The Samsung Gear VR helmet review is a good choice if you have a Samsung smartphone. Samsung Virtual Reality Glasses Samsung Virtual Reality Glasses

Samsung Gear VR is the highest quality virtual reality helmet that is designed for smartphones.

This device is very functional, and since a high-precision motion controller has now appeared, you just need to buy a Samsung smartphone for a personal helmet.

Advantages:

• weighs less and has become more comfortable;
• compatible with many smartphones;
• high precision motion controller.

Flaws:

• has become large and costs more than Daydream View;
• the controller battery is not rechargeable.

Samsung gear vr consumer (2017) has an ergonomic, slightly modified design. A USB-C connector is provided, which allows you to combine a smartphone with a headset. But the main aspect of the device upgrade is the wireless controller.

It is a miniature joystick with a touchpad and a trigger. This device allows you to control your smartphone, and with the help of high-precision motion control, you can improve the quality of control that was lacking in Gear VR.

Today, there are few games that support such control, but the prospects are huge.

All in all, with an ever-increasing range of VR content and a high-tech controller, Gear VR is an indispensable headset for Samsung phones. It is very light, comfortable and compatible even with older phones. In addition, if you have an old helmet model, you can buy a controller for it.

helmet cost

The first model of Samsung Gear VR (2017) went on sale in April, its cost was $129 (around 7500 rubles).

For older Gear VR owners, Samsung will be selling a controller for them for $39.

Device design

The appearance of the Samsung Gear VR helmet, in contrast to previous versions, has become a little larger, but at the same time it is now lighter. However, compared to the sleek and compact virtual reality glasses, the Gear VR is still very large, but this allows the device to be endowed with many functions, unlike Google's glasses.

The internal view of the device can be adjusted at any time; a special disk is provided for this (located outside on the case) - this allows you to more clearly focus the picture. And Google glasses have a certain focus, and to get a clear image, you need to perform additional manipulations.

The Samsung Gear VR's mount and light protection are very good. New updates to the device have made it breathable. First modification virtual helmet fogged up almost immediately during use, a layer of moisture formed on the lenses, like on a fogged mirror as a result of taking a hot shower in a cold bath. Therefore, this model has provided additional holes for ventilation, which are located under the eyes.

Compared to the previous version of the helmet, in the Samsung Gear VR consumer version, the pillows in contact with the face are now very comfortable. There is also a reliable lock of the controller, which allows you to fix it on the head strap.

Buttons and ports for connections on the Samsung Gear VR 2017 are the same as on the previous model, but they have changed a bit. For high-quality operation of the controller, the touchpad on the device was equipped with the Home key, which allows you to exit to the main screen from all running programs and games.

Samsung offers users a modified joystick to control. Therefore, if you have used Gear VR before, then most likely you will quickly get used to the changes. But new Samsung Gear VR users may feel uncomfortable because the new change is a complicated control system. A proximity sensor is built into the center of the device. Having received a signal from it, the smartphone activates special program Oculus, after the user puts the glasses on their head.

Instead of the standard MicroUSB port found at the bottom of the Gear VR, the advanced Samsung Gear VR glasses feature USB-C port, which is a multifunctional port, so various additional accessories will appear very soon, which will expand the capabilities of the helmet. In addition, it allows you to connect the device to a computer.

The new device provides a replaceable MicroUSB adapter, which allows you to combine the helmet with such smartphones:

• samsung galaxy Note 5;
• Samsung Galaxy S6;
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge;
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+;
• and almost all new models.

Controller

The controller is the main highlight of the helmet, so you need to consider its capabilities. It looks great with the previous model, as it has a thoughtful design.

It is powered by 2 AAA batteries, it provides volume control, a high-quality touch panel, a Back and Home key, which are located on the side of the device. IN back The device has a built-in trigger, which allows you to comfortably play games.

Today there are games that support this controller, so you can have an unforgettable time in the virtual world. At the same time, it allows you to accurately aim, shoot and select objects in the game.

Soft

Manufacturers have created a controller that is compatible with many programs and games - this content can now be found in the Oculus store. This software is conditionally divided into 3 categories: games, videos and interactive programs. The trigger and the touchpad perform only one function in programs and games - "Confirm", since the possible use for other purposes is not yet provided.

Given that the helmet appeared on the market back in 2015, many games and programs have already been created for it.

The Samsung Gear VR has won recognition all over the world, as it has shown good compatibility with Minecraft, Lands End, etc. In addition, if you want to use something new, then check out the compatibility of the device with beta versions of games and programs that developers issued almost daily.

Compared to Google Daydream, this helmet has a huge software library in its arsenal, but the quality of the output is often lame. It is worth noting that the five-star rating shows users the most popular programs and applications.

The gyroscope does not solve the problem of the device lagging behind sudden head movements, but thanks to it, the hand will rest, because you do not have to constantly hold it near the head to press the buttons on the helmet.

But when you use older versions of games that involve head movement, you will notice that the controller will often refuse to work. Software compatibility with this motion controller is a definite inconvenience that Google Daydream View does not have, but it is being addressed as new games are constantly released on the oculus platform.

Performance

The performance of the games you will play with this helmet depends entirely on the capabilities of your smartphone. For example, if you start using new smartphone, then any game or program will work smartly.

Due to the fact that the VR helmet is compatible with big amount Samsung smartphones that have appeared in the past 2 years, the performance will be different. But it's safe to say that the older your phone is, the more likely it is that you'll experience frame drops and get too hot, causing you to have to stop playing games or close apps to cool down.

It's worth noting that the company has been using 2560 x 1440 pixel displays on flagship phones since 2015, so they have good pixel density no matter what feature you're using on the phone. This allows you to comfortably use the helmet as a TV.

The compatibility of the controller with smartphones is very good, the same as AirPod's with the iPhone, so you can request the connection of the nearest smartphone with a touch of movement.

Conclusion

Although these virtual reality glasses are inferior to the Google Daydream View in terms of compactness, they offer more functionality, including focus adjustment, as well as a wide range of compatible smartphones. But you need to know how to connect the device to a phone or to a PC - for this, the helmet comes with instructions.

The complete set of the helmet with a motion controller makes the purchase of the device very profitable. Although there is still little software that supports the controller, the prospects for VR gamers are very big, given the fact that many developers today create software that is compatible with the device.

The feasibility of buying a new helmet will depend on the capabilities of your smartphone, which you have or plan to purchase. I use this helmet from time to time and I want to say that it is comfortable, high quality and productive.

Price:

5900 rub. Samsung products for Galaxy smartphones Note5, S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, S7 and S7 Edge. Buy in one click Add to Basket 6900 rub. latest version from Samsung. Even more perfect! Buy in one click Add to Basket Hit 9500 rub. The world of virtual reality will be completely different with Samsung GearVR glasses. They open up many possibilities for the user. And thanks to the interactive joystick, he will be able to take an active part in what is happening, and not just watch from the sidelines. Buy in one click Add to Basket

Samsung GearVR Virtual Reality Glasses

Samsung GearVR virtual reality glasses were developed in partnership with Oculus. Now their price is not too high and many can afford such a purchase. Thanks to the effect produced by Samsung total immersion, the client uses comfortable view 360 degree angle for watching movies, entertaining with your loved ones computer applications or games, work on any projects and so on.

The most important detail of such glasses is the structure of the lens through which the user sees the screen of a smartphone or monitor. Now the innovative Innovator Edition model is presented, which was created specifically to work with the Samsung Galaxy S6. You can also choose a device that will function with Galaxy Note 4 or other devices. When buying, choose the right holder for your smartphone. At almost the same cost, the methods of fastening a smartphone for these models are different.

Specifications of Samsung GearVR

The Samsung GearVR glasses use plastic lenses, and the skin-to-skin parts are made from high-quality leather substitutes. The device is equipped with a touch panel with a back button, volume and focus controls. The virtual glasses do not have their own battery, so they are connected for charging to devices via the micro-USB connector or connected to the smartphone with which they are used.

Samsung notes that Gear VR can be used with a headset and needs to be connected to the jack on the phone. But Samsung smartphones are equipped with excellent speakers that reproduce loud and surround sound, so there is no need to use headphones.

To directly connect the immersive glasses to your mobile gadget, use a cable that connects via the USB port to both devices and place your smartphone in a special holder. The Gear VR has a built-in sensor that indicates the readiness of the device to work. As soon as the user puts the device for complete immersion in another reality on his head, the Gear VR glasses will turn on and another world will surround the person once.

What is special about Gear VR?

When these glasses were first developed, experts set themselves the goal of making them accessible for use by people with poor eyesight. But there are some negative nuances. For example, putting on a virtual helmet over ordinary glasses is inconvenient, because there is not enough space inside. Of course, you can move the device for the effect of full presence on the tip of the nose, but this position will not allow you to enjoy all the effects of virtual reality to the fullest. Although, if contact lenses are used instead of glasses, then the user will not feel any discomfort at all.

I would like to note that the inserts made of leather substitute are very pleasant to the touch and soft, and the helmet sits very comfortably on the head. Thanks to the adjustment tools, each person can adjust the position of the glasses on the head for themselves personally. They are designed in such a way that they fit very tightly to the head and no light penetrates inside them, which creates the effect of complete immersion in another reality.

Samsung's Gear VR is highly sensitive to head movements. When conducting pre-sale tests, he reacted to any gesture, and there was not a single case that he did not work correctly. But if it suddenly happens that the glasses will incorrectly respond to nods and turns of the head, it is possible, without removing or turning it off, to quickly and accurately calibrate them. I would like to note the excellent quality and high definition of the image, where you can see even the smallest details. Even with a screen high resolution(1440×2560) in Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone, glasses can show every pixel.

The developers have come up with another useful option. Let's say the user needs to see the screen mobile device without removing the virtual helmet from the head. It is enough to activate a special function and everything that is located in front will become available to the eye.

Samsung GearVR virtual glasses will receive notifications for the client, the same as on a regular smartphone about calls, SMS and important events. They will be activated at the moment when in the game the user is hanging in the air and is at rest. This feature is implemented so that without leaving the game, the gamer is always aware of important events taking place in the real world.

Watching videos and movies in Samsung GearVR

Virtual glasses are very different from 3D glasses because they have a 360-degree view. With Gear VR, you can fully immerse yourself in the video stream and rotate within it, and not just look around, as when watching 3D stereoscopic video. The total immersion device presents the image in two types of virtual format and successfully combines them. With the help of these glasses, it became possible to watch videos from a smartphone, both downloaded from third-party resources and filmed independently. To do this, you need to move the video file to a special section of the smartphone.

Purpose-built Oculus 360 Videos and Oculus Cinema apps for watching videos with Gear VR. One of them is used to watch special format films that can be found on the Internet.

With the second application in the Samsung GearVR helmet, you can watch ordinary flat movies. However, the picture there resembles a screen in a movie theater and is stretched over almost the entire visibility zone. However, when you turn your head, you can see the interior of the cinema itself along the edges, which can be changed if desired. An interesting feature of this application is that here you can choose where to watch the movie from. For example, you can watch a movie while sitting on the surface of the moon. The novelty of impressions is amazing and magnificent, and the surrounding virtual environment instantly responds to color and brightness changes on the cinema screen.

With the Oculus Cinema app, instead of going to the cinema, you can watch a movie with glasses, lying on your bed at home with headphones on your head. The only thing I would like to improve is the screen resolution so that the picture in Gear VR is more believable.

The main Oculus Gear VR app, built for the Gear VR headset, launches from the moment you put the glasses on your head.

Through this program, the user gets access to various content, which includes games, applications, videos, films and concerts in a panoramic format.

In the Gear VR menu, users will find free and paid content. An interesting detail is that in open application without glasses connected, the menu has an ordinary flat design. But, if you connect a virtual helmet to a smartphone, the menu becomes a kind of room in which icons and application names float in the air.

The films “Jurassic World” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” make the biggest impression on users. Even on the Internet, performances of the circus du Soleil Curios are often watched. Shown in a 360-degree format, the choreography, plasticity, scenery and the magnificent atmosphere of the performance are simply captivating. And even after watching the performance of circus performers several times, the action does not let go of the viewer's attention until the very end. It is very exciting to watch music concerts. But, unfortunately, good recording quality is available only in demo versions, and full versions materials are hard to find.

To play using Samsung GearVR, you need to connect a Bluetooth controller.

There are some downsides to Samsung's Gear VR as well. One of them - automatic start Oculus when putting on a virtual helmet and the inability to turn it off. Because of this, the client cannot use similar applications, although their choice is quite large.

However, there are loopholes. For example, a smartphone can simply be inserted into the holder without being connected to the USB port built into the glasses. Although this is quite feasible, the device will not hold well and may fall out, and the video can only be watched without performing any actions. For example, to stop the video, you need to remove the glasses from your head, remove the gadget from the holder and press pause on the screen. And it seems quite unnatural even compared to the available spherical videos on Youtube.

labyrinth

When playing the maze using the Samsung GearVR virtual glasses, you may experience some bad problems such as dizziness and nausea. Because of this, their use becomes uncomfortable and even painful. It is even more difficult to use a game with dynamic movement, where the user sees the image as if through the eyes of the protagonist. And although the player is sitting still, there is a rapid movement in his brain due to the incoming information, and this can be quite problematic for human perception. Indeed, in other applications, the user looks around while standing still and such contemplation is much clearer for the brain. Therefore, the conclusion suggests itself that it is better to watch movies in virtual glasses than to play.

The creation of virtual universes has become a real breakthrough for us in the field of digital technologies. Special devices have allowed millions of users to plunge into amazing universes filled with bright colors and incredible inhabitants. Many companies have recently released exclusive devices, among which Samsung Gear VR virtual reality glasses stand out. The gadget will allow you to plunge into the amazing digital worlds using only your smartphone. The device transmits the image online, and for this we do not even need to use cables!
There is a special plate on the front of the goggles that can be removed to reveal the mounts for your smartphone. It quickly and easily detaches from the case, and the presence of reliable fasteners on the helmet allows you to comfortably install your smartphone so that it does not jump out of the grooves even during the most active use.
Next, users should adjust the position of the Samsung virtual reality glasses on their heads so that they do not press during operation.

This moment is ensured by the presence of universal soft straps that allow you to customize the design even for people with a non-standard head size.
The next step is to create your own account in the Samsung service, and only after that you will be able to download the necessary for the high-quality operation of the device software. Registration guarantees each user the opportunity full use all applications available for download, so you will not spend anything by taking a few minutes for this procedure.
After that, you can safely insert your smartphone into the connector and put Samsung VR on your head - the built-in system will automatically launch the gadget as soon as you bring your eyes to the required distance from the internal screens.
Among the other features of Gear VR are the following points:

• you get a personal office, in which all the proposed applications and games are clearly systematized for maximum convenience;
• there is the ability to view video in panoramic format immediately after the first launch;
• Advanced educational material is available to help you quickly learn the various features. For example, by launching the surgeon simulator, you can read the manual for a novice doctor at any convenient time;
• it is possible to use exclusive services and functions that are not available to owners of similar devices from other manufacturers.

For ease of use, a special wheel is located on the top of the glasses, which allows you to zoom in or out of the smartphone so that your eyes do not strain and hurt after several hours of use. There is also a dedicated volume control that guarantees quick sound adjustments without having to remove the helmet from your head.
In general, Samsung virtual glasses are an excellent modern device for immersion in virtual worlds, which fully meets the requirements of users. A lot of features that are provided to you at a very reasonable price - what could be better?

Gear VR was first shown in September 2014 at the IFA in Berlin, when these virtual reality glasses were perceived as a typical exhibition product. It's no secret that Samsung likes to show what people hear, attract attention, and create such products without counting on immediate sales, this is a kind of experiment, an attempt to stake out a place in the market. So it happened with Gear VR, in 2014 the company’s representatives even found it difficult to name the cost of the glasses, only then by the release of the first version it became clear that their price was $500. Limited sales, few enthusiasts, primarily in the US and major European markets.

By the summer of 2015, an improved version of the Gear VR Innovator Edition glasses appears, which only support S6 / S6 EDGE, these glasses became the prototype of those sold today under the name Gear VR. There are quite a few differences from the first version, this is the lens blowing that has appeared, which prevents them from fogging, an improvement in the touch pad, best organization clamping platform. It can be said for sure that based on the first reviews, Samsung has done some work on the bugs and the first mass production of Gear VR is devoid of childhood diseases of the first samples. If enthusiasts were willing to pay more for virtual reality glasses than the average consumer, then for the mass market the “old” price was prohibitive. It is worth remembering that Google Cardboard and similar simple virtual reality glasses cost in the range of $10 to $25. And there would be few people willing to pay orders of magnitude more for glasses. Therefore, Gear VR for the mass market costs $ 100, in Russian realities the price is set at 8,000 rubles. What can be considered an adequate offer, since Fibrum Pro, which is considered an analogue, costs the same in Russia. But these are products from different universes, in Fibrum Pro we see good optics, but a very stupidly made harness, a head holder, it is not so convenient in it. The absence of electronics as such, as well as controls, everything is only in the software on the phone that you insert into these glasses. In my opinion, the choice of software is also quite limited, despite the large number of titles, there is almost nothing really interesting. But in the Oculus app store, the set of applications has already exceeded 150, and many are free, there are interesting walks around the planet, games and programs. The Oculus platform is a priority for major developers, as it is where both content developers and players like Samsung are investing their efforts today.

Gear VR's positioning is straightforward, it's a toy for young people who want to try something new. The warning in the instructions, and even at the start of the glasses, states that they are not intended for use by children under 12 years old, do not neglect this, the consequences can be serious - from slight dizziness to nausea. All products of this kind are not intended for children, especially since they can get hurt while moving in real space, you do not control your movements and are often carried away by what is happening in the virtual world.

A common place is how the body reacts to virtual reality glasses. I tried Fibrum Pro, Gear VR of various variations, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift. In all cases, immersion in virtual reality is accompanied by a slight loss of connection with outside world you are not in control of what is happening around you. And if you get carried away, for example, standing on your feet, you can hurt your forehead, suddenly losing your balance. Therefore, I prefer to watch content in such glasses, sitting comfortably in a chair in which I can lean back, turn my head or turn around the axis to look around.

The mount in Gear VR is such that you can put either Galaxy S6/S6 EDGE or Note 5, EDGE+ in there. The limitation on the number of models is understandable, here you need a high screen resolution, which in all the listed devices is QHD, which allows you to create a good picture. The principle of operation of all such glasses is simple - the screen is divided into two parts, that is, a picture is displayed for the left and right eyes. And so the volumetric effect is created. The downside is that the smooth, glossy picture that we see in everyday life, when we hold the phone at arm's length, crumbles into separate points when the screen is just a few centimeters from our eyes. Unfortunately, I can't show you what it looks like, it's not a Minecraft world at all, if you had time to imagine such a thing, but it's not the smooth picture that we've been used to seeing in the last few years either. The structure of the picture is visible, which cannot be fixed until specialized helmets appear, in which screens will be built in and equipped with high resolution. All virtual reality glasses that use phones are a compromise, and a very serious one, from all points of view. The main element of such devices is optics, and here it can be made of high quality, but screens are also important.

I wear glasses, my vision is minus five, so the fact that Gear VR has lens correction for different vision can be taken as a big plus. People with a vision of minus twenty can safely use glasses, but in any case, you need to try, as it will be for you, let yourself get used to at least five minutes.

If you turn your head, then the glasses will still move back a little. Correction goes astray, sharpness goes away, the picture becomes a little blurry. The way out is in a tighter fit of the harness on the head, then this will not happen. Here everyone chooses one thing, comfort or picture quality.

If desired, you can connect to glasses Charger, they have a microUSB connector, then your smartphone will be charged first, then the built-in battery. It is needed for the fan, sensors that track that you are wearing glasses, and also move your head. In principle, the built-in battery will easily last for 5-6 hours of operation, as well as the phone battery will last for this time, but I have never been able to verify this in practice. My maximum time with the glasses was just under an hour, I was watching a Cirque du Soleil movie, it was like a three-dimensional performance where you sit in the center of the stage, and the show itself takes place around you. An unusual point of view and a good performance, by the way, it is called Kurios.

Goggles are easy to manage, you can turn your head and the cursor follows your gaze, hold on to the desired item and it opens. You can exit by pressing the Back button, it is on the right side of the glasses, there is also a touch pad, you can select items with it, double tapping is the selection of the desired item.

The phone has special application, which starts automatically as soon as you insert your phone. Before that, it needs to be unlocked (surprise, surprise), but most importantly, you need to download all the software updates, they come out with a fair amount of frequency, and sometimes it's annoying, you want to plunge into the virtual world, but instead - a few minutes waiting for updates.

Even a schoolboy can handle the settings, there is nothing complicated. There is a lot of free stuff in the app store, these are all kinds of walks in inaccessible places on earth, beautiful 3D photos (my favorite section), movies and games. Virtual reality glasses are perceived by many as gaming, but my children, having spent several days with them, quickly got tired, while there are no such toys that would capture and force them to immerse themselves in this invented world without a trace. For obvious reasons, it is difficult to show the capture of an image from glasses, but simply giving a two-dimensional image is stupid, it does not convey sensations. But I will say this, toys do not yet capture the imagination, although I know several fans of this kind of devices, they think exactly the opposite.

For people with a weak vestibular apparatus, all such glasses are contraindicated, the head will be spinning. Ten minutes and I already want to take them off. Therefore, the more movement in the game, the worse you will be. The quieter the scene, the longer you can sit in these glasses.

For those who want to watch a video about how the glasses work, I offer a summer video about Gear VR Innovator, get a complete picture, there are no differences.

There is already a lot of content for such glasses, more and more of it appears every day. in Moscow shopping malls cunning people put points where for 200 rubles they give 10 minutes to use virtual reality glasses. It's not worth it, but you can get an idea of ​​what it is. Somewhere even Gear VR of the first generation slips through, although these are usually alternative solutions.

Would I buy Gear VR or other glasses? Probably not. These are still experiments that are at an early stage. As a gift, such virtual reality glasses are ideal, this is something that you will never buy for yourself, but it is nice to receive such a gift as a gift. The price of Gear VR at 8,000 rubles is rather big, but quite in the market, and for this money you buy the most advanced on this moment device. The same Oculus will cost a little more, but it will also become more functional, in any case, the rumors say just that. Rumors, however, say that Samsung may become the manufacturer of these glasses. But to buy or not, it's up to you. It is possible that you will consider other scenarios for these glasses, find out how to use them. And if you already know, then share in the comments, suddenly there is something that we don’t know about.

Virtual reality glasses have recently become a popular trend, which, in principle, is not surprising - potentially this technology has brilliant prospects, because with its help the degree of user immersion in reality on the other side of the screen goes to a whole new level.

However, this technology initially had one stumbling block - high price glasses equipped with two high-resolution LCD screens. The solution was found relatively recently - to use a regular smartphone instead, the image on the screen of which will be prepared for viewing through the lenses of the glasses using special software. The most famous version of such a solution is the “people's” Google Cardboard project, which theoretically allows any enthusiast to collect glasses and use them in conjunction with a regular Android smartphone (see), on the basis of which a number of smartphone manufacturers even presented their own, more attractive-looking versions of the “cardboard” ".

Samsung went the other way. In September 2014, at IFA 2014, she introduced Samsung Gear VR, a virtual reality glasses developed in collaboration with Oculus VR (known for its revolutionary Oculus Rift helmet, which, in fact, provoked the current boom in virtual reality technology). Unlike the Oculus Rift, the Samsung Gear VR does not come with its own displays and uses an Android smartphone for this purpose. However, here Samsung decided to abandon the seemingly attractive idea of ​​maximum compatibility a la Google Cardboard (for which almost any smartphone is suitable) in favor of the highest quality implementation. final product. So Samsung Gear VR works in conjunction with a single smartphone model - Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (and only with its American version). In March, it was presented updated version points - Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition, which will be compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.

Design and ergonomics

Samsung Gear VR looks very impressive - a real futuristic helmet.

The case is made of practical white matte plastic, which does not leave fingerprints at all. The glasses are relatively light (379 g), but quite large (198x116x90 mm), so they are fixed on the head with straps not only from the side, but also from above. For a more comfortable girth of the back of the head and crown, the fastening system uses soft-lined plastic elements, so after putting on the glasses and tightening all the straps, the design sits on the head quite comfortably and does not put pressure on either the bridge of the nose or the back of the head.

However, after a long session, you begin to feel that the glasses still put a little pressure on your cheekbones and nose, plus your forehead begins to sweat - apparently due to the closed design and tight cuff that works as a "insulation".

When installing a smartphone, it connects to the glasses via microUSB and snaps into a special mount, after which it is covered with a protective translucent plastic cover from above. Samsung Gear VR does not have its own audio system; for these purposes, a smartphone speaker is used; in addition, the user can connect any headset to the smartphone and pass its wire through a special hole in the cover covering it.

The cuff-seal is made of foam padding covered with soft velvet fabric - thanks to it, the glasses are very tightly and at the same time gently pressed against the face, which increases comfort, but makes it impossible to use Samsung Gear VR together with ordinary glasses.

The developer foresaw this moment and implemented diopter adjustment using the wheel on top (the principle of operation is simple, like everything ingenious - by rotating the wheel, the user ... pushes or, conversely, moves the smartphone mount, thus changing the distance from the image plane to the lenses). However, an excellent result can be achieved in this way only if the user has both eyes equally short-sighted or far-sighted, so full replacement this system will obviously not have ordinary points.

For control, a touch panel is used, located on the right temple - it works like a regular touchpad, with a choice by pressing the panel. To exit / return to the previous menu, a special hardware button is located just above the panel (with a dash that is clearly visible to the touch - like on the letters "A" and "O" on a conventional keyboard). To the side of the touchpad, on a black panel, is an inconspicuous volume rocker.

In work

The Oculus client is installed on the smartphone, which is, in fact, an online application store - games and mini-demos that show what the Samsung Gear VR is capable of. A number of games will require a gamepad, which is sold separately, however, there are also a sufficient number of very simple “casual games” in terms of gameplay, for which an additional controller is not needed, and control is carried out using touch panel. So, there are space “flying games” that show what games like Elite: Dangerous should really look like, fantasy “walkers” through dungeons (here, by the way, even a person with a stable vestibular apparatus can really get sick), and even Temple Run optimized for virtual reality glasses is three-dimensional, with high-quality graphics and with an incredible immersion in the world of endless running.

Available programs are a virtual cinema where the user can watch trailers of various films, applications for viewing spherical panoramas and videos, as well as a virtual gallery where you can view pictures taken on your smartphone. It's hard to say what's more impressive - a Cirque du Soleil performance where you're right in the middle of the stage, in a crowd of actors, or Curiosity's spherical panoramas of Mars, where you can see everything from the starry sky overhead to the sandy metal supports of the rover and the lurking in the haze on the horizon of the Martian mountains.

The Oculus client can work both in the usual "smartphone" mode - here it looks like any app store, and in virtual reality, where menu items and individual programs are represented by tiles hanging in the air, which you need to select with a glance (or scroll through the list using the touchpad), and launch by touching the touchpad.

Yes, like Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR has head tracking, but not movement, so you have to walk around the virtual world using the touchpad (if such an option is provided in the application at all, of course).

The picture is very good - sufficient brightness / contrast and rich colors. Permissions Galaxy Screen Note 4 enough to build enough detailed image, but individual pixels are of course still visible. The viewing angle is 96 degrees, which is more than enough to get the effect of a huge virtual screen. The reaction to head turns and control actions was very high, there was no feeling of image inertia (according to official specifications, the delay is less than 20 ms, which is quite comparable to non-gaming computer monitors).

What immediately attracts attention is the quality of the games and programs presented. It's no secret that a sophisticated technology and a high-quality hardware component is at most half the success of a new gadget; the main guarantee of its successful start is precisely software support. And here Samsung Gear VR looks really good: it does not give the impression of an open platform filled with a disorganized crowd of enthusiasts who compensate for the lack of professionalism by the desire to do at least something, but under the “trend novelty”. Apparently, cooperation with Oculus VR in this regard definitely benefited Samsung glasses - the programs available for them will take the user not for 5-10 minutes, as in the case of the same Google Cardboard, but obviously not for one evening.

Results

Proven experimentally - Samsung Gear VR does not leave anyone indifferent. Usage conventional smartphone instead of "real" displays, it did not affect the quality of the image and the degree of immersion in virtual reality. Tethering to a specific smartphone model has created a design that perfectly fits its 5.7-inch display, resulting in glasses that appear as a single, seamless device, rather than a clumsy combination of two poorly matched gadgets. This (and, quite possibly, a collaboration with Oculus VR) has created a more immersive virtual reality headset than we experienced with Google Cardboard. However, this solution also has a drawback - a significant narrowing of the potential audience, because it is unlikely that someone will buy a new smartphone solely in order to subsequently acquire glasses. On the other hand, the existence of Samsung Gear VR may well become another argument in favor of buying a Galaxy Note 4 for a user who is just thinking about replacing a smartphone.

If we talk about the cost, then in the case of the Samsung Gear VR it turns out to be not so small as for a device without displays - it was originally expected that it would be available in the US for $ 199, but at the moment on the Amazon website the average price for it is approximately $300. However, the same Oculus Rift is even more expensive - the currently available version for developers is distributed at a price of about $ 350, a commercial product, according to preliminary data, will cost about the same.

Current Samsung model Gear VR (only compatible with US Galaxy version Note 4) will not be sold in Ukraine, however, in the second half of May, our users will have access to the second version of the glasses, Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition (unfortunately, there is no information about the estimated retail price yet). By the way, everyone can already now, if not buy, but at least get to know these glasses live in the Samsung brand stores in Kiev, located at the following addresses: Moskovsky Ave, 21, blvd. Lesi Ukrainky, 4 and st. Mikhail Grishko, 3a (SEC "Aladdin").

Liked
+ Excellent design and ergonomics
+ Good quality Images
+ Quality software
+ Strong immersive effect

Did not like
- Works only with Samsung Galaxy Note 4
- High price