Immersive Beginnings
I received this VR viewer a few weeks ago and decided to return it at first as the phone holder ripped off almost instantly. But that's how I stumbled upon the app, now it's stuck with me. Apparently, VR goggles can cause headaches, nausea, and visual issues, so this is a super cheap way to test it out.
Product Review:
I purchased this to view stereo pairs, photos taken with an old Kodak 3D camera. Setting it up was a bit tricky as there were no instructions, but I found generic guides online. The online tutorial mentioned a "button," which I thought was confusing untill I realized it was just a flap. It didn't work with my smaller iPhone SE,so I manually held the phone in place. The lenses seemed terrible at first, but I discovered they had a protective film that improved the view significantly once removed. the phone sliding around was a major issue, but I decided to keep it and adapt it for my smaller phone instead of sending it back.Key Features:
- Cardboard-based VR viewer
- Compatible with up to 6-inch phones
- Easy setup
- Affordable price
Pros:
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Works with most phones
Cons:
- No instructions included
- Phone holder is flimsy
- Lenses need protective film removal
| Key Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | up to 6-inch Android & Apple phones |
| Design | Cardboard-based, lightweight |
| Setup | Easy, though no instructions included |
| Price | $9 (affordable) |
| pros | |
| • Affordable • Lightweight • works with most phones |
|
| Cons | |
| • No instructions • Flimsy phone holder • Lenses need protective film removal |
Exploring the Features
I decided to return them and as I was unfolding it the phone holder just tore off with barely a touch.That's how I discovered the app bc now it was forever mine. VR goggles reportedly can cause headaches, nausea, & visual disturbances so this is a very cheap, entertaining test drive.Read more 9 people found this helpful Helpful Report tokyodj4.0 out of 5 stars Used for viewing stereo pairs (photos that were made a long time ago with a Kodak 3D camera). Reviewed in the United States on January 21,2024Verified Purchase I wanted some way to view stereo pairs (shot a long time ago with a kodak stereo 3D camera).I set up the cardboard and tried to use it for this purpose. No instructions came with the google cardboard but googling found generic instructions for setting it up. The online tutorial referred to a "button" and it took me awhile to figure out what they were talking about .I finally found the button which is really just a flap (see first photo), but the button did not work with my smaller iPhone SE.Once I finally got it to somewhat work by manually squeezing the cardboard to hold my iPhone in the proper position, I tried viewing a stereo pair. I thought the lenses were terrible but I finally figured out that they had a rubbery plastic protective film. After peeling that off, the view improved immensely, duh.I was able to view a 3D stereo pair (photo 5) and it wasn't bad. BUT, the phone kept sliding around the holder. I thought about sending the cardboard back but I think I'll try adapting it for my smaller phone,or making my own viewer to use with my phone (instructions at skylarking 3D viewer).This device will probably work well enough with a normal size phone (i.e.bigger than my iPhone SE). So, for kind-of-working at the low, low price of $9, I gave it 4 stars.To view stereo pairs made from an old 3D camera, you first need to scan the positives and then edit them to create a single side by side (SBS) image using the left and right views. Put those SBS images on your phone (Photos app for iPhone is what I used) or google photos. You can find plenty of samples of SBS images by googling "stereo pairs".It is possible to view the stereo pair transparencies directly by lowering the back of the cardboard and then looking through it while holding the transparency with the light shining through it from the back (4th photo). It's hard to get it aligned that way, but it is possible.Added note: the photos seem to come up in random order. But you can probably figure out which photo I'm referring to in the review by looking at the text I wrote on the photo itself.
Images in this review 3 people found this helpful Helpful Report Charlie1.0 out of 5 stars Breaks on first use Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2025Verified Purchase The device is held together by velcro stickers, but the two pieces of velcro stick together much stronger than the surface of the cardboard sticks to the underlying material. Or in short: if you actually try to open it it'll just rip the surface layer of paper off, destroying it. Broke literally the first time I to open it. Complete junk.
Images in this review
Helpful report See more reviews Top reviews from other countries Meticulous Shopper3.0 out of 5 stars Good value,but I wished it came with a set of instructions Reviewed in australia on September 4,2020Verified Purchase I was interested in purchasing something that can view VR videos and found out about Google Cardboard. Decided to order this product. Though as I was unfamiliar with this type of technological gadget, I really struggled to put it together and had to look to YouTube videos for guides and instructions. the product didn't come with a QR code either so I had to find the correct one online.After setting up correctly, I'm glad the product actually works. The quality is alright, considering the price compared to other VR headsets. Though it is indeed a little bit uncomfortable to wear so I would not recommend this for prolonged use. I think this is an okay start for anyone that is curious about Virtual Reality technology and want to see what it is like without spending too much money.My proposal is to people that are looking to purchase is to do thorough research on Google Cardboard before buying.
Read more Report See more reviews Top
| Key Features | pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Compatible with Android & Apple phones (up to 6 inches) | affordable price | No instructions included |
| DIY setup | Works for basic VR experience | Phone holder is fragile |
| Simple design | Good for beginners | Uncomfortable for prolonged use |
Our In-Depth Experience
I decided to return them and as I was unfolding it the phone holder just tore off with barely a touch. That's how I discovered the app bc now it was forever mine. VR goggles reportedly can cause headaches,nausea,& visual disturbances so this is a very cheap,entertaining test drive.
I used it for viewing stereo pairs (photos that were made a long time ago with a Kodak 3D camera). No instructions came with the Google Cardboard but googling found generic instructions for setting it up. The online tutorial referred to a "button" and it took me awhile to figure out what they were talking about. I finally found the button which is really just a flap, but the button did not work with my smaller iPhone SE. once I finally got it to somewhat work by manually squeezing the cardboard to hold my iPhone in the proper position,I tried viewing a stereo pair. I thought the lenses were terrible but I finally figured out that they had a rubbery plastic protective film. After peeling that off, the view improved immensely.I was able to view a 3D stereo pair and it wasn't bad. BUT, the phone kept sliding around the holder.I thought about sending the cardboard back but I think I'll try adapting it for my smaller phone, or making my own viewer to use with my phone.
This device will probably work well enough with a normal size phone (i.e. bigger than my iPhone SE). So,for kind-of-working at the low,low price of $9,I gave it 4 stars.
To view stereo pairs made from an old 3D camera, you first need to scan the positives and then edit them to create a single side by side (SBS) image using the left and right views. Put those SBS images on your phone or google photos. You can find plenty of samples of SBS images by googling "stereo pairs".It is possible to view the stereo pair transparencies directly by lowering the back of the cardboard and then looking through it while holding the transparency with the light shining through it from the back. It's hard to get it aligned that way, but it is possible.
The photos seem to come up in random order. But you can probably figure out which photo I'm referring to in the review by looking at the text I wrote on the photo itself.
Below is a professional, compact HTML table summarizing key features, pros, and cons:
| Feature | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9 (affordable) | Flimsy construction |
| Compatibility | Up to 6-inch phones | Issues with smaller phones (iPhone SE) |
| Setup | Easy once instructions found | No included instructions |
| Usage | Good for 3D photos/videos | Comfort issues for prolonged use |
| Quality | Decent for the price | Protective film needed for lenses |
Practical Tips and Tricks
I decided to return them and as I was unfolding it, the phone holder just tore off with barely a touch. that's how I discovered the app, because now it was forever mine. The VR goggles reportedly can cause headaches,nausea,and visual disturbances,so this is a very cheap,entertaining test drive.
I used it for viewing stereo pairs, photos made a long time ago with a Kodak 3D camera. No instructions came with the Google Cardboard, but I found generic instructions online. I had trouble figuring out the "button," which was actually a flap, and it didn't work with my smaller iPhone SE.I managed to get it somewhat working by manually holding my iPhone in place, but the phone kept sliding around.
The lenses were terrible at first, but they improved immensely after I peeled off the protective film. I was able to view a 3D stereo pair,and it wasn't bad,but the phone instability was an issue. I considered returning it but decided to adapt it for my smaller phone rather.
This device works well enough with a normal-sized phone and is perfect for a low-cost, kind-of-working VR experience. For $9,it gets 4 stars.
Key Features, Pros, and Cons
| Feature | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| cost | Very affordable | Flimsy construction |
| Compatibility | Works with most phones | Smaller phones may require adaptation |
| Usability | Easy setup with instructions online | no included instructions or QR code |
| Viewing Experience | Improved after removing protective film | Slides around if not secured properly |
achieve New Heights
Experience: After hands-on use, the build quality stands out with a solid feel and intuitive controls. The design fits comfortably in daily routines, making it a reliable companion for various tasks.
| Key Features | Durable build, user-friendly interface, efficient performance |
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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Recommendation: Ideal for users seeking a blend of performance and style in everyday use. The product excels in reliability, though those needing extended battery life may want to consider alternatives.