Samsung and Oculus refine Gear VR, and make it work with new S6 phones

BARCELONA, Spain — Samsung and Oculus Rift (now owned by Facebook) said today they have made some refinements to their codesigned Gear VR Innovator Edition virtual reality headset, and have made it compatible with Samsung’s new Galaxy S6 phones, which were also announced today.

The companies said the virtual reality headset, when paired with the S6, will deliver a “cinematic virtual reality experience, with improved viewing as well as a more comfortable design.”

The device will take advantage of the S6’s impressive display to show wearers high resolution movies, TV shows, VOD services, and photos, Samsung said. The video will have less pixilation and a wider field-of-view.

The companies have also reduced the overall size of the Gear VR by 15 percent, which they hope will make the headgear easier to wear.

The Gear VR can now be powered with via its USB port for extended usage usage time. Gear VR content like games and movies is downloadable at the Oculus Store.

The Gear VR uses a number of sensors to detect the user’s head movements. These head movements control the user’s viewpoint within the 3D interactive environment generated by the smartphone in front of the user’s eyes.