With the Galaxy Gear and its successors, Samsung showed that it was serious about the wearables market, but when rumors emerged that the company was working on a virtual reality headset, we were skeptical and didn't really think it was true. However, all the leaks in recent months pretty much confirmed Samsung's plans for a VR headset, and today, the Korean manufacturer has officially announced the Gear VR, a virtual reality headset it has developed in collaboration with Oculus VR. The Gear VR offers a virtual reality experience not unlike the one seen on the Oculus Rift and other VR products, but it differs in the fact that it uses the Galaxy Note 4 and its 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display to power the entire experience.
In addition to the display, the Gear VR will also use the Galaxy Note 4's sensors for tracking head motion. Furthermore, a see-through button will allow the user to look at the real world when they want – for example, a user might be using the Gear VR for navigation through Google Maps at one moment, then switch to the real-world view in order to see what's in front. The Gear VR will be made further useful through various content offered by third-party manufacturers and Samsung's own apps, and more apps will likely come along later on as developers jump on the bandwagon and make use of the VR SDK.
The Gear VR will be available in Frost White from Samsung's retail shops and through carriers later this year for a price of €200, and will also be available as part of a bundle that includes Samsung's Gamepad controller, with the bundle costing €250.
Press Release:
Samsung Explores the World of Mobile Virtual Reality with Gear VR
Samsung and Oculus collaborate to create an immersive new dimension of mobile life with the first widely available mobile VR headset optimized for Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Berlin, Germany – September 3, 2014 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today introduced the next generation in wearable technology, the Samsung Gear VR Innovator’s Edition, enabling users to fully immerse themselves in a cinematic virtual reality environment. Powered by Oculus technology, Samsung Gear VR delivers a completely new way to experience and consume mobile content. It continues Samsung’s leadership in the wearable category through innovative technology and compelling design to expand the definition of mobile life.
The result of a deep and integrated partnership with Oculus, a Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) company and a leader in virtual reality technology, Samsung Gear VR creates an immersive mobile virtual reality experience that the industry has never seen before.
“Samsung Gear VR Innovator’s Edition goes far beyond expectations of how mobile technology can be used to consume content, and is a powerful representation of the progressive innovation of the Gear series,” said JK Shin, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “We are pleased to have partnered with Oculus VR to bring this incredibly immersive mobile content experience to consumers.”
“We are thrilled to reveal the Gear VR Innovator’s Edition, a state-of-the-art mobile VR experience powered by Oculus,” said John Carmack, CTO of Oculus. “The deep technical partnership with Samsung has enabled us to create a virtual reality headset with world class resolution and performance, all on a completely mobile platform.”
Samsung Gear VR delivers an unrivaled viewing experience with the 5.7 inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display of Galaxy Note 4 providing stunning and engaging visuals at a mobile-leading resolution. With the Gear VR Innovator’s Edition, users can sit in the best seat of a theater, can be on-stage of a performance with full 360 3D video, and can enjoy gaming like it’s never been seen before – inside stunning worlds where imagination becomes reality. Samsung’s industry leading Super AMOLED display technology and cutting-edge Oculus-driven technologies fuse to create an experience that surprises and delights – all on a mobile device.
Built with soft, flexible cushioning and lightweight materials, Samsung Gear VR is comfortable to wear. It is completely wireless, so users can be fully engaged in virtual worlds without being tethered to a computer. With a robust selection of optimized virtual reality content from a wide range of top-tier creators, users will be able to enjoy a wide range of film, gaming, 360 degree video, and educational/experiential content.
Samsung Gear VR will be available in Frost White through the Samsung online channel and selectively by carriers this year. Full details and product images are available at www.samsungmobilepress.com and www.oculus.com/blog/.
