Samsung’s recent Unpacked event finally revealed its Galaxy S8 and S8+ smartphones, but a large part was dedicated to the company’s new Gear 360. This camera is designed to capture 360-degree stills or video in 4K resolution. That’s perfect for VR videos, but your captures will still looks great on normal smartphones and computers too. Let’s take a closer look at what’s possible with the new 2017-edition Gear 360 — including the first UK price for the new model!
Design
The Gear 360 was originally launched last year, and the overall design has seen some changes. Now, two 180-degree cameras back to back, sitting above the main body of the device which houses the controls, microphones and an integrated stand; there’s also a tripod mount on the bottom of the unit and an optional strap. The 2017 model is sleeker and easier to carry than its predecessor, making it easier to take with you. It weighs only 130 grams, and it’s small enough to fit into the average pocket or purse. It’s also pretty cute; I don’t think it would look out of place in the average futuristic Disney film.
Hardware
Those upgrades also extend within, where Samsung have used improved 8.4-megapixel sensors with f/2.2 fisheye lenses to allow full 4K video to be captured. Last year’s Gear 360 was capable of capturing video at resolutions of 3840 x 1920; now we’re up to a full 4096 x 2048 at 24 frames per second. Stills have also been improved, and panoramic shots of up to 15-megapixels can be captured.
Videos and stills are stored on MicroSD cards; up to 256GB cards are supported. The Gear 360 connects to your phone via a combination of NFC, WiFi direct or Bluetooth 4.1.
It’s compatible with most mid-range and high-end Samsung Galaxy smartphones released in the past three years, as well as the iPhone from the 6 onwards, plus Windows and Mac computers.
The camera charges via USB-C (yay!) and is water and dust resistant with an IP53 rating. The battery life is quoted as being up to 130 minutes when shooting 1080p, so figure on maybe 60-90 minutes for full 4K capture.
Software
The Gear 360 has five different modes: stills, video, time-lapses, looping videos and landscape. You can switch modes both on the device itself and on your phone. There is a big record button on the front, as well as Menu and Back buttons on one side. These are used with a small display on the front, allowing you to see what the camera is currently doing.
As well as capturing local footage, you can stream in up to 2K quality to a variety of live streaming sites, including Facebook Live. Sick!
UK price & availability
The Samsung Gear 360 (2017) will be available from Mobile Fun in the UK. We’re happy to announce the first UK price, which is £199. The new Gear 360 is available for pre-order now; check the link below for the latest information!
More info on the Samsung Gear 360 (2017) >
Image credits: Samsung, expertreviews.co.uk