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Samsung Gear VR Release: 5 Things You Need to Know

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Last year Samsung announced its first virtual reality headset, the Gear VR. It was shown off during the Note 4 launch event and only worked with the Note 4, not to mention was priced out of reach for many. Now, a year later, the Samsung Galaxy VR has partnered with Oculus and is finally available this week for only $99. Below are a few things prospective buyers need to 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 off the new “consumer edition” Gear VR that went on sale this week, a few examples of what it has to offer, and more.

Read: HTC Vive and Gear VR Vie for Virtual Reality Relevance

Samsung has partnered with Oculus, which promises to deliver the best VR experience possible, and their approach is a headset that doesn’t have a display. 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 first launched as a beta product limited to one device and was priced at $199, which is why many haven’t been able to enjoy all it has to offer, try out virtual reality gaming, watch movies like never before, and so much more.

However, that’s all about to finally change. While others like the Google Cardboard are cheap, and the steam-backed HTC Vive isn’t available yet, the new Gear VR is affordable, works with multiple devices, and will be available in time for the holidays as the perfect gift.

How it Works

Attaching a smartphone to the headset and downloading a few apps are all that’s needed, strap it to your head, and users can start truly enjoying VR for the first time. Any smartphone display 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 court-side at the latest LA Lakers Basketball game, all without leaving your couch.

gearvr

The power behind Samsung’s smartphones are the heart of the device, and have more than enough power to push the experience with 8-core processors and high resolution screens. The Gear VR, as shown in the video above has controls on the sides, attaches easily to the users head, and delivers stunning visual experiences.

The original Oculus Rift was designed with gaming in mind, but the possibilities are endless if the VR trend catches on and gains popularity. That all starts with the cheap Gear VR for $99 this holiday season, and a slew of other options will be available in 2016.

Supported Devices

The original Gear VR only worked with the Galaxy Note 4, which made it a device only select people could use. Google’s Cardboard VR headset is more universal, but not nearly as polished of an experience, and navigation is done by moving your head to see, select, and do anything. Instead, the Gear VR does things much different, and promises to be much better.

The new Gear VR works with all of Samsung’s recent high-end smartphones released in 2015. The Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Note 5, and Galaxy S6 Edge+, making it a device that more people can use and enjoy. Delivering Quad-HD resolution images, videos, virtual worlds and gaming right to our faces.

Pre-Order It Now

While no one expected to be able to get a quality VR headset until sometime in 2016, or spend a lot of money, Samsung’s kicked things off early. The brand new Gear VR consumer edition went up for pre-order this week, available to order now, and will begin shipping in time for the holiday season.

Screen Shot 2015-11-11 at 11.25.22 AM

Samsung’s Gear VR is available from Samsung.com, Best Buy, and Amazon, with more likely coming in the near future. It’s currently available in Black or White.

Price & Release Date

As shown above, the Samsung Gear VR “Consumer Edition” is finally ready for the mass market, and is available for pre-order starting this week for just $99. It comes in Black or White, and is the first true VR headset that’s worth buying. We’ve seen a few others arrive, cheap knock-offs on eBay that use the Google Cardboard VR app, and even LG released a cheap option that worked with the LG G4, but it wasn’t nearly close to being a complete product like the Gear VR.

Of course the most important question is when can you get one? The Samsung Gear VR that is available to pre-order today at the links above will begin shipping on or around November 20th. Just in time for the holidays and perfect for techie friends, family, or a gift for yourself.

General availability in select Best Buy stores should also start around November 20th, but supply will be limited. Carriers like T-Mobile will also be offering the Gear VR starting November 27th, and likely will offer deals to get one at a discount or free with the purchase of the new Galaxy Note 5.

Content

The Oculus Store is already loaded with a wide selection of “made-for-VR games” such as Land’s End, Bandit Six: Salvo, and Dead Secret, and more, not to mention support for Vimeo videos and short clips, Netflix and others. Then, games like Gunjack and Anshar Wars 2 are coming in the near future, along with countless other games, videos, apps and more to make it worthwhile.

samsung-gear-vr
It’s worth noting that the actual Oculus Rift, the original that earned millions of dollars as a kickstarter project back in 2013, will finally be available in early 2016 as a wired headset that connects to a computer for a more complete VR gaming experience. The Oculus will be much more expensive with a built-in display, while Samsung’s Gear VR is all wireless and uses smartphones. Expect more details, titles and “made for VR” apps and games to be announced in the coming weeks just in time for the November 20th launch of the Gear VR. Are you buying one?
18 Comments

18 Comments

  1. Dan Hanson

    11/11/2015 at 12:52 pm

    Can the 99 dollar gear VR work with the note 4???

    • Jay

      11/11/2015 at 4:17 pm

      Not the new one mentioned here. Only the innovator edition for the note 4 will work or is guaranteed supported.

  2. cappy

    11/12/2015 at 7:24 am

    Does the Innovator for the Note 4 compatible with Verizon?

    • bizzy gie

      11/14/2015 at 6:59 am

      It shouldn’t matter which carrier your phone is on. It’ll work with any Note 4.

  3. CaptnJim

    11/12/2015 at 12:21 pm

    Will all the apps for the new Gear VR 2015 still will work with the old Gear VR?

  4. Remy Labue

    11/14/2015 at 9:19 am

    Which of the compatible phones will be the best option for the new Gear? I have a few days left to decide which of the new phone’s ill be getting.. I’m leaning towards the Note 5, but the 6S has better pixel to pixel contrast, meaning less ‘fencing’ effect when hold the phone up to your eyeballs.. so maybe the picture will be better with the 6S? It’s a bloody shame that sumsung didn’t send any of these to reviewers at endgadget.. or anywhere… so us early adopters have to buy blind….

  5. Jesse

    11/16/2015 at 12:46 pm

    You’ll get better FOV from the bigger s6 edge plus or note 5. Go with those, the screen door effect wont be that noticeable. Who ever has problems with that, even on note 4, is way way way too nitpicky.

  6. Jesse

    11/16/2015 at 12:49 pm

    Also, the note 4 will not be compatible with the new consumer version. You’d need to get the old innovator edition to use a note 4. All of the new apps, like netflix, twitch, etc., have already been released for the old note 4 and s6 editions and work fine. Only thing to be concerned about with the older versions, would be a new games that come out in future, that might not work with the note 4. S6 and S6 edge plus released back in April, have basically the same specs as August released Note 5 and S6 Edge Plus, so shouldn’t worry there.

    • Jesse

      11/16/2015 at 12:50 pm

      Meant s6 and s6 edge in april, not edge plus

  7. amego sando

    11/26/2015 at 1:58 am

    WILL THE OLD INNOVATOR EDITION GEAR VR STILL SUPPORTED AND HAVE ALL THE FEATURES OF THE NEW CONSUMER EDITION

    DOES THIS CONSUMER NEW GEAR VR COMPATIBLE WITH NOTE 4 , AND WILL BE FOR ANY NEW SAMSUNG MOBILE DEVICE AS NOTE 6 FOR EXAMPLE

  8. Joseph Molion

    11/29/2015 at 10:15 am

    Has anyone actually tried to fit the Note 4 into the new Gear VR? I see lots of comments about how you need the innovator edition, but nobody has actually stated whether or not they tried fitting the Note 4 into the new goggles. I really need this answered, because my wife bought me a set of new goggles for use with my Note 4.

    • LastVampyer

      12/31/2015 at 5:04 am

      I can confirm from first hand experience that the Note 4 DOES NOT fit in the $99 (£80) consumer version. Fortunately my contract is up in 4 weeks so it’s not too big of a deal for me. Still it’s a dick move from Samsung. that’s for sure.

  9. A.MQN

    12/01/2015 at 1:48 pm

    Will this Gear VR update as the new phones like the S7 and Note 6 come out? Or will I have to buy a new Gear VR every time I upgrade phones??

  10. Job Fernandez

    12/05/2015 at 2:31 pm

    The gear vr for note 5 When is it coming to best buy

  11. tijhkl

    12/19/2015 at 12:58 pm

    When is the release date of Geae VR’s latest edition, which will be used without any smartphones?

  12. Joseph Molion

    12/19/2015 at 3:30 pm

    So a quick update; no, the Note 4 does not fit in the new “consumer” version of the Gear VR. Damn it.

  13. Joseph Molion

    12/19/2015 at 3:31 pm

    On a related note, anyone having trouble finding a Gear VR that works with these new generation of smartphones?

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/252217007431?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

  14. Rick Jame Bish

    04/04/2016 at 9:12 am

    Unless there is some adjustment hidden on this device, it does not really work for the S6 Edge + After seating the bottom into the cradle it will not latch securely on the other side (Phone too long).

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