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Samsung Odyssey and Odyssey+: Windows Mixed Reality history

Short answer: Samsung’s HMD Odyssey family was a PC-tethered Windows Mixed Reality line: the original HMD Odyssey arrived in the fall of 2017, followed by HMD Odyssey+ in the fall of 2018. Both used dual 3.5-inch AMOLED displays at 1,440 × 1,600 per eye, up to 90 Hz and a published 110-degree field of view. The Plus is a distinct refresh, not the original model’s name; Microsoft lists it separately. Microsoft has since deprecated and removed Windows Mixed Reality from Windows 11 version 24H2, so these are historical-platform products rather than current Windows 11 recommendations. Last checked October 11, 2026.

What the family was

The Odyssey headsets were designed with Microsoft for Windows Mixed Reality. Samsung described the original as a headset for a compatible Windows 10 PC, with inside-out positional tracking, built-in AKG headphones, a microphone and two 6DoF motion controllers. Microsoft’s October 3, 2017 announcement likewise identifies the Odyssey as a Windows Mixed Reality headset and describes its dual AMOLED displays, inside-out tracking, integrated spatial headphones and quick motion controllers. Samsung’s contemporary article says setup required a compatible Windows 10 PC and the Fall Creators Update, and records support for SteamVR as well as Microsoft Store content.

These are not standalone headsets. Their historical platform was Windows Mixed Reality on a compatible Windows PC, with the headset connected by the video and USB ports appropriate to the model and the controllers tracked by cameras in the headset. That inside-out arrangement did not require external motion sensors, according to Samsung’s original description. It is useful historical context, but not a promise that a modern Windows installation will still provide the software stack.

The two model names should be kept separate when reading listings or manuals. Microsoft’s comparison table gives the original and Plus separate rows, release seasons and audio/Bluetooth entries. The Plus was an updated product, not a firmware name for every Odyssey. A used-market listing that says only “Samsung Odyssey” therefore needs its model and included controllers checked before its specifications are assumed.

Original vs Odyssey+

ModelVerified historical details
Samsung HMD OdysseyFall 2017; 2,880 × 1,600 total (1,440 × 1,600 per eye); dual 3.5-inch AMOLED; up to 90 Hz; 110° FOV; integrated audio; no Bluetooth listed; mechanical IPD adjustment.
Samsung HMD Odyssey+Fall 2018; 2,880 × 1,600 total (1,440 × 1,600 per eye); dual 3.5-inch AMOLED; up to 90 Hz; 110° FOV; integrated audio; built-in Bluetooth; mechanical IPD adjustment; two pre-paired 6DoF controllers reported in contemporaneous coverage.

The most visible Plus-specific display change was Samsung’s “Anti-Screen Door Effect” AMOLED technology. Contemporaneous reporting described a diffuser-style display innovation and repeated Samsung’s claim of 1,233 perceived PPI, while noting that independent reviews would be needed to assess the result. That is a manufacturer claim, not a measured performance result, so it should not be read as a resolution increase: Microsoft’s comparison still lists 2,880 × 1,600 for both models. TechPowerUp also reports the Plus at 590 g, with a larger eye box than the earlier model, and the same $499.99 US price as the prior model at its October 22, 2018 launch. Engadget independently reports US sale from October 22 at $500 and the same per-eye display resolution.

Controller wording also needs care. Samsung’s original article describes two 6DoF motion controllers, while Microsoft’s table is a headset comparison rather than a complete bundle inventory. Engadget reports two pre-paired 6DoF controllers with the Plus. Those statements support the historical launch bundles, not the contents of every second-hand package. Neither source supports a claim about current replacement-controller availability.

Scope caveat: Microsoft’s table is a historical platform reference and labels the documentation retired. It verifies the family-level comparison above, but it is not evidence of current retail inventory, warranty coverage or a current Samsung software-download guarantee. This page contains no hands-on testing; comfort, tracking quality, image quality and game performance are not presented as first-hand findings.

Platform and end-of-support status

Microsoft’s current Windows documentation says Windows Mixed Reality is deprecated and was removed in Windows 11, version 24H2. The removal includes Mixed Reality Portal, Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR and Steam VR Beta. Microsoft’s compatibility guidance limits WMR support to Windows 10 version 20H2 through Windows 11 version 23H2 and explicitly says WMR devices are not supported on Windows 11 version 24H2 and newer. In practical terms, a buyer should not treat a current Windows 11 24H2-or-newer PC as a supported plug-and-play target for either Odyssey model.

For users who remain on Windows 11 version 23H2, Microsoft’s lifecycle notice says existing WMR devices continue to work with Steam through November 2026. That statement is conditional on remaining on the current released 23H2 version; it is not a guarantee for upgrades, clean installations or later Windows releases. After November 2026, Microsoft says WMR receives no security updates, nonsecurity updates, bug fixes, technical support or online technical-content updates. The date is a platform lifecycle statement, not a claim that every individual Odyssey unit has failed or that used hardware cannot power on.

Historically, Microsoft’s minimum guidelines for other WMR-compatible headsets called for a compatible Windows edition, 8 GB RAM, a suitable DirectX 12 GPU, HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 for 90 Hz systems, USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0 for motion controllers. Those guidelines are useful for explaining what the original PC ecosystem expected, but they should not be presented as a modern compatibility test: Microsoft now repeats the 24H2 exclusion on the same page. Adapter wiring, drivers, headset cables and the exact Windows build can also matter, and this page does not certify any particular PC or adapter combination.

Related coverage

Return to the VR headset directory for other headset histories and current-family pages.

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