The Samsung Gear VR Headset is something that is highly popular among consumers still to this day.
Despite the fact that more advanced VR headsets have come out, it still remains the top option for all consumers that want to play VR on a budget.
In this Samsung Gear VR review, we will provide what we found over months of testing. Not only that but we’ll also provide some alternatives you can consider to the Samsung Gear VR Headset.
Galaxy Gear VR
The Samsung Gear VR Headset is one of the most popular virtual reality headsets on the market. This is owed to its top-notch visuals, a comfortable design and the Gear VR controller.
Alternate #1
Oculus Go
The Oculus Go is the perfect VR headset to buy if you want a standalone VR setup. Its state-of-the-art lenses ensure that you have a highly immersive VR experience. Not only that but the headset is very intuitive to use as well.
Alternate #2
HTC Vive
The HTC Vive is another VR headset that is extremely high-quality and comes with top-notch tracking. It supports SteamVR Tracking so you can use it with pretty much all VR titles available on Steam.
Quick Summary of the Main Product
Samsung Gear VR continues to dominate the market when it comes to VR headsets for smartphones. While the Samsung Gear is ideally paired with a Samsung phone, it can work with pretty much any Android phone on the market.
It’s not that expensive when you compare it with PC and standalone VR headsets available in the market. Additionally, it even comes with its own handheld controller. The controller is simple in design but does its job well. It runs on two AAA batteries.
The trackpad/focus wheel is great since it’s multi-function. It works as a trackpad and a scroll wheel as well as a cursor.
Features and Benefits
Long Battery Life
The Samsung Gear VR has an incredible battery life that can last you a very long time. All you need to do is put it on charging with the USB C connector before you go to bed.
When you wake up, your Samsung Gear Virtual Reality Headset will have enough battery to last you the whole day.
Great Compatibility
As mentioned, Samsung Gear VR can pair with any Samsung phone. Not just Samsung phones but it can also pair with pretty much any Android phone.
As a result, it can run all of the VR titles that are on the Play Store right now.
Comes with a Controller
The fact that it comes with a controller is also a great thing about the newest Gear VR. The controller makes it very easy to navigate through VR titles rather than using your Samsung smartphone.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Galaxy Gear VR
Price
Samsung Gear VR may seem expensive compared to other VR headsets meant for smartphones. That being said, it’s still worth the price. This is especially true when you think about how cheap it is compared to standalone and PC VR headsets.
Compatibility
As mentioned earlier, Samsung Gear VR works well with Samsung phones as well as other Android phones.
Hence, it can run all VR titles available on the Play Store.
Build Quality
It’s immaculately built from high-quality materials. This is immediately apparent as soon as you hold the Samsung Gear VR in your hands. The foam is soft but breathable while the harder sections are durable but not stiff.
Advantages and Disadvantages
- Budget-friendly
- Great compatibility
- Easy to use
- Sleek, polished design
- Comfortable
- Discontinued by Samsung; Can only be bought from third-party sellers
Social Proof
We wanted to check out what others thought of Samsung Gear VR.
So, for this Samsung Gear VR review, we checked out some reviews on Amazon.
Here’s what they had to say:
Similar to Galaxy Gear VR (Recommendations)
#1: Best Standalone Alternative - Oculus Go Review
The Oculus Go is the perfect option to go for if you want to have a standalone VR rig. The Oculus Go works without any smartphone, PC or console.
You get built-in audio as well which surrounds for an insanely immersive VR experience.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Oculus Go
Price: While it’s much more expensive than the Samsung Gear VR, we feel that price is justified since it’s a higher-end VR headset. Not only that but it also supports a much more impressive library of VR titles.
Compatibility: The Oculus Go works with all titles on the Oculus app. It’s the leading platform in the world of VR so you get access to the top VR titles, new and old.
Build Quality: It’s extremely well-built and the materials used to construct it are also quite high-quality. The Oculus Go is lightweight but also durable at the same time.
- Vast supported VR title library
- Easy to use
- Top-notch tracking
- Compact and lightweight
- Sturdy
- Relatively expensive
Best Standalone Alternative
The best standalone alternative is the Oculus Go thanks to its great build quality, vast array of supported VR titles and user-friendliness.
#2: Best High-End Alternative - HTC Vive Review
HTC is a manufacturer that has really made a name for itself through its high-end VR headsets.
The HTC Vive supports SteamVR tracking which allows it to play pretty much all VR titles available on Steam. You can easily pair it with your PC to have a visually stunning VR experience.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy HTC Vive
Price: The HTC Vive is fairly expensive, even compared to other PC VR headsets. Only go for this VR headset if you can afford it.
Compatibility: As mentioned, it supports SteamVR tracking. This makes it compatible with a wide variety of VR titles available on Steam.
Build Quality: The VR headset is highly sturdy but also very adjustable at the same time. It’s made from high-quality materials that are resistant to wear and tear and will last you a long time.
- Little to no eye strain issues
- Intuitive to use
- Easy to set up
- Great compatibility
- Well-built
- Expensive
Best High-End Alternative
The best high-end alternative is the HTC Vive thanks to its high-quality design, immaculate tracking and high compatibility.
Buyer’s Guide
Price
The price of the VR headset that you buy is very important since you want to maintain a balance.
It’s important not to buy something that is too cheap from a lesser-known manufacturer. This is because VR headsets such as these may be poorly constructed or made from cheap-quality materials.
On the other hand, obviously, you don’t want to go overboard either since you want to stay within your budget.
Compatibility
It’s a good idea to consider what type of VR titles you want to experience with your VR headset and what hardware you have to run it.
For example, if you want to play VR titles available on Android phones, then you will want a VR headset that is compatible with Android phones.
On the other hand, if you wanted a VR headset for your PC, you would look for those types of VR headsets.
This is something that is fairly self-explanatory but it is still something that many consumers don’t think about.
Build Quality
This is important with any product you buy but it’s especially important with electronics such as your VR headset.
It’s a good idea to buy it in person if you can because that way, you can inspect it in person. If you buy it from the manufacturer’s official outlet, you may even be able to test it a little bit before you make your decision.
If you want to buy it online, then it’s a good idea to look at user reviews and what they have to say about the build quality of the VR headset you intend to buy.
Design and Ergonomics
VR can be a tiring experience. Hence, it’s of utmost importance that your VR headset is made from high-quality materials and that it is well-designed.
You want to look for VR headsets that are easily adjustable for different head sizes and that have soft but breathable foam.
The VR headset should also be able to take at least a little bit of punishment so they last you a long time.
Wrapping Things Up
So that’s our Samsung Gear VR review.
Despite being discontinued, the Samsung Gear VR continues to be a highly affordable option for consumers. The only downside to it is the fact that it cannot support future VR titles.
However, if you’re someone that wants to dive into the world of VR for a cheap price, this is definitely worth considering.
Which VR headset do you use to experience virtual reality? Let us know in the comments section below.
