VR Headset Reviews

2017 Samsung Gear VR Review: differences from 2016 Gear VR and Google Daydream; Samsung S8 vs. S8+ for Gear VR

Here’s a review of the 2017 Samsung Gear VR (SM-R325), and how it differs from the 2016 Gear VR (SM-R324 and yes, there are a few differences) and Google Daydream.  Also: which is better for the Gear VR: a Samsung S8 or S8+?

Not counting Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR is the most popular VR headset, with over 5 million users as of January 2017.  If you haven’t tried it, it’s easy to dismiss it as an overpriced cardboard headset, but you would be mistaken — it’s totally different, and the experience is much closer to desktop VR than Google Cardboard.

The 2017 Gear VR is not much different from the original Gear VR in terms of its immersiveness, so I’ll refer you to my original Gear VR review here.  Instead, this post will focus on the differences between the 2017 Gear VR and the 2016 Gear VR as well as Google Cardboard.



SAMSUNG GEAR VR  2016 vs 2017

The primary difference between the 2016 and 2017 Gear VR is the motion controller.   The controller has several buttons:
– a trigger button,
– a large trackpad that can also be pressed as another button,
– a back button,
– home button and
– volume buttons.
The back button is raised, while the home button is recessed, so it’s fairly easy to tell which button you’re pressing while wearing the Gear VR.

The motion controller can track rotational movement (pitch, yaw, roll) very accurately but it can’t track positional movement (forward / backward, upward / downward, or lateral movement).  In actual use, it feels somewhat like using a mouse in the sense that it doesn’t track your movement 1:1, but feels very responsive and you can control it easily to make precise movements such as hitting the bullseye on targets (with the help of a virtual laser pointer).  I never noticed any lag in the motion controls.  It felt more accurate and responsive than what I recall from the motion controller of Google Daydream.

The motion controller makes games much more fun.  There are games such as Drop Dead that can be controlled with either the touchpad, gamepad, or the motion controller.  There’s a huge difference with being able to use the motion controller, even if the motion controller only tracks rotational movement.  It feels much more intuitive, and the game feels more immersive.

If you move the controller a lot, you will eventually find that the home position isn’t where it used to be anymore.  When that happens you can hold down the Home button, and it will re-center the controller.  But if you rest your hand on your lap or something solid and simply move the controller using your wrist instead of waving it around, you’ll find that there’s no need to re-center the controls,

The motion controller is available for purchase separately for existing Gear VR owners.  I tried the motion controller on a Samsung S6 with the 2016 Gear VR and it worked just as well as it did on a Samsung S8+ with 2017 Gear VR.

Other than the controller, the 2016 and 2017 Samsung Gear VR are nearly identical but there are a few differences:

1. Thinner Type C adapter to fit the S8+.
The 2017 Gear VR includes a thinner adapter that allows the S8+ to be inserted fully into the Gear VR.  If you attach the S8+ to a 2016 Gear VR, it can work but it will be very hard to fit, and the S8+’s left edge will be slightly lifted.  The difference in fit is not due to a difference between the 2016 and 2017 Gear VR per se, but simply because of the thinner adapter from the 2017 Gear VR.  If you use the thinner 2017 Gear VR adapter on the 2016 Gear VR, the S8+ will work just as well on the 2016.

2.  The 2017 Gear VR may be more comfortable for some people.

top: 2016; bottom: 2017

The 2017’s face cushion is thinner and leaves more space for the nose bridge.  Whereas the 2016 Gear VR pinched my nose slightly, I didn’t feel any such discomfort from pinching with the 2017.

3.  Cosmetic differences.
There are a couple of cosmetic differences between the 2016 and 2017 Gear VR.  The 2017 is gunmetal gray while the 2016 is gunmetal blue.  Also, the 2017 has a glossy cover, while the 2016 cover has a matte finish.

left: 2016; right: 2017

COMPARISON WITH GOOGLE DAYDREAM



The addition of a motion controller to the Gear VR seems to have been an idea copied from the Google Daydream, which featured a motion controller at launch.  I don’t have Daydream (yet) but I’ve demo’d it a few times (my first hands-on impressions here).
Here are Daydream’s advantages over Samsung Gear VR:
– Daydream feels more comfortable because of its soft fabric exterior and its noticeably lighter weight.
– Attaching a phone to Daydream is easier
– Daydream’s face cushion is removable and washable.
– I also like how Daydream’s controller can be stored in the headset.
– Has a native YouTube app.

Here are Samsung Gear VR 2017’s advantages over Google Daydream:
– much larger library of games and apps
– much larger number of users (which attracts more software development)
– motion controller seems more responsive and has more buttons
– no light leak (on Daydream, ambient light is visible on the sides)
– adjustable diopter

Earlier this week, Google announced that this summer, Samsung S8 and S8+ will become Daydream-compatible.  The differences between Gear VR and Daydream would therefore be moot, at least for owners of S8 and S8+ (and future Samsung phones), unless for some reason they can only have one of the headsets.


S8 vs S8+ FOR GEAR VR
The S8+ is longer than the S8 but when the S8+ is used with the Gear VR, I did not notice any increase in field of view  I compared the field of view of the S8+ and the S6.  In fact, the S8 plus has slightly more SDE than the S6 (because the S8+ has a slightly lower 529 PPI than the S6’s 577 PPI).

CONCLUSION
The motion controller on the 2017 Samsung Gear VR works very well and adds a lot of value to games that support it.  There aren’t so many games yet with motion controller support, but this will likely increase over time.  If you’re new to Gear VR, the 2017 is a no-brainer (over the 2016 or older Gear VR headsets), and in my opinion, it’s better than Google Daydream.

If you’re an existing Gear VR user, it’s good to know that the controller is backward compatible and can work even on an S6.  If you’re deciding whether to get the controller, I suggest reviewing the current list of motion controller games (several of which are free).  Some highlights include:

Dead and Buried (free with motion controller) – a fantasy / Western shooter based on the eponymous Oculus Rift game.  Nice graphics, but quite challenging.  I still like it a lot.
Drop Dead – an action shooter (if you liked games like House of the Dead, you’ll love this.).  Motion controls are perfect for this awesome shooter (one of my all-time favorite games for the Gear VR).
Esper 2 – use your telekinetic powers to manipulate objects to solve puzzles.  The addition of motion controls makes this game much more intuitive.

If you know you want a Gear VR but you are choosing between getting a Samsung S8 or S8+, either one is fine – the S8+’s larger screen won’t make a difference.  The benefit of the S8+ over the S8 when using the Gear VR would be the larger battery capacity.

WHERE TO BUY:
2017 Gear VR: Amazon or eBay
2016 Gear VR: Amazon or eBay
2017 Gear VR controller by itself: Amazon or eBay.
2017 Gear VR Type C adapter by itself (to fit the Samsung S8+): eBay.

Thank you very much for using the links above to support 360 Rumors at no additional cost to you so  I can do more reviews and tests for you!

About the author

Mic Ty

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    • Hi James. If you literally mean S8, then yes as long as your Gear VR has the type C adapter (move the connector to position A). If you mean S8+, then it will be a very tight fit, and it won’t be fully seated.
      Best regards,
      Mic

      • Hi Michael, thanks for the reply. After searching the forums, I realized I have the 2015 white version of Gear VR which is totally not compatible with the new S8 phone even if I convert to type C it won’t work. It’s ok I still have the Note 5 that is compatible with the old gear VR.

  • Hi Mic,
    first of all, I really appreciate all your articles on VR. I also am addicted, but I can not afford to buy everything ! A question on 2017 Gear VR. A simple question but a long intro: I own a Galaxy S8 and a Daydream system. It is not the Google original, I have the controller from a Bobo HMD, and since that Viewer is terrible, I have another plastic, 15$ HMD with better FOV. Then I bought an Oculus Go. My primary use is make and view videos. I own a Kandao Qoocam and an Insta360 EVO. Daydream with S8, support better resolution/frame rates in respect to Oculus Go, BUT, with Oculus GO you are much more “into” the video. I mean, even with similar FOV, the scene is much more closer to your eyes and you feel immersed. With S8/daydream you are much more distant. I think that the difference is in the fresnel lens of the Oculus Go. I wish to know…. here is the question: The view that you obtain from a 2017 Gear VR + S8, is the same as a Daydream + S8, or is the same as an Oculus GO ??
    Thank you !!!!

    • Hi Sergio. The view you obtain on 2017 Gear VR with S8 is similar to Oculus Go. But if you already have Oculus Go, there’s no reason to get the Gear VR anymore. Just save your money. If you really want a new headset, get Oculus Quest instead. Quest is sharper than Go.