I have tried a bunch of Google cardboard compatible headsets and while they were impressive proof of concepts I hadn't been totally blown away. I had figured that the Samsung and Oculus made Gear was just going to be a slightly nicer headset with a control pad and I was right, sorta...
The magic here isnt so much in the hardware (although the touchpad and back button are a lot more user friendly than the NFC button on other units) The real magic is in the software, Which you can't download until you are plugged into the Gear. Really if you could access the software and had a Good set of Vr glasses and a bluetooth remote I feel you could enjoy the same experience, but since I'm not a hacker I'll have to stick with the Gear VR.
As I said before, I have messed around with a bunch of the Google cardboard compatible headset all the way back to the point when you actually had to make your own out of actual cardboard.
As could be expected the fit and finish of the Gear VR is much nicer, It is comfortable and well built and since it is phone specific your device fits much better than the generic models.
I do worry if I'm not real careful (or possibly even if I am) the usb connection will break off, so I handle the device like a newborn baby and am unwilling to share it with my actual children.
One major drawback to the Gear VR is this (at least with the note 4) certain apps cause the device to get hot and require a cooldown period. Part of me thinks that this is one possible reason for this model to be called the "innovation edition" perhaps Samsung knew that early adopters are willing to put up with quirks your average consumer wouldn't. There is an included cover that clips on over your phone, I took one look at that and thought "hmm, thats not going to help my phone stay cool" and sat it aside. As it turns out, I would also be taking the battery cover off my phone and pointing a fan at my face when using more intensive apps, And I am not alone, apparently this is a common practice. Early adopter blues but not a deal breaker if your excited about vr.
I have been waiting for VR since I was a little kid, and I have done the Google cardboard and the Oculus DK2 and now this. I have to say that pound for pound The Gear VR has had the most out of the box payoff for me, Don't Get me wrong, its not as exciting as looking around my cockpit in Elite Dangerous or flinching back in Alien Isolation but I also haven't sat their cussing for hours changing settings and trying to figure out why my headset doesn't work after an update or in Alien Isolation's case actual changing a piece of code (way easier than it sounds but still a pain in the ass, Not a hacker, remember?).
If Your really excited for VR and have been since the early 90's this is a must have. If your only slightly curious than unless you have a lot of cash to blow maybe wait a few models to jump in.
I'm giving Samsung's Gear VR Innovator edition 4 Handi capped lawn mowing men turned evil geniuses out of 5
(If you aren't old enough to recognize the reference you haven't waited your turn for VR yet!)
