Comparison HTC Vive XR Elite vs Oculus Rift S

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 presence of a sensor in the glasses that reacts to approaching the user's face.

A similar sensor is used to automatically switch between operating and standby modes: for example, when the user takes off the glasses, the sensor turns off the built-in screens (or the phone, if it is connected to the glasses via a connector), saving battery power and equipment life, and when put on, it turns on points for full functionality.

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

DisplayPort is one of the most popular high-resolution digital video interfaces these days (however, audio transmission is also possible). It is especially common in computer technology, and is actually a standard in Apple PCs and laptops. Only glasses for computers and set-top boxes are equipped with this type of input (see “Purpose”) - it is used to receive a video signal (and audio signal, if necessary) from an external device. As for DisplayPort versions, the options here could be:

- v.1.2. The earliest (2010) version that is relevant today, but at the same time a more than functional version. Fully supports video quality up to 5K (30 fps), and with certain restrictions - up to 8K.
- v.1.3. Update released in 2014. It provided the opportunity to fully work with 8K resolutions at 30 fps, and with 4K and 5K at 120 and 60 fps, respectively.
- v.1.4. Updated in 2016, in which the bandwidth was further increased - up to support for 5K video at 240 fps and 8K at 120 fps. In addition, there is compatibility with HDR 10 technology, which improves color reproduction and overall picture quality.

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.