Virtually a bargain: Samsung confirms its VR headset's price

The Galaxy Gear VR, which caused quite a stir when it was unveiled at the IFA consumer technology show in Germany, will, according to VentureBeat, be on sale in time for Christmas and will cost just $199.

A mobile virtual reality headset, the Galaxy Gear VR was built in partnership with Oculus VR and when slipped over the head allows the wearer to explore virtual immersive environments, play games or simply get completely lost in a film.

Oculus has its own headset, the Oculus Rift which in developer form -- it's still not quite ready for the mass market -- costs $350; it needs to be plugged into a computer or games console in order to work.

The Gear VR has none of these mobility issues as on one level it is simply a carrying case for a phablet, the new Galaxy Note 4 to be precise. Simply slide the handset into the headset and the two items become a single virtual reality machine.

However, that means anyone who wants a Gear VR headset will also have to buy Samsung's latest flagship phablet. And although there will doubtless be plenty of good contract deals available with some network providers in some regions to subsidize the handset's price, off contract, the two gadgets together could cost as much as $1000.

Meanwhile Google Glass, which officially hit the Google Play store in the US this weekend, costs $1500.