Samsung partners with Oculus to bring you the best in virtual reality.
EVEN though we have tried other VR (virtual reality) headsets before, the Gear VR Innovator Edition still made us go wow.
The Gear VR is the brainchild of Samsung, the largest electronics maker in the world, and it has partnered with VR pioneer Oculus for the VR app store.
However, the Gear VR is not the Oculus Rift, the highly anticipated VR headset that’s still in development. Instead it’s actually a souped up Google Cardboard with Samsung’s craftsmanship and Oculus’s store.
The headset may look bulky because of the padding and straps but it’s actually rather light and comfy to wear.
The headset only works with Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge which is not surprising as they have the hardware to handle the most demanding games and apps.
Enter VR
The VR games and apps have to be downloaded from the Oculus store. You can do it while wearing the headset, in which case you will see the storefront in VR, or via the Oculus app.
As the VR apps can be quite large – some are gigabytes in size – you probably won’t want to download apps via the VR storefront, as it can take rather long.
However, there is a catch. The Oculus app seems to have fewer apps compared with the VR storefront that’s accessible from the Gear VR.
Also, we sometimes encountered problems when downloading games from the Oculus app but not from the VR storefront.
The good news is that there are plenty of free apps for you to try before you spend your money on paid apps.
Some apps like Jurassic World: Apatosaurus, Marvel Avengers: Tony Stark’s Lab and Battle Of Avengers Tower were a little shorter than we expected but at least we didn’t have to spend any money on them.
Paid apps such as Viral, Bandit Six, Protocol Zero and Darknet can cost up to US$9.99 (RM42).
You can also watch trailers with the VR headset but only your “virtual room” will be rendered in 3D – the trailer itself will play as regular 2D video.
There is actually a reason for this: the app gives you several viewpoints to watch the trailer from such as Cinema Theatre, Ant Theatre, Moon Theatre and Void Theater. It’s only fun until the novelty wears off.
There is one app in particular that stands out – Temple Run VR. You probably would have heard of the name before as Temple Run was one of the earliest and most popular endless runners.
The VR version is similar to the Temple Run sequel released for mobiles in 2013. As soon as you grab the golden idol you will have to run for your life from a gargantuan monkey while avoiding obstacles.
To control the running you will have to use the navigation pad on the headset which is not ideal for such a fast game as this.
You are better off getting a Bluetooth gamepad if you plan to play Temple Run VR or similar games. However, as you will be wearing the Gear VR, you will have to get used to controlling the gamepad without actually looking at it.
Other games worth checking out are Herobound: First Steps and Shironeko VR Projects, both of which are role-playing games.
Better build
There are a number of things that make the Gear VR superior to the humble Google Cardboard. First, the Gear VR holds the smartphone securely without you having to worry it will slip out. With the Cardboard you will have to adjust the phone from time to time as it will start to slip a little after awhile.
Next, as the Gear VR comes with straps you don’t have to hold it in place while using it while the Cardboard has to be held in place with your hand which can get tiring after awhile. However, there are some Cardboard models that come with a rubber band for securing it to your head.
You can also easily adjust the volume on the Gear VR as the controls are on the right side of the headset. With the Cardboard you will have to remove the phone to make any adjustments.
The Gear VR also comes with a focusing wheel which made it much easier to get the sharpest possible VR experience.
We wish it also came with built-in headphones but it doesn’t, so to get the best audio experience we suggest using earphones, as the audio from the phone can sound muffled as the device is “trapped” in the headset.
When used solely for VR, the Galaxy S6 lasted about two to three hours. If you don’t mind being leashed you can connect your charger to the headset to charge your phone.
Early days
VR is still in its infancy stages but the Oculus store has been growing quite fast. Actually, whether you get the Gear VR or not will largely depend on if you are willing to pay the asking price of RM799.
Most users will go for the Cardboard which costs about RM100 or less to get their first taste of VR even though it’s a bit flimsy.
On the other hand, if you want the best experience and already own an S6 or S6 Edge then you can’t get anything better than the Gear VR.
Also, Samsung has done a smart thing in partnering with Oculus as this gives users access to a lot more VR apps than the Google Play store alone.
All in all, the Gear VR offers the best, most comfortable VR experience on the mobile phone, and it can only get better with more apps.
Pros: More choices for VR apps; comfortable and adjustable straps; excellent build quality.
Cons: Only supports S6/S6 Edge; pricey.
Gear VR
(Samsung)
VR headset for Galaxy S6/S6 Edge
Specifications: Acceleration sensor, gyrometer, proximity sensor, 96° field of view
Coneectivity: MicroUSB
Dimensions (W x D x H): 196.1 x 98.5 x 82.8mm
Weight: 379g
Website: www.samsung.com/my
Price: RM799 (inclusive of GST)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review units courtesy of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, 1-800-88-9999
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