SAMSUNG Gear VR w/Controller (2017) SM-R325NZVAXAR (US Version w/Warranty)

Bought used, quality new, really can't even tell, running on my Galaxy S8. Image quality is very good, the lenses create a unified and clear picture that third party headsets don't give, I was using a cheap set of Cynoculars that don't come close to the experience the GearVR provides. Headset itself is comfortable once the straps are adjusted and isn't heavy, but can be uncomfortable if you let it rest on your nose.The Oculus app is fun to navigate through, watching videos in theatre mode is a neat experience and browsing the internet with it isnt as clumsy as you might think. I havent tried any games yet but I bet they're an exciting distraction too.The controller is deceptively intuitive yet simple. Though it doesn't appear so, it's very comfortable and natural feeling when in hand.Of course if you're wondering how it performs when viewing NSFW content and videos made for VR, all I can say is there's no better way to experience it on a phone than with GearVR. The quality of the experience more comes down to the quality of the video in that case however.My only complaints so far would be how quickly the battery drains when the image quality is scaled up to be clear in VR mode, and that you can't charge your phone while using your phone in the headset, despite a built in charging port under the unit. The drain I understand, but at least let me be able to charge my phone as I use it, there's no issue when doing so outside of when its plugged into the headset.Overall, GearVR wears the crown in terms of phone based VR, a title it will likely keep as phone based VR is unofficially dead, with mobile VR turning to integrated screens like the Oculus Go. If you're not ready to jump on that bandwagon and want an entry into the top line of VR products, this is your best bet. It's not perfect, but as long as you remember to keep your phone charged before use, or get a mobile power bank to attach to it yourself, you'll be alright.

I’ve dreamed of owning a VR since I was a small child and although the Samsung Galaxy VR isn’t at the level of what you’d read about in Ready Player One, it’s amazing. The picture quality is astounding and many of the apps are free. There are a lot of paid apps and they tend to have better graphics than the free ones, but it’s still nice. The first Samsung Galaxy VR I got wouldn’t sync with my phone after a while. At first, I thought it was because the charging port of my phone got wet and I used the VR only 12 hours afterward. It should have dried in that time, so I thought it was maybe my phone. I returned the first one and got a replacement and it turned out the VR I’d gotten was defective, not my phone. So if it doesn’t sync, consider replacing the VR before doing anything to your phone.Pros:The main pros are that the price of the Samsung Galaxy VR is a lot less than Oculus (which is what it runs on). It comes with a controller, which is mandatory for some apps and games. It’s higher quality than you may expect. You can watch Netflix movies on it, or be placed into a virtual theater and watch movies as if you were the only one in the theater. You can visit outer space or the deep sea, fly a fighter jet, go to a Cirque du Solei performance, and lots more.Cons:You are limited by the battery life of your Samsung Device. My recommendation is to charge your phone to 100% if you want to enjoy your VR for a while. Otherwise, it can eat up your battery pretty fast depending on what app you’re using. Still, most of the time I can get 2-3 hours out of it easily if it’s charged at 100% when I start.You could be prone to nausea and headaches. They are listed side effects of the VR. It’s something you won’t know you have until you try it out. I’ve had friends try the VR just to discover that it gave them severe nausea. So I suggest going to a store that has one on display and trying it out before you buy it.

I confess at first I wasn't sure about my purchase, but after a about 10 hours of use, I'm happy with it! I bought the Gear VR to use with my new Note 9 and though it wasn't listed as compatible, it does fit with some help from a small plastic wedge I made. The Note 9 fits but the retaining clip (top of phone side) would not stay closed. I used a small plastic piece to use as a shim behind the clip to hold the phone firmly in place. (If you try this, I'd caution you to be sure it fits snug enough not to pop out in use.) Once in place, the Note 9 works just fine. I'd also caution you to place the Note 9 in the Gear VR tray while seated or over a table as the Note 9 is a slippery little devil without the case!Prior to this purchase, my only VR experience was a few years back when the technology was new and it's made a huge leap. While a lot of videos I was watching on YouTube VR (included in the app) were not that great and looked a bit fuzzy, the ones that are well produced are incredible to watch! I haven't played a lot of games on it yet, as I'm getting used to, it but the available apps and videos look incredible. So far I've swam with sharks through National Geographic, rode some epic rollercoasters, para-sailed over the largest waterfalls in the world and stood on the decimated streets of Idib, Syria with CNN. (The ability to look in 360° and actually see the devastation certainly puts the disaster in perspective to someone sitting in their living room 6,500 miles away!) There's also several political rallies you can watch that put you right in the audience with the ability to look at all the people around you! Through the Oculus app, you can visit virtual communities, hear lectures, interact with other users and talk with them through your avatar. All said, it's a great piece of tech. I expected the screen to be sharper, but then you're looking at a smartphone display through magnifying goggles so with that in mind, it's still pretty darn great! It all depends on the quality of the video or VR environment your viewing.PROS:- VR Gear is well made and comfortable to wear for a while, but not a couple of hours at a time- Touch pad and function buttons on the right side of the goggles are a great second way to control apps- Set-up and app install with the Samsung Note 9 was as simple as can be. (Be sure to unlock your phone before placing it in the tray)- Head straps are easy to adjust and well-made and don't snag your hair- Controller puck is nice, and not cheap feeling. The battery cover can slip off at times. (Be sure to use the wrist strap!)- There's a LOT of VR content available now, from the free YouTube VR and Facebook VR to the Oculus offerings- Be sure to look all the way up and down in some videos, there's things to been seen there as well!- These would be great for someone that can't get out of the house or is bedridden, to explore the world around us, including space!CONS:- Wearing the Gear VR for any length of time will cause your eye area to sweat! (I'm looking for a way to mount a tiny fan on it)- While it's comfortable to wear, it gets tiring after a while. Neck fatigue is common for me as the Note 9 is a larger phone- You need to place the VR Gear correctly on your face or the display will not be sharp at the edges- Constantly resetting the orientation after using some apps that change the layout. Easy enough but annoying.- The puck pointer randomly goes off at a strange angle, most likely from an app. Quickly fixed by pressing calibrate button on puck- I get a headache after about an hour, so I take Tylenol first and I'm good to go! (Caused by neck fatigue and me constantly looking all around the VR environment)- Wife says I look goofy wearing big goggles and twisting all around, up and down, while saying, "COOL!" over and over