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Leaked Photo Shows Rumored Samsung VR Headset

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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Rumors about a Samsung virtual reality headset have been making the rounds for a few months now. But Sammobile claims to have gotten its hands on what it says is a photo of the device.

The image of the headset, dubbed the Samsung Gear VR, is from above, which highlights the touch pad on the top right of the device. It looks like a cross between the Oculus Rift and Project Morpheus - a bit more pleasing to the eye than Oculus's offering, but not quite as sleek as Sony's device.

According to Sammobile, however, Samsung is actually working with Oculus VR on the software side, something Engadget reported in May.

As for the actual headset, Samsung is taking a hybrid approach to VR. You'll need a Galaxy device, which will snap into the headset via USB 3.0. Think a high-end version of Google Cardboard.

A "see-through" button, meanwhile, means that the wearer can switch to a feed that shows the outside world without removing the headset, Sammobile said.

Of course, Samsung might make changes before any big reveal. But rumors suggest that the Korean gadget maker will take the wraps off the Gear VR at the IFA trade show in Berlin this fall. Last year, the company used IFA to show off the Galaxy Gear smartwatch and the Galaxy Note 3 . Will the star of this year's Samsung Unpacked event be a VR demo?

Sammobile said IFA 2014 will also include the Galaxy Note 4.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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