Google Cardboard 2.0 Review
Facebook, Sony, Samsung, HTC, Microsoft… Both virtual and augmented reality are a long way off going mainstream but already the big tech companies are hard at work, releasing devices and showing off groundbreaking new technology.
In the midst of this VR arms race, Google decided to swim against the current. Their initial entry into the space is unapologetically low-tech. The reaction when it was announced last year was mostly along the lines of “is this some kind of belated April Fools?”.
And yet here we are a year later with the release of Cardboard 2.0, a small update designed simply to cater for iPhones and larger Android phones. It’s not thinner; it doesn’t have a better battery; it doesn’t have rounded edges; it’s blissfully and almost refreshingly free of technology.
You can buy them from several places online, or if you fancy a bit of DIY you can make one yourself! What you’ll get is an extremely low-cost barebones VR device that’ll give you a head start in both viewing and making VR experiences.
Last year there was a sense of “what now?” about it, but today there’s much more content available so it’s the perfect time to jump in. There are also development kits for Android and 3D games so developers can experiment more easily than ever with the potential of VR.
The experience
Most gadget reviews talk about build quality and user experience but lets be real here, it’s a cardboard box with some holes cut into it. Ever hold a cardboard box against your face? It’s about as comfortable as you imagine!
However that does mean that the initial setup is pretty simple. You fold out a piece of the box, set your phone inside and fold it back up. That’s it; there’s no calibration or adjustment needed.
That said, it’d be nice to have some control over the lenses. Our Cardboard is pretty sharp if you hold it just right, but only in a very small area. Mostly the image is blurry and it doesn’t take long to start feeling motion sick and nauseous.
Also it doesn’t take much time before it starts getting a bit worn and weak — it’s cardboard after all — so if you intend on having one around for a while we’d recommend modding it a little to add extra sturdiness.
Then again, with this device quality is not really the point. It’s not really a VR viewing device, it’s a VR prototyping device. It’s best used for quickly and cheaply testing ideas, and for that purpose it’s definitely good enough. When using it you’ll get a fraction of the immersion that something like the Oculus can give but at a fraction of the cost and effort. It’s just enough to get a real sense of 3D space, especially with the 3D audio that most apps have.
Is there a case for a higher quality, more comfortable version of the Cardboard? Will we even view VR on our phones like this, or will we cast to another device like the Oculus? The appeal of mobile is mostly in short bursts of content, and even the few seconds it takes to put on the Cardboard feels like a lot. Plus it’s simply not comfortable enough for longer viewing.
Samsung seem to think there’s potential there. The Samsung Gear VR, like the Google Cardboard, uses a phone as the main element. However the device itself is more like a slimmed down version of the Oculus than a cardboard box and it’s much more comfortable to wear. It’s also 10x the price, so it’s a little unfair to directly compare the two!
Overall the Cardboard is a great little device for the money, especially if you’re interested in trying out VR. Just don’t set your expectations too high!
Apps for Cardboard
Even if you don’t have a Cardboard, you can still check out 360-degree videos using your phone. By moving the phone around it acts as a ‘window’, putting you at the center of the action. It’s a different kind of experience to VR, but a unique and interesting one nonetheless.
So we’ll leave you now with a curated a list of the best 360 video experiences we could find on both Android and iPhone, enjoy! 👀
Google Spotlight Stories
A small but high quality curated collection of short 360 degree videos. There’s epic action from the director of the Fast & Furious movies as well as beautiful hand-drawn animations from award-winning artists.
[Android][iOS]
Legendary VR
Three — at the time of writing — experiences by Legendary Pictures. Pilot a giant robot in Pacific Rim, fly on a Griffin in Warcraft and explore a haunted house in Crimson Peak.
[Android][iOS]
Expanse VR
Explore the universe of SyFy’s upcoming space epic, The Expanse. The first experience has you floating around in space as massive freighter ship The Canterbury passes close by.
[Android][iOS]
