The new camera from Samsung is a dream

Samsung has always been one of the stronger innovators in the tech industry. The company has dabbled in almost everything from appliances to gadgets. And earlier this year, the South Korean giant released the new and improved Gear 360 camera.

What it is

The Samsung Gear 360 is arguably one of the best consumer 360-degree camera options available in the market. It’s particularly great for those who are looking to take their first dip into this particular camera type.

It uses two 8.4 megapixel image sensors instead of the dual 15 megapixel sensor from the first generation. The result is 4K resolution, but do keep in mind that this number is spread around the entire 360-degree sphere and limits the videos to 24 frames per second. If you go up to 30 frames per second, the resolution is 2880 x 1440. And then there is the 60 frames per second option, which leaves you at a resolution of 2560 x 1280.

How it works

The main use of the Gear 360 is to shoot 360-degree video content in a manner that is easy and efficient for the owner. All you need to do is hit the record button to take photos or start taking videos. There’s also a small menu button that takes you around the various shooting modes (photo, video, time-lapse, HDR photo, etc.), which also connects the camera to your phone.

And if you prefer not to fiddle with the buttons on the Samsung Gear 360 itself, you can always use the exclusive app to manipulate the features instead.

The catch

At this point, not all smartphones are compatible with the Samsung 360. Compatibility is currently limited to the Galaxy S8, S8+, S7, S7 Edge, Note 5, S6 Edge+, S6 Edge, S6 and the A5/A7 running on Android 5.0 or later. It is also compatible with the iPhone 7+, 7, 6S+, 6S and SE running on iOS 10.0 or later. However, there are functional limitations when using iOS devices.

How well it works

There has been some debate about the actual quality of the photos and videos that the 360-degree camera produces, especially when you’re viewing the results via a headset. But without a doubt, it is a great purchase to make for first timers. The setup is quick and painless, the gadget itself is easy to use and you can even live-stream your takes.

How to get it

The Samsung 360 camera is available as an add-on to Globe's Platinum Plans. Click here to find the right one for you.