Virtual reality has been ruling the world with its new updates and technologies. It can be used in many sectors like healthcare, entertainment, education, architecture, and many more.
The popular virtual reality platforms used by people are Google Cardboard and Oculus. They both provide users with a better experience in gaming and give them an amazing understanding of virtual reality.
Key Takeaways
- Google Cardboard is an affordable, entry-level virtual reality headset made from cardboard and compatible with smartphones.
- Oculus, owned by Facebook, produces high-quality virtual reality headsets with advanced features, such as integrated tracking and motion controllers.
- Google Cardboard provides a basic VR experience, while Oculus offers a more immersive and technologically advanced experience.
Google Cardboard vs Oculus
Google Cardboard is a simple and inexpensive VR headset that uses a smartphone as the display screen. It is made of cardboard and other low-cost materials. Oculus is a more advanced VR headset designed to be a standalone device, meaning it doesn’t require a separate device to function.
Google Cardboard is developed by Google. It is a virtual reality platform. To use this platform, users should have cardboard-compatible mobile apps on their phones.
They should place it in the back of the viewer, then view the content through the lens. It gives a good experience for people who want to play games and view pictures. And the best part is they can make this at home.
Oculus is a virtual reality gaming platform. It is rated through the International Age Rating Coalition. People who are above the age of 13 can use this.
It has been introduced by Facebook, and their recent version is Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality VR headset. It improves upon its predecessor almost every day.
If you are a relatively casual user, it is one of the best VR systems, and it is truly worth buying.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Google Cardboard | Oculus |
|---|---|---|
| Founded by | David Coz and Damien Henry | Palmer Lucky |
| Evolution | June 25, 2014 | March 28, 2016 |
| Advantages | It has no controller and is easy to use | No cables required for sharp display powerful processor |
| Disadvantages | No best practices are made for the app development | It has 2 – 3 hours of battery life |
| Lifespan | 5 years | 2 – 3 years |
What is Google Cardboard?
It is an inexpensive handheld device. It gives a virtual reality experience, provided you have a cardboard-enabled app on your smartphone.
Cardboard ensures comfort, light sealing, and cohesion. It is fully compatible with Apple iOS and Google Android. It is suitable for people who wear eyeglasses.
Some of the devices that are compatible with google cardboard are iPhone 8, iPhone 8 plus, Padfone 2, Zenfone 2, Zenfone 3, and so on.
It is an excellent entrant into the VR gaming world. People who have good laying can play the best games on google cardboard.
It is popular because it is inexpensive, and chances are that people who have good android phones can use it.
Some of the best google cardboard games are Flats, Voxel Fly VR, Minos Starfighter VR, VR Controller, Hardcode, VR X-Racer, InMind VR, InCell VR, Whispering Eons, Trinus, and Wrong Voyage VR.
To use google cardboard on a PC, you should connect your phone to the PC with the help of a USB cable. Once you have connected, you should turn on the USB tethering on your smartphone.
Since cardboard is no longer available for purchase, Google made an official announcement stating that they are no longer interested in virtual reality based on phones.
People who used this under normal circumstances have been asked to give this up.
What is Oculus?
It highly translates your movements into VR. It does not matter what you are facing as it tracks without any external sources.
It comes with pre-loaded games called Beat Saber, Journey of the Gods, Sports Scramble, Creed, and Space Pirate Trainer.
For priced Oculus VR games, they have different price plans ranging from cheap plans to higher plans. Luckily it has free games available on each VR headset.
It also has a bunch of great offerings, which you can use for no extra charge. Even multiplayer games are available for free of cost so that you can play with all your friends.
For payable games, you have to buy them in the play store by paying some amount. After you pay the amount, you will be able to download that selection.
For using Oculus Quick headsets or Meta Quest headsets, a Facebook account is mandatory.
Since the rules are changing, you should check with Oculus whether you need a Facebook account for everything.
Also, Meta is working on some alternative ways to log in to your Quest and Quest 2. Netflix is available on Oculus Go Headsets, Oculus Quest, and Oculus Quest 2.
There are 170 total items available in Oculus. Among them, 113 are games, 7 are demo versions of paid apps, and 50 are apps.
Main Differences Between Google Cardboard and Oculus
- Google Cardboard was founded by David Coz and Damien Henry. On the other hand, Oculus was founded by Palmer Lucky.
- Google Cardboard was first introduced in the year 2014. On the other hand, Oculus was first introduced in the year 2016.
- The lifespan of Google Cardboard is 5 years. On the other hand, the lifespan of Oculus is 2 – 3 years.
- The advantage of Google Cardboard is it has no controller and is easy to use. On the other hand, the advantage of Oculus is no cables are required for a sharp display powerful processor.
- The downside of Google Cardboard is no best practices are done for the app development. On the other hand, the downside of Oculus is its battery life is poor as it can withstand for only 2 – 3 hours.
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7413882/
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7859536/
Last Updated : 18 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
