Samsung is making subtle yet important changes to the Samsung Gear VR, which will help improve the company's standing in the virtual reality platform. While it is still the best when it comes to mobile virtual reality, other competitor are definitely making their dent in the market.
The improvements include a better touchpad, more connectivity options and a larger view. The new headset will be publicly available starting August 19th, but preorders are already being taken as of August 3rd.
According to The Verge, the most important enhancement is the inclusion of the USB Type-C port, which is modular. Out of the box, the Gear VR will be compatible with the new Galaxy Note 7. However, there is also the micro USB connector, thus making the Gear VR compatible with older units - the Galaxy Note 5, S6, S7 and S7 Edge.
The USB Type-C port also also opens the door for future additions, such as accessories and motion controllers.
What makes it even better, is that the ports are not flimsy adaptors. Instead, connectors that are attached to the headset themselves can be swapped with a flip of a switch.
The new Gear VR also has a 101-degree field of view. This is an entire 5 degrees more than its direct predecessor. Meanwhile, the new touch pad is flattened out. Samsung also added a specific button to take users back to the menu.
In addition, the Gear VR received a new look. Samsung replaced the original white finish to a sleeker midnight blue finish. The interior of the headset is colored the same, as Samsung admits customers complained that the white reflected light. The padding is also thicker and softer, thereby making the experience more comfortable.
According to C|Net, the device will be priced at $99 (£80, AU$159), which is just the same as last year's model.
