Virtual Reality is new in the market and can be claiming a VR headset section for itself in many stores which made it necessary to have a Samsung Gear VR Review. For all those people who have been hyped about virtual reality and think that the Rift or the Vive are too much of an investment, the next best option you have is the Samsung Gear VR headset which is a smartphone-based VR headset. However, I wouldn’t leave the PSVR behind which is yet to release in a few days.
It is one of the best smartphone VR headsets and does give you a reason to buy the new Samsung phones! It is compatible with Samsung S6/S6 Edge, Note 5, S7 edge, Samsung Note 7(Compatible with the new Gear VR).
Made by the developers of the Oculus rift, this headset got me interested as it is already available(released with a full working dedicated app) and I find it way easier to use compared to its high-end folks (Rift, Vive) because all you need to do here is pop in your smartphone inside the VR headset and you are ready to go.
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Specifications of the Gear VR(2015 Release)
Field Of View: 96 degrees
Resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels (Super AMOLED)
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Compatible Devices: Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, and S6 Edge+, Galaxy S7, S7 edge.
Controls: Touchpad, back button, volume key
Weight(without the phone): 310 grams
Listed Price: $99
Offered Price:$ 59.99
Best Buy: www.amazon.com
Amazon Ratings: 4.2/5 (1,874 Customer Reviews)
How Samsung Gear VR works?
The Gear VR is a headset that could be easily strapped with the help of straps that are customized and kept wide in order to have an even distribution of weight around the face.
It is comfortable to use even for people who wear glasses as it accommodates them easily by providing enough room for them inside the headset. It feels really comfortable on the face due to the well-designed padding around the eyes and on the bridge of the nose.You can continue using this headset for a really long time provided you deal with the overheating issues that might interrupt your gameplay.
The FOV of the device is 96 degrees and it has a trackpad which is used for navigating in the app and for playing games.The trackpad is a feature not easily seen on many mobile VR headsets and that makes the Gear VR stand out in the crowd.
Android Compatible Gamepad
The gamepad is needed in few games like Minecraft, Dreadhalls, and Gunjack .From the perspective of a few gamers, it is felt that using gamepads even while gaming in VR enhances the overall gaming experience because the trackpad that comes built in with the Samsung Gear VR can cause you a little discomfort with prolonged use.(Tips and tricks for Samsung gear VR)
For a few games you do feel the need for a gamepad and in the case of the rest of the games, the gameplay is just going to be much better. You do not need to get any high-end gamepad for this and you could easily opt for the cheaper ones too(Moga Controllers).
Using gamepads avoids you from keeping your hand over the touchpad all the time because after a while it can start causing some serious discomfort.
Headphones
The VR headset does allow you to plug in earphones that you received along with the Samsung phones. However, using a high-end headphone can improve the VR experience. Being a headphone addict I did try it out with a high-end headphone and found a great deal of difference in the sound effects which further improved the VR experience. If you do not want any sort of extra weight apart from the headset and the phone inside it, you can go for the lighter earbuds as well since they too work well.
If you do not want any sort of extra weight apart from the headset and the phone inside it, you can use the earbuds as they are light and work well with the Gear VR.
So, the gamepad and the headset are the two gaming accessories you may want to add on. The more likely addition to the Gear VR should be the gamepad so that you can enjoy almost all the games available at the Oculus Store.
Things I liked about the Gear VR
- Easily available and economical
- Easy to carry around and is light in weight compared to its other high-end competitors.
- Nice fit and comfortable.
- Good FOV and good supporting apps.
Things I do not like about the Gear VR
- Does drain a lot of phone battery(however, that would be the case with any VR headset).
- Supports only Samsung phones.
- Can make you feel motion sick in a few games.
- Overheating Issues.
Gaming on the Gear VR
The gameplay on this VR headset is the best compared to any other smartphone-based VR headset available till date.The Oculus Store does offer a really good amount of content and apart from games, you can even watch Netflix and 360-degree videos.The wide range of content available in this VR headset is something that will keep you entertained all the time and it makes this headset the best investment. The 360-degree videos are both informative and entertaining.One such app is the Flickr VR app which can instantaneously take you to any place with its wide range of immersive 360-degree videos.
Is the Samsung Gear VR worth it ?
The Samsung Gear VR is one of the hot sellers on amazon. Soon after the release of the new and slightly improved Gear VR which was released alongside with the Samsung Galaxy Note7, there was a sudden increase in buyers and in no time it became the top seller.For a price of $60, this is a must buy for all the Gear VR owners.
The only limitation that can prevent you from buying the Samsung Gear VR is that you may not have Gear VR compatible phone else it is a perfect option and my #1 Recommendation for people who actually want to invest in a smartphone-based VR headset.
The other smartphone-based VR headsets are trying to reach the level of quality that the Gear VR has and a few others who have made it are Merge VR and Noon VR.
However, this VR headset has a perfect price/feature balance and I will highly recommend it to a VR ethusiast who wants to get a Smartphone based VR headset.
Purchase Samsung Gear VR
One of the best things about the Gear VR is that it is easily available in most of the countries and you could easily buy it off amazon. So, go ahead and check it out and let me know what you think about the Gear VR!
=> Check out the Gear VR for $ 59.99 on Amazon
You can even check out the new Gear VR(2016 release) which costs $99 only if you are a Note 7 owner or want to get the better version of the Gear VR.
In case of any comments or questions leave them below and I would be happy to help 🙂
PHOTO CREDITS: www.samsung.com
As a Samsung user, I think this sounds like an awesome device, which I only wish I could afford to buy right now.
Maybe someday when they come down in price a bit. I can imagine this will happen in years to come. It’s pretty cool how all you need is your phone to make it work.
Is there an app which you have to download to use the VR headset?
Great review by the way.
Yeah you need an app which you download only then could you go ahead and experience the VR world ! 🙂
Anyway, I hope I see you again sometime
I’ve never tried VR before and I do not have Samsung. It has always sounded interesting to me because I am a gamer. I do however get motion sickness at times so I’m not too sure how this would work for me lol. Something to still keep in mind. Thank you for the information.
You’re Welcome
Technology has come a long way since I was born. I use to be a loyal Samsung phone user until I discoverd the Apple products. I must say I still like the samsung tv’s. How much competition is out there with virtual reality these days. I wouldn’t even know where to start
If you have a Samsung Phone you could always start with the Gear VR
Wow, that VR headset looks really cool! Too bad I would need to upgrade my note 3 to get it, but that’s how life works 😉 you can’t always have ALL the latest and newest cool stuff at release time. My 7 year old boy told me he is dreaming about inventing VR when he grow up… he was somewhat disappointed someone ELSE already invented this 😉 Thanks for a great and informative review! I now have one more item for my long wishlist…well make that two since I also would need a new phone 😉
Haha, sure !
I didn’t know this existed, it’s excellent! Not too badly priced either. I think it will be a major hit for people who want VR but can’t afford the most expensive ones. It is a shame it’s only made for Samsung phones though (I don’t own one unfortunately). Also, the motion sickness might be a problem, but I suppose you can get used to it?
Great Review!
Hi Jane
I think it is a great deal when it comes to VR headsets for smartphones because Samsung Gear VR is my #1 Recommendation and I think for the quality of content it has, barely any other VR headset can compete with it.
Yes, sadly the only limitation it has is that it is compatible with the newer versions of Samsung phones and it actually heat up as well but we did come up with a solution.
Hope this helps
This device seems neat. Is it actually virtual reality? Or is it a device that just holds your phone closer to your face? If it is virtual reality, would it be comparable to 3D movies? If it is, I do get motion sickness easily so I’m not sure if I would be effected by type of device. Overall, I’m surprised this technology can be bought at such a low price.
Yes, the device is actually Virtual Reality and it is much better than 3D movies, but since you brought that up I should mention you can watch 3D movies as well on it. Nah, the motion sickness depends mainly on the type of games you play on your VR headset and it is just a one time thing,, you will eventually get used to it.
The headset was initially priced at $100 but after the release of the new Samsung Gear VR the price has come down .I think it is a must buy for all the Samsung phone owners (do check the compatibility of the phone).
Hi Shrey
What a great review about VR headsets. I mean the Samsung Gear VR. All the links were helpful . That YuoTube video at the end sold me. I’m not into gaming but with the new quantum computers being able to touch parallel realities, this Virtual Reality is something that we need to get ready for. I have a Samsung 6 my next step is to get the VR headset. Thanks for checking this out for me.
You’re welcome buddy
I really think you should get this VR headset if you actually are planning to buy one and maybe leave your experience in the comment section so that it would help others make a choice.
I use the Samsung gear virtual reality device and I Like it, it gives very nice experience when playing games, makes me feel closer to what I am playing, and there’s a lot of other virtual reality devices with insane price on the market, but the Samsung vr offers a lot for such a reasonable price.
I think the Samsung Gear VR has been ahead when it comes to features as well as the price. I really do not understand the heavily priced VR headsets in the market that too with little or no content.
With the price decreasing, it has become a hot selling product on Amazon and that itself should speak volumes about the product quality 🙂
Thank you for the great article on the Samsung Gear VR!
I have been contemplating getting one of these for a while now. I’m thinking this thing could be a lot of fun!
I wonder if there are any “augmented reality” applications that use this item.
The price is certainly very good!
Have you used this item yourself? If so, for what types of applications?
Sincerely,
Tom
Hi Tom,
Yes, it can be used for augmented reality but as of now there haven’t developed as many apps for it, though there are a few.
I have used it for playing games, although I barely get time now but Dreadhalls is the best when it comes to my choice of games.
You can play games and watch 360 degree videos with it and it is fun, it gives you quality experience for a very readonable price.