Samsung announced March 11 as the Galaxy S7 release date during its Mobile World Congress 2016 press conference in Barcelona Sunday. The pre-order, which will start “in a few days,” includes a free Samsung Gear VR. Samsung did not reveal a price during the presentation.
While the focus Sunday was obviously the S7, the Gear VR was hardly an afterthought. On EVERY seat inside the Convention Center a Gear VR awaited attendees. It served as the tool to present the Galaxy S7. Once on, the Gear VR video showcased the S7 in 360 degrees.
To the surprise of the MWC guests, as they took off the Gear VR following a brief video on the newly introduced Gear 360 camera, there stood Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
“VR is the new platform,” Zuckerberg said. “Where anyone can create and experience anything they want.”
He said the Samsung Gear VR is the best virtual reality headset on the market due to Samsung’s hardware paired with Facebook’s software. That partnership will only grow as Facebook continues to invest in VR through Oculus, he said.
Zuckerberg said while VR is "still mostly used for games and entertainment. One you’ll be able to put on a headset and that’s going to change the way you live, work and communicate.”
The Samsung Gear VR will be connected to its latest product, the Gear 360 camera. According to Samsung Vice President of Research Pranav Mistry, the Gear VR will seamlessly connect to the 360 camera and your S7 to deliver new ways to see the world.
“Today we can capture 360 degrees of light, create immersive experience and put you in the center and transport you to a place you always wanted to go,” Pranav said. “It’s more than virtual reality, we call it ‘other reality.' And with S7 and S7 edge. We are truly redefining what a phone can do.”
