Samsung is developing a standalone VR headset

Samsung has established a good footing for itself in the VR market with the Gear VR headset but its virtual reality ambitions don't end here. The company has confirmed that it's working on a standalone VR headset which will feature positional tracking, a technology currently found on high-end headsets like the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, this was revealed by Samsung's head of R&D for software and services Injong Rhee at the Samsung Developer Conference 2016.

Simply put, this means that Samsung is developing a VR headset that will not require one of its smartphones to function. The headset will be a complete package with its own processing components and display, and may even have features like hand and gesture tracking, though Rhee says that it may take a few years before these features arrive in Samsung's VR headsets. Rhee didn't reveal any more details about this headset so it can't be said for sure when the standalone VR headset will arrive, but at least we know now that Samsung is working on one.

Adnan Farooqui - Executive Editor

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First Samsung device: SGH-E900

Adnan Farooqui is a long-term writer at SamMobile. Based in Pakistan, his interests include technology, finance, Swiss watches and Formula 1. His tendency to write long posts betrays his inclination to being a man of few words.

Virtual Reality Gear VR Samsung Developer Conference 2016