The search engine giant recently announced that they will now start selling the Google Cardboard VR Viewer on its online store for the very first time. Interested customers can immediately head on over to the Google Store to purchase their very own Virtual Reality viewer by Google. There is even a small discount should you plan on purchasing two.
Google Cardboard VR Viewer Now Available in the Company’s Online Store
If you don’t know what the Google Cardboard VR Viewer is, it is the company’s really cheap take on letting people experience virtual reality. While the experience is not as extensive as what you would might get from the likes of high-end VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive, it gives you an entry-level approach to the overall practice. With the cheap VR viewer, you are able to use it right after downloading certain virtual-reality apps found in the iOS App Store or in Android’s Google Play. Users will then place their compatible smartphone into the cardboard-based viewer for a limited, but still enjoyable, virtual reality experience.
Google started selling the Google Cardboard since it launched back in 2014, but it was only available through third-party sellers and retailers. This made it a bit difficult for some customers to determine where they should pick the device up. Now, the company known for their search engine has managed to clear such a dilemma by simply selling their VR viewer directly from their own online shop. At the moment, it is unclear how the selling of the Google Cardboard Viewer will affect third-party sales.
But aside from that, the Cardboard VR Viewer will have some competition such as the aforementioned HTC Vive. However, the differences in price points are so vast that you wouldn’t even call it a competition at all. HTC’s virtual reality device is offered at the high-end of the market whereas Google’s unit is pointed towards the lower-end.
As its name suggests, the Google Cardboard VR Viewer is mostly made out of, yes, cardboard. There are some materials that are added into the mix to make for a good VR experience, for its price. The HTC Vive, the upcoming PlayStation VR, and the Oculus Rift are all made with top-of-the-line materials that you wouldn’t even dare place the Cardboard viewer in league with them. Nonetheless, it is a great way to start enjoying the VR realm.