Samsung announced the launch a ‘new’ VR headset. The company recently introduced an updated version of the Gear VR and its controller back during MWC 2017.
The controller comes with a built-in touchpad which provides “quicker selection and interaction.” The new Gear VR will be available along with Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ starting 21 April 2017 for $129. The headset boasts a 101-degree field of view along with compatibility to both USB Type-C and microUSB ports.
Samsung teamed up with Oculus to design the controller, especially for one-handed use. The company announced that developers and companies like Oculus are working on games and optimising experiences for the new Gear VR controller and shall launch soon.
The Gear VR controller will sell separately for $39 and is backward compatible with the older generation of Gear VR Headsets. However, only 20 titles will support the new controller at launch.
One thing to note is that Oculus, the company working on Gear VR has optimised the home screen for faster loading times. The revamped home screen comes with an Avatar system, a web browser that you can use in virtual reality. The home screen loads three times faster uses 30 percent less battery and is displayed at twice the resolution.
The controller will run on two AAA batteries and has the accelerometer, gyrometer and magnetic sensor. The Gear VR on the other hand has the accelerometer, gyrometer and proximity sensor.
The Avatar system added is the same as Oculus Avatars that came to Oculus Rift last year as reported by The Verge. These Avatars take advantage of the Gear VR controller with limited motion-tracking capabilities.
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