This year we got to see two releases, one being the Samsung Note 7 and along with it, the company released a new Gear VR which has few upgrades compared to the 2015 edition. The Note 7 has received mixed responses and a lot of feedback which includes the issues faced by people. For all VR enthusiasts, the new Gear VR does offer a much more immersive experience that any smartphone-based VR headset has offered before.
Specifications of the Gear VR(2016 Release)
Field Of View: 101 degrees
Resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels (Super AMOLED)
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Compatible Devices: USB Type-C and Micro USB port connection to the Galaxy Note7, S7, S7 edge, Note5, S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+.
Controls: Touchpad, back button, volume key
Weight(without the phone): 1.3 pounds
View Price: www.amazon.com
Amazon Ratings: 4.2/5 (124 Customer Reviews)
About the new Gear VR
1. The new Gear VR is definitely an upgrade from the previous 2015 version. Starting with the looks, the new Gear VR has a bluish and black overall color which gives it a premium look. The same color is painted inside the headset as well because many people complained that keeping it white inside in the previous VR headset posed a problem since it reflected light.
2. The new Gear VR is compatible with the Note 7 and other phones which were compatible with the older version of Gear VR. It consists of a micro USB port which enables pairing of different Samsung phones with this new VR headset(includes the phones compatible with the previous Gear VR). Samsung also included a USB type C port which according to them is for future enhancements and it could also be used to pair a controller without using the Bluetooth pairing all the time which drains the battery life of your smartphone.
3. The display quality and the processor of the Note 7 remains the same. I guess in order to have a better resolution or processing speed we need to wait for the next release by Samsung where they would have major changes in these specs enabling a much more immersive VR gameplay.
4. The padding around the circumference of the new VR headset has been increased making it more comfortable to wear and hoping that it would avoid any light to seep inside the headset which is a major reason behind a not so immersive VR experience.
5. The straps still remain the same. The headset has a three-way strap and it can be easily adjusted and fitted according to the size of your face. I think it is one of the most comfortable headsets that we have here in the Smartphone VR headset race.
6. The immersion is good with the increase in the field of view to 101 degrees which actually gives you a much better user experience while you have this headset on. I think this is the maximum specs any smartphone-based VR headset has to offer in 2016. Although the quality may not be as good as the Oculus but still when the competition is between smartphone VR headsets, this one stands out in the crowd.
7. The new Gear VR has included the touchpad and the new home and back button which makes the navigation much easier than the previous version. The directional touchpad is sensitive and is an added advantage over other VR headsets when it comes to gameplay.
Gaming on the Gear VR
Gaming with the new Gear VR is pretty much similar compared to the 2015 version. Although I must add that there is always some new content coming up which includes few upgrades on the existing games and brand new games. The content was never a problem with the Gear VR. The gaming experience has improved immensely with the changes that have been made by the developers.
These changes have made the experience with the already best smartphone VR headset more immersive and that has raised the standards for other competing smartphone-based VR headsets.
Check out the gaming experience on the Gear VR and the different games it has to offer.
Conclusion
The new Gear VR is a better version of the previous Gear VR with a few tweaks here and there. This VR headset is trending among all the others smartphone-based VR headsets just for the quality of VR experience it has to offer. It has been one of the best VR headsets and still is one of the most recommended and hot selling product on various online stores.
That being said, from my personal perspective, I think if you haven’t bought a VR headset yet then this is a perfect premium headset which you can get for $99. There have been many offers going around this time for the older version of the Gear VR even though its listed price is $99.
With the holiday season coming, I think this is a perfect gift you can give to others or maybe gift it to yourself. If the VR world is something you always wanted to visit then the Gear VR is the perfect choice for you.With all the 360 videos, you can visit different exotic locations in the VR world and even have some fun with your family by playing games on this VR headset.
Update: Now the Gear VR has the 2017 version which is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and comes with a remote controller. The prices of the Gear VR is quite affordable especially if you get it from Amazon so do check out the Gear VR today for some great offers. If you are looking for affordable options and are just starting out then be sure to check out the Merge VR or the Noon VR.
Thanks for this review Shrey. I’ve been toying with getting one of these for my wife for a while, but have always worried about the maturity of VR technology. Somehow it just never seems to meet my expectations but judging from what I’ve seen on previews it’ll soon be beyond anything I can imagine! As usual, Samsung has a great name in the space and I think I’ll be looking more into this buy especially as we come upon Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Yeah, although you cannot use it with the Note 7 because of the unexpected fault in their phones which causes them to explode. Still, this VR headset is not just about Note 7 since you can use it with the previous models of the Gear VR as well.
There have been a few comments where people wanted me to talk about the Note 7, but because it is a known news that the Note 7 has some faults and is a disaster when it comes to mobile phones I just don’t really see the Gear VR affecting form it because it does have the ability to support the previous models.
About getting it on a Black Friday or Cyber Monday, that would be perfect because then the prices would be relatively lower and most of the electronic gadgets would be on sale!
Shrey,
I like the review that you have on the Samsung Gear VR. It would make a great holiday gift for my son this year. He likes to play games on his Note 5.
How good is the sound quality of the Gear VR. Does it use the phone speakers.
How easy is it to get use to the controller, you state that it is very sensitive to touch.
John
Hi John
First, I would like to point out that check the compatibility of your phone with the gear VR and next thing that you have asked is about the controller;I think you should see how the Gear VR controls work for your son, in case he needs an additional controller, he can go for it.
The phone speakers are in action here so you can use the headphones that come with your samsung phone or any other headphones which you find comfortable 🙂
Hi Shrestha.Finally i found something great in your pages.This gadget looking awesome with a new features and good rating.Can this VR use on another gadget or device?I means use on PC for example.Because im a PC gamer and i want play my favorite game with this cool stuff.If u have a time,i hope u can reply my comment.
Thank You.
Hi ROudell,
The PS VR is the new thing in town and if you are a PlayStation 4 Owner then it is a must buy, else you could always go for the Oculus Rift and the Vive when it comes to a crisp clarity VR headset for a gaming laptop.
I love all these VR devices that are coming out and am quite stumped on what to buy. Your review was quite informative and I appreciate it. I guess it all comes down to price and amount of games each one has. I own an iphone, does this VR work with my iphone?
Hi Nathan
Sorry, but this VR headset works with only Samsung phones which I have mentioned under compatibility here. If you have an iPhone, you could probably go for the Merge VR. I liked Merge VR after the Gear VR and even the fact that the content on the Merge VR is much better than the other VR headsets available out there.
So do go ahead and check that out!
I remember when VRs we’re the new kid on the block and now you see them everywhere! I think these are only going to get more popular as time passes. Especially for games, but also for other areas too.
Were you an early adopter of VRs or have you just recently been checking them out?
Well, I have been an early adopter. I waited for the release of both the Rift and the PlayStation VR and loved the attention that these headsets got from everyone. To be honest, they are the new kid in town but they have been doing pretty well. PlayStation VR has been doing really well and when it comes to mobile VR headsets then it has to be the Gear VR.