First impressions: Hands and heads on with the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Gear VR

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is one of today’s most technology-packed smartphones, but more than that, the company has also crafted the device to be the platform that drives a whole new mobile experience: virtual reality. This is one of the phones in their portfolio deemed compatible with their Gear VR headset--the Oculus-powered headgear that aims to introduce Samsung’s customers to the immersive, intriguing world of virtual reality.

Otherwise priced at Rs 7,899 standalone, this headset is being offered for free along with the Galaxy S7 and the S7 Edge if you were lucky enough to have booked it between 8 - 17 March 2016. Given that this is pretty much the only ‘real’ VR option for consumers officially available in the country (other products like Lenovo’s Theater Max and Google Cardboard aren’t full-blown VR--they’re either aimed at simulating a large-screen experience or watching 360-degree videos.) Samsung’s Oculus-based offering is much closer to the real thing though--with aspects like image latency and pixel persistence much better, resulting in a more natural and comfortable experience.

The phone interfaces with the Gear VR via a hinged USB connector at one end, and snaps into place with a latch at the other end, both of which lock the phone securely into place. Connecting the phone for the first time launches the Oculus app setup, which is needed to access all of the subsequent VR experiences.

Even with the phone slotted in, there’s ample access to plug in headphones (audio being a hugely important part of the entire VR experience,) the touchpad, back button and volume controls. Although, these buttons are all on the right of the device, making it less than optimal for lefties.

The Gear VR itself is an elegantly simple device--it consist of a pair of binocular lenses set in a frame that moves them back and forth to help focus on the phone’s screen during use. It also has a proximity sensor that detects when the device is worn. Also integrated is a USB port at the bottom that serves to charge the phone while it is slotted into the device--important, as power-hungry VR apps are notorious for quickly depleting the phone’s battery during use.

The Gear VR is surprisingly comfortable to wear despite the fact that it may be intimidating to a first timer. Its 318gm weight coupled with the foam padding around the eyes and the head straps secure the device nicely, especially for all the head turning that is central to the VR experience.

Donning the Gear VR system and firing it up for the first time starts a quick tutorial that guides the wearer to working the touchpad and buttons, and using ‘gaze’ to select elements within the VR world.

The Oculus ‘Home’ is where all the action starts--it’s a tiled wall that displays apps that can be downloaded and launched. The only thing is that most VR apps--especially the video-centric ones--involve reasonably large file downloads (about 200MB upwards,) so it’s best to stay connected to a WiFi network beforehand or risk blowing through your cellular data cap.

VR, being a new concept for most people, is best experienced in short bouts. Avoid using the device for over 20 minutes at a stretch to avoid eye fatigue (and in some cases even nausea.) Also the phone significantly heats up during use given all of the heavy processing it’s tasked with.

That said, VR experiences like ‘Gone’, the Oculus Video app, the VR Netflix app (which simulates watching a 55-inch TV in a mountain cabin!,) and even the VR Intro experience are sights to behold. Sure, there is still barely-visible pixellaton, but the Gear VR is an undeniable precursor to what we can expect in the year ahead, when VR matures to the point of ultra-realism.