The new Gear VR with Controller allows for enhanced virtual reality experiences and easier interaction.

Gear VR with Controller: A Hands-On Approach to VR Immersion

Featuring a refined design and a new, multifunctional Controller, Samsung’s latest Gear VR*, powered by Oculus, introduces more comfort and fun to the virtual reality experience, taking users’ immersion to entirely new levels.

Built to combine the functions of a gamepad and remote control, the standalone, motion-sensitive Controller adds comfort to the Gear VR experience by placing the device’s controls in the user’s hands rather than on the headset itself.

With a curved design, the Controller offers a natural grip for enhanced one-handed control. Its clickable touchpad and trigger allow users to easily navigate VR apps and virtual worlds with simple motions. Meanwhile, the intuitive layout of home, volume and back keys ensures easy access to the functions, so users can manage them while fully focusing on their activity.

In addition, the Controller offers better motion interaction with minimized arm and head movement for comfortable and prolonged use. And for those especially active moments, the wrist strap provides a secure grip. When finished with a VR session, the Controller may be conveniently holstered on the headset’s strap.

The Gear VR headset’s ergonomic design makes for a secure and highly wearable fit while its expansive field of view (101 FOV) helps to minimize users’ motion sickness so they can enjoy immersive visuals for longer periods of time.

Furthermore, Gear VR users will never get bored as there are hundreds of diverse apps to choose from in addition to a newly added social VR party service that allows them to connect with friends to chat, watch videos and livestream games on social media.

* The new Gear VR with Controller is compatible with the Galaxy S8 and S8+; Galaxy S7 and S7 edge; GalaxyNote5; and Galaxy S6, S6 edge and S6 edge+. In addition, the Controller can be purchased separately and connected via Bluetooth to compatible Samsung smartphones to work with previous versions of the Gear VR.

Attendees were welcomed by David Lowes, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics Europe, who began by discussing Samsung’s drive to push the limits of innovation. To illustrate the company’s extensive efforts, Mr. Lowes welcomed Tim Baxter, President and COO of Samsung Electronics America, to the stage, who announced Samsung’s launch of a commercial 5G network portfolio as well as its plan to provide the world’s first 5G fixed wireless networks, offering blazing fast gigabit home broadband, by early next year.

Mr. Baxter was then joined by Verizon’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information Technology Architect, Roger Gurnani, who spoke on his company’s collaboration with Samsung to begin the first customer trials of 5G technology.

Later, Mark Notton, Samsung Electronics Europe’s Head of Portfolio Strategy, took to the stage to discuss the first of the company’s new tablet offerings: the Galaxy Tab S3. Describing the device as “a beautiful piece of craftsmanship that’s also powerful, fast and versatile,” Mr. Notton illuminated how the tablet’s advanced entertainment and gaming features and refined S Pen, which embodies a creative heritage dating back to Samsung’s popular Note line, help users have more fun.

Afterward, Alanna Cotton, Vice President of Samsung Electronics America, revealed the other new addition to Samsung’s tablet lineup: the Galaxy Book. After unveiling the device, Ms. Cotton outlined how Samsung optimized the 2-in-1 tablet with a lightweight and sturdy design, fast-charging battery, speedy, seventh-generation Intel® Core processor and Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system to offer users the most powerful and productive experience possible. As she told the crowd, “We’re giving users not just a perfect balance between a tablet and a laptop, but a device that can do everything their high-powered PC does.”

Before inviting attendees to test out the new tablets for themselves, Samsung took a moment to announce the launch of a new, motion-sensing Bluetooth controller for the Gear VR headset, designed to help users navigate and immerse themselves in virtual reality content, and also shared an exclusive sneak peek at another Galaxy innovation soon to make its own highly anticipated debut.

After showing a brief video offering a taste of its next flagship smartphone, Samsung distributed invitations to attend a Galaxy Unpacked event on March 29.

In case you missed the exciting announcements, check out the highlights of the event below.

Samsung’s pre-MWC 2017 press conference welcomed approximately 1,900 attendees – as well as those live streaming the event from across the globe – for a sneak peek at its latest mobile innovations. Attendees await the start of the event inside the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya’s packed conference hall.

David Lowes, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics Europe, discusses Samsung’s commitment to quality, as well as its drive to keep innovating and pushing boundaries.

Tim Baxter, President and COO of Samsung Electronics America, announces Samsung’s launch of a commercial 5G network portfolio.

Roger Gurnani, Verizon’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information Technology Architect, discusses his company’s collaboration with Samsung to bring 5G networks to the masses.

Mark Notton, Samsung Electronics Europe’s Head of Portfolio Strategy, discusses the first new addition to Samsung’s versatile tablet lineup: the Galaxy Tab S3.

Attendees were especially impressed by the Galaxy Tab S3’s sleek design, powerful multimedia features and new, multifunctional S Pen.

Alanna Cotton, Vice President of Samsung Electronics America, reveals the new Galaxy Book 2-in-1 tablet – designed to deliver powerful, PC-level performance.

Peggy Johnson, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Business Development, describes how the Galaxy Book’s S Pen functionality and Windows 10 integration allow users to enjoy new levels of productivity.

Illustrator, designer and Adobe Creative Resident Becky Simpson demonstrates how the S Pen’s precision, natural feel and ability to vary the thickness of its strokes depending on the angle at which it’s tilted can help artists create.

Samsung reveals a new, motion-sensing Bluetooth controller for the Gear VR headset, designed to help users better navigate and immerse themselves in virtual reality content.

Attendees get hands-on with the just-released tablets.

An immersive monument unveiled immediately after the press conference invites attendees to ‘Unbox your phone’ at a March 29 Galaxy Unpacked event.