Eye can see clearly now

Flaws corrected, 4K added: is the 2017 update of Samsung’s VR camera the best way to get a properly rounded view of the world?

Playing VR games is no longer enough to mark you out as a pioneering geek – these days you need to be making your own VR films too. And that’s where 360° cameras come in.

Samsung’s original Gear 360 was a little disappointing – it was too fussy about what it worked with, too expensive, and a bit too bulky. For the new 2017 edition it’s reduced the asking price and size, and widened compatibility, while retaining a similar level of performance.

The new Gear 360 loses the built-in tripod and isn’t quite as ‘sci-fi stylish’ as the old one. But it’ll fit into a trouser pocket without causing any odd bulges, and even comes with a nice soft carry-case to prevent it getting scratched by your keys.

It’s a simple design with only a few controls (power/back, connect/menu and shutter buttons). There’s a slot for a microsd card – the camera doesn’t have built-in storage – a tiny LCD display and a metal loop for attaching a wrist strap.

1 Get up, stand up

While the loss of the built-in tripod is disappointing, there is a standard tripod mount on the bottom, which’ll come in handy when taking timelapse videos and HDR landscape shots. Said bottom is also flat, so you could even stand it on a tabletop.

2 Take the power back

The old Gear 360’s removable battery has been replaced by a built-in one, which is rechargeable via USB-C. Like the original Gear 360 it has IP53 protection, which means it’s basically dust-proof and spray-proof. You should be fine using it in a brief rain shower.

3 Who’s got a match?

It’s compatible with some Samsung phones (on Android 5.0 or above) and the most recent iphones – there’s a full list on the Samsung site. Mind you, we found it got on fine with an iphone 6, which isn’t listed. It won’t work with other Androids, though.

4 Freak scenes

The app is similar on both IOS and Android, although the latter version features livestreaming in addition to the standard shooting modes: still, video, HDR landscape, looping video and timelapse video. You can use both lenses (360°) or one (ultra-wide angle).

5 Can face the world alone

You don’t actually need a phone to use the Gear 360. With its microsd storage, LCD display and on-board controls, you’re able to cycle through modes and trigger the shutter using the camera itself, with footage and photos stored on the microsd card.