Will Samsung’s Gear VR become the first virtual reality device to take the market by storm?

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The gadget wins by being neither too complicated or performing too poorly. It is also attractively priced and retails in Hong Kong for US$115. Photo: Handout

Published: 8:00pm, 10 Dec 2015Updated: 1:27pm, 11 Dec 2015

Virtual reality has been dubbed “the next big thing” for a while but no gadget has yet hit the mainstream.

Samsung hopes to create the first success story in this field with its Gear VR headset, which avoids the twin traps of being either too complicated or performing too poorly, and retails in Hong Kong for US$115.

But the Gear VR is no Lone Ranger. It needs a companion. In this case, it must be hooked up to a Samsung smartphone to work properly. This effectively lends the device a screen and motion sensor. Only four high-end handsets are supported - the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+ and Note5 - so make sure you either have one of these, or are planning to buy one. They were all released this year.

Generally, the device is well-designed, with directional and return buttons positioned on the right for easier control.

The distance between the screen and your eyes on the goggle-like gadget can also be adjusted, and the enclosure offers enough room to keep your specs on - great for those suffering from myopia.

Will Samsung’s Gear VR become the first virtual reality device to take the market by storm?

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