Headset Hotcakes

Samsung Electronics has released its new Gear VR virtual reality goggles with the price tag of 120,000 won (US$105) on Nov. 24. A Samsung Electronics model tries the Gear VR at a launching event.
Samsung Electronics has released its new Gear VR virtual reality goggles with the price tag of 120,000 won (US$105) on Nov. 24. A Samsung Electronics model tries the Gear VR at a launching event.

 

Samsung Electronics’ new Gear VR virtual reality headset became sold out as soon as it was released in the domestic market.

According to Samsung Electronics’ Online Store on Nov. 25, the first batch of the Gear VR was sold out within a day after the launch. The number of the first batch Samsung Electronics supplied to its online store was about 2,000 units.

The first batch of the Gear VR was sold out on online stores of the nation’s three mobile carriers and was temporarily out of stock in 20 offline stores, including Samsung D'light shop, except for a few stores.

The Gear VR came out in the U.S. first on Nov. 20 and the device was sold out at major online and offline retailers, such as Amazon.com and Best Buy, in just 10 days of its launch.

The Gear VR headset was jointly developed by an American virtual reality technology company, Oculus VR, and it was first unveiled at the event hosted by Oculus in the U.S. in September.

Previously, Samsung Electronics released two models of "Samsung Gear VR innovator Edition” which is compatible with the Galaxy Note 4 and the Galaxy S6, but they were for early adopters, rather than general consumers. Considering the untapped market conditions, it was a kind of prototype with limited supplies.

However, the latest Gear VR is considered Samsung’s first consumer-ready virtual reality headset.

This is because the company has improved performance but lowered the price to some 100,000 won (US$87) so that general consumers can afford them. The factory price of the Gear VR is 129,800 won (US$113), only a half the price of the previous edition which cost 249,000 won (US$218).

The range of compatible smartphone models has widened too, including the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge Plus. It is 20 percent lighter compared to its earlier models and there is also an additional foam cushion for more comfort. The number of available contents, including movies and games, is almost 100.

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