Samsung officially joined the virtual reality hardware race on Wednesday by formally revealing the Gear VR.
The headset itself looks like an X-Wing pilot’s helmet from Star Wars, which is to say it’s a bit bulky , but it's more similar to the Oculus Rift. This is partly because the Kickstarter sensation did collaborate with Samsung. A “Powered by Oculus” inscription on the side makes sure to remind us of this.
Gear VR stands out for its use of the newly revealed Galaxy Note 4. The enlarged smartphone slots into the helmet's micro-USB dock and acts as the screen. Paired with the helmet's adjustable lenses, which are built into the headset, the Galaxy Note 4's accelerometer and gyrometer are used to track head movement, thus creating a virtual reality impression. Together these parts create a unique wireless VR headset that doesn't need to be tied to a PC, though it also means the Gear VR cannot yet measure depth.
It’s designed to work with the 5.7-inch Note 4, a Quad HD-SuperAMOLED-screen-sporting phablet, and only the Note 4. To put it in the headset, you have to snap off the VR goggle’s decorative and semi-translucent front cover. Then you slide the port end of the phone into the connection jack and the other side securely under a clip.
As soon as the phone was snapped in place, the screen switched to 3D stereo view. Samsung’s representatives had me slip the Gear VR onto my head, but not before telling me it isn’t designed to work with glasses.
This unit is much more affordable, though, as it leaves all the grunt work to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. The Gear VR works as some sort of shell for the Note 4, which works as the main display. The smartphone can be popped into the device, only to become one with the VR headset.
There is a back button on the side, with a touchpad placed right below it. These will allow you to navigate the UI without pulling out your device or using your touchscreen. It’s also important to note it has no batteries, as the smartphone takes care of power.
No details on price and launch are available yet, but we can imagine these will be relatively affordable.
