Samsung HMD is the last one to enter in the Windows Mixed reality VR headset group after the ones released by Acer, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, and HP. Honestly, Samsung has done a pretty good job with its VR headsets which includes the Gear VR and now the HMD Odyssey.
The Samsung HMD Odyssey stands out among other VR headsets as it has a few features way better than its counterparts. The display and the headphone feature makes this headset give you a really immersive VR experience.
If you are confused on which one is better like the Samsung HMD or the Oculus Rift then continue reading our detailed review where we would discuss each and every aspect of both the VR headsets.
Which one is a better buy? Read the conclusion in order to know that but if you are here for the tea then keep reading about the features and gaming on these two VR headsets.
Table of Contents
Design of the VR headsets
The Samsung HMD Odyssey has an overall black design and it weighs around 645 grams. In comparison to its Windows MR family of headsets, this VR headset might be slightly heavy.
Although they are slightly heavy, they are probably the most comfortable to wear VR headsets in comparison to the ones from Acer or Dell.
Now, comparing it with the Oculus Rift, the Samsung Odyssey has definitely a few advantages over the rift like you are going to feel less motion sick with the later.
Not only do you avoid motion sickness but you can easily wear this VR headset from Samsung Odyssey for really long periods of time.
While just looking at the build quality of the VR headsets, the Samsung Odyssey does feel a tad bit cheaply made in comparison to the Rift.
If you are not picky about the looks of the VR headset then this aspect should not bother you but if you are looking for a premium build quality then you are more likely to incline towards the Oculus Rift.
Overall, if you are going to compare this VR headset with the Oculus Rift then I must say that the Samsung Odyssey has a design that makes it comfortable to wear in comparison to the Rift.
Display of the VR Headsets
Now moving on to one of the Displays of both the VR headsets, the Samsung Odyssey has an AMOLED display which gives you a much better visual experience in VR in comparison to its Mixed Reality counterparts.
The VR headset has a resolution of 1,440 x 1,600 pixels per lens and the refresh rate is between 60Hz to 90 Hz.
This is much better in comparison to the LED displays in the other MR headsets that you would find on the Mixed Reality, the colors are richer and the overall experience is aesthetically pleasing.
Now, comparing the Samsung Odyssey with the Oculus Rift, I have to say that the Samsung Odyssey is better.
The Oculus Rift headset did come really close in terms of the display but the overall display was a little better on the Samsung headset. The Oculus Rift has 1,080 x 1,200-pixels on each eye and the OLED display.
You could adjust the Interpupillary distance in both the headsets which gives you a much immersive VR experience.
Overall, Samsung Odyssey is better when it comes to the display of the headset and if you have a computer that is compatible with this Mixed Reality headset then you should definitely go for it.
=> Get Samsung Odyssey
Refresh Rate and Field of View
The field of view on the Oculus Rift is 110 degrees and that on the Samsung Odyssey is 110 degrees as well. The refresh rate for the Oculus Rift is 90 Hz and that for the Samsung Odyssey MR headset is 60-90Hz.
Both the VR headsets are pretty decent when it comes to the Refresh rates and the field of View but I honestly felt that the Oculus Rift was better when it comes to FOV.
=> Get the Oculus Rift
The whole viewing experience with the Oculus Rift was slightly better than the Samsung Mixed Reality headset. On the other side, the refresh rates were much better with the Samsung Odyssey, you are not going to get motion sick easily with this VR headset.
Controllers and Positional Tracking
Now the Windows Mixed Reality VR headsets do have controllers and they do the job pretty well.
The Samsung 
Odyssey VR headset has an inside-out tracking so you do not need all the wires and mess as in the case of the Rift.
The inside-out tracking avoids any positional tracking camera that is needed to be installed in the case of both the Oculus Rift and the Vive.
The Vive has a room scale tracking which is better in terms of movement but if you are not interested in converting your entire room into a VR gameplay warzone then you might as well stick to the Samsung Odyssey Mixed Reality VR headset.
It is worth mentioning that vive has a room scale tracking so it does require more space unlike the Samsung Odyssey Headset but Oculus Rift does come close but it is still different.
Yes, the controllers work well and are fairly comfortable but if you go ahead and compare them to the Oculus Touch controllers then you would feel that the Oculus Controllers are much better when it comes to the comfort.
=> Get Samsung Odyssey
The controllers on the Oculus Rift feel easy and comfortable to use. So, if you are looking for something that has really good tracking and feels comfortable then the Oculus Touch controllers are the way to go.
Specifications for the Samsung Odyssey and the Oculus Rift
The Oculus Rift needs a powerful PC as well which would help it run smoothly. There have been a couple of changes in the specifications with time but the final specifications are-
- Nvidia 960 or greater (down from Nvidia GTX 970 / AMD 290 equivalent or greater)
- Intel i3-6100 / AMD FX4350 or greater (down from Intel i5-4590 equivalent or greater)
- 8GB+ RAM
- Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output
- 1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0
- Windows 8 or newer
As you can see that they have dropped down the graphics card specs from the time when Oculus was released last year. Now, more laptops and PC’s are affordable and they are VR ready.
You can easily get a VR ready laptop with a budget of around $1000.
In comparison, the Odyssey you do require some powerful specs and newer versions of the GPU, so if you have the NVIDIA 1050 and above then you can go for this headset.
In order to know the details specs check out their official page here.
Games on the Oculus Rift and the Samsung Odyssey
Thinking about the game releases on both the VR headsets, I must say that both the Oculus Rift and the Samsung Odyssey both have some really good games.
Even though Samsung Odyssey might be late to the party, the games on this VR headset are on point and most of the popular games on the Rift and Vive are actually available on this VR headset.
Well, the gaming on both the headsets is great but I personally liked the Samsun Odyssey. The feel and ease of use are much better in the Samsung Odyssey VR headset in comparison to the Rift and it is pleasant to wear for long periods of time as well.
You are not going to be disappointed by the games on the Samsung Odyssey as the list is pretty endless and the Oculus Library is huge as well.
So, in the case you are wondering what if the Odyssey is new and has fewer games then you can calm down as there are plenty of games to choose from.
Conclusion
Well, the Oculus Rift is definitely cheaper than the Samsung Odyssey Headset but if you look at their prices on a few online stores, then after the discount you can find them at much better prices and the difference is actually reduced.
Overall, if you have the laptop or PC specifications for the Samsung Odyssey headset then I would definitely recommend that over the Oculus Rift.
If you are okay with all the wires and full-scale tracking then you can opt for the Rift but I personally felt that it didn’t feel like a huge advantage to me as teh Samsung Odyssey MR headset was very comfortable to wear and easy to use.
So, the final decision would be yours and do not forget to check the prices on both the headsets by clicking on the links above.
Which one you think is better? The Oculus Rift or the Samsung Odyssey?
Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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