How to choose the best virtual reality glasses and which one to buy with the best quality/price? Buying Guide 2022

Virtual reality is undoubtedly one of the technologies that most attracts the attention of users in the 21st century. Decades ago, the possibility of power immerse yourself in a virtual environment that exactly recreates reality It looked like something out of a fictional movie.

But today virtual reality glasses are a reality, and despite what many thought, they are relatively accessible to most mortals. So if you’ve always dreamed of taking incredible trips without leaving your living room sofa, the time is now.

Today We will guide you to learn everything about virtual reality glasses so you can make the best possible purchase decision.to enjoy this new technology that will soon change the way we consume content around the world.

What are virtual reality glasses and what uses do they have?

Virtual reality is a visual technology that tries to trick the brain from sight into thinking that it is seeing a 3D image, for which they make use of a stereoscopic screen that shows each eye two slightly different angles of the same image.

This generates an interesting visual depth, which makes the brain think that this image is actually a complete environment. Virtual reality glasses are devices similar to a helmet, that cover the entire radius of vision of the user to reproduce the images that will immerse the brain in a virtual experience similar to reality.

These have a large number of uses, but without a doubt the most interesting that we can mention are the following:

• Medicine: is an excellent practice tool for medical students or professionals who can simulate complicated operations and then put it into practice in the real world.
• Education and culture: Being able to immerse a person in a complete virtual environment is a great way to educate them on certain historical topics by taking them to the scene without leaving the classroom. Similarly, it allows students to have direct contact with ancient cultures of their countries and the rest of the world.
• Training: Simple skills such as learning to drive or draw can be easily trained from a virtual environment that provides an experience similar to reality.

But… How can we enjoy Virtual Reality with guarantees?

To live a totally rewarding virtual experience, we must have 2 main devices within our reach:

• Glasses virtual reality
• computer, smartphone either console

Virtual 3D glasses include a screen and lenses, depending on the model, the screen can be included or use that of the high-end mobile phone. Virtual reality lenses play the most important role as they are responsible for expanding the viewing angle creating the feeling that we are inside the virtual atmosphere. computer hardware It is in charge of creating 2 independent images for each eye, producing a 3D aspect similar to the one we know when we watch 3D movies.

The VR glasses include motion sensors making the virtual environment move while we move, generating a total immersion effect, these products are the revolution. Every day there are more and more accessories for virtual glasses that allow us to increase realism, such as those already mentioned controls, 3D cameras, virtual platforms and other peripheralskeep in mind that these are always optional and not mandatory Live the virtual experience.

Is it safe for the eyes to use virtual reality glasses?

We have always understood that viewing screens at close range can become dangerousbut the advantage we have with the special screens that use virtual lenses is that they use OLED technologythese screens emit low-intensity light, therefore minimizing the risk to our eyes.

One more sign of security are virtual lenses which are placed between the screen and the user’s eyes, they provide a further degree of protection by acting as a shield. Virtual reality technology has been tried and tested for years and meets all security checks, so yes, it is totally safe for our eyes.

Today’s models have reduced to a minimum the effects of dizziness that this technology produced in its beginnings thanks to a higher refresh rate on their screens, measured in Hertz (Hz). Prolonged use of these virtual devices is not recommended and you should rest every 30 minutes or 1 hour of use.

Is there a minimum age for the use of 3D glasses?

Because children’s vision and sight is not yet fully formed, use is recommended for over 12 years (depending on model and manufacturer). Even for 3D movies with the typical 3D glasses that we are more familiar with, the minimum age for viewing is 7 years old.

What types and models of virtual glasses exist and where to buy them?

• Virtual glasses for mobile phones: A plastic or metal casing where the mobile phone is inserted that serves as a screen that generates virtual space, there is no difference if it is for Android or iOS. For example, Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR or Shinecon VR.
• Virtual glasses for computers: They have screens and an integrated sound system and have to be connected to a computer or console to generate the virtual atmosphere, we highlight the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, etc. glasses.
• Virtual glasses with integrated system: They generate the entire virtual reality system by themselves, they do not need a mobile phone or a computer to work, we can include the Deepoon M2.

What virtual reality glasses to buy?

This depends a lot on the budget of each one and the desire we have to enjoy virtual reality in its entirety, here you will find great analyses, reviews and opinions of the most important glasses models. If we opt for buy virtual glasses at a low price or low cost there are dozens of models, although they all copy the Google Card Board.

The price of these glasses are around 5-10 € but don’t think that with them you are going to experience virtual reality in all its splendor since its technology and its lenses leave much to be desired, although they may be fine to try them out of curiosity, in addition we will have many applications for Android.

If we take a step forward in our budget, we find the virtual reality glasses for smartphonesthis type of plastic housing is the one with the greatest variety of models, if you decide to buy VR glasses of this type you should know that the prices are between 20 and 100 Euro approximately in online stores, the most representative models can be the Shinecon VR, VR Box, Samsung Gear VR or Homido VR among others, you can also find exclusive Android applications.

And we reach the Top, with these glasses we are going to immerse ourselves 100% in the virtual universe since its technology allows us to enjoy it at the highest level. If you want to go a little further and be a Pro I recommend the PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift waves HTC ViveObviously the price goes up a lot, we can find them according to model and store between €399 and more than €1000yes, when you buy them they incorporate various accessories and controls to have a more interactive experience.

What differences are there between the different types of virtual glasses?

The VR glasses for mobile smartphonesAccording to my analysis, they are recommended for viewing videos, movies or simple virtual environments. This is because mobile phones do not generate enough graphics power to display highly complex virtual reality atmospheres.

To display virtual content correctly, a high refresh rate is needed and smartphone screens are not yet ready for it, regardless of whether smartphones They have Android or iOS. If we talk about motion sensors, it should be noted that mobile phones have them incorporated but they are of a very basic nature, the VR glasses for smartphones They are usually used when we are seated since, as a general rule, they do not include external accessories for greater virtual interaction.

When we talk about virtual reality goggles of the type, suitable for powerful computers and consoles, we are talking about glasses that support a high refresh rate, between 90 and 120 Hz, which is what is needed for an absolute and integrated virtual experience. These features are only achieved with high-end computers with powerful graphics cards, and the PS4 console can also reach these frequency levels, although its graphic quality decreases.

The screen resolution It is also a feature to take into account since this technology works with each eye independently, the resolutions must be divided by two, for example, the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive glasses work with a screen resolution of 2160 × 1200 pixels but in reality its resolution will be 1080×1200 pixels in each eye.

What are the main features of VR glasses?

The main characteristics that we must take into account before getting hold of them are:

latency

In computing and networkingthe latency is nothing more than the time it takes for a packet to reach a server after being sent, and their respective response to it.

In virtual reality is a factor that does not directly depend on the glasses, but that strongly affects the quality of the experience. For VR, single digit latencies are required (maximum 9ms) in order to enjoy a smooth and high-level experience. That’s why before buying your glasses, make sure you have a high-level internet that meets these requirements.

screen type

The screen is the main element of virtual reality glasses, and the type they come with will greatly influence the user experience. We can define two types of screens, the integrated oneswhich is when said element comes from the factory with the product, and the added onesin which uses the screen of a smartphone.

This second type is usually a bit limitingsince the smartphone that we use must comply with the available dimensions of the glasses themselves, and although there are viewers that have a large number of fastening instruments, these always tend to move, affecting the quality of the experience, which means that only we can use them while standing still. For this reason, it is always better to have VR glasses that have an integrated screen.

Screen resolution

As you can imagine, the resolution of the screen will directly define the quality of the virtual recreation in which we immerse ourselves. So the higher the resolution, the better the image quality that we are going to enjoy with our glasses.

refresh rate

Refresh rate is the speed at which a screen updates and the number of images it can play in 1 second. It is expressed in hertz, 240Hz being the highest power to datebut you will not find something like that in a VR headset.

You will usually find glasses that oscillate between 60Hz to 120Hz. This means that they are capable of reproducing 60 and 120 images per second respectively. The higher this factor, the more expensive the glasses will be, but the ideal is to look for those that are as close to 120Hz as possible.

Field of view

the field of vision refers to the visual amplitude that the screen allows users. This is a very determining factor in the experience, since it will determine how many elements can be seen in the same shot. At first, the field of view was limited to about 120°, but in 2018 StarVR came out with virtual reality glasses that allow a field of view of up to 210°.

connections

The connections or ports of virtual reality glasses are important because they will define what type of devices they can connect to and use the same. Ideally, they not only have ports to connect through various varieties of cables, but also controllers to allow connection via WiFi or Bluetooth to the consoles or computers to which we want to connect them.

Motion sensors

Motion sensors are indispensable in the virtual reality experience. There are several types of them., but the most important are those of body movement and especially those of eye movement. As we explained to you, the glasses show two slightly different points of view of the same image to generate depth and trick your brain, but if you move slightly in the direction you’re looking, you’ll lose that depth effect.

That’s why a motion sensor is required to detect when the eyes move so that the viewing angle is instantly adjusted to said movement.

Platform

This refers to the environment in which your glasses can work, which can be tied to both a program and a device. In the first case, we must define if we want glasses for computers, mobiles or for consoles. As for the second case, the choice is much more varied. In general, the manufacturers of glasses of this type usually have their own platforms, but there are usually no limitations so that you can connect to others.

There are many types of platforms, we can mention Steam, where we find a lot of VR Based Games, and others like Ludus, who is in charge of the security training for companies using virtual reality. We can also find platforms focused on education, medicine and entertainment.

Integrated audio and microphone

Count on headphones and microphone integrated into your virtual reality glasses considerably improves the experience, although it also increases its price. Also, some users are of the opinion that these features may slightly affect the performance of the glasses.

That is why in the market There are mainly glasses such as the HTC Vive or Valve that offer kits in which the glasses are accompanied by headphones and a microphone but externallybut we also have the glasses Sony for PlayStation that if they have these devices integrated into their glasses.

Requirements

Each of the virtual reality glasses that we find in the current markets imposes various requirements on the devices to which they will be connected. In the case of consoles, there is not much to say, VR is available for game centrals from PlayStation 4 or Xbox One.

For the computers, is required at least Intel i3-6100 / AMD FX4350 or higher processor, graphics card: NVIDIA 960 or higher, about 8 GB of RAMvideo output compatible with HDMI 1.3ports USB3.0 and USB 2.0 and a Windows 8 or higher Operating System.

And of course… the price

As usual We recommend that you do not give as much importance to the price as to its characteristics, but we understand that not all pockets are that deep. In this sense, to find the best price-quality ratio, you will have to do without certain features.

For a rewarding experience, you must prioritize aspects of the screen; preferably one that is integrated into the glasses and has a high resolution. The field of view is also important, but you may have to sacrifice it a bit since it is a factor that considerably raises the price. But what if it is non-negotiable are the eye and body movement sensorssince without them the quality of the experience drops considerably.

What requirements do I have to have on my PC to enjoy virtual reality?

For types of glasses that work with computers, it is good to know what the minimum requirements will be in order to fully enjoy the virtual experience. the usual will be have a mid-range or high-end PCalthough the manufacturers announce that these minimums will soon be lowered so that virtual reality is more accessible to more users who have somewhat more humble computers.

The complication lies, in how we have spoken, in which the refresh rate is a very important factor in this virtual reality, and at least it must be between 90 and 120 Hztherefore in many games it will be necessary to reduce the graphic quality.

Recommended average requirements:

• Processor Intel i5-4590 / AMD FX 8350 or higher
• 4 to 8 GB of RAM
• Graphic card NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD R9 290 or higher
• Video output HDMI 1.3, 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 (graphics card)
• 1xUSB2.0 and 1 to 3 x USB 3.0
• Windows 7 SP1 64 bit or higher

To find out if our computer is compatible with virtual reality glasses there are some tools or benchmarks that measure the performance of the PC, some interesting tools can be the Oculus Compatibility Check or SteamVR Performance Test programs for the HTC Vive. For apple brand PC users, know that at the moment Apple Mac computers are not compatible with the Oculus Rift.

What types of virtual reality glasses are there and what are their pros and cons?

Since they came out in the early 10’s of the 21st centurya huge number of VR glasses of various types have been developed.

Below we review which are all that exist and their main advantages and disadvantages:

virtual reality glasses for pc

The virtual computer glasses are the most powerful on the market and without a doubt they will make us enjoy virtual reality to the fullest, you just have to keep one thing in mind… Are you ready to feel emotions never experienced before?

Advantage

• They are the most powerful: If you are interested in a headset that has all the features mentioned above, you are definitely looking for a model for PC.
• They have a larger field of vision: To date, VR glasses for computers are the ones with the largest field of view compared to those of other platforms.
• higher resolution: It is on these devices where you can count on enough power to have resolutions higher than 4K, an essential aspect to give the simulations the greatest possible realism.

Disadvantages

• They are more expensive: Perhaps the only disadvantage is that these require a greater economic expense, so you will have to prepare several hundred euros to get one of them.
• They require a powerful computer: If you do not have a high-performance computer, you will have to buy one with the aforementioned requirements to be able to enjoy this technology.

Virtual reality glasses for mobiles

The virtual reality glasses for smartphones are the most diverse models that we are going to findits price it is more affordable but we are going to have to have high-end mobiles with Android and iPhone, Do you sign up for the virtual movement?

Advantage

• They are cheaper: Compared to glasses for computers, those for mobile phones are usually cheaper, although this means that power is also lost.
• They do not require a powerful computer: to use these glasses, you just have to have a good mid/high-end mobile phone with a gyroscope, instead of having to have a NASA computer.

Disadvantages

• They have less field of vision: depending on the features of your mobile, the visual field is limited since until now they are limited to 100° or 120°.
• lower resolution: Most of the mobiles that are in the market today have a top resolution of 4K, and those that exceed that threshold are usually expensive.
• they can move: the biggest problem with this type of glasses is that no matter how good the mobile is, it will always move slightly, which will negatively affect the virtual reality experience.

cheap virtual reality glasses

We all like to see the word “cheap” wherever we go and When buying VR glasses, the price also mattershere you will find the cheapest in our store, take a look and tell me what you think.

Advantage

• They are cheap: Obviously the biggest advantage they have is their price, being able to find quite accessible models that allow you to have a good VR experience.
• there is more variety: we can find cheap glasses for various platforms, from mobile phones and computers to game consoles.

Disadvantages

• poor quality sensors: Motion sensors are a valuable element in glasses, as well as being a price booster. So if you are looking for a cheap option, it may have low quality sensors.
• Smaller visual field: The field of vision is one of the challenges of VR, so those glasses that have a greater amplitude are usually expensive. In the cheap sector, you may find 100° fields of view.
• lower resolution: Obviously you will also have to sacrifice screen resolution and limit yourself to 4K quality at best.

Cardboard virtual reality glasses

As a result of the Google Cardboard being releasedthe models of 3D cardboard glasses have multiplied by 1000, being one of the most numerous types on the market, Are you going to be the only one not to have one of these?

Advantage

• They are for free: unless you don’t have any cardboard box at home, these glasses will cost you 0 euros.
• They are easy to do: on the Internet you will find hundreds of tutorials for the creation of this type of VR glasses.

Disadvantages

• They do not resist water: If you unfortunately leave your cardboard glasses in an inappropriate place and they get wet, it will be the end for them and you will have to make others.
• They do not have any accessories: As it is evident, you will not have integrated audio or microphone in your glasses.
• The quality of the experience depends on the mobile: To have a rewarding VR experience you will have to use them with a high-end mobile with Android or iOS OS.

Virtual reality glasses with remote

Yes you want the perfect combination to be able to interact 100% With your video games, applications and virtual reality movies, without a doubt the best option is virtual glasses with a built-in controller, they will make you level up.

Advantage

• They offer a more realistic experience– By being able to use the controller to control what happens inside the simulation, you can have a more realistic experience.
• They can be used for various things: with them you can perform various tasks such as playing games, watching movies in augmented reality and running applications.

Disadvantages

• They are expensive: Since the controller is such a valuable accessory, it is normal for these glasses to be more expensive than the others on the market.
• require high performance: They can usually only be fully exploited on powerful computers or high-end game consoles.

Augmented reality glasses

Don’t confuse VR with augmented realityAnd if not, take a look at these augmented reality glasses and notice the difference, neither better nor worse, magically different as well as similar.

Advantage

• They do not require high performance: Augmented reality is less demanding than virtual reality, so you can use it on basically any device.
• They offer a real experience: Unlike VR, AR does not generate complex environments, but enhances reality with extra data or adding additional elements, making the experience much more realistic.

Disadvantages

• It does not allow to create new realities: AR works on top of the environment you’re in at the time, so you won’t be able to travel to other times and places from your couch like VR.
• Its use is complicated: It is a new technology and its use beyond Pokémon Go can be quite complicated for inexperienced users.

360 degree cameras

The cameras to record panoramic videos in 360 degrees are the latest novelty for lovers of virtual realitywith them we can generate our own totally immersive content, what are you waiting for?

Advantage

• They allow you to create VR material: With them you can record videos of complete environments with a great visual amplitude, ideal for creating high-level virtual reality material.
• High resolution: These cameras are powered with high video resolution so that the quality of the material used for VR is of a high level.

Disadvantages

• They are expensive: Cameras of this type usually range in price above €300, which makes them very expensive.
• experience required: both to record and to edit and produce the material that is going to be used in virtual reality, a lot of experience is required.
• powerful team: to be able to edit these videos you will need to have a high performance computer.

virtual reality video games

Definitely video games are the icing on the cake to complete all the options that offers us the “virtual reality”, You will be able to see the latest news in games for PS4 and Xbox consoles and for PC in VR.

Advantage

• They offer a more realistic experience: If you’ve always dreamed of immersing yourself in your favorite games, then these are the games to buy.
• They are available in various consoles: on consoles similar to or superior to the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One you will be able to find these games.
• stimulate abstract thinking: It has been proven that VR games can stimulate the user’s cognitive abilities to improve their abstraction.

Disadvantages

• they are expensive: Unlike classic games, adapting titles to virtual reality is a complex job, which makes its price higher.
• can affect health: These intense gaming experiences have been proven to cause sleep, eating and anxiety disorders, as well as being highly addictive.

Computers for virtual reality

The computers and PCs compatible with virtual reality games and videos They are the highest quality, powerful computers from another galaxy to bring you the best technology to view 100% immersive videos.

Advantage

• Enable a more powerful experience: If you have high-end glasses, a VR computer will be your best ally to maximize your experience.
• More uses: You can use these computers both for gaming and for watching immersive videos, as well as for running applications in virtual reality.

Disadvantages

• they are expensive: Such a combination of power and versatility comes at a price, and it usually doesn’t come cheap.
• High consume: to work, these computers require high energy consumption.

virtual reality accessories

For complete your virtual experience what better than having the best accessories and complements such as bluetooth controls, movement platforms or gloves for total interaction with the environment.

Advantage

• Enhance the virtual reality experience: With them you can have a much more realistic gaming experience. For example, with VR gloves you can have sensory experiences by touching objects within the simulations.
• They are not expensive: These items are usually an extra that is usually obtained without spending exaggerated amounts.

Disadvantages

• They can make the experience more addictive: Experiencing such realistic dives can make you prefer this “reality” to true reality.
• Demand higher benefits: To be used in combination with the glasses, more powerful devices will be required.

graphics cards

Powerful, fast, silent, these are the compatible video graphics cards to see content 100% in virtual reality, take the step and turn your computer into a perfect machine with these fantastic cards such as NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD R9.

Advantage

• They allow you to improve your team: If you don’t have a powerful computer, you can upgrade without having to buy a new one with one of these graphics cards, which are the most important requirement to run virtual reality.

Disadvantages

• They are expensive: A high-end graphics card for virtual reality is usually priced considerably higher. Also, you may have to purchase other accessories such as heat sinks.
• Increase the consumption of the equipment: By using a more powerful GPU, your computer will increase its power consumption.

Mobiles for virtual reality

You may think that all smartphones are compatible with virtual reality applications and videos, well no, only the mobiles that you will find here meet all the conditions to live a totally immersive experience.

Advantage

• They allow you to wear cheaper glasses: Smartphone glasses are cheaper than those with integrated screen for computers.
• They offer a better experience: Unlike other mobiles, these allow you to have a more realistic virtual reality experience.

Disadvantages

• they are expensive: having features for virtual reality, they are usually more expensive than other mobiles, which makes them a high-end smartphone.

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