 4, making it a device that only certain people could use. Google’s Cardboard VR headset is more universal, but not nearly as polished as an experience, and navigating is done by moving your head to see, select, and do anything. Instead, the Gear VR does things very differently and promises to be even better.
The new Gear VR works with all of Samsung’s latest high-end smartphones released in 2015. The Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ make it a device that more people can use and enjoy. It brings Quad-HD resolution images, videos, virtual worlds and games directly to our faces.
Pre-Order Now
While no one expected to buy a quality VR headset or spend a lot of money by 2016, Samsung got things started early. The all-new Gear VR consumer edition is up for pre-order this week, can be ordered now, and will begin shipping in time for the holiday season.
Samsung’s Gear VR is available at: Samsung.com, best buyand Amazon, coming more likely in the near future. Currently available in Black or White.
Price and Release Date
As shown above, the Samsung Gear VR “Consumer Edition” is finally available for the mass market and available for pre-order starting this week for just $99. It comes in Black or White and is the first true VR headset worth buying. We’ve seen a few more come in, cheap knockouts on eBay using the Google Cardboard VR app, and LG even released a cheap option that works with the LG G4, but it wasn’t nearly as close to being a complete product. Gear VR.
Of course the most important question is when can you get it? Available for pre-order today from the links above, the Samsung Gear VR will begin shipping on or near November 20. Just in time for the holidays and perfect for a gift for technician friends, family or yourself.
General availability at select Best Buy stores will also begin on November 20, but supply will be limited. Carriers like T-Mobile will also be offering the Gear VR starting November 27, possibly offering deals to get one at a discount or for free with the purchase of the new Galaxy Note 5.
Contents
The Oculus Store is already loaded with a wide variety of “games made for VR” like Land’s End, Bandit Six: Salvo and Dead Secret, and more, not to mention support for Vimeo videos and short clips, Netflix and more. . Then comes games like Gunjack and Anshar Wars 2 in the near future along with countless other games, videos, apps and more to make it worthwhile.
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