Samsung Gear VR is here. The first major consumer-focused commercial effort in virtual reality is available for a mere $99. The bargain price has led to the device selling out in a matter of days and it will probably fill many stockings and sit under many Christmas trees this holiday season. I’ve had a chance to play with Samsung Gear VR and I can tell you that the experience is pure magic on many levels, but also has some limitations.
The Gear VR headset looks bulky and cumbersome, but it is actually quite comfortable when adjusted properly. The device I used was actually an earlier model. The wide straps are stretchy and adjustable so you can customize the fit, and there’s a strap that comes over the top of your head that lightens the load on the bridge of your nose. The surface that actually makes contact with your face is covered with a foam cushion.
I found that there was certainly room for improvement in the ergonomics and aesthetics departments, but for an early entry into a new market the Samsung Gear VR headset is incredibly well-engineered. It seems that Samsung has already made some of those modifications, though, because the retail version available to the public is 19 percent lighter, with controls that are more comfortable and intuitive.
When you connect the Samsung smartphone to the Gear VR headset it automatically launches the Oculus Store, where you can find and download videos, apps, and games designed to work with the virtual reality experience. At the recommendation of a friend I checked out an app called Vrse.
I watched a video clip that makes you feel like your immersed in some surreal dreamscape. I was standing on water—in the middle of a lake—and I could look around in all directions at the beautiful landscape. I saw a train on horizon chugging along down the shoreline. As I watched the train, though, it suddenly took a sharp left turn and came straight at me—driving out to the middle of the lake. There is no actual impact obviously, but the point when the train “hit” me was still a bit unnerving and took my breath away. The train exploded into a massive flock of black birds or bats, which then transformed into ribbons raining down on the lake.
No. I wasn’t drunk or stoned. You just have to watch the video for yourself. I took the Gear VR headset with me to my daughter’s dance studio and played with it while she was in class. We were very late getting home that night, however, because when she and her friends came out every single person had to experience the Gear VR headset for themselves. At least once. And every person that tried it out was absolutely amazed by what they experienced.
As I mentioned at the top, there are a few limitations on the magic of Samsung Gear VR. First and foremost is the fact that it requires a Samsung smartphone and the Gear VR hardware is device-specific. That means two things. First, it means that the $99 price tag is only a bargain if you happen to already own the requisite Samsung mobile device. Otherwise you have to tack on the cost of a Samsung smartphone in order to make the whole thing work. The other thing is that once you have that device you can’t upgrade, or you’ll have to replace your Gear VR headset as well.
The other limitation—at least for now—is content. As cool as the demo videos and clips were, the novelty wore off quickly. Virtual reality needs to avoid the pitfalls of the 3D fad. There needs to be tons of great content—VR content that is actually immersive and gives you a new or different perspective than just watching a video, not just VR for the sake of making VR content.
In my opinion there is huge potential here. For a first generation gadget the Samsung Gear VR solves a number of problems and makes the immersive experience accessible to the masses. I wouldn’t run out and buy a Samsung smartphone just to try it out—but if you already have a compatible device I highly recommend buying the Samsung Gear VR headset and testing this technology out for yourself. That is—if you can find somewhere that has them in stock still.
