Comparison Skyzone Cobra SD vs BetaFPV VR03

The viewing angle provided by virtual reality glasses is the angular size of the space that falls into the user's field of view. Usually, the characteristics indicate the size of this space horizontally; however, if you need the most accurate information, this point needs to be specified separately.

The wider the viewing angle — the more the game space the user can see without turning his head, the more powerful the immersion effect and the less likely that the image will be subject to the "tunnel vision" effect. On the other hand, making the field of view too wide also does not make sense, given the characteristics of the human eye. In general, a large viewing angle is considered to be an angle of 100° or more. On the other hand, there are models where this indicator is 30° or even less — these are, usually, specific devices (for example, drone piloting glasses and augmented reality glasses), where such characteristics are quite justified given the overall functionality.

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.

Presence in points of own built — in accelerometer.

The accelerometer is a sensor that records the accelerations that the device is subjected to. It performs two main functions: determines the position of the glasses relative to the horizon (in the direction of gravity) and monitors jerks and tremors (however, this function is secondary in VR glasses). Such a sensor is necessary for a full-fledged "immersion" in virtual reality, so it must be provided in glasses made in the form of independent devices (see "Intended use"). But models for PC / consoles may not be equipped with an accelerometer — this means that the glasses are not designed for classic VR, but for more specific tasks (for example, controlling a drone with a first-person view).

As for models for smartphones, most of them do not have this function, since all modern smartphones are equipped with accelerometers. However, there are exceptions — high-end models designed for specific devices: in them, the accelerometer can work in conjunction with a smartphone sensor, which ensures the most accurate image positioning.

The presence in the glasses of its own built-in gyroscope.

The gyroscope captures the direction, speed, and angle of rotation of the device—usually along all three axes. Without such a sensor, it is impossible to achieve a full-fledged "immersion" in virtual reality, so it is available in all standalone glasses, as well as in most models for PC / consoles (see "Intended use"). In the second case, the only exceptions are individual models with a specific purpose — "personal cinemas", glasses for piloting drones, etc. In turn, glasses for smartphones do not initially require gyroscopes, since smartphones themselves have such sensors. However, there are exceptions here too — advanced models created for specific top-level devices: in them, the built-in gyroscope works in conjunction with the gyroscope of the connected smartphone, ensuring maximum positioning accuracy.

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.

Availability in points of an exit for connection of earphones. Most often, the role of such a connector is played by a standard 3.5 mm mini-jack socket.

A full-fledged "immersion" in the virtual world requires not only a picture on the screen, but also an appropriate sound accompaniment, for which headphones are the best option. Its own headphone output allows you to connect wired "ears" directly to the glasses — it is much more convenient and safer during use than connecting headphones to a computer or set-top box. However, independent devices can also have such a connector (see "Purpose").

Note that there are VR glasses with their own built-in headphones, but this option is more convenient: it allows you to select the “ears” separately, according to the user’s own preferences.