Samsung unveils the HMD Odyssey Windows Mixed Reality headset with AKG audio

At the end of August, quite a few virtual/mixed reality headsets surfaced at the IFA 2017 trade show. Although this segment of the market is still in its infancy, the fact that these accessories came from big brands such as Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and HP suggests that the situation might change earlier than expected. Now, the Samsung HMD Odyssey Windows Mixed Reality headset is already up for pre-order.

Unveiled during a special Microsoft event dedicated to "the era of Windows Mixed Reality," the Samsung HMD Odyssey arrives next to quite a few competing products: the Acer Windows Mixed Reality Headset, the Dell Visor, the HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset, and the Lenovo Explorer.

The Samsung HMD Odyssey Windows Mixed Reality headset promises to take the user experience to a whole new level, its list of specs including dual 3.5-inch AMOLED displays with a 110-degree field of view and a total resolution of 2,880 x 1,600 pixels, 360-degree Spatial Sound via a set of premium built-in AKG headphones, and an array mic. Unlike the 3 DOF sensors used by many VR controllers now on the market, the 6 DOF sensor array of the HMD Odyssey detects forward and back, left and right, up and down movement, as well as yaw, pitch, and roll. This accessory connects to Windows PCs via a 4-meter HDMI 2.0 + USB 3.0 bound cable.

Two wireless motion controllers are also included in the retail package. Each of them features a clickable touchpad, thumbsticks, button control, and haptic feedback. The controllers use two AAA batteries each and weigh 0.35 pounds, while the headset hits 1.42 pounds.

Those interested can pre-order the Samsung HMD Odyssey directly from the Microsoft Store. The price tag reads US$499 and the product should be available on November 6. Those in a hurry can pick one of the alternatives we mentioned earlier since all of them are expected to hit the market on October 17 for slightly lower prices (the Acer and the Lenovo headsets go for US$399, while the other two can be pre-ordered for US$449).