Virtual reality glasses for Samsung Galaxy S7. Samsung virtual reality glasses Samsung galaxy s7 virtual reality glasses

Samsung virtual reality glasses are represented in the global gadget market by five models. Each sample is an improved version of the previous one. The article provides a complete overview of VR devices, examines the detailed characteristics of each model, points out their advantages and disadvantages.

General characteristics of Samsung Gear VR

Samsung Gear VR virtual reality glasses were developed by Koreans together with Oculus. Among gadget lovers, the device is rapidly gaining popularity.

The device was an innovation among users. The device does not just make the picture three-dimensional, like ordinary 3D virtual reality glasses when watching movies on a TV or in a cinema. The glasses immerse the user in the world of the game or video, providing the possibility of a 360-degree view (i.e. viewing the surroundings, rotation, etc.). An overview of the various models provides more detailed information.

Versions of Samsung Gear VR glasses

Regardless of the year of issue, the glasses made a lasting impression. Every person who has been in virtual reality has received a lot of pleasure. This is the case when the functioning of the gadget needs to be seen with your own eyes.

The manufacturer has taken care of the convenience of the user. The design of the gadget is thought out to the smallest detail. Everything is done in it in order not to remove the device. For example, while watching a video or playing a game, you can read phone notifications right on the glasses screen. Each model is presented with its own features, which can be found below.

Samsung Gear VR SM-R320

The sample is the first model of glasses for a smartphone. The gadget went on sale in December 2014 and was a kind of experiment in the field of virtual reality for users and developers.

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Compatibility has been limited. Only owners of the Galaxy Note 4 could use the glasses. Other phone options were not suitable for synchronized operation, which caused poor performance.

Samsung Gear VR SM-R321

In March 2015, the 320th model was replaced by the 321st. Based on user feedback, the developers have improved it. But, in comparison with the new samples, there were shortcomings. The updated version was characterized by the following features:

• Micro USB port
• Built-in fan
• New Compatibility

The port was built in to conveniently provide power to the gadget, and the fan prevented fogging of the lenses. The circle of users was limited to the owners of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.

Samsung Gear VR SM-R322

The sample was released in November 2015. It has been completely updated. The main feature was a redesigned touchpad, which greatly simplified navigation. The weight of the device has also been improved - 19% less than the 321st model.

The sample was synchronized with six devices. Among them are Samsung Galaxy s7, S7 Edge, S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, Note5. The expansion of the circle of users gave an impetus to an increase in productivity, which was a step towards the new version.

Samsung Gear VR SM-R323

2016 marked the release of the 323 glasses, along with a new version of the Note7 collaborative smartphones. The device has been upgraded:

• Flat panel touchpad
• Extended viewing angle
• Housing adjustment to prevent glare

The cessation of production of the Note7 phone led to a decrease in sales of the model in question. Support has been discontinued.

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Samsung Gear VR SM-R324

The latest 324 model - Samsung Gear VR New 2017 release - has already managed to gain popularity among users. The main "trick" of the sample is compatibility with the latest versions - Samsung Galaxy S8, S8Plus and Galaxy Note 8.

The company has developed a special controller. Its goal is empowerment. If you have previous versions of devices on hand, you can separately purchase a controller and connect it to them. This will improve their performance. Below is a detailed overview of the new glasses model.

Feature Samsung Gear VR New

The manufacturer has improved the device from different angles. Unlike previous models, the developers equipped this one with three elements:

1. USB-C port (for smartphone power supply)
2. MicroUSB adapter (for pairing)
3. New touchpad home button (for quick exit)

A detailed review of the Gear VR New is below.

Design features

Compared to previous versions, the new sample weighs a quarter less. The developers took care of users with eye diseases. Outside the device is a special disk that allows you to adjust the optics.

Diopters are difficult to fit into the body of the device. Samsung glasses fit snugly to the face. There is little free space inside the case, so that outside light does not penetrate inside. People with vision problems use lenses. The model is equipped with soft pillows that gently adhere to the face. The case has several holes, which prevents fogging of the lenses.

Compatibility and operation

The compatibility of the device is aimed at working with the Samsung Galaxy S8, but the advanced design of the glasses allows you to use them for the Samsung Galaxy A5, A7, J3, J5, J7, and more.

Note! Functionality depends on the version of the phone. The newer it is, the better the performance will be. Owners of older models are faced with frame drops, errors, etc.

Gear VR New is equipped with features that were not available in previous versions. In this regard, the function of removal from virtuality is interesting. For a while, you can turn off the movie and see your own reality through the screen of the glasses.

I bought it for Note 3 to watch who is calling and answer on the headset. In order not to climb into your pocket for such a shovel. Completely useless when used this way. I have under 2 thousand contacts and, for example, Alexandrov, about twenty. It does not display by last name, only the first name and half of the patronymic are visible. It is not advisable to manually rewrite a bunch of contacts. On the smartphone, all settings are by last name. Who is calling you is not clear.
In general, so, raw toy.

Advantages:

Manufacturing quality is good

Flaws:

There is no setting for sorting contacts by last name, by default they are displayed by first name. Rigid construction, they sit ridiculously on the hand, rearing up. The hand sweats under them, because. hard plastic. The strap is quite short, you need to check.

Period of use:

a few months

VR is a world of great possibilities. True, to get there, you need a headset. For example, virtual reality glasses that can work with smartphones. In particular, the owners of the Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge use the proprietary Samsung Gear VR. Excellent device for android. With excellent performance, beautiful design and controls.

And yet - with two serious drawbacks, which are noted by almost all users. First, this mask can only work with Samsung S7 or S6. This fact, of course, is beneficial for the company, since it works to increase sales. But it imposes restrictions on consumers. After all, “not by Samsung alone ...”, there are a large number of smartphones of other brands on the market. How many owners are willing to change their favorite gadget just to use a good VR helmet? And if the device is taken for a family, where not everyone has a phone of a Korean company?

Secondly, the price. For VR glasses for Samsung Galaxy they ask quite a lot. If they have any advantages over other models, how serious? Are they worth paying more?

Before making a decision on any purchase, the client always evaluates the product according to the ratio "cost - quality". Moreover, the second concept is the complex “functionality + build quality + design”. And then he concludes whether to take "it". Because a thing can turn out to be better than others - and at the same time be so expensive that it makes no sense to give extra money. Especially if you do not plan to use the benefits (and the purchase itself) too often.

Maybe there is an alternative?

Eat. These are Homido VR goggles. Yes, yes, everyone understands, you can praise anything. In order not to be unfounded, let's compare Samsung and Homido according to the above indicators.

Design. Everything is simple here. Both models have a modern look with futuristic lines. They look equally good, which one is better - for an amateur. Sold in attractive protective cases.

Build quality. Both "Korean" and "French" look pretty decent. Made soundly, without rough seams, non-soldered areas and cracks. Both of them are durable compact devices, there are no backlashes or poorly fixed parts in the details of plastic cases. Mounts on the head are similar, smartphones are held securely, they do not fall out during sudden movements. From the side of the face - soft lining.

Functionality

Settings. The gadget for S7, like Homido, is adjustable in a wide range of interpupillary distance. That is, both are suitable for the whole family, for adults and children. Lenses both there and there are plastic.

Control. The Koreans have the advantage here. There is an electronic board, a proximity sensor, a touchpad, a Home button, a volume control, a gyroscope and an accelerometer. True, the last two options are in smartphones. And the board quickly drains the battery of mobile phones, but it's not scary, you can buy and connect a charger for the duration of the game. Homido has only an activity button.

Programs. There is equality here. On the one hand, the Oculus store is offered, on the other hand, the Homido Center for Android or iOS. Where there are more toys and applications, it makes no sense to compare, they are constantly updated.

Application. And here already Homido surpasses the competitor. The Korean device for Galaxy only works with "its" smartphones of the sixth or seventh series. Whereas the French model is compatible with any phones that have a screen diagonal of 4.0 to 5.7 inches.

The conclusion is obvious. If a Samsung virtual reality helmet is taken in order to often use cool games on the phone of the same brand, then, perhaps, this is correct. And if the mask will work from time to time (or, as often happens, immediately after the purchase - every day, and after a month - it gathers dust in the closet and gets it when the guests come)? Or a phone from another manufacturer who wants to buy VR glasses (option - a helmet is taken for a family and not all Samsungs)? Or will simpler games be installed, or maybe, in general, is this a device for working with application programs? Then you have to think, is it reasonable to pay four times more for Samsung Gear VR than for Homido?

Price:

5900 rub. Samsung products for Galaxy Note5, S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, S7 and S7 Edge smartphones. Buy in one click Add to Basket 6900 rub. Latest version from Samsung. Even more perfect! Buy in one click Add to Basket Hit 7900 rub. The world of virtual reality will be completely different with Samsung GearVR glasses. They open up many possibilities for the user. And thanks to the interactive joystick, he will be able to take an active part in what is happening, and not just watch from the sidelines. Buy in one click Add to Basket

Samsung GearVR Virtual Reality Glasses

Samsung GearVR virtual reality glasses were developed in partnership with Oculus. Now their price is not too high and many can afford such a purchase. With Samsung's fully immersive experience, the customer enjoys a comfortable 360-degree view to watch movies, play their favorite PC apps or games, work on projects, and more.

The most important detail of such glasses is the structure of the lens through which the user sees the screen of a smartphone or monitor. Now the innovative Innovator Edition model is presented, which was created specifically to work with the Samsung Galaxy S6. You can also choose a device that will function with the Galaxy Note 4 or other devices. When buying, choose the right holder for your smartphone. At almost the same cost, the methods of fastening a smartphone for these models are different.

Specifications of Samsung GearVR

The Samsung GearVR glasses use plastic lenses, and the skin-to-skin parts are made from high-quality leather substitutes. The device is equipped with a touch panel with a back button, volume and focus controls. The virtual glasses do not have their own battery, so they are connected for charging to devices via the micro-USB connector or connected to the smartphone with which they are used.

Samsung notes that Gear VR can be used with a headset and needs to be connected to the jack on the phone. But Samsung smartphones are equipped with excellent speakers that reproduce loud and surround sound, so there is no need to use headphones.

To directly connect the immersive glasses to your mobile gadget, use a cable that connects via the USB port to both devices and place your smartphone in a special holder. The Gear VR has a built-in sensor that indicates the readiness of the device to work. As soon as the user puts the device for complete immersion in another reality on his head, the Gear VR glasses will turn on and another world will surround the person once.

What is special about Gear VR?

When these glasses were first developed, experts set themselves the goal of making them accessible for use by people with poor eyesight. But there are some negative nuances. For example, putting on a virtual helmet over ordinary glasses is inconvenient, because there is not enough space inside. Of course, you can move the device for the effect of full presence on the tip of the nose, but this position will not allow you to enjoy all the effects of virtual reality to the fullest. Although, if contact lenses are used instead of glasses, then the user will not feel any discomfort at all.

I would like to note that the inserts made of leather substitute are very pleasant to the touch and soft, and the helmet sits very comfortably on the head. Thanks to the adjustment tools, each person can adjust the position of the glasses on the head for themselves personally. They are designed in such a way that they fit very tightly to the head and no light penetrates inside them, which creates the effect of complete immersion in another reality.

Samsung's Gear VR is highly sensitive to head movements. When conducting pre-sale tests, he reacted to any gesture, and there was not a single case that he did not work correctly. But if it suddenly happens that the glasses will incorrectly respond to nods and turns of the head, it is possible, without removing or turning it off, to quickly and accurately calibrate them. I would like to note the excellent quality and high definition of the image, where you can see even the smallest details. Even with a high-resolution screen (1440×2560) in the Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone, the glasses can show every pixel.

The developers have come up with another useful option. Let's say the user needs to see the screen of a mobile device, while not removing the virtual helmet from his head. It is enough to activate a special function and everything that is located in front will become available to the eye.

Samsung GearVR virtual glasses will receive notifications for the client, the same as on a regular smartphone about calls, SMS and important events. They will be activated at the moment when in the game the user is hanging in the air and is at rest. This feature is implemented so that without leaving the game, the gamer is always aware of important events taking place in the real world.

Watching videos and movies in Samsung GearVR

Virtual glasses are very different from 3D glasses because they have a 360-degree view. With Gear VR, you can fully immerse yourself in the video stream and rotate within it, and not just look around, as when watching 3D stereoscopic video. The total immersion device presents the image in two types of virtual format and successfully combines them. With the help of these glasses, it became possible to watch videos from a smartphone, both downloaded from third-party resources and filmed independently. To do this, you need to move the video file to a special section of the smartphone.

Purpose-built Oculus 360 Videos and Oculus Cinema apps for watching videos with Gear VR. One of them is used to watch special format films that can be found on the Internet.

With the second application in the Samsung GearVR helmet, you can watch ordinary flat movies. However, the picture there resembles a screen in a movie theater and is stretched over almost the entire visibility zone. However, when you turn your head, you can see the interior of the cinema itself along the edges, which can be changed if desired. An interesting feature of this application is that here you can choose where to watch the movie from. For example, you can watch a movie while sitting on the surface of the moon. The novelty of the experience is amazing and magnificent, and the virtual environment instantly reacts to the change in color and brightness on the cinema screen.

With the Oculus Cinema app, instead of going to the cinema, you can watch a movie with glasses, lying on your bed at home with headphones on your head. The only thing I would like to improve is the screen resolution so that the picture in Gear VR is more believable.

The main Oculus Gear VR app, built for the Gear VR headset, launches from the moment you put the glasses on your head.

Through this program, the user gets access to various content, which includes games, applications, videos, films and concerts in a panoramic format.

In the Gear VR menu, users will find free and paid content. An interesting detail is that in an open application without glasses connected, the menu has an ordinary flat design. But, if you connect a virtual helmet to a smartphone, the menu becomes a kind of room in which icons and application names float in the air.

The films “Jurassic World” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” make the biggest impression on users. Even on the Internet, performances of the circus du Soleil Curios are often watched. Shown in a 360-degree format, the choreography, plasticity, scenery and the magnificent atmosphere of the performance are simply captivating. And even after watching the performance of circus performers several times, the action does not let go of the viewer's attention until the very end. It is very exciting to watch music concerts. But, unfortunately, good recording quality is available only in demo versions, and full versions of materials are hard to find.

To play using Samsung GearVR, you need to connect a Bluetooth controller.

There are some downsides to Samsung's Gear VR as well. One of them is the automatic launch of Oculus when putting on a virtual helmet and the inability to turn it off. Because of this, the client cannot use similar applications, although their choice is quite large.

However, there are loopholes. For example, a smartphone can simply be inserted into the holder without being connected to the USB port built into the glasses. Although this is quite feasible, the device will not hold well and may fall out, and the video can only be watched without performing any actions. For example, to stop the video, you need to remove the glasses from your head, remove the gadget from the holder and press pause on the screen. And it seems quite unnatural even compared to the available spherical videos on Youtube.

labyrinth

When playing the maze using the Samsung GearVR virtual glasses, you may experience some bad problems such as dizziness and nausea. Because of this, their use becomes uncomfortable and even painful. It is even more difficult to use a game with dynamic movement, where the user sees the image as if through the eyes of the protagonist. And although the player is sitting still, there is a rapid movement in his brain due to the incoming information, and this can be quite problematic for human perception. Indeed, in other applications, the user looks around while standing still and such contemplation is much clearer for the brain. Therefore, the conclusion suggests itself that it is better to watch movies in virtual glasses than to play.