What is the difference between google cardboard and Gear VR?

Question

Unity

1. Are there any differences when developing applications for these VR devices?
2. Will the same app run on google cardboard and Gear VR?
3. And is it possible to use google cardboard as a tested device, instead of Gear VR?

Answer 1

Cardboard is just a piece of cardboard with lenses and a button puck. Gear VR has a touchpad, precise gyroscope and Asynchronous Timewarp, it's more technologically advanced and more solid as a platform. As for Daydream, I can’t say anything yet, I haven’t felt it.
In the context of a unit, development will be different. Cardboard requires a plugin, Gear VR support is out of the box, Daydream will be out of the box in the next version of the unit. Also, you'll probably want to use the Gear VR's extra buttons, so you'll have to write your own interface options for each platform. The same application on different platforms will not launch, for example, the Gear VR application waits for the phone to be inserted into the helmet after launch. In addition, Gear VR is very strict with certificates, as you can’t just take and assemble it under a regular android, you have to register on the site and get a key. You can use a cardboard for testing, but then you will be limited to poor tracking, and from the input methods you will only have a glance, so decide which platform you need. Both platforms are easy to maintain, but you'll have to write your own SDK wrappers and switch platforms on build.