Samsung Gear VR 2016 (SM-R323) - US$63.20 Shipped (AU$86.91) @ Amazon US

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Lwpw on 20/01/2017 - 11:49 amazon.com (131 clicks)
Last edited 20/01/2017 - 12:50 by 1 other user

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2016 Latest Version
Turn your compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphone into a completely portable and wireless virtual reality machine, with Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Proximity (Mount/Unmount Detection).
Compatible with: Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge (International Version - Product packaging and manual may be in a different language other than English).

Price History at CamelCamelCamel.

Entertainment Samsung Virtual Reality Headset

6 Mar 2017

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lostn on 20/01/2017 - 11:56

What inputs do you use to actually play the games?
- wpw on 20/01/2017 - 12:04
  
  Don't have one myself but this seems to be bought with the Gear VR on Amazon.
  https://www.amazon.com/Matricom-Wireless-Rechargeable-Blueto…
- iridiumstem on 20/01/2017 - 12:22
  
  You technically can play a lot of the games with the trackpad on side (which is awkward but works).
  Or you can use a bluetooth controller. I am not sure what bluetooth controller would work and what wouldn't but XBOX One S controller I bought for PC seems to work fine (at least checked with Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes and one other game).
  
  I was kinda surprised with One S controller working with it, since One S controller's button layout didn't really work with Android games (i.e. I couldn't play GTA Chinatown Wars because the button layout of the controller didn't match the control in the game).
String name on 20/01/2017 - 12:03

-5

Quick Google brings up this Samsung VR headset 2016 for the price of $59 AUD with $24 AUD Express postage (cheapest option) to Melbourne CBD.
Comes to $83 AUD total shipped within Australia.
Plus a code TODAYBF popped up at checkout for $10 AUD dollars off bringing it down to $73 AUD.
Your move Amazon…
- PlasticSpaceman on 20/01/2017 - 12:07
  
  … "CN" version - assume that means Chinese. See comment below re potential focus and fit issues….
  - String name on 20/01/2017 - 12:11
    
    -3
    
    Thank you for pointing that out. There used to be a time where a model number meant something, I guess with national variants, dodgy rip-offs and avoiding price matching, you have to be even more careful!
    - cainn on 20/01/2017 - 14:50
      
      There are no variants. Every single SM-R323 is mechanically and electrically identical. But there are regional differences that affect packaging, manuals and warranty.
- wpw on 20/01/2017 - 12:08
  
  Ok so i didn't see the CN either
- hopper on 20/01/2017 - 12:08
  
  +7
  
  Its "ANDROID ENJOYED" gd luck with delivery of the product once u paid.
  - String name on 20/01/2017 - 12:15
    
    -3
    
    How far away are you from Preston, reckon you could convince them by other means? :p
    
    84 Hotham St. Preston
    Victoria 3072, Australia
- hen dawg on 20/01/2017 - 12:28
  
  +1
  
  That company have a diabolical reputation and no way worth a neg in my opinion
PlasticSpaceman on 20/01/2017 - 12:04

Was about to jump on this after just getting my new S7, but after reading the comments I might let this pass. There are very positive reviews, but I suspect they may be mainly for the US version. A number of comments imply that the cheaper international version may be different. Issues with focus and fit eg "The international version does not fit the S7 . The chamber is too large and the phone falls out ".
- String name on 20/01/2017 - 12:13
  
  Could you please post some references?
  I had a look, and for the most part, people on Reddit are saying that there isn't a difference between international and other versions except the paper instructions. One person got Vietnamese instructions but works in English on his device.
  - PlasticSpaceman on 20/01/2017 - 12:44
    
    Click on reviews on Amazon at the link above, sort by one star. Example reviews are:
    
    .0 out of 5 stars Stay away if you own Galaxy S7
    ByBigcatsruleon January 12, 2017
    Style Name: International Version|Verified Purchase
    Didn't fit with my Samsung Galaxy S7. The S7 was a little too short regardless of which included adaptors were used. Also all included documentation was in an Asian language.
    
    1.0 out of 5 starsOverpriced and soon-to-be-unused toy.
    ByNegril Jerryon January 16, 2017
    Style Name: International Version|Verified Purchase
    I have never in recent life been subjected to so many blatantly false reviews and ads for a product. Above all, know this: ALL SCREEN SHOTS YOU SEE ARE FAKE. I have never seen a review of (or promo for) this early-adopter's folly that didn't contain developer-supplied screenshots, which look NOTHING like what you'll see with this on.
    Awful focus. Terrible "screen-door" effect from your phone. Numerous reviewers even claim to enjoy watching Netflix on the Gear VR, which is clearly false - it's simply not possible, the picture is that awful.
    
    0 out of 5 starsSeems like a knockoff. directions are not in English and S7 Edge does not fit correctly.
    ByAmazon Customeron December 25, 2016
    Style Name: International Version|Verified Purchase
    Directions are not in English, they are only in an Asian language. S7 Edge does not fit well. The phone sounds like it snaps in but then pops out and the cover does not fit over the phone. Since I can't read the directions, I can see if I'm doing something wrong. Very disappointing, This was a Christmas present.
    
    A few complain about the connector not fitting and one reply was "You purchased the international version of the item. That's why the instructions aren't in english and the connector doesn't work. I spoke to a Samsung customer service member over the phone and the idiot told me the only difference between the American version and the international version was the language of the manuals. Since you can get the english manual online I thought I would just save 20 bucks and get the international version.But nope. The international version uses a USB C connector while American Samsungs use a micro usb connector."
    - Diji1 on 20/01/2017 - 13:17
      
      +1
      
      I think the issue is actually just that VR on a phone is awful because it's using a phone.
      
      Phones are pretty hopeless at most things such as providing a good viewing experience for anything, not being annoying because an ad company makes the OS, detecting if you're brain is at an alpha state (this is the laughable claim of all "sleep monitoring" apps) etc.
      
      :p
    - cainn on 20/01/2017 - 14:05
      
      +2
      
      Every single one of those reviews was clearly written by a moron. Really. You really scraped the bottom of the barrel when you pulled those out.
      
      Didn't fit with my Samsung Galaxy S7. The S7 was a little too short regardless of which included adaptors were used.
      
      You don't use an adapter to make the smaller phones fit. You adjust the position of the USB connector.
      
      I have never in recent life been subjected to so many blatantly false reviews and ads for a product. Above all, know this: ALL SCREEN SHOTS YOU SEE ARE FAKE. I have never seen a review of (or promo for) this early-adopter's folly that didn't contain developer-supplied screenshots, which look NOTHING like what you'll see with this on.
      Awful focus. Terrible "screen-door" effect from your phone. Numerous reviewers even claim to enjoy watching Netflix on the Gear VR, which is clearly false - it's simply not possible, the picture is that awful.
      
      This is just someone with unrealistic expectations and no understanding of the technology.
      
      I love watching Netflix with the Gear VR, and so do a whole lot of people.
      
      S7 Edge does not fit well. The phone sounds like it snaps in but then pops out and the cover does not fit over the phone. Since I can't read the directions, I can see if I'm doing something wrong. Very disappointing, This was a Christmas present.
      
      In cases like this it always turns out that someone has left the case on their phone, or is doing something else that is equally silly. And there is no cover that is supposed to fit over the phone so God knows what this person is trying to achieve. And they don't know how to google for an English manual?
      
      http://www.samsung.com/au/support/model/SM-R323NBKAXSA#downl…
      
      A few complain about the connector not fitting and one reply was "You purchased the international version of the item. That's why the instructions aren't in english and the connector doesn't work. I spoke to a Samsung customer service member over the phone and the idiot told me the only difference between the American version and the international version was the language of the manuals. Since you can get the english manual online I thought I would just save 20 bucks and get the international version.But nope. The international version uses a USB C connector while American Samsungs use a micro usb connector."
      
      The Type-C connector often comes attached by default (it was included for the now defunct Note 7). For Micro USB phones you just have to switch it out for the included Micro USB connector instead.
      
      http://www.vrheads.com/sites/vrheads.com/files/styles/xlarge…
    - PlasticSpaceman on 20/01/2017 - 15:54
      
      @cainn: agree that it is likely that many of those reviewers probably would need slip on shoes as they would be unable to tie their own shoe laces - however the issue is not so much with the headset itself but with the asian specific version that is on sale. It appears that at least some of the reviewers did not get any adapters with their set hence them struggling with pushing a type-C cable into their micro usb port. My guess is that at least some of them were originally intended to provided as a bundle deal with the Note 7, hence lack of adapter? Don't know.
    - cainn on 20/01/2017 - 17:39
      
      You can find complaints about missing modular Micro USB connectors regardless of the regional market the product was intended for. There were lots of complaints about this from the moment the SM-R323 entered the US market. It's an unfortunate problem, but its a dice roll regardless.
      
      In any case there are plenty of places to buy replacement connectors now (not that you should have to of course, I'm just saying there that there is some recourse).
- cainn on 20/01/2017 - 13:46
  
  "The international version does not fit the S7 . The chamber is too large and the phone falls out ".
  
  This guy is one of the many morons who don't bother to read the manual, or search online for basic information.
  
  The connection/retention mechanism has two settings: one for larger 5.5/5.7" phones and one for smaller 5.1" phones. By default it is configured for larger phones. If you don't make the necessary adjustment of course the (profanity) smaller phones are going to fall out…
  
  /sigh
coprocessor8087 on 20/01/2017 - 13:11

Samsung's future phone will be daydream ready, as confirmed by Google.
Just see now how many good games in the Playstore is Daydream only and you will see why Gear VR will be obsolete soon.
Down the track I think even Oculus will give up Gear VR and focus on their premium headset to complete with Vive. And don't forget the PSVR is catching up real fast.

Anyone remember how quick Note 4 and Gear VR innovative edition disappeared…..
- Diji1 on 20/01/2017 - 13:19
  
  Oculus will give up Gear VR
  
  Didn't Occulus just sell or license Samsung to use some sensors they already developed? IE Occulus didn't have much to do with it beyond saying here have some of our tracking technology we already invented.
  
  As far as Daydream I'll be convinced when I try it after reading so many fawning reviews of Cardboard and GearVR. Why can't reviewers just say they're terrible which is what usage patterns indicate?
  - cainn on 20/01/2017 - 18:07
    
    +1
    
    Didn't Occulus just sell or license Samsung to use some sensors they already developed?
    
    Oculus didn't develop the sensors in the Gear VR. Bosch Sensortec did. The Gear VR, like the Rift and the PSVR (and others) uses the BMI055 Inertial Measurement Unit (obviously the Rift and the PSVR utilize positional tracking systems in addition to the integrated IMU).
    
    Anyone can buy one and utilize it in a VR headset, or any number of other VR-ready IMU's made by the likes of Bosch or STMicroelectronics or whoever else.
    
    IE Occulus didn't have much to do with it beyond saying here have some of our tracking technology we already invented.
    
    Actually Oculus was deeply involved in the development of the Gear VR platform. Check out the following article for some insight: https://techcrunch.com/2014/09/03/samsung-gear-vr-oculus-ceo…
    
    And they remain deeply involved today, particularly on the software side of things.
    
    As far as Daydream I'll be convinced when I try it after reading so many fawning reviews of Cardboard and GearVR. Why can't reviewers just say they're terrible which is what usage patterns indicate?
    
    Because they're not terrible. Rather they are simply first-generation products that have a long way to go. For now they are in fact state-of-the-art, and I quite like participating in the evolution of such products, as do many others.
- cainn on 21/01/2017 - 00:09
  
  Anyone remember how quick Note 4 and Gear VR innovative edition disappeared…..
  
  No, because it didn't. Not in the way that you are suggesting anyway. What actually happened is that the Gear VR platform evolved to support additional devices and people started moving to those devices because they were better. And that required different headset designs. But at no point did the platform itself disappear. In fact its become significantly more popular since then.
  
  And there are still Note 4 Gear VR users as well, although because the hardware is old fewer experiences are compatible with it.
  
  And Oculus have no plans to drop the Gear VR platform. Neither do Samsung. In fact Samsung have stated that they will be releasing at least 2 new Gear VR devices this year. So I think it's reasonable to expect that the Daydream platform will happily co-exist with the Gear VR platform for some time (this isn't Highlander where "there can be only one").
  - coprocessor8087 on 21/01/2017 - 09:38
    
    Oculus is attacking 2 markets at the moment:
    A high-end one with their Rift,
    and a lower-end one with Gear VR.
    
    When the lower-end is dominated by Daydream, what is the future for Gear VR ?
    
    For any new potential VR adopters out there, will they buy an expensive samsung S8 and new Gear VR ?
    or any Daydream phone with Daydream View. + Playstore is a much more accessable than Oculus store.
    - cainn on 21/01/2017 - 12:58
      
      Flagship Samsung devices are some of the most popular smartphones in the world. We're talking hundreds of millions of units if you aggregate all of the Gear VR compatible devices. And there's no reason to expect that the S8 wont continue that trend. In other words hoards of people will buy an S8 anyway because they love Samsung devices.
      
      Here's why your supposed dilemma wont spell the demise of the Gear VR platform:
      
      as already mentioned, tens of millions of people will buy an S8 series phone anyway (it might even push 100 million if it's a real hit)
      
      the S8 will support both mobile VR platforms, and it will be the only phone that does
      
      both Samsung and Oculus are committed to improving the Gear VR platform this year with new hardware and software capabilities, so you can't treat it as a fixed quantity when attempting to evaluate its ongoing potential (and yes, you can't do that with Daydream either)
      
      Or to put it more succinctly, there is already a strong Gear VR user base, and an even bigger pool of existing and future potential Gear VR adopters for Samsung and Oculus to woo this year with platform advancements.
      
      I'm not saying that Daydream wont be a successful platform, just that at this point predicting the imminent demise of the Gear VR platform is extremely premature.
krushgroove on 20/01/2017 - 13:33

Just bought one of these from JB HI FI this week. Talked them down in price as usual (if you pay full price at JB HI FI you're a muppet).

I have an S7 (not Edge). No problem fitting it into the headset - it clips into a mini USB jack which is adjustable for size, I'm assuming the difference between the Edge and the non-Edge.

The straps are velcro adjustable. Once the headset is on it's a comfy fit with nice padding around the eyes. You have to sign up for a (free) Oculus account to download apps and games.

It gives you a quick tutorial on using the headset buttons and touchpad, then you're ready to go.

My first session lasted about 30 min and I had no issue with the lenses fogging up. I downloaded a few free apps to start off with - a rollercoaster, some 360 degrees photos app, a Jurassic World one where you're up close with a dinosaur, an Avengers one where you're in the middle of a slow motion battle with Ultron.

I was impressed with the quality of the VR. The immersiveness (?) varied from app to app but overall they were all great. I'm going to try out some paid apps now, namely the horror ones, and I want to check out Minecraft VR but you need a bluetooth gamepad for that.
stevtom27 on 20/01/2017 - 20:58

Any good games/apps for this?
bluey47 on 20/01/2017 - 23:07

$64.95 Delivered from ebay. As already mentioned above the only difference with the international version is the language of the manual.
http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/Samsung-Gear-VR-Oculus-2016-SM-R323…
- cainn on 21/01/2017 - 00:20
  
  That seller has multiple eBay accounts. Nothing wrong with that of course. I only mention it because they've sold far more Gear VR devices on their main account which gives us heaps of feedback to look at: http://www.feedbackselector.com/feedsearch.php?seller=ioomob…
  
  Good recommendation for a cheaper alternative I think :)

This was posted 7 years 11 months 7 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

Samsung Gear VR 2016 (SM-R323) - US$63.20 Shipped (AU$86.91) @ Amazon US

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