14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung has long been rumored to be working on a new Gear VR headset with a dedicated controller, and the latest leak reveals that the new device might arrive next month. Reliable tipster Roland Quandt has just revealed that the new Gear VR will have a single-hand controller.
The new VR headset will apparently carry the code number SM-R324 and a different front cover to hold the Galaxy S8, together with a single-hand controller. The design of the new VR headset will be similar to the current Gear VR, SM-R323 for the Galaxy S7, with some minor changes.
The new Gear VR will be able to hold the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, while it might also have a dedicated controller, similar to Google’s Daydream View VR headset. The controller will be used for gaming, multimedia playback, and various VR apps.
The new Gear VR could be launched alongside the Galaxy S8
Users currently need to buy a separate Bluetooth controller if they wish to play complex games on the Gear VR and want to have more functionality compared to what the touchpad offers.
The current Gear VR SM-323 is compatible with the Gear 360 and Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, Note 5, Galaxy S6, S6 edge and S6 edge+ smartphones. It carriers a touchpad with back, home and volume keys, and it connects to phones via the microUSB port.
The Gear VR has a 101-degree depth of field and weighs in at 345 grams. In addition, it features gyrometer, accelerator and proximity sensors, while offering the opportunity to experience 360-degree virtual reality. The Gear VR currently sells for $99.99; the price of the new Gear VR should be similar. The new headset should be wide enough to support the 6.2-inch Galaxy S8+ and have a USB Type-C port, which could be swapped for a microUSB port.