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#REDIRECT [[Samsung Gear VR (2015/2016)]]
{{Device Infobox
|image =
|VR/AR = [[Virtual Reality]]
|Type = [[Head-Mounted Display]]
|Subtype = [[Mobile VR]]
|Platform = [[Oculus Home]] ([[Android]])
|Developer = [[Samsung]], [[Oculus VR]]
|Manufacturer = [[Samsung]]
|Announcement Date = September 24, 2015 (Oculus Connect 2)
|Release Date = November 20, 2015
|End of Life = September 30, 2020
|Price = $99 USD
|Website = https://www.samsung.com/
|Display = Samsung phone display (Super AMOLED)
|Field of View = 96° (101° for later models)
|Tracking = 3DoF (rotational only)
|Audio = Phone speakers / 3.5mm jack
|Input = Touchpad, back button, controller
|Compatible Phones = Galaxy Note 5, S6, S6 Edge, S7, S7 Edge, Note 7, S8, Note 8, S9, Note 9, S10
|Weight = Variable (headset + phone)
}}
 
The '''Samsung Gear VR''' is a mobile [[virtual reality]] [[head-mounted display]] developed by [[Samsung Electronics]] in collaboration with [[Oculus VR]], announced at Oculus Connect 2 on September 24, 2015 and released on November 20, 2015 at $99. The first consumer-focused VR system resulting from a two-year Samsung-Oculus partnership, the Gear VR uses a compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphone as both the display and processor, with the headset providing optics, IMU for rotational tracking, and controls. Supporting over 100 apps at launch via Oculus Home, the Gear VR made VR accessible to millions of Samsung users before the service terminated on September 30, 2020.
 
== History and Development ==
 
Samsung and Oculus announced the consumer Gear VR at Oculus Connect 2 in September 2015, releasing it on November 20, 2015 after earlier developer/innovator editions. The device sold out on launch day. Multiple generations supported successive Samsung flagship phones through 2019. The Gear VR service officially terminated on September 30, 2020, five years after launch, as the VR market shifted to standalone headsets like the Oculus Quest.<ref name="samsung">{{cite web |url=https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-and-oculus-introduce-the-first-consumer-version-of-gear-vr |title=Samsung and Oculus Introduce Gear VR |publisher=Samsung |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>
 
== Design and Hardware ==
 
=== Display ===
 
Phone-powered display:
 
* '''Samsung Galaxy phone display'''
* '''Super AMOLED''' technology
* High pixel density
* Vibrant colors
* Phone provides resolution
* Variable by phone model
 
=== Optics ===
 
* '''96° field of view''' (early models)
* '''101° field of view''' (R323+)
* Custom lenses
* Wide sweet spot
 
=== Tracking ===
 
Enhanced rotational tracking:
 
* '''3DoF tracking''' (rotation only)
* No positional tracking
* '''Custom IMU'''
* Oculus rotational tracking tech
* '''<20ms MTP latency'''
* Fast, accurate head tracking
* Phone sensors + headset IMU
 
=== Input ===
 
Multiple control options:
 
* '''Side touchpad'''
* '''Back button'''
* '''Proximity sensor'''
* '''Volume controls'''
* Touchpad gestures
* Improved touchpad (2015 revision)
 
=== Build ===
 
Headset shell design:
 
* '''22% lighter''' than predecessor
* New foam cushioning
* Improved comfort
* Phone snap-in mechanism
* Adjustable straps
* Micro USB/USB-C connection
* Focus wheel adjustment
 
== Compatible Devices ==
 
=== Early Models (SM-R322) ===
* Galaxy Note 5
* Galaxy S6
* Galaxy S6 Edge
* Galaxy S6 Edge+
 
=== Later Models ===
* Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge
* Galaxy Note 7
* Galaxy S8 / S8+
* Galaxy Note 8
* Galaxy S9 / S9+
* Galaxy Note 9
* Galaxy S10 series
 
== Software ==
 
=== Oculus Home ===
* Main software platform
* App distribution
* Content library
* Social features
 
=== Launch Content ===
* 100+ apps/games at launch
* 360° video
* VR games
* Experiences
* Social VR
 
== Technical Specifications ==
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Specification !! Details
|-
| Display || Phone Super AMOLED
|-
| FOV || 96°-101°
|-
| Tracking || 3DoF (rotation)
|-
| Latency || <20ms MTP
|-
| Input || Touchpad + back button
|-
| Platform || Oculus Home
|-
| Phones || Galaxy S6-S10 series
|-
| Price || $99
|-
| Service End || September 30, 2020
|}
 
== Reception ==
 
'''Praise:'''
* $99 accessible price
* First consumer VR system
* Samsung phone ecosystem
* Super AMOLED quality
* <20ms latency achieved
* 100+ launch apps
* Easy setup
* Portable VR
* Millions of potential users
* VR democratization
 
'''Criticism:'''
* 3DoF only (no positional)
* Phone overheating issues
* Battery drain significant
* Limited to Samsung phones
* No motion controllers initially
* Phone weight front-heavy
* Service terminated 2020
* Superseded by Quest
* Cable friction when docking
* Screen door effect visible<ref name="engadget">{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015-11-25-samsung-gear-vr-review-2015.html |title=Samsung Gear VR Review |publisher=Engadget |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>
 
== See Also ==
* [[Oculus Go]]
* [[Oculus Quest]]
* [[Google Daydream]]
* [[Google Cardboard]]
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Devices]]
[[Category:Virtual Reality Devices]]
[[Category:Head-Mounted Displays]]
[[Category:Mobile VR]]
[[Category:Samsung]]
[[Category:Oculus VR]]
[[Category:2015 in technology]]

Latest revision as of 16:56, 7 January 2026

Gear VR
Basic Info
VR/AR Virtual Reality
Type Head-Mounted Display
Subtype Mobile VR
Platform Oculus Home (Android)
Developer Samsung, Oculus VR
Manufacturer Samsung
Announcement Date September 24, 2015 (Oculus Connect 2)
Release Date November 20, 2015
Price $99 USD
Website https://www.samsung.com/
System
Storage
Display
Display Samsung phone display (Super AMOLED)
Image
Field of View 96° (101° for later models)
Optics
Tracking
Tracking 3DoF (rotational only)
Audio
Audio Phone speakers / 3.5mm jack
Connectivity
Device
Weight Variable (headset + phone)
Input Touchpad, back button, controller

Property "Platform" (as page type) with input value "Oculus Home]] (Android)" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.


The Samsung Gear VR is a mobile virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Samsung Electronics in collaboration with Oculus VR, announced at Oculus Connect 2 on September 24, 2015 and released on November 20, 2015 at $99. The first consumer-focused VR system resulting from a two-year Samsung-Oculus partnership, the Gear VR uses a compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphone as both the display and processor, with the headset providing optics, IMU for rotational tracking, and controls. Supporting over 100 apps at launch via Oculus Home, the Gear VR made VR accessible to millions of Samsung users before the service terminated on September 30, 2020.

History and Development

Samsung and Oculus announced the consumer Gear VR at Oculus Connect 2 in September 2015, releasing it on November 20, 2015 after earlier developer/innovator editions. The device sold out on launch day. Multiple generations supported successive Samsung flagship phones through 2019. The Gear VR service officially terminated on September 30, 2020, five years after launch, as the VR market shifted to standalone headsets like the Oculus Quest.[1]

Design and Hardware

Display

Phone-powered display:

  • Samsung Galaxy phone display
  • Super AMOLED technology
  • High pixel density
  • Vibrant colors
  • Phone provides resolution
  • Variable by phone model

Optics

  • 96° field of view (early models)
  • 101° field of view (R323+)
  • Custom lenses
  • Wide sweet spot

Tracking

Enhanced rotational tracking:

  • 3DoF tracking (rotation only)
  • No positional tracking
  • Custom IMU
  • Oculus rotational tracking tech
  • <20ms MTP latency
  • Fast, accurate head tracking
  • Phone sensors + headset IMU

Input

Multiple control options:

  • Side touchpad
  • Back button
  • Proximity sensor
  • Volume controls
  • Touchpad gestures
  • Improved touchpad (2015 revision)

Build

Headset shell design:

  • 22% lighter than predecessor
  • New foam cushioning
  • Improved comfort
  • Phone snap-in mechanism
  • Adjustable straps
  • Micro USB/USB-C connection
  • Focus wheel adjustment

Compatible Devices

Early Models (SM-R322)

  • Galaxy Note 5
  • Galaxy S6
  • Galaxy S6 Edge
  • Galaxy S6 Edge+

Later Models

  • Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge
  • Galaxy Note 7
  • Galaxy S8 / S8+
  • Galaxy Note 8
  • Galaxy S9 / S9+
  • Galaxy Note 9
  • Galaxy S10 series

Software

Oculus Home

  • Main software platform
  • App distribution
  • Content library
  • Social features

Launch Content

  • 100+ apps/games at launch
  • 360° video
  • VR games
  • Experiences
  • Social VR

Technical Specifications

Specification Details
Display Phone Super AMOLED
FOV 96°-101°
Tracking 3DoF (rotation)
Latency <20ms MTP
Input Touchpad + back button
Platform Oculus Home
Phones Galaxy S6-S10 series
Price $99
Service End September 30, 2020

Reception

Praise:

  • $99 accessible price
  • First consumer VR system
  • Samsung phone ecosystem
  • Super AMOLED quality
  • <20ms latency achieved
  • 100+ launch apps
  • Easy setup
  • Portable VR
  • Millions of potential users
  • VR democratization

Criticism:

  • 3DoF only (no positional)
  • Phone overheating issues
  • Battery drain significant
  • Limited to Samsung phones
  • No motion controllers initially
  • Phone weight front-heavy
  • Service terminated 2020
  • Superseded by Quest
  • Cable friction when docking
  • Screen door effect visible[2]

See Also

References

  1. ↑ "Samsung and Oculus Introduce Gear VR". Samsung. https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-and-oculus-introduce-the-first-consumer-version-of-gear-vr.
  2. ↑ "Samsung Gear VR Review". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/2015-11-25-samsung-gear-vr-review-2015.html.
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