Samsung is now taking orders for its Gear VR headset adapter for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge smartphones.
The electronics maker is pushing the dedicated VR headset into its final form, offering owners of the handset the opportunity to give virtual reality a spin. While the $199 headset is now on sale online, it will also be available in Best Buy stores on May 15.
The Gear VR was previously only available for Galaxy Note 4 handsets. The latest iteration of the headset, only compatible with Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge handsets, works much like the Gear VR for the Galaxy Note 4.
To use the Gear VR, users simply slot their smartphones into the front of the headset. The smartphone's 1440 x 2560 pixel display serves as the VR headset's screen.
When the powers of the Gear VR and Galaxy S6 combine, they can form one of the most captivating VR experiences on the planet so far. Of course, all that could change when more VR headsets are released.
There isn't much content for VR headsets right now, especially for the ones paired with mobile devices, but Samsung has been releasing content for Gear VR via its Milk VR platform, which offers new VR videos five days a week.
"Milk VR takes you running with the bulls, snowboarding or even on stage with some of your favorite musicians," said Samsung.
The Gear VR is the result of a partnership between Samsung and Oculus VR, the Facebook subsidiary behind the long-awaited Oculus Rift headset. Oculus' technology is embedded in the Gear VR.
After the release of several developer models, the consumer version of the Oculus Rift will go on sale during the first quarter of the 2016 calendar, Oculus VR recently announced.
"In the weeks ahead, we'll be revealing the details around hardware, software, input, and many of our unannounced made-for-VR games and experiences coming to the Rift," stated Oculus VR in a blog post. "Virtual reality is going to transform gaming, film, entertainment, communication, and much more."
The Oculus Rift has been in development for roughly three years. Gaming fans anointed the Rift as the evolution of gaming and the champion of VR, although several dark horse rivals have emerged to change that.
HTC and video game developer and publisher Valve announced earlier this year that they plan to release the Vive, their VR headset, in fall of this year.
Sony's Morpheus, on the other hand, will go on sale in 2016, while the OSVR Razr, which has partnered with Leap Motion, could launch as early as next month.
