Virtual reality glasses: everything you need to know and the best models

Virtual reality is a technology that has been around for decades, as well as 3D images. But thanks to the advances in recent years, it is about to become a resource that everyone can have at home, with virtual reality glasses. We gather here everything you need to know about these glasses, and how to choose the right virtual reality glasses for you.

What is virtual reality?

Although some people use the terms virtual reality and 3D as synonyms, we have already warned you that they are not the same . Virtual reality creates a simulated environment, like any 3D computer game, but also simulates your presence in this environment, with a first-person view.

The environment does not have to be fictional: virtual reality can be used for real environments, either through realistic 3D models of places you want to visit, or through augmented reality, which creates images in environments real.

Virtual reality glasses: buy for fun

Wearing virtual reality glasses, where the movement of your head changes the images that appear on the screen so that you can look in a virtual 3D environment, you are not limited to a single view, as it happens when you look through a computer monitor desktop or TV screen.

The glasses aim to provide a field of vision similar to natural vision, so that your brain is effectively led to believe that you really are there. Buying one of these devices will provide an opportunity for you to have fun with a new and unique type of entertainment.

Virtual reality is the latest trend in technology. And there is great competition between companies , with various models of virtual reality glasses that are continuously being launched.

Reality glasses connected to the PC

The virtual reality glasses connect to a PC, which generates the virtual environments. No virtual reality device is independent. Currently, they are connected to your desktop computer or laptop by a cable, to have the shortest delay time, despite the fact that there are wireless models. In order for the glasses to function properly, the computer's graphics card must be compatible or at least powerful enough to start with the virtual reality glasses.

Virtual reality glasses connected to the smartphone

Another type of virtual reality glasses are the devices that connect to your smartphone and, on the smartphone itself, generate virtual reality environments, using the smartphone's screen and its processing power to put you in virtual reality.

This is the case of Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR, and LG 360 VR. The great advantage is that these 3 devices are very cheap, but the smartphones that accompany them not so much .

Google Cardboard is the most basic and cheapest model. It incorporates a pair of lenses and a divider, so that the image of each eye is kept separate. It also has a magnet that can act as a physical button for selection of options since the phone screen cannot be touched.

Spend a little more and you can get higher quality virtual reality glasses, with better lenses and even headphones, like the Samsung Gear VR and LG 360 VR glasses. However, these kits can be more expensive than assembling a gaming PC and buying virtual reality glasses, since they are only compatible with the most advanced smartphones of the Samsung and LG brands, and the total price can be quite high.

How to choose a virtual reality glasses?

As with any technology, each virtual reality glasses will provide a different experience. The screen is one of the most important aspects, but the resolution is not the only factor to consider. More pixels on the screen will be better, but to avoid a nauseating feeling, the screen (and the entire system) should not have motion blur or excessive image vibration. Therefore, it is essential to buy good glasses and a prepared Virtual Reality PC configuration.

The technology of the screen is crucial, since the screen has to have a very low latency, so as not to harm the immersion in virtual reality. Latency is the time it takes for the magnification to exit the computer or smartphone and appear on the screen.

The content available for virtual reality is undoubtedly the top priority. It is of little use to have the best virtual reality system without good quality games or other software.

Three types of Virtual Reality hardware

Below we are going to collect some of the technical characteristics of the main models of VR glasses available today. There are three types:

• Smartphone's Display: They use a smartphone as the main hardware, both for sensors, image processing and display. Head Mounted Display: They are devices that have all the necessary hardware incorporated. Virtual reality glasses do not need any external equipment to function. Head Mounted Display Tethered: These are the chained devices. The glasses are tied to external processing hardware, which can be a computer or a video game console.

Google CardBoard

Google Cardboard is a Google project that consists of bringing virtual reality to the public at the lowest possible price. It is a box where you place your smartphone with the CardBoard application installed. This box is made of cardboard, it has two lenses and a pair of magnets that serve as an interface for the user to interact with videos and applications.

There is no specific control for interaction in the apps and all the processing occurs on your smartphone. Therefore, the better the smartphone hardware (sensors, display and processing), the more efficient the experience will be. The device works with a wide variety of smartphone models.

Despite the fact that Google offers a free mold for you to build your own Google Cardboard, some internet stores sell the cardboard already assembled with the lenses and magnets.

Samsung Gear VR

The Samsung Gear VR glasses were developed by Oculus through a collaboration between companies. Despite using the smartphone in the same way as Google CardBoard, the Samsung Gear VR offers much better usability. It comes with a control on the side, which makes interaction with the applications much easier compared to the CardBoard magnets.

It also has a very good finish, favoring comfort for the use of this device. In the same way as the CardBoard, the performance of the Samsung Gear VR is related to the technical specifications of the Samsung smartphone that is available.

Oculus Rift

Oculus Rift is a chained device. Good equipment is required to run virtual reality games, videos, and applications. The platform where you can download these apps is called Oculus Home. There is downloadable software on the Oculus website to check if your computer is compatible.

The device has a built-in microphone and speakers. It also includes an external sensor, a simple remote control and a pair of controls for interaction, called Oculus Touch. However, if you do not have these controls, you can use an XBOX control, which is also compatible.

• Display: OLED Resolution: 2, 160 x 1, 200 pixels Refresh Rate: 90Hz Field of View: 110 degrees Equipment Requirements: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD 290 equivalent or better Intel i5-4590 equivalent or better 8GB + RAM HDMI-compatible video output 1.32x USB 3.0 ports Windows 7, and or 10

HTC Vive - The best virtual reality glasses

The HTC Vive are the virtual reality glasses developed by Valve. For those who don't recognize that name, Valve is a great game developer, responsible for hit games like Half Life, Counter Strike, and Dota. In addition, they are the owners of the Steam platform, which already has hundreds of games, several of them compatible with HTC Vive.

WE RECOMMEND YOU Oculus Rift drops again in price, virtual reality is becoming more affordable

HTC Vive offers two interaction controls and sensors for you to put into the environment. These help track the location and movements of the user. In addition, the HTC Vive has a front camera that allows interaction with the real environment, or with its own elements. This is also a chained model, using a computer. You can also download a Steam app that checks if your hardware is compatible.

• Screen: OLED Resolution: 2, 160 x 1, 200 pixels Refresh Rate: 90Hz Field of View: 110 degrees Equipment Requirements: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / Radeon R9 280 equivalent or better Intel Core i5-4590 equivalent or better 4GB + RAM HDMI-compatible video output 1.31x USB 2.0 port

Sony Playstation VR

The Playstation VR is Sony's virtual reality hardware to be used with your Playstation 4. It has its own sensors, but it also works with the Playstation Camera to track head movements. In addition to the DualShock 4, it is also possible to use the Playstation Move controls.

The Playstation VR also comes with headphones with 3D rendering, allowing for even more immersion in virtual reality.

• Screen: OLED Resolution: 1, 920 x 1, 080 pixels Refresh Rate: 120 Hz Field of View: 100 degrees

Equipment Requirements:

• A Playstation 4 is required, with a Playstation Camera. The use of Playstation Move is optional, since you can also use the control of the PS4.

Microsoft HoloLens - Head Mounted Display

HoloLens are not necessarily a virtual reality device. Microsoft offers it on its website as a holographic system. The proposal of this device is to mix elements of virtual reality with augmented reality in a single hardware.

They are not chained to any device. It carries all the hardware necessary for the processing and display of holograms. A good concept that are not yet for sale.

Razer OSVR

The Razer OSVR is an open source project for virtual reality. There are two models of this device. The objective of this project is to be compatible with the main control hardware, software and platforms available in the VR market. It has built-in 3D audio and comes with a sensor for external tracking, in addition to the helmet sensors.

• Screen: unspecified Resolution: 2, 160 x 1200 pixels Refresh Rate: 90Hz Field of view: more than 100 degrees

Fove VR

These glasses have impressive features. It has eyeball tracking sensors. In other words, the Fove can follow the movements of your eyes. New types of interaction can occur based on this technology, such as using the reference of your eye, and not of your hand, as it looks in a shooting game.

In addition to aiding in ease of use and tracking where the user looks within the virtual environment, it can help create a much more realistic experience. The human eye does not see the image completely sharp, there is a depth of field that highlights the object of our interest. This depth of field is not realistic on any other VR device, but with Fove technology it is possible to leave dynamic depth of field in accordance with the eyes of the player.

• Screen: unspecified Resolution: 2, 560 x 1, 440 pixels Refresh Rate: 60Hz Field of view: more than 100 degrees

Equipment Requirements:

The hardware must have a dedicated graphics card that supports graphics in WQHD (2, 560 x 1, 440), with support of 100 fps or more.

Our conclusion with virtual glasses today

If your goal is exclusively games and applications, the best options are the PS VR, HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift. If you only want to browse the simplest applications or browse 360-degree videos, opt for inexpensive solutions such as the Google Cardboard or the Samsung Gear VR.