Product Comparison: Google Cardboard vs Oculus Rift

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Google Cardboard Official

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Best Pick

Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Headset

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General Specifications

Brand

Google

Oculus

Model

Cardboard

Rift

About the Product

Get it, fold it and look inside to enter the world of Cardboard. It’s a VR experience starting with a simple viewer anyone can build or buy. Once you have it, you can explore a variety of apps that unfold all around you. And with plenty of viewer types available, you're sure to find one that fits you just right.

Step into Rift. Whether you're stepping into your favorite game, watching an immersive VR movie, jumping to a destination on the other side of the world, or just spending time with friends in VR, you'll feel like you're really there.

Origin

USA

Key Specs

Movement Tracking

Yes

Control Type

Interactive click button

Motion Controllers

Sensors

Proximity Sensor

Wireless

Movement Tracking
Wireless

What customers say about "Key Specs"

Google Cardboard Official

This is a good headset for anyone who wants to check out VR without paying close to $1000 for the whole headset system. It's not anything close to the Oculas or the HTC Vive platforms but there is quite a selection of apps you can get.
This is the best play value for the money I have ever gotten. Some people must be expecting Occulus at this price based on their complaints.
These work well enough to evaluate whether you are entertained by a phone-based VR headset.
On the oculus you can move around and the view is wider and more immersive. Which is fantastic if you are serious about vr and will be using it often.
Ok, they are cheap - and you get what you pay for. But, they get the job done, and I don't have to worry if the kids break them!

Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Headset

Its a great product.
Warning to anyone afraid of heights! It seems real! Also have to avoid the games with fast movement because I get motion sick, but I love most of the games!
The games like Rec Room are probably better when you have 360 sensors, but I've not bought the 3rd sensor for 360 gameplay.
The sensor worked well. I wish there was a way to set my screen in any orientation I wanted. IE calibrate the screen for sideways viewing especially for beds since my room was a BED-room.
I think that you need to add more movement to the VR to get a better sense of immersion, similar to the HTC Vive with room detection.

Size & Weight

Color

Brown

Black

Height

2.2 in.

6.5 in.

Width

5.9 in.

15.4 in.

Depth

3.5 in.

12.1 in.

Weight

3.36 oz.

18.32 oz.

What customers say about "Size & Weight"

Google Cardboard Official

The most accurate possible review: if you have a perfectly-sized phone and a perfectly sized head, they're kind of ok.
Fits my caseless iphone perfectly, though be careful of the sides as the phone will slip out despite googles attempt at providing grip.
The phones fit nicely in the compartment (however, these are not adjustable for a thicker case)
Perhaps unsurprisingly, these are quite uncomfortable to wear, even for brief periods of time. I took foam weather stripping and stuck it in various places on the Cardboard to get some padding (mostly around the bridge of the nose).
I can't say much other than it's not a one size fits all.
They fit poorly on your face, they're extremely uncomfortable, and the quality of the experience will vary depending on your phone model.

Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Headset

Now ive read alot about glasses problems. I wear glasses and i can say that I have no issue with using the oculus. I have a smaller head and wear kid size glasses though.
Sound is actually quite good for it's size, so no need to use a headphones and that simplifies usage a lot.
VERY well built for such a delicate device.
Can only take an hour or so, after head and eyes starts to hurt

Display

Display Type

Depends on the model

OLED

Focus Adjustment Wheel

Interpupillary Distance Adjustment

Field Of View

110 °

Features

Buttons

Сlick button

D-Pad, L/R Sticks, YXBA buttons, L/R Triggers, L/R Bumpers, Connect button, Start button, Back button, X-Box guide button, Select button, Touch Surface, Home button

Extras

Clever, user-friendly design, Works with your smartphone, Cardboard app, So much content to dive into

Intuitive Exploring with Oculus Remote, Integrated VR Audio, A Sensor Designed for VR, Great Games Deserve a Great Controller, Featured VR Games

Adjustable Headband

Yes

Integrated Speaker(s)

Yes

Integrated Microphone

Power Source

Need no power supply

Integrated Speaker(s)
Integrated Microphone

What customers say about "Features"

Google Cardboard Official

The Google Cardboard app was pretty good and had good demos. It was hard finding good apps, but not bad. The response and experience was super cool. I recommend.
Works a lot beter than higher priced VR units. Most do not have button control for softwware wich is needed for Android VR software
It has a built in "button", that you press and it moves a mechanism that touches your phone's screen to pause or play games and videos. It is also made out of cardboard, so you have to avoid water at all costs.
I am very happy with my Google Cardboard VR glasses, the Cardboard Camera App and the Viewer App.
Google Cardboard is a great little virtual reality product that is very cheap and works well with many phones. I used mine as a test bed for VR development, but it's great for use with many apps.

Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Headset

Sound quality is very good.
It fits almost perfectly, you can customize it so well.
Limited VR software availability, and what there is, well much of the software is only of passing interest.
Setup was easy, using the Oculus store is intuitive and the free apps can fill your first day experimenting.
The image was blurry and poorly resolved in just about all the positions I tried wearing it. Ghosting was pretty noticeable. Glare was also an issue.

Other Information

Manufacturer

Link

Manual

Download

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

1 year(s)

Certifications