Gear VRby Samsung

The Gear VR has a dedicated onboard sensor that takes 1000 samples per second, which significantly lowers the delay between your head’s move…

The Gear VR has a dedicated onboard sensor that takes 1000 samples per second, which significantly lowers the delay between your head’s movement and seeing your virtual surroundings change accordingly. That delay, known as “latency,” is one of the major culprits behind VR nausea;

Samsung says it's about 19 percent lighter, and I definitely feel it. The previous models had chunky white plastic around the head straps wh…

Samsung says it's about 19 percent lighter, and I definitely feel it. The previous models had chunky white plastic around the head straps while the current model has none. This not only reduces the headset's overall weight, but makes it far less cumbersome to put on.

The headset converts a quartet of the Samsung's recent Galaxy smartphones into a full-on mobile virtual reality headset. It's the third such…

The headset converts a quartet of the Samsung's recent Galaxy smartphones into a full-on mobile virtual reality headset. It's the third such model in under a year, but this one is first that feels ready for prime time, with a decent batch of games and apps to choose from.

The final Gear VR is a lot more comfortable to wear than the two Innovator Editions that came out in the last year (each at double the price…

The final Gear VR is a lot more comfortable to wear than the two Innovator Editions that came out in the last year (each at double the price, $200). It’s also the most comfortable mobile VR headset out yet, especially if you consider its added functionality.

If you already have a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone, the Gear VR headset is a well-built, relatively inexpensive way to see if virtual rea…

If you already have a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone, the Gear VR headset is a well-built, relatively inexpensive way to see if virtual reality is right for you.

You'll probably get 3-4 hours of play off of a full phone charge, by the way – that's true with the Galaxy S6 Edge+ I tested, at least. But …

You'll probably get 3-4 hours of play off of a full phone charge, by the way – that's true with the Galaxy S6 Edge+ I tested, at least. But don't leave the phone in the headset for long if you're not using the Gear VR: I've always come back to find the phone sweltering hot and the battery nearly drained.

Once you have the device up and running, the lenses will display content (by leveraging your Samsung phone) at a 96-degree field of view at …

Once you have the device up and running, the lenses will display content (by leveraging your Samsung phone) at a 96-degree field of view at 2560 x 1440p. If you are prone to motion sickness, there may be some instances of nausea depending on the game or app.

The body itself is plasticky, though it doesn't feel flimsy or cheap, and most of the weight comes from the Note 4 itself. The adjustable, p…

The body itself is plasticky, though it doesn't feel flimsy or cheap, and most of the weight comes from the Note 4 itself. The adjustable, padded straps secure nicely around your head and there's also padding to cushion the headset on your forehead and face. It's all very comfortable...

Audio is handled through your phone's speaker - not Samsung's strong-point - so I recommend wearing a decent set of headphones, as it makes …

Audio is handled through your phone's speaker - not Samsung's strong-point - so I recommend wearing a decent set of headphones, as it makes a huge difference to the immersion.

The Gear VR is the first 360-degree entertainment system that feels accessible and slick, rather than awkward and sickening. If you’ve only …

The Gear VR is the first 360-degree entertainment system that feels accessible and slick, rather than awkward and sickening. If you’ve only tried freebie VR experiences like Google Cardboard, it’s worth giving it a second shot with this.

Samsung's lenses, which warp the images on the display to fill your vision, are adjusted by a simple focus wheel at the top of the plastic c…

Samsung's lenses, which warp the images on the display to fill your vision, are adjusted by a simple focus wheel at the top of the plastic casing. Turn the wheel until the images on the display come into focus, and you're good to go.

After maybe 40 minutes of gaming, I noticed my forehead beginning to get sweaty from the heat of the screen, the bridge of my nose aching. V…

After maybe 40 minutes of gaming, I noticed my forehead beginning to get sweaty from the heat of the screen, the bridge of my nose aching. VR is funny that way. I didn’t find the headset too heavy, but its physical, visceral effects came at a cost. Each half-hour session left me with a slight headache and disorientation that bordered on nausea.

If there’s one part of the experience that Samsung really nailed it’s turning the system on. Simply slide the micro-USB port from the headse…

If there’s one part of the experience that Samsung really nailed it’s turning the system on. Simply slide the micro-USB port from the headset into your phone as if you were charging it and snap your phone into place with a satisfying click. The Oculus platform will start up automatically.

The internal sensors include a gyrometer and accelerometer that let your head become the “controller” in a sense. As you look around inside …

The internal sensors include a gyrometer and accelerometer that let your head become the “controller” in a sense. As you look around inside the new worlds you explore, it’s like you’re…there. These sensors do the trick on that.

In certain instances, it’s also hard to navigate. The touchpad along the side of the headset, which is the primary means of interacting with…

In certain instances, it’s also hard to navigate. The touchpad along the side of the headset, which is the primary means of interacting with the device, is sometimes difficult to find when the goggles are in use.

Quick tip: we did run into heating problems when downloading and installing games while wearing the headset, so if you want a lengthier sess…

Quick tip: we did run into heating problems when downloading and installing games while wearing the headset, so if you want a lengthier session, be sure to get your content onto the phone (with a cool-down period in between) before you start playing.