Clear eyes, full VR
Deep in the hallways of this year’s Mobile World Congress, Samsung had a private room where it was showing off future technologies. And, according to a new report, those technologies included a new VR headset with higher resolution.
“They showcased VR headsets with 1,200ppi,” a source told the Korea Herald, adding that a headset with 1,500ppi resolution is “soon expected to be unveiled.”
Essential reading: The best VR headsets of 2017
The current Gear VR uses Samsung Galaxy smartphones as the display so resolution will vary. For instance the Galaxy S7 has a 1440 x 2560 screen with a 577ppi. This new leak out of MWC could signify that Samsung is indeed building headsets with built-in displays “within one to two years”.
A higher resolution, combined with low latency generally means VR headsets can more easily trick your eyes, and the less likely you are to get sick. For comparison, the Oculus Rift currently has a 461ppi display, the PlayStation VR comes in at 368ppi and the HTC Vive clocks in at 456ppi.
In addition to a VR headset, Samsung is also working on improvements to its smartphones, which should trickle down to future Gear VR headsets. They include new OLED displays without a polarizer or that patented blue hue, which would allow future smartphones to have a brighter, clearer display that’s more battery efficient.
We were fans of last year’s Gear VR, though we wished it included more high-end features like motion tracking. Samsaung has got an Unpacked event next week, where we expect them to unveil the next Gear VR (though perhaps not this hi res one) alongside the Galaxy S8. We’ll have all the details for you then.
