The Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus has been around for a while since the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and has worked with every phone up to the Galaxy S9, S9+, and Note 9. Now, depending on the phone, certain Samsung phones only worked with a certain model for the Gear VR. When the news of the Note 9 was coming out, there was a discussion on if a new Gear VR headset would be coming or exactly what would all the people who were using theirs on a regular basis would do. Samsung came up with a USB-C adapter that would work with the current SM-R325 headset which Samsung did the right thing by sending those adapters for free out to those who owned the headset. But with many of us in the world that we are in now and having to stay inside are looking for an escape of any kind. And with that said, it seems that VR is that escape for many, but trying to find a headset is going to be hard as the Oculus Rift S, Oculus Go, and Oculus Quest, as well as many others, are all sold out or maybe you were lucky and scored one. If not, you may have an old phone or current Samsung phone that believe it or not supports VR.
First, you need to see if you have any of these Samsung phone models laying around or if not, you can buy a used phone that doesn’t even have to have cell service as long as you have wifi. If you don’t have the phone, check places like eBay, Amazon, or Swappa and you might find a really good deal on an old phone:
- Note 4
- Note 5
- Note 7
- Note 8
- Note 9
- S6
- S6 Edge
- S6 Edge +
- S7
- S7 Edge
- S8
- S8+
- S9
- S9+
- S10
- S10e
- S10+
- A8
- A8 Plus
- A8 Star
Then depending on the phone model, you will need a Gear VR headset. But you have to make sure you pick the right Gear VR model based on the phone that you have. Check out eBay or Amazon for good deals on Gear VR.
Note 4 will use the SM-R320 model.
Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge will use the SM-R321 model.
Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, Note 5, S7, and S7 Edge will use the SM-R322 model.
Note 7. With a USB-C adapter, the S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, Note 5, S7, and S7 Edge can use the SM-R323 model.
S8 and S8+. With a USB-C adapter, the S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, Note 5, S7, and S7 Edge can use the Sm-R324 model.
S8, S8+, Note 8, S9, S9+, S10, S10+, S10e. With a USB-C adapter, the S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, Note 5, S7, S7 Edge, A8, A Plus, and A8 Star, and Note 9 (with an adapter that Samsung provides) can use the SM-R325 model.
And if you are wondering what the adapter looks like, this is the one used for the Note 9 that just fits over the connector on the Gear VR unit where you would put your phone.
So if you have been looking for a VR headset just to escape even if it’s watching Hulu on the beach during a lightning storm and they are all sold out, you may already have an old phone lying around or using and just need the Gear VR headset to give you just what you need in these crazy times.
[…] and be proud to be a Gear VR owner even with the changes being made. And if you know someone with a compatible phone, let them know about the easy way for them to get into Virtual Reality and escape with their […]