As bad as it may be to have the canceled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 explode on a plane or in your hand, setting the phone on fire in a tiny, glass-filled case just inches from it seems like a particularly bad scenario. your eyes. Oculus and Samsung have clearly realized this and released an update that prevents the volatile phone from working with the Gear VR headset.
Attempting to download or use the Oculus app (which powers Gear VR) on a Galaxy Note 7 will now result in the following message (as confirmed by Android Central):
“Customer security is Oculus’ top priority,” the message reads. “Oculus is removing support for all Note7 devices on the Oculus platform. Until further notice, Note7 devices are not compatible with the Gear VR. For more information on the Note7, please contact Samsung directly.”
We’ve yet to hear any reports of Note 7 phones failing catastrophically while in a Gear VR, and it’s definitely best that Samsung and Oculus do what they can to avoid the possibility. And since Samsung is committed to getting every last Note 7 off the market, it seems like a smart move to literally throw those words straight into the faces of potential Gear VR users.
Gear VR still works with other phones in the Samsung Galaxy line, starting with the Galaxy Note 5.
Frame image by Kyle Orland