Samsung Expands Mobile Virtual Reality Category with Gear VR Innovator Edition for Galaxy S 6 in the U.S.

Preorders to start Friday, April 24, available online May 8

Samsung Expands Mobile Virtual Reality Category with Gear VR Innovator Edition for Galaxy S 6 in the U.S. (Photo: Business Wire)

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.--()--Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung), today announced that the GearTM VR Innovator Edition for S 6, compatible with both the Samsung Galaxy S® 6 and Galaxy S® 6 edge, will be available for preorder starting Friday, April 24 at BestBuy.com, and available for purchase online at Samsung.com/GearVR and BestBuy.com on Friday, May 8. Powered by Oculus, the latest Gear VR broadens the reach of mobile virtual reality and offers Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S 6 edge users the opportunity to immerse themselves in new worlds and experiences.

In addition to online availability, the Gear VR Innovator Edition for S 6 will be for sale at Best Buy retail locations starting Friday, May 15, with Gear VR demonstrations and availability expanding to hundreds more Best Buy stores throughout the summer.

“We’re excited to bring our amazing virtual reality offerings to even more people with the Gear VR Innovator Edition for S 6,” said Nick DiCarlo, vice president and general manager of immersive products and virtual reality at Samsung Electronics America. “The continued expansion and availability of the Gear VR platform is a strong signal to VR developers and content creators about the viability of this new opportunity. Along with our great partners Oculus and Best Buy, we’re pushing this mobile VR revolution forward and are grateful to work with the amazingly open and passionate VR community.”

“Expanding Oculus virtual reality to the innovative Samsung Galaxy S 6 and S 6 edge is a huge step towards helping tech enthusiasts get involved in this new revolution,” said Max Cohen, head of mobile at Oculus. “The beautiful screen really makes VR worlds pop, whether you're playing a game like a new, full version of Herobound, watching streaming movies in Oculus Cinema, or seeing amazing vistas in high-quality photos and videos that convince your brain into thinking you're there.”

Samsung’s continued expansion is bringing virtual reality to Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S 6 edge users in an affordable and accessible way. The addition of Gear VR Innovator Edition for Galaxy S 6 to the Gear VR lineup means that three of Samsung’s premium and best-selling smartphones can now be used as VR devices to deliver immersive and captivating 360-degree content.

  • Unmatched Viewing: Featuring the Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S 6 edge industry-best 577 ppi and Quad HD Super AMOLED® displays, users can view videos, short films, games and other content on the Gear VR like never before and with less pixelation.
  • Improved Headset: With a reduction in size, redesigned straps, improved airflow and a built-in fan for better ventilation, the Gear VR is even more comfortable to wear.
  • Smoother Performance: With a powerful new octa-core, 64-bit processor, the Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S 6 edge allow for more computing power, better graphics and more efficient battery usage – giving users a more robust VR experience.
  • Extensive Content Library: The Oculus Store gives users easy access to an ever-growing library of regularly updated VR content, including the free and paid games, apps and videos created exclusively for Gear VR.
  • Samsung’s Milk VR: Exclusive to the Gear VR, Samsung’s Milk VR delivers premium, immersive 360-degree videos with new content debuting daily, helping to build-up a virtual reality video ecosystem and a regular habit of VR viewership. Videos, from channels in music, sports, action, lifestyle and more, are available in both Instant Play (adaptive streaming) and Best Quality (download in the highest quality available, 4K x 2K). Samsung’s Milk VR continues to expand the roster of top brands, entertainment companies and networks contributing to the library of high quality VR experiences, including GE, Matador, Refinery29 and Spike Digital Entertainment, among others.

More details are available at www.samsungmobilepress.com and www.samsung.com/gearvr.

Samsung Gear VR Product Specifications:

Gear VR
Innovator Edition for
Galaxy S 6
and S 6 edge

 

Dimensions

    196.1(W) x 98.5(L) x 82.8(H)
Sensor     Accelerator, Gyrometer, Proximity (Mount/Unmount Detection), Ventilation Fan
Motion to Photon Latency     <20ms
Field of View     96 degrees
IPD Coverage     54 ~ 70 mm (Fixed Lenses)

Accessories

    Replaceable Face Form, Carrying Pouch, Lens Cleaning Cloth
Color     Frost White
Connectivity     microUSB connection to the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge

Read and follow warnings and instructions with the Headset before use. The Headset should be calibrated before each use. Not for use by children under 13. A virtual reality experience may trigger health reactions. See a doctor before use if you have a history of seizures. Stop use if you experience health reactions.

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA delivers a broad range of digital consumer electronics, mobile products and wearables, wireless infrastructure, IT and home appliance products. Samsung is the market leader for HDTVs in the U.S and one of America’s fastest growing home appliance brand. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. We are also leading in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Smart Home and Digital Health initiatives. We employ 307,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of US $196 billion. To discover more, please visit our official website at www.samsung.com and our official blog at global.samsungtomorrow.com

Samsung, Gear, Galaxy S, Super AMOLED and Milk VR are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks.

Contacts

MWWPR on behalf of Samsung
Chris Donohue, 201-964-2361
cdonohue@mww.com

Contacts

MWWPR on behalf of Samsung
Chris Donohue, 201-964-2361
cdonohue@mww.com