Photos: Up close with the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6

Image 1 of 13

What you get

The Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6 comes with a soft cloth bag, unlike the hard case of its predecessor. It also comes with a cloth to keep your lenses and phone screen smudge-free. Test it out and you'll see how necessary that is. Phone not included.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Phone compatibility

The Gear VR works with both the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Pictured above is the S6.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Set up

The S6 or S6 Edge's OLED screens provide the display for the Gear VR. They pop in the front of the headset.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Connecting

The phone connects to the headset via the USB port at the bottom of the phone — basically, the same place you'd charge the phone.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Adjusting the lenses

There's the dial on the top of the Gear VR to adjust the distance of the lenses from your face. It can make the display more clear, but only so much.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Put your face here

The foam around the inside of the headset does a pretty good job of blocking out light leaks. If you look on the right side near the lens, you can see the facial proximity sensor.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Front view

Here's the Gear VR without the phone. It's pretty headache-inducing to look through the lenses without the display. Not that there's a good reason why you would.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Bottom view

If you want to use a gamepad — and you might, many of the games or game demos either require one or are easier to play with one — there's a Micro-USB port on the bottom of the headset to connect one.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Right side view

The right side features a trackpad, back button, and volume controls. The trackpad works well — the raised line in the middle helps you get oriented, and the trackpad itself is very responsive.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Left side view

Lest you forget the Gear VR is powered by Oculus.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Wearing the Gear VR

My fellow staff writer Lyndsey Gilpin was kind enough to model the Gear VR.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Swiping with the trackpad

If you're not using a gamepad, you'll use your right hand to swipe or tap on the trackpad to navigate, or to hit the back button (above the trackpad) to return to the previous screen.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic
Straps

The Gear VR has one padded strap that goes over the top of your head, and another that goes around the back. Both have adjustable velcro.
SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic

What you get

The Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6 comes with a soft cloth bag, unlike the hard case of its predecessor. It also comes with a cloth to keep your lenses and phone screen smudge-free. Test it out and you'll see how necessary that is. Phone not included.

SEE: Our review of the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6: The perfect VR intro for professionals

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic

By Erin Carson

Erin Carson is a Staff Reporter for CNET and a former Multimedia Editor for TechRepublic.

What you get

Phone compatibility

Set up

Connecting

Adjusting the lenses

Put your face here

Front view

Bottom view

Right side view

Left side view

Wearing the Gear VR

Swiping with the trackpad

Straps

What you get

Related Topics:

By Erin Carson

Join Discussion