Samsung mobile virtual reality headset coming this December

The “Gear VR Innovator edition”, previewed in September, uses a Galaxy Note 4 phablet to power immersive 360 degree experiences.

The head-mounted device is a partnership with Facebook-owned Oculus VR, which is also developing its own PC-tethered headset, the Oculus Rift.

The Gear VR has a controller for games, but will not be able to fully reproduce the high-end graphical fidelity of dedicated computers.

Samsung also used its second annual Developer Conference in San Francisco to announce ‘Project Beyond’, a 360 degree camera which can stream live video remotely to the Gear VR headset – a step up from today’s virtual reality experiences which use pre-rendered video or graphics.

But some analysts have questioned whether the Gear VR itself will ignite the virtual reality market. The device itself is priced at $199, and it is only compatible with the Galaxy Note 4 – a high-end handset aimed at business users.

The BBC’s North America technology correspondent Richard Taylor tried out the new contraption. BBC