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Gear VR will stop working on older Samsung devices after the Android 12 update
Samsung is sending out email notices to Gear VR users highlighting that the service won't work following the One UI 4.0 update based on Android 12.
Samsung has started rolling out stable builds of One UI 4.0 based on Android 12 to its devices, starting with the Galaxy S21 series. The latest update brings a ton of new features to the table, including most of the changes Google introduced in Android 12. But a recent email from the company reveals that the update also removes one feature from older Samsung devices -- Gear VR support.
Samsung is killing off its XR service and VR Video apps
According to a recent update on the Samsung XR website, the company will kill off its XR service and VR Video apps by September 30, 2020.
Samsung has been a dominant player in the mobile VR space thanks to the Samsung Gear VR, which was made in collaboration with Oculus VR — the makers of the popular standalone VR headset Oculus Rift. The company was known for offering Gear VR headsets with its previous Samsung Galaxy flagships, but that ended with the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+ that launched in August last year, as both devices were incompatible with Gear VR. Then in October 2019, the company pulled the Gear VR from its online store and it was no longer available on Amazon or Best Buy in the U.S. Now, according to a recent report from CNET, Samsung is killing off its XR service and VR video apps.
New Gear Fit 2 Pro and Gear VR Rumored to be Launched on August 23rd
Samsung is rumored to launch a new Gear Fit 2 Pro fitness smartwatch and a new Gear VR alongside the Galaxy Note 8 later this month.
August 23rd will be a big day for Samsung as the company has been scheduled to launch their H2 flagship, the Galaxy Note 8. We've heard a lot about the device so far with leaked renders and a list of specs as well. Samsung isn't known to only have one big announcement when a device is launched though. Sometimes it's additional hardware, other times it's new software features. So it makes sense that a new rumor claims the South Korean conglomerate is readying the launch of a new Gear Fit 2 Pro and Gear VR headset.