Samsung’s consumer Gear VR headset now available in the UK
Following the recent U.S. debut, you can get it here too (except it's sold out)
UPDATE: After debuting in the United States a couple weeks back, the consumer version of the Gear VR is now also available in the UK. It released yesterday morning at a price of £80 for the headset alone.
Of course, you’ll need one of Samsung’s 2015 flagship phones to use the new version of the headset, as explained in the original story below. It’s already sold out on Samsung’s web store, following seemingly strong demand in the States as well, and the listing says that retail partners aren’t carrying it just yet. In other words, we wish you luck in getting one before Christmas rolls around.
ORIGINAL STORY (10/11/15): Google Cardboard is the easiest way to get started with phone-based VR, but if you have a recent Samsung phone, the company’s Gear VR headset offers a step up in quality – and many exclusive games and apps to check out.
Following last autumn’s first Innovator Edition model for the Galaxy Note 4 and this year’s successor for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, Samsung is about to unleash the first proper consumer edition of the Gear VR. And it’ll be out next week, on 20 November – at least in the States – for US$100 (about £66).
American retailer Best Buy seems to be the only one shipping for delivery on 20 November as of now: Amazon US also has pre-orders, albeit with no listed release date, while Samsung’s own website says it’ll deliver in about 2-3 weeks. There’s no word yet on an international release date for the headset, but Samsung originally said that it would ship worldwide in November.
The biggest upgrade with the consumer model is compatibility: it’ll work with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, but also the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. One headset for 2015 Samsung phones large and… slightly less large. It’s also 22% lighter than the last Innovator Edition model, has newer cushioning for better comfort, and promises a more precise touchpad.
Software partner Oculus has just delivered some new reasons to grab it, as well. Oculus Arcade, which lets you play 20+ classic arcade games in VR, is now available for Gear VR, while Twitch and Vimeo are now looped into Oculus Video. And just today, Monument Valley maker Ustwo Games released the stunning-looking 3D puzzler Land’s End, which you can glimpse above.
[Sources: The Verge, Oculus Blog]
Read More › Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition review
Andrew Hayward
Freelance Writer 
