Samsung Gear 360 (2017) review: Samsung’s new and improved pocket-sized 360 camera is a must-have

This is Samsung’s 2017 remake of its 360-degree video camera, first introduced alongside the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge in 2016. It employs a pair of back-to-back 8.4-megapixel f/2.2 fisheye cameras to create 360-degree photos and video. If you want to dip your feet into creating VR content for the first time, its quality, ease of use and pocketability means it’s the 360-degree camera to get right now.

Samsung Gear 360 review: Price and competition

A big part of the reason for that is that Samsung has made great strides when it comes to price. Where its first stab at a 360-degree video camera would have set you back £350, making it near-impossible to recommend, this new version is dramatically reduced cheaper with a price cut of £130 bringing the price down to £219.

The market for 360 cameras isn’t huge yet, so alternatives are limited. At £300 you have the Ricoh Theta S; there’s the dinky Insta 360 smartphone add-on offering a slightly cheaper alternative at £200; while Nikon aims for professionals with its wallet-wilting £420 KeyMission 360. None of these is as easy to use or produces 360 images that look as good as from this Samsung, though.

Samsung Gear 360 review: Design and functionality

Aside from the price, the most obvious change to the Gear 360 in 2017 is that it’s seen a substantial facelift, with the old chunky golf ball and tripod setup replaced by a far simpler, all-in-one shape. The 360 “ball” on the top is considerably smaller, while the handle, which makes it perfect for one-handed 360-degree live streaming, is connected to it to form a seamless, ergonomic grip.

This radical redesign makes way more sense than its predecessor. While last year’s design was hardly atrocious, it was a little too bulky to carry around and fit in your pocket. This new and improved moulded grip is much more appealing, fitting snug in your palm with the big, round record button sitting naturally under your thumb.

However, there’s a worrying flaw with this impressive new design: it doesn’t stand up too well on its own. The slim handle, which houses the tripod thread, is so small and the camera is so top-heavy that the slightest of breezes sends it toppling.

Samsung rectifies this by including a rubber ring in the box, which fits around the base for added stability and attaches to the camera via a lanyard. It’s not exactly elegant, though, and feels very much like an afterthought; if you’re thinking of buying one, I recommend you invest in a compact tripod for your static shots, at least for extra peace of mind.

The other most significant development is compatibility with a wider range of phones. Last year’s 360 only worked with a meagre selection, but this time around, Samsung’s 2017 mid-range A5 and A7 are included in the list alongside every flagship from the S6 up, as well as iPhones running iOS 10 or later.

Other than that, similarities between this year’s Gear 360 and its predecessor can still be spotted. There’s still microSD storage – found under a flap on the handle – and there’s a tiny monochrome display telling you which mode you’ve selected, as well as its battery status. There’s no removable battery this year, though.