Samsung has announced its Gear VR Innovator Edition back in September, and now the time has come for the device to hit the market. Samsung’s take on virtual reality uses a hardware similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 smartphone / tablet (phablet?), combined with a pair of magnifying glasses and some head-mounted controls.
The announcement of Samsung getting into the VR market has been disappointing for some. The South Korean giant has the custom to be the first to release innovative hardware, even if said hardware is flawed. In this case there is no reason for being worried – at least not yet – because the Gear is lightweight, responsive, and sometimes easier to use than the most expected gadget of our times, the Oculus Rift. Basically, according to a hands-on report from PC World, it’s a “headband with a Galaxy Note 4 strapped to the front”. For me it sounds like a high-tech take on Google’s Cardboard experiment…
The Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition sells through Samsung’s website for $199.99. Besides the VR headset users can purchase a pair of Bluetooth ear buds for $80 and a controller for $50. The package does not contain a Galaxy Note 4, but only the Gear VR headset, a carrying case, replacement face cushioning, a lens cloth, a 16GB Micro SD card loaded with “starter content”, a user manual and a warranty statement. The good news is that Oculus and Samsung will share their technology – Oculus will provide the storefront for VR apps, gaining extra exposure for the time it finally releases its own virtual reality gear to consumers. Besides, Oculus will reportedly gain access to Samsung’s display technology for their product, which is good news for future end users – Samsung is well known for its high quality displays.
The idea behind the Samsung Gear VR is surprisingly similar to Google’s do-it-yourself VR package, but when Google’s solution costs a fraction (the lenses are the most expensive parts of the low-tech solution).