Comparison Sony PlayStation VR Mega Pack vs Oculus Quest 64 Gb

The general purpose of the glasses is specified based on which device they are to be used with:

— For PC/Console. Glasses connected during operation to an external device and receiving a video signal from this device. Most often, it is supposed to be connected to a computer or game console, but there are models that can be connected to mobile gadgets, drones, etc. In general, they provide a good compromise between accessibility and functionality, and besides, quite advanced graphics can be displayed on such glasses. On the other hand, for the full use of such models, powerful video cards are often required.

— For a smartphone. Models designed to turn a smartphone into a virtual reality device. To do this, the smartphone is installed in a special slot on the glasses so that its screen is turned towards the user's eyes; glasses themselves do not have screens. And the effect of virtual reality is achieved through the operation of smartphone sensors and (accelerometer, gyroscope) and the use of special applications created specifically for this format of work. The key advantage of glasses of this type is simplicity and low cost: most often these are purely mechanical devices, without built-in electronics (and even advanced models with additional hardware are much cheaper than other types of glasses). On the other hand, the quality of virtual reality directly depends on the capabilities o...f the smartphone, despite the fact that not all devices correctly process such content. In addition, the glasses must be compatible with the smartphone being used, and this is not always guaranteed (for more details, see “Maximum phone size”).

— For quadcopter (FPV goggles). Video glasses used to control drones and radio-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to provide a first-person view. FPV goggles allow pilots to receive a video feed from a UAV camera in real time. To do this, the design of such glasses provides two separate miniature screens for each eye and complex optics to provide binocular vision. Lenses often have adjustable focal length to suit the visual apparatus and the varying needs of the pilot. Many FPV goggles are equipped with a built-in receiver and antennas to receive signals from the video camera on board the UAV, as well as control the quadcopter. FPV systems are actively used in the segment of racing drones, aerial photography, and even in combat operations. Glasses with a first-person view provide the pilot with a more complete perception of the surrounding environment and improve the controllability of the aircraft.

— Standalone device. Points that function completely autonomously and do not require the use of external devices. To do this, the design provides for its own processor, "RAM", video adapter, drive for storing content and a battery for power. Thus, with such a gadget, virtual reality becomes available literally anywhere in the world; and at a cost, such glasses are comparable to models for PC / consoles. On the other hand, the capabilities of stand-alone devices are noticeably more modest: the relatively low power of video adapters does not allow for the same advanced graphics as on PCs or consoles, the amount of internal memory is usually small, and the continuous operation time is limited by battery charge.

— For quadcopter (FPV glasses). Video glasses used to control drones and radio-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to provide a first-person view. FPV goggles allow pilots to receive a video feed from a UAV camera in real time. To do this, the design of such glasses provides two separate miniature screens for each eye and complex optics to provide binocular vision. Lenses often have adjustable focal length to suit the visual apparatus and the varying needs of the pilot. Many FPV goggles are equipped with a built-in receiver and antennas to receive signals from the video camera on board the UAV, as well as control the quadcopter. FPV systems are actively used in the segment of racing drones, aerial photography, and even in combat operations. Glasses with a first-person view provide the pilot with a more complete perception of the surrounding environment and improve the controllability of the aircraft.

Resolution of built-in displays in glasses equipped with such equipment — that is, models for PC / consoles, as well as standalone devices (see "Intended use").

The higher the resolution, the more smooth and detailed the “picture” is given out by glasses, all other things being equal. Thanks to the development of technology nowadays, models with Full HD (1920x1080) screens and even higher resolutions are not uncommon. On the other hand, this parameter significantly affects the cost of points. In addition, it is worth remembering that in order to fully work with high-resolution displays, you need powerful graphics capable of playing relevant content. In the case of glasses for PCs and set-top boxes, this puts forward corresponding requirements for external devices, and in standalone models you have to use advanced integrated video adapters (which affects the cost even more).

The amount of built-in storage installed in glasses.

Only independent devices are equipped with such a drive (see "Intended use") — it is used to store software firmware, as well as various additional content (applications, panoramic films, etc.). The larger the storage capacity, the more such content can be stored on the device; on the other hand, this characteristic directly affects the price. It is also worth considering that some models allow you to supplement the built-in storage with a memory card (for more details, see "Cart Reader").

For modern virtual reality glasses, the most modest volume is 16 GB — it is technically impractical to install smaller drives. In advanced models, this figure can reach 128 GB.

The amount of random access memory (RAM) installed in glasses.

This parameter is relevant only for independent devices (see "Intended use"). Theoretically, the more RAM in the gadget, the higher its power, the faster it is able to work and the better it handles with “heavy” tasks. However, in fact, this characteristic has more reference than practical value. Firstly, the capabilities of standalone glasses are also highly dependent on the processor and video adapter used. Secondly, the amount of memory is selected in such a way that the glasses are guaranteed to be able to cope with the tasks for which they were originally intended. Actually, problems can only arise with the launch of very demanding applications or resource-intensive video (for example, 4K panoramic videos); so paying attention to the amount of RAM makes sense only if you plan to use glasses for such purposes.

As for specific volumes, they in modern devices range from 2 to 4 GB.

The refresh rate supported by the glasses' built-in screens, in simple terms, is the maximum frame rate that the screens are capable of delivering.

Recall that screens are provided in models for PC / consoles and in stand-alone devices (see "Intended use"). And the quality of the picture directly depends on this indicator: other things being equal, a higher frame rate provides a smoother image, without jerks and with good detail in dynamic scenes. The flip side of these benefits is an increase in price.

It is also worth considering that in some cases the actual frame rate will not be limited by the capabilities of the glasses, but by the characteristics of the external device or the properties of the content being played. For example, a relatively weak PC graphics card may not be able to pull out a high frame rate signal, or a certain frame rate may be set in the game and not provide boosting. Therefore, you should not chase after large values and points with a frequency of 90 fps will be enough.

The ability to adjust the interpupillary distance of glasses — that is, the distance between the centers of two lenses. To do this, the lenses are mounted on movable mounts that allow them to be moved to the right / left. The meaning of this feature is that for normal viewing, the centers of the lenses must be opposite the user's pupils — and for different people, the distance between the pupils is also different. Accordingly, this setting will be useful anyway, but it is especially important for users of a large or petite physique, whose interpupillary distance is noticeably different from the average.

At the same time, there is a fairly significant number of glasses that do not have this function. They can be divided into three categories. The first is devices where the lack of adjustment for the interpupillary distance is compensated in one way or another (for example, by a special form of lenses that does not require adjustment). The second is models where this adjustment is not needed in principle (in particular, some augmented reality glasses). And the third — the simplest and cheapest solutions, where additional adjustments were abandoned to reduce the cost.

The presence in the glasses of the connector type USB-C. This is a relatively new type of USB port, which has a miniature size (slightly larger than microUSB) and a convenient double-sided design that allows you to connect the plug in either direction. It can be found in glasses for various purposes and, accordingly, provide different ways of application. So, in models for PC / consoles, this connector is used similarly to traditional USB — with the main connection, in parallel with the HDMI or DisplayPort video interface. In standalone devices, on the other hand, USB-C is mainly used to charge the battery and connect to a computer for direct file exchange, settings management, firmware updates, etc.

Also note that this paragraph may specify the USB version, which corresponds to the USB-C connector. Nowadays, two versions are relevant — 3.2 gen 1 and 3.2 gen 2; for VR glasses, the difference between them is generally not fundamental.

Availability of HDMI input in glasses; the version of this interface can also be specified here.

HDMI is the most common interface for high-definition video and multi-channel audio today; it is widely used in both computers and video equipment. In VR glasses, this type of connector is responsible for receiving video and audio signals from an external device; accordingly, only models for PC / consoles have such a connector (see "Intended use"). As for HDMI versions, the options may be as follows:

— v.1.4. The earliest of the current standards, the 2009 model (with subsequent updates). Allows you to work with Full HD video at a frame rate of up to 120 fps, but with 4K content, the speed is limited to 24 fps.

— v.2.0. Standard introduced in 2013. Also known as HDMI UHD, thanks to full support for UltraHD 4K (provides frame rates up to 60 fps). And in further updates of this standard, support for HDR was added.

— v.2.1. Version released to the market in 2017. It allows you to achieve a frame rate of 120 fps even at 8K resolutions, not to mention more modest ones. HDMI Ultra High Speed cables are required for full use, but the features of earlier versions are available with regular cables.

The presence of a Bluetooth module in the glasses; The Bluetooth version to which this module corresponds can also be specified here.

Bluetooth is a technology created for direct wireless connection between various devices. This technology is found in all types of VR glasses (see “Purpose”), although most models with its support are independent devices. In any case, the most popular way to use Bluetooth in virtual reality glasses is to broadcast sound wirelessly. Moreover, the format of such a broadcast may be different, depending on the specifics of the glasses themselves. Thus, standalone devices broadcast the reproduced sound to external headphones. Models for PCs and smartphones may have built-in headphones, and here the sound is transmitted via Bluetooth to the glasses from an external device; Audio from the built-in microphone can be transmitted in the opposite direction.

In addition, there are other possible ways to use Bluetooth, such as directly exchanging files with another device or connecting game controllers. Such capabilities are found exclusively in stand-alone glasses; the specific functionality for each model should be clarified separately.

As for the versions, the oldest one used in VR glasses today is Bluetooth 3.0, the newest is Bluetooth 5.0. However, the differences between different versions for such devices are not fundamental; this information is provided mainly for reference purposes.