Samsung’s Note 4 is just around the corner, and with it the Gear VR, a virtual reality headset that is unique to the Note 4. I’m going to look at two of the current mobile VR (virtual reality) options out there, and see how they compare to the upcoming Gear VR.
The most inexpensive and easiest way to give Mobile VR a go is to construct a Google Cardboard kit. You can make your own from a pizza box, or just order a kit from a supplier that can send you all the parts. All you just have to do make a few folds in the pre-cut kit, stick in the lenses and magnet and you have a working VR set. Then give it to your mate and secretly film their reaction as they ride a virtual rollercoaster. I’m using the Nexus 5 for the content here but there are a bunch of other phones that work just as well.
Google has its own cardboard app that lets you try a few things out by using two simple gestures – turn the cardboard sideways to get back to the main menu, and use the magnetic ring as a sliding selector, which the Nexus senses as a electrical field change and pops you into the app. My favourite app is the youtube app, which is presented as an all encompassing sphere of youtube videos. You can actually search by voice for videos you’re interested in. It does a good job of placing the video in such a way that makes it look like you’re watching a big screen.
The main thing you notice here of course is that I’m using my hands to keep the Cardboard on my face, which can get tiresome once the mobile VR novelty fades off. This is where the Durovis Dive is a better, albeit at around $80 a more expensive option, with a headstrap to keep the headset in place.
The other important thing here is that the lenses on the google cardboard are fixed in place, whereas on the Dive they are adjustable to ensure you get the most clear and immersive viewing experience – they can be tweaked in position until they suit your eyes.
Here I’m using a Galaxy S4, with the same resolution as the Nexus 5, and it fits snugly into the foam – although it can be very easy to accidentally turn the phone off or change the volume.
The best app to demonstrate here is the dive rollercoaster ride – your ability to look around while the rollercoaster zooms along its rail can make you feel genuinely queasy. For something more serene the underwater app is also fun, with random creatures floating in and out of view.
But where the Google Cardboard had an innovative way to navigate between apps within the Mobile VR environment, there’s actually no real navigation possible with the Dive – you have to take the headset off, take the phone out, and change the app. To be honest that does get annoying.
The headstrap also seems to be ill-fitting – it doesn’t matter how I adjust it, it still eventually slackens off and slips down, so I’m constantly fidgeting with it. The really noticeable aspect is how hot the S4 gets. You don’t get this kind of heat in Google Cardboard because frankly, you’d never hold it up to your head for any real length of time. But I’ve never felt a smartphone get this hot before.
That said, the Dive is great for watching 3d film clips and passive immersion in virtual worlds. Just as a casual mobile VR experience it’s great, and the S4 screen is quite responsive, although at times the pixels can be noticed as a subtle grid covering the screen.
Which brings us to the Samsung Gear VR. The Samsung model has been designed and produced in partnership with Oculus, and when compared to Cardboard and Dive, they seem to have addressed a few of the niggles I just mentioned. The first one is the headstrap – it goes over the head just like the Oculus Rift for better comfort and long term placement. Second is an actual control system, there’s a back button, touch pad and volume key to make mobile VR navigation easier.
The biggest attraction is the use of the Note 4 as the display – it has a Quad HD screen, which is even better than the Oculus Rift, which uses the Note 3’s 1080p screen. This should make the virtual world even more detailed, immersive and experiential. But hey, this is all guesswork until I actually get my hands on one.
That’s my quick look at mobile VR. Are you keen to step into virtual reality? Is the Gear VR an enticing accessory for the Note 4?