We've been getting this question a lot as of late. We talk about Google Cardboard, the cool stuff you can do with it, and speculate on Google's future plans for the platform. People want to use it, so they need to know where to get it into their hot little hands.
Google isn't selling the new version 2.0 Cardboard viewers themselves. They never sold the original, so that's not surprising. And version 2.0 is what you want if you already don't have a viewer — it works for larger phones like the Nexus 6 or Note 4, and the new "input" method of a small capacitive tape-covered lever means it works on phones that didn't support the magnetic slider-switch like some from Sony or LG.
Let's see how you can get yourself a new Cardboard viewer.
For starters, you'll want to vists the "official" Google Cardboard site. You'll find all the information about supported viewers, how to make your own, and links to buy from various vendors.
Some vendors have Cardboard 2.0 in stock, some have running pre-orders, and some are "coming soon." It's not the most complicated tech in the world to manufacture, but it's a new version and folks building them need time to switch over.
You'll also find some "think different" styles, like aluminum versions of even versions built from colored EVA foam. There's some really cool stuff in this space.
I Am Cardboard is where we bought ours
Our recommendation? Buy your new Cardboard 2.0 viewer from the folks at I Am Cardboard. They have the 2.0 version in stock for $20, it comes in six different colors, and most importantly, they have been building Google Cardboard-certified viewers since the platform launched. They know what they are doing, and can provide an easy to assemble and easy to pair viewer for folks who like easy. I like easy. I know plenty of you folks like easy, too.
We have a feeling that Google wants to push the Cardboard platform in a big way. It's already a success with working hardware and software, but big plans means more features and random cool stuff from the minds at big G. Getting a viewer for $20 is a cheap way to be sure you're in on anything that gets released.
