Samsung Shows Off £65 Oculus Virtual Reality Headset

Samsung has taken the wraps off its first ever consumer-facing Gear VR headset, which is looking to make Virtual Reality available to the mass market with a low price tag.

The Samsung Gear VR will cost just $99 (£65), and will be compatible with even more smartphones, including the company’s latest devices, the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+, S6 and S6 edge, which are connected via microUSB.

The mobile giant has teamed up with VR experts Oculus for the release of the device, which it hopes will help push its top space in the wearables sector when it goes on sale later this year.

Redefined

“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.”

At 310g, the Samsung Gear VR weighs in 22 percent lighter than the company’s last VR headset, 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.

“Samsung has been at the forefront of delivering mobile experiences and ‘Gear VR Innovator Edition’ launched last year was no exception,” said Samsung’s mobile chief JK Shin. “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.”

Samsung has been increasing its investment in Virtual Reality over the past few years as the technology becomes more and more popular among consumers.

It has already teamed up with the likes of Audi and Qantas Airlines to provide immersive VR experiences, namely virtual test drives of the latest road cars and high-end in-flight entertainment systems. Hotel chain Marriott is also using the company’s headsets to provide an in-room entertainment service.

The company has also invested in San Francisco-based company Fove, which says it is launching the world’s first eye-tracking VR headset.

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