Samsung has been rumored to be working on a new Gear VR that will come with a new dedicated controller headset for a while now , and now a new report reveals that the new device is very close to being officially released. Interestingly, the new headset will feature a single hand controller. The Gear VR, codenamed SM-R32, will feature a different front cover to hold the Galaxy S8 along with a single controller. Essentially, the design of the new VR will be similar to the current Gear VR, SM-R323 for the Galaxy S7, with a few minor changes of course. The new Gear VR will be able to hold the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus and could also come with a dedicated controller, similar to Google's Daydream View VR. The controller will be used for gaming, media playback, and various VR applications.
Users will need to purchase a separate Bluetooth controller if they want to play complex games on the Gear VR or generally want more functionality than what the touchpad offers.
The current Gear VR SM-323 is compatible with the Gear 360, Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, Note 5, Galaxy S6, S6 edge, and S6 edge+ smartphones. It features a backlit touchpad and volume buttons, and connects to the devices via a microUSB port.
The Gear VR has a 101-degree depth of field and weighs 345 grams. It also has a gyrometer, accelerometer, and proximity sensors, allowing you to experience 360-degree virtual reality. The new model will be able to support the 6.2-inch display of the Galaxy S8 Plus and will feature a Type-C port.
