Samsung's Oculus VR-powered headset uses the Note 4 smartphone as its screen

Virtual reality is getting real, fast. Samsung joined the high-end VR crowd today with its announcement of a new Gear VR headset. It’s powered by Oculus VR software, and is the first VR headset to use a smartphone as its screen – the newly announced Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phablet.

The front cover opens up, allowing users to put all of the Note’s extra resolution (5.7-inch Quad HD 2,560 x 1,440 Super AMOLED) to good use. The device, pitched as a prototype at the IFA 2014 show now taking place in Berlin, also has another advantage in the fast-moving VR race — it will be out this year. That gives it a head start against the other big players – including Facebook/Oculus VR’s Rift and Sony’s PlayStation Project Morpheus. No pricing has yet been announced.