Samsung Outs its Latest Gear VR: Enhances Wearer Immersion and Field of View
Lately, Samsung hasn’t been all about the Note 7 as the company has now unveiled a new Gear VR headset— offering a wider viewing experience and several other perks. This new version of Gear VR is expected to offer a more immersive user experience besides being easier to work out. In brief, this gadget has been revamped and even the controllers are revised with the company opting for a darker layout.
This new breed of mobile VR headset came along with the much-awaited Note 7. Samsung’s Unpacked event was mainly about these two gadgets with the VR gathering a lot of limelight with some noticeable improvements being better compatibility and support for the USB Type-C port. With Note 7 coming up with the reversible charging USB Type C v3.1, it was only expected that the new Gear VR will be compatible with the same.
Samsung Gear VR
The futuristic USB Port will surely bring in external connections while nothing much has been revealed by Samsung up till now. However, the company is expected to come up with a slew of peripherals to suit this requirement which will then help the Gear VR compete with the likes of HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift. The new and improved VR headset has the capability of penetrating the desktop arena as it comes with the scope of motion controllers and even data connection.
Changes Galore
The new headset comes in an utterly distinctive shade, mainly comprising of black and blue. The bright white has been replaced throughout and the insides are also painted black to avoid distractions.
We also get a wider viewing angle as compared to 96 degrees on the previous model. The improvement has widened the area up to 101 degrees which is pretty convincing as compared to the predecessor. This upgrade might seem minimal but is expected to offer greater levels of immersion, mainly by mitigating motion sickness.
Apart from the viewport, we can also see the revised input controls, including the enlarged touchpad and recessed footprints. A new button has been added to the mix which will directly take the user to the Oculus home. While it will be easier to access the purchased content with one tab, the Oculus store already has more than 300 pieces of selections for the Gear VR users. Moreover, the Oculus team has deemed this headset to be the best in business and expects it to deliver a powerful virtual reality experience.
The Competition
Since the inception of virtual reality, the market has been infested with manufacturers. With Huawei working on its new VR headset after the success of the first, things might just get tougher for Samsung in the long run. Then again, some manufacturers are closing the gates on the competitive streak by opening up VR experiences to their selective smartphones. However, unlocking the VR capabilities of any given handset won’t be cumbersome with the android root guide in picture. That said, iOS might need some jailbreaking before making the best use of virtual reality unless Apple throws in something convincing.
Off late, Google is seen working on a similar VR experience and if materialized it might rival Samsung’s supremacy in the form of the new Gear VR headset.
Despite being competed, the Gear VR looks the best bet in town courtesy the low price point and a slew of added attributes. This iteration has already started gathering positive reviews and might just offer something new in the days to come— provided Samsung brings in the required set of peripherals. This headset is currently compatible with the likes of Note 7, Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The interface has been simplified, owing to the USB Type-C to Micro-USB adapter which is supplied with the package.
The Gear VR headset will start shipping August 10 onwards.
Author: Richard Smith
