Samsung announces Oculus Gear VR price drop to $99
Samsung has announced that the price of the Oculus Gear VR will drop by half when it launches in November, and the device will now be compatible with 2015 Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
The Samsung Gear VR 2015 will be released in November for just $99 and will work well with the Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, and Note 5. This is stark contrast to the previous price of $199 and the limited compatibility with Galaxy devices, according to ZD Net.
The price drop is part of Samsung and Oculus' bid to reach a wider set of customers for its new technology. The Gear VR will make use of the Samsung Galaxy smartphone's high-resolution super AMOLED screen as its own display, The Financial Times reports.
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Another thing worth noting is that the 310-gram Samsung Gear VR 2015 is 22 percent lighter compared with the original model, which was first released as the innovator edition a few years ago. Plus, it will give users access to more content, the report adds.
On Thursday, Samsung Mobile senior vice president Peter Koo unveiled the latest Gear VR at Oculus Connect's developer conference held in Hollywood. The executive said the new mobile headset will help virtual reality become part of "mainstream" technology.
"This is virtual reality for everyone," said Koo.
Since the primary use for the Samsung Gear VR will be gaming, the company has expanded game support for the device. However, the Gear VR and Oculus Rift will also add Netfix, Hulu, Vimeo, and other content in the near future.
Although the Samsung Gear VR's price was cut in half, the portable headset is still pricier than the Google Cardboard. The latter is made of simpler and cheaper parts, thus the overall lower price. In addition, the device has sensors for the user's head and cushions around the eyes, making the VR experience more comfortable.
Meanwhile, Oculus is gearing up to unveil its PC-based Rift headset early next year. The device, which will come with a PC compatible with its VR software, will reportedly carry a price tag of over $1,000.
