by: Allan McLennan
Watching video on VR Headsets can be an amazing immersive cinematic experience. Most of the streaming TV services including Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video have VR apps. VR headsets have different video display qualities, the ways users access video through VR Headsets can be limited and there are important options to choose for navigating TV Shows, Movies and Video. This article will help you to understand important capabilities for finding, watching and controlling TV shows, movies on VR Headsets.
VR Headset Video Display Capabilities
Key VR headset display capabilities include resolution, refresh rate, field of view (FoV), pixel density, display panel types, IPD adjustable, color depth, brightness and contrast.
Resolution
VR headset resolution is the number of pixels displayed on the screen and directly affects image clarity. Typical VR headset resolutions include 1080 x 1200 pixels per eye, 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye, and 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye. For a VR headset with two separate displays—one for each eye – the effective combined resolution remains the same as that of a single eye. The typical resolution for a digital cinema theater screen is 2K or 4K.
Refresh Rate
Video refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), refers to the number of times per second the display refreshes the image. The VR headset video refresh rate is crucial to watching videos because it directly impacts the overall viewing experience and user comfort in virtual reality. A higher refresh rate results in smoother motion and reduced motion blur, enhancing the overall visual experience. Common refresh rates for VR headsets range from 60Hz to 120Hz or higher.
While 60 Hz can provide an acceptable experience for some users, higher refresh rates generally result in greater comfort and immersion. Therefore, opting for a VR headset with a refresh rate of 90 Hz or higher is recommended for watching TV shows and movies in virtual reality.
Field of View (FoV)
Field of view (FoV) is the extent of the observable environment seen through the VR headset’s lenses. A wider FoV provides a more immersive experience by encompassing more of the user’s peripheral vision. Using a VR headset with a narrow FoV appears as looking through a tunnel rather than being fully immersed in the content. VR headset FoV typically ranges from around 90 degrees to over 120 degrees. A good minimum field of view (FOV) for watching TV shows and movies on VR headsets is typically considered to be around 100 degrees or higher.
Pixel Density
Pixel density refers to the concentration of pixels per unit area of the display, usually measured in pixels per inch (PPI) or pixels per degree (PPD). Higher pixel density results in smoother images and reduces the screen door effect, where individual pixels are visible, especially in lower-resolution displays. A good minimum pixel density for watching TV shows and movies on VR headsets typically falls within the range of 500 to 600 pixels per inch (PPI).
Display Panel Types
The choice of VR headset display panel type significantly influences the quality of viewing TV shows and movies on VR headsets. Variations in panel types, such as LCD, OLED, or AMOLED, introduce distinct characteristics like contrast ratio, color reproduction, and response time, all of which directly affect the visual experience.
OLED panels offer superior contrast ratios and deeper blacks compared to LCD panels, providing more vibrant and lifelike images. This enhances the viewing experience by delivering rich colors and better image clarity, especially in dark scenes commonly found in movies and TV shows.
Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode (AMOLED) panels provide excellent contrast ratios and color reproduction, contributing to a high-quality viewing experience. While not as common as OLED, AMOLED displays offer similar advantages in terms of vibrant colors and deep blacks, making them suitable for immersive movie and TV show playback.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) typically have lower contrast ratios and may struggle to achieve the same level of black levels as OLED and AMOLED displays. While LCD displays can still offer decent image quality, especially in well-lit environments, they may not provide the same level of immersion or visual fidelity when watching content with high dynamic range or dark scenes.
Interpupillary Distance (IPD)
Interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment allows users to customize the distance between the headset’s lenses to match the spacing of their eyes, optimizing the viewing experience for comfort and visual clarity. Adjustable IPD allows for optimal alignment and reducing eye strain during extended viewing sessions.
Color Depth and Gamut
Color depth refers to the number of bits used to represent each color , while gamut describes the range of colors that can be displayed. VR headset displays with higher color depth and wider color gamuts can reproduce more vibrant and accurate colors. VR headset color depth options can be 8 bit per color (24 bit), 10 bit (30 bits) and 12 bit (36 bit). The minimum recommended color depth for VR headsets to watch TV shows and movies is typically 8-bit (24-bit) color depth.
Brightness and Contrast
Brightness measures the intensity of light emitted by the display, while contrast ratio indicates the difference in brightness between the brightest and darkest parts of an image. Higher brightness and contrast ratios contribute to better visibility and image quality, especially in varying lighting conditions.
Generally, a minimum brightness of around 200 nits (candelas per square meter) is often considered adequate for indoor viewing environments, ensuring that images are sufficiently bright and vibrant without causing eye strain. As for contrast ratio, a minimum of 1000:1 is commonly recommended to ensure sufficient differentiation between dark and light areas in the video content.
VR Headset Video Playing Controls
VR headset controls enable users to navigate through menus, select their desired TV shows, movies, and videos, and control their playback experience. Some key types of VR headset media sensors and controls include button controls, motion tracking hand controllers, gaze based interaction, hand gesture recognition, voice control and passthrough tracked keyboards.
Button Controls
Basic button controls on VR controllers are often used for standard functions such as play, pause, stop, rewind, fast forward, and volume adjustment during content playback.
Motion Tracked Hand Controllers
Many VR headsets come with hand-held controllers that have motion tracking which allows motion gestures to access menus, browse content libraries, and make selections.
Gaze Based Interaction (Eye Tracking)
Some VR systems incorporate gaze-based (eye tracking) interaction, where users can select items simply by looking at them for a certain period of time. This is often used for menu selection and content playback control.
Hand Gesture Recognition
Advanced VR systems may incorporate hand gesture recognition technology, enabling users to control content playback by making specific hand gestures or movements within the virtual environment.
Voice Recognition
VR headsets may use built-in microphones that support voice commands, allowing users to verbally select and control TV shows, movies, and videos without using physical controllers.
Passthrough Keyboard Tracking
Some VR headsets have the ability to connect to and visually show images (passthrough visual portals) of keyboards and controllers (keyboard tracking). This can allow users to control menus or other devices such as a PC to play their media (such as DVDs).
Allan McLennan
Allan is a visionary leader with over three decades of experience at the intersection of media technology and business, having served as President of 2G Digital Post, Founder of PADEM Media Group, and President Data leader at NASDAQ : RENT. With a global network spanning Fortune 500 companies and a track record of pioneering achievements in digital entertainment, AI development, and content delivery, Allan is a sought-after industry expert, international speaker, and co-author whose work has left an indelible mark on the media landscape.