Which Cardboard VR Design is Right for Your Campaign?

Since the unveiling of Google’s original Cardboard design back in 2014, there have been numerous new innovations and variations for the platform. These innovations have been spurred on by user feedback, new use cases for the platform, and overall growth in the rapidly expanding VR space. One particular use case for the platform is as a marketing product. By creating fully custom-branded Google Cardboard units, savvy organizations are promoting their products, services, ideas, and initiatives in an innovate and exciting new way. As a creator of branded Cardboard units, we often get asked about which of our 2 branded cardboard designs (We offer a branded V2 version which is identical to the original Google V2 design as well as a Pop-up design) is better suited for a particular customer’s campaign. That’s why we’ve listed 3 key factors for you to consider when choosing the right custom VR model for your next campaign. Campaign User Experience It’s important to think about how your users will be using the VR viewers when engaging with your campaign. Take for instance if your users are using the viewers to interact with a particular app or site that requires frequent user input, then the V2 model with its clickable button may provide a better experience. A good example of this would be an interactive tour where the user has to tap the direction they would like to go or the thing they would like to engage with. While tapping on the screen without a button is no big deal, having a button does provide a slightly more immersive and uninterrupted experience. Similarly, the head straps featured in the V2 viewer would be particularly helpful for longer experiences as the user does not have to hold the viewer to the face manually. Conversely, if your users will be traveling with your viewers, then the foldable portability offered by a pop-up style viewer may be more practical. Also, the honeycomb design of this viewer can provide a better experience for individuals who wear glasses as they will not have to remove them to use the unit. Distribution Whether you’re giving them away at an event or the office or mailing them individually, the form factor is an important consideration. While one of the main benefits of our V2 viewer is that it is fully pre-assembled, a drawback is that it occupies more space. In contrast, our pop-up viewer is flat-packed and assembles in about 5 seconds. The compact nature of this viewer can save significantly on costs if you’re mailing them out individually. Similarly, if you have limited space at your event, or cannot transport many large boxes, this unit could be better suited for your needs. However, if you do not have any distribution restrictions, then opting for the V2 viewer may provide a better overall experience for your users. Budget Undoubtedly, your budget will be a key component when deciding which unit is right for you. Ultimately, both viewers provide a comparable viewing experience and the critical differences will come down to your particular use case and needs. That said, the pop-up viewer’s cost is about 20% lower per unit as compared to our V2 units. The difference in cost here is largely due to the few additional features offered by the V2 unit including being pre-assembled, providing a clickable button, and having head straps. Key Takeaways At the end of the day, whether you opt for our V2 design or Pop-up, both viewers will provide a great VR experience for any use case. What we’ve highlighted here are some nuanced differences that may make your campaign even better in particular situations. If you’d like us to help you figure out which design is right for your campaign needs, feel free to drop us a line. We usually respond within 4 hours or sooner!