• Home
  • Shopping
    • Current Best Selling Headphones
      • Bose SoundSport vs Jaybird X3
      • Jaybird X3 vs Jaybird X2
    • Current Best Selling Wearable Tech
    • Current Best Selling Fitness Trackers
    • Current Best-Selling Bike Computers
    • Current Best Selling Cheap Bike Computers under $100
  • Best Selling Wearable Tech
    • Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones vs Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones
    • Current Best Selling Fitness Trackers
    • Current Best Selling Wearable Tech
    • Current Best Selling Headphones
    • Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats2 vs Jaybird X2 Bluetooth Headphones
    • Best Bluetooth Headphones under $100 – Plantronics BackBeat Fit Headphones Review
  • Fitness Trackers
    • Fitbit Blaze vs Surge
    • Fitbit Charge HR vs Surge
    • Current Best Selling Fitness Trackers
    • Fitbit Blaze Review
    • Review: Garmin Vivoactive HR GPS Smart Watch
    • Video: Garmin Vivoactive HR Unboxing and Set Up
  • Headphones
    • Jaybird X3 vs Jaybird X2 Bluetooth Headphones
    • Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones vs Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones
    • Current Best Selling Headphones
    • Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats2 vs Jaybird X2 Bluetooth Headphones
    • Best Bluetooth Headphones under $100 – Plantronics BackBeat Fit Headphones Review
    • How to Choose the Safest Headphones for Walking, Cycling and Running
    • Top 5 Safest Headphones for Cycling
    • Plantronics Backbeat FIT vs Backbeat Go 2 Bluetooth Headphones
    • Best Open Ear Cycling Headphones Under $50 – Aftershokz Headphones Review
    • Aftershokz Trekz Titanium vs SainSonic BM-7 Bone Conduction Headphones
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Subscribe
All about wearable technology - Reviews, news, and advice!

Average Joe's Wearable Tech Blog

All about wearable technology - Reviews, news, and advice!

Google Cardboard VR Review

December 9, 2016 by Average Joe Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

The Google Cardboard VR is a very cheap way to start enjoying the exploding universe of virtual reality. Although it is very cheap, it works remarkably well, and is really an ideal starter VR headset to explore VR and see if this is for you. It can be used with most phones, up to and including an iPhone 6.

Read our review of the amazingly cheap Google Cardboard VR!

Click To Tweet

VR is now available and very accessible, and has the ability to transform your movie-watching and game-playing experiences into awesome VR experiences. If you want to try VR or just give the gift of VR, the prices and choices can be overwhelming. But you really cannot go wrong with the $13.99 Google Cardboard VR.

Google Cardboard VR is the cheapest possible VR headset you can buy, yet it actually works really well as a fun toy and as a great introduction to VR.

Google Cardboard VR is the cheapest possible VR headset, yet it actually works really well as a fun toy and as a great introduction to VR
Google Cardboard VR is the cheapest possible VR headset, yet it actually works really well as a fun toy and as a great introduction to VR

Google Cardboard VR Review

Google Cardboard VR fits the bill if you are looking for VR technology that is really cheap. It is by far the best cheap wearable technology gift/virtual VR headset available. Google Cardboard VR is a whole lot of fun and an introduction to the exciting world of VR – for less than $20! At first, I thought there must be a catch. But no, this is pretty simple stuff: Google wanted to test the waters with VR, and get developers started making VR apps. So they made Google Cardboard VR, which is exactly what it says: a VR device made out of cardboard.

Google Cardboard VR is cheap, it’s basic, and it works pretty well – giving users a chance to try out the exciting new world of VR, at a very low cost. You hold the unit on your head, slide your cell phone into it, and then experience what your cell phone is projecting in a wonderful new way. (The unit is compatible with most iOS and Android phones.)

In its most basic form, you have to hold the Google Cardboard VR on your head, while you take a look at the wonders of VR. We are now at Google Cardboard VR Version 2, which is new in that it accommodates newer, larger cell phones (up to 6 inches). The version I am reviewing here comes with a simply headband that works remarkably well.

You cannot really go wrong for under twenty dollars, so the only hard thing is to decide who to buy it from. Many retailers have taken the Google technology and added on really useful extras – such as head bands, so that you don’t have to hold it in place, and nose and head pads for increased comfort. I could not decide which unit to buy, so I went with the #1 best seller. Usually, there is a good reason why items are #1.

Unboxing and Assembling Google Cardboard VR

When I first unpacked the bits of cardboard and the elastic band (!) I was not very optimistic. I actually heard a hilarious story about a guy who unpacked his Google Cardboard VR, then went out for a short while. Later, he couldn’t find it. Turned out his wife thought the pieces were the packaging, and had thrown it all in the garbage!

In any event, it took me a while to figure out how to assemble my new Google Cardboard VR. The instructions look impressive at first sight, but turn out not to be very helpful. To be honest, I don’t think I would have managed to assemble it if I did not have a secret weapon – a 16-year-old daughter who is really good at that kind of thing. She helped me to figure it out, and we actually had some fun doing it. Oddly, the most fun we have had together for ages. It’s fun when your kids start to be so smart that they can help you out! We also had fun making the video below, which shows unboxing and assembling the Google Cardboard VR.

How does the Magnet on Google Cardboard VR Work?

One of the great things about the Google Cardboard is that two simple magnets work as an input device (e.g. a mouse click or Enter), just by cleverly interacting with your phone. It amazed me. I was watching an app that required a mouse click, and I thought, “How am I going to do that without taking the phone out of the headset?” Without thinking it would actually work, I slid the magnet – and it worked! Just amazing.

This is how the magnet button works: Your phone most likely has a magnetic sensor in the back. These are there to work with smart covers that put the phone to sleep, or to sense docking stations. When you slide the magnet on the Google Cardboard in its groove, it then automatically slips back into place because of the other magnet on the opposite side. Your phone’s magnetic sensor sensing the movement of the magnet, and interprets this as a button press, which it then applies to whatever input your app happens to be waiting for, such as a mouse click or pressing the enter button. Simply brilliant, and it makes the simple Google Cardboard way more versatile for apps.

Trying out my Google Cardboard VR

Finally I got to put my phone into it to try it out. I have an iPhone 6, which fits perfectly. The minute I put my new Google Cardboard VR on, I suddenly realized what VR means – that amazing feeling of being immersed in a world that is in fact completely virtual.

It’s not really there, and you know it’s not really there – but it’s such fun to pretend it’s there!

VR enables you to experience things that would otherwise be impossible. Huge numbers of app developers have responded to Google’s initiative by developing apps that work with it. For example, the Bohemian Rhapsody Experience enables you to experience the sensation of being onstage with Freddy Mercury’s band, complete with audio and visual components. However, that one does not work with iPhones, so I have not tried it out.

Discover new worlds with your Google Cardboard!
Discover new worlds with your Google Cardboard!

The bottom line I found: Google Cardboard VR lets you experience reasonable quality VR for the price of a couple of coffees and a muffin. And if you give Google Cardboard VR as a gift – you can be sure it will be the most talked about cheap gift of all, and you will be remembered for being so original. It’s just such a remarkable little gadget. And for this price, you really cannot go wrong.

What can you view with a VR device?

The number of VR apps and videos available for free just keeps growing every day. For a start, you can consult a good post about the best VR apps. You can also go to YouTube and search for VR videos. What I did was to search for some VR videos and make a VR playlist  on YouTube.

You can go to YouTube and search for videos to watch on your VR headset. I really liked this video, which is a relaxing meander across the universe, with great sound. However, note that it is 3D, not immersive 360 degrees. It was also a little disconcerting that I was getting really relaxed, floating over Mars - and my journey was suddenly interrupted by a short car advert!
You can go to YouTube and search for videos to watch on your VR headset. I really liked this video, which is a relaxing meander across the universe, with great sound. However, note that it is 3D, not immersive 360 degrees. It was also a little disconcerting that I was getting really relaxed, floating over Mars – and my journey was suddenly interrupted by a short car advert!

What is the Difference between 3D and 360 Degrees Viewing?

Basically, 3D consists of projecting two different images to your two eyes, giving you a 3D perspective that includes depth – making possible that really cool feeling you get in 3D movies, when asteroids hurtle towards your head (well, I like it).

3D consists of projecting two different images to your two eyes, giving you a 3D perspective that includes depth. For example, this is what the Journey Through the Galaxy 3D video looks like when it's just on your phone. Pop your phone into your VR headset, and this odd view suddenly becomes a convincing 3D experience
3D consists of projecting two different images to your two eyes, giving you a 3D perspective that includes depth. For example, this is what the Journey Through the Galaxy 3D video looks like when it’s just on your phone. Pop your phone into your VR headset, and this odd view suddenly becomes a convincing 3D experience

360 degrees is a big step further than 3D, because you are immersed in what feels like a completely new world. You can look in any direction, and the virtual world continues all around, above and below you. Many of the videos on YouTube are merely 3D.

The best app I found for experiencing the whole immersive virtual reality experience is Within – VR (Virtual Reality). This free app includes a whole range of short VR experiences, that really give you an overview of what is now possible with virtual reality. You are sure to find at least one that you like. I really loved being able to re-experience being on the streets of New York, and actually being able to look UP at the architecture and the tops of the buildings!

The best app I found for experiencing the whole immersive virtual reality experience is Within - VR (Virtual Reality).
The best app I found for experiencing the whole immersive virtual reality experience is Within – VR (Virtual Reality)

Personally I find the immersive 360 degrees apps much more fun, intense, and exciting. They lend themselves to horror movie experiences, so there are quite a few of those available. I have to admit I have not tried those. I find ordinary horror movies too scary to deal with, so I don’t think I want to try being immersed in one.

Bottom Line on the Google Cardboard VR

I have used my own Google Cardboard VR a lot now, and am truly amazed at how tough it is. I mean, it’s cardboard! Yet it holds together perfectly. It also works really  well, and has given me a lot of fun. Mainly it is about that awesome “I am somewhere else” feeling, so that I can re-experience scuba diving or walking in New York without leaving my room. Sometimes it is deeply relaxing, such as when I float across the universe. There are also a lot of horror apps, but I don’t do horror. For those who do, it is sure to be great, as being immersed in scariness has to make it more scary.

In short, it is impossible to go wrong with the Google Cardboard VR. You will be able to experience the awe-inspiring world of virtual reality for a really low price. It is very likely that the Google Cardboard VR will turn out to be a “starter” VR headset. But you will have the fun of starting on this exciting journey into virtual reality with a very low investment.

Did you like this post or find it useful? If so, please support our blog:
We would appreciate it very much if you would SHARE it with others (using the Share buttons). If you really want to show your appreciation, please consider clicking on one of the Amazon links before buying from Amazon; or clicking on any of the other affiliate links on this page. Small commissions help pay for our time. Or BEST OF ALL - just SUBSCRIBE to our blog. It makes you part of our community, and gets you free weekly updates about our posts. Thanks in advance – reader support keeps us going and makes it all worthwhile!
Shop at Amazon USA:
Shop at Amazon Canada:
Shop at Amazon UK:
Amazon USA
Amazon Canada
Amazon UK

(Visited 504 times, 1 visits today)

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Filed Under: Latest Wearable Tech, VR - Virtual Reality Tagged With: 3D headsets, Best VR apps, Cheap VR headsets, Google Cardboard Video, Google Cardboard VR, Topmaxions 3D VR Virtual Reality DIY Glasses, VR headsets, Wearable technology, Within VR app

Subscribe to our mailing list!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How Our Affiliate Links Work

  • You pay EXACTLY the same price, whether you use our links or go direct to the affiliate websites.
  • Earning some commission enables us to spend more time writing posts 🙂
  • THANK YOU to all the good people who have bought through our links. Your support is sincerely appreciated.

Search our Wearable Tech Blog

Welcome to our Wearable Tech Blog!

Average Joe CyclistWelcome to our blog! I’m Joe Goodwill, and I spend my time testing and reviewing wearable tech (a tough job, but somebody has to do it). This blog features product reviews, news, and advice for people like you who want to use wearable tech - but who want to do their research and be really clear about what they are doing and what they are buying.
Mrs Average Joe Cyclist - MaggieHi! I'm Maggie Neilson (aka Mrs. Average Joe). I share Joe's love of wearable tech, and I love trying gadgets out and reviewing them on this blog.

Save

Save

Trending Right Now – Our Top Posts!

  • How to Use Your Garmin Vivoactive 3 to Record an ActivityHow to Use Your Garmin Vivoactive 3 to Record an Activity This is a handy step-by-step guide to show you how…
  • The Best Selling Fitness Trackers of 2016The Best Selling Fitness Trackers of 2016 Here's a handy guide to the best selling fitness trackers…
  • 7 of the Best Fitness Trackers7 of the Best Fitness Trackers This video-packed post presents our picks for 7 of the…
  • The Benefits and Challenges of Health Tracking with WearablesThe Benefits and Challenges of Health Tracking with Wearables Wearables allow users to monitor their health, receive alerts for…
  • Best Camcorder Under $130 - GoPro Hero ReviewBest Camcorder Under $130 – GoPro Hero Review This tiny, tough camcorder is part of the current explosion…
  • The Amazing Fitbit Success StoryThe Amazing Fitbit Success Story The amazing Fitbit success story is a case study that…
  • Lupine Piko 4 Light ReviewLupine Piko 4 Light Review Here's a complete review of the Lupine Lighting Systems Piko…
  • Amazon Prime Day Sale Starts Monday!Amazon Prime Day Sale Starts Monday! Amazon Prime Day, one of the biggest sales of the…
  • Top 5 Safest Headphones for CyclingTop 5 Safest Headphones for Cycling Many cyclists wear headphones. This post is about how to…
  • Fitbit Blaze vs SurgeFitbit Blaze vs Surge Fitbit Blaze vs Surge. Two of the most popular fitness…

Subscribe to our mailing list!

Copyright © 2022 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×