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Take a closer look at Samsung's Gear VR headset (pictures)

Samsung's Gear VR headset brings virtual reality to the masses -- but only for newer Samsung phones.

Nate Ralph
Associate Editor Nate Ralph is an aspiring wordsmith, covering mobile software and hardware for CNET Reviews. His hobbies include dismantling gadgets, waxing poetic about obscure ASCII games, and wandering through airports.
Nate Ralph
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Samsung's Gear VR is a $99 (about £65, or AU$139) accessory that turns Samsung phones into a mobile virtual reality experience. There are games to play, 360-degree movies to watching, and all manner of experiences to explore.

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The headset is only compatible with four devices: the Samsung Galaxy S6, the S6 Edge, the S6 Edge+ and the Note 5.

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When you tuck a phone in, the spring-loaded clasp on the right locks them into place.

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Slot A accommodates the larger Samsung phones. Slide it over to B to tuck the smaller devices in.

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The Gear VR sits on your head much like a pair of ski goggles. There's a vertical strap if you'd like a tighter fit, but it's optional.

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The touchpad on the right and the back button are your primary inputs -- most games will use them in conjunction with tilting your head. You can also use a Bluetooth gamepad.

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The focus wheel up top lets you fine-tune the experience -- especially helpful for folks who wear glasses.

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The Oculus app is actually rendering two images at once on your phone. The biconvex lenses in the headset trick your brain into merging them into a single image.

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You can use the Oculus store app to find games and apps to try. There are over 100 experiences to discover, but you'll have to spend a lot of time scrolling to find them.

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