Update: There's a new Samsung Gear 360 (2017) available, so be sure to check out our full review. Original review follows below. Seeing the Samsung Gear 360 in person immediately reminded me of my Logitech webcam from the 90s, but it's actually the most cutting-edge VR capture technology for...

Samsung's Gear 360 is the 360-degree camera we've all been waiting for. It stands out. It has the power of one of the world's biggest tech companies behind it... and it's a somewhat frustrating product. The software experience is the best we've used in this class of camera, bar none.

Excellent user experience; Every feature you could hope for; Good quality of photos and video; Seamless connection process

Unique design isn't easily pocketable; Only works with Samsung's phones; Disappointing microphone; Stitch lines are very apparent

This year, there has been a much larger focus on virtual reality, augmented reality, 360 degree videos, and anything else that can provide a more immersive experience to the viewer.

The possibility of creating 360-degree photos is, for owners of a virtual reality headset, an exciting thing. With Samsung's Gear 360, this possibility has become a reality. In this Samsung Gear 360 review, we answer the question of whether this camera meets expectations and can capture beautiful...

Very good image quality; Captures the atmosphere of an environment

Parts of images can look awkward; Unwieldy to transport; Only compatible with a few Samsung smartphones

The Samsung Gear 360 is a super bit of kit, but small niggles irk considering the price

Samsung's Gear 360 gets all the basics right for a consumer 360 camera. It's small, easy to use (for capturing and editing), the video quality is good (for a first-generation model) and it's affordably priced at $349.99.

We'll all be spending a lot more time with VR headsets bolted to our faces if Oculus, HTC and Google Cardboard get their way - but only once there's anything to actually watch on them.

Let's get one thing clear before I sum up: the Samsung Gear 360 isn't aimed at people like me. It's aimed at go-getters, adventure seekers, and other exciting types who actually do things worth documenting.

It looks like 2016 is the year in which 360-degree video cameras hit big. With more 4K models now available-that's the minimum amount of pixels that you'll want in a camera that stretches footage for spherical viewing-you may be tempted to jump into the fray and add one to your kit.

Best-in-class 360-degree video; Attractive price point; Compact design; Protected from dust and splashes; Solid battery life

Difficult to edit video; No editing support on OS X or iOS; Only works with specific Android handsets; Lens can fog in some circumstances; Overheats when transferring longer clips to phone; Slightly hollow audio; No external mic support; Doesn't shoot in 24p

The Gear 360 is a great camera for outdoor types or businesses that could benefit from promoting their wares with 360-degree photos or videos. But you'll need to spend extra for a microSD card and have a recent Samsung Galaxy smartphone to use the companion app.