Samsung showed off a new Gear VR model at the Oculus Connect event today with a friendly price tag, wider compatibility, and an upcoming ship target. The virtual reality headset continues to be powered by Oculus but it’s considerably more affordable at $99 compared to the prior $199 version. Just in time for the holiday quarter, Samsung says its redesigned Gear VR will ship in November. It also boasts wider compatibility as it will work with all 2015 Samsung phones.
Samsung’s previous Gear VR model, the Innovator Edition, carries double the price tag and only works with select Samsung phones: Samsung GALAXY Note 4, S6, and S6 edge. We went hands-on with the Oculus-powered virtual reality headset last year:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwPKqAJCphw]
The redesigned version is said to be 22% lighter than last year’s hardware with improvements around comfort thanks to new padding as well.
Samsung and Oculus are pushing it as the first Gear VR consumer edition, and a variety of content providers are backing that up. Netflix, Hulu, Facebook, Twitch, Vimeo, TiVo, 20th Century Fox, and Lionsgate are all supporting the Gear VR. Twitch will even support livestreaming on the Oculus-powered virtual reality headset. More details below:
Samsung and Oculus Introduce the First Consumer Version of Gear VR
Samsung and Oculus deliver a new and refined Gear VR, with hundreds of new content options, to the most enjoyable and comfortable mobile VR experience
[Seoul, South Korea, September 25, 2015] – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced its first Gear VR device aimed to consumers, extending its leadership in the wearables category. The latest edition of the Gear VR is compatible with even more smartphones, including the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+, S6 and S6 edge, leveraging each device’s super AMOLED display to provide the color, clarity and performance needed for an amazing virtual reality experience.
“Samsung has been at the forefront of delivering mobile experiences and ‘Gear VR Innovator Edition’ launched last year was no exception,” said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics. “We see virtual reality as the next computing platform, and we are thrilled to partner with Oculus on Gear VR to set the standard for mobile VR and bring this revolutionary product to consumers.”
The Samsung Gear VR is 22 percent lighter than previous Gear VR Innovator Edition, and includes new foam cushioning to make the device more comfortable to wear. In addition, the Gear VR’s touchpad has been improved, providing greater control while enjoying the robust selection of film, gaming, 360 degree video and experiential content available for Gear VR.
“Together with Samsung, we’ve redefined virtual reality and created the best mobile VR experience available today,” said Brendan Iribe, CEO, Oculus. “On Gear VR, people are playing immersive VR games with friends, sharing 360 video experiences, and teleporting around the world with photos and videos – and it’s only the beginning for what’s possible with mobile VR.”
The Samsung Gear VR will be available in Frost White for USD 99 starting this fall.
For full details of product information and images, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com.
Samsung Gear VR Product Specifications
- Dimension / Weight
- 201.9 x 116.4 x 92.6 mm / 310g
- Sensor
- Accelerator, Gyrometer, Proximity(Mount/Unmount Detection)
- FOV *Field of View
- 96 degrees
- IPD Coverage
- 54 ~ 70 mm (Fixed Lenses)
- Color
- Frost White
- Compatibility
- microUSB connection to the Galaxy Note 5, S6 edge+, S6, S6 edge
*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. We are also leading in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Smart Home and Digital Health initiatives. We employ 319,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of US $196 billion. To discover more, please visit our official website at www.samsung.comand our official blog at global.samsungtomorrow.com.
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