oculus quest 2 lcd panel brands

In a talk titled ‘High-PPI Fast-Switch Display Development for Oculus Quest 2 VR Headsets’, Meta display engineer Cheon Hong Kim detailed the headset’s display architecture and discussed the design challenges of using LCD for VR.

It’s essential that displays used in VR headsets only illuminate the pixels for a small fraction of each frame – a technique called Low Persistence. That’s because each frame represents an exact moment in time, whereas in real life as you rotate or move your head the light arriving to your eyes will continuously change. If the pixels were constantly illuminated, your eyes would be receiving light for the original position even as your head turned, and your brain perceives this as motion blur. The original Oculus Rift Development Kit shipped in 2013 had this problem, and it was solved in Development Kit 2 in 2014.

LCD displays were originally thought unsuitable for VR, given the much longer response time. But since the release of the Windows MR headsets in 2017, a new type of LCD panels called ‘fast switch’ have become available. These panels illuminate the backlight for a fraction of the frame, after waiting for the liquid crystal to “settle down”. Quest 2, like Oculus Go and Rift S before it, use such a panel.

The 1920×3664 resolution and 120 Hz max refresh rate were already publicly known, but the talk revealed the panel’s exact 5.46 inch size and density: 773 pixels per inch.

It’s also noteworthy that Meta revealed the panel’s brightness – 100 nits. Keep in mind that figure is when using low persistence, so it would likely be much brighter if used outside a headset.

Meta also revealed some interesting physical properties of the display. Since Quest 2 has three IPD settings and two lenses but only one panel, only a subsection of the panel is used at once. And because the lenses are closer to circular than square, the very corner of the display is never needed – so it was simply cut out to save space.

This approach of using a single panel with an active area subsection means each eye actually gets fewer than the 1832×1920 pixels listed in the Quest 2 specifications on the Meta Store – roughly 1720×1890.

These factors are important considerations when specifying and sourcing panels for VR headsets, but Cheon acknowledged Quest 2 has some of the issues outlined here. Meta still hasn’t released a headset fully free from the screen door effect.

In the conclusions slide, the key display resolution spec of Quest 2 was revealed, the angular resolution measured in pixels per degree. Meta says Quest 2 has 21 pixels per degree. The generally accepted figure for “retinal” human eye resolution is 60 pixels per degree. While VR headsets have been making solid advancements – the Oculus Rift had roughly 14 pixels per degree – there’s still clearly a long way to go.

We got some new clues about how many Quest 2 headsets Meta Platforms is selling. Today, Nikkei Asia reported that Foxconn-owned display maker Sharp is now shipping over 1 million LCD screens for VR headsets per month, which would be a substantial increase on what it was doing last year. Sharp’s reported 2021 VR revenue suggests it only shipped roughly 4 million screens in 2021.

Sharp says its biggest VR customer is Meta. So Sharp’s big boost in shipments is a strong indicator that Meta is ramping up to manufacture more headsets than the 5.3 million to 6.8 million IDC estimates it sold in 2021. That said, it’s hard to gauge how reliant Meta is on Sharp and vice versa.

Meta is reportedly planning some big upgrades to the displays used in its upcoming headsets, though we expect it’ll be some time before the rumored micro-OLED panel it"s working on will be used.

One issue that most VR headsets suffer from – be they budget-friendly models like the Oculus Quest 2 or a more premium device such as the Meta Quest Pro – is the "screen door" effect. Because your eyes are so close to the display you can start to see gaps in the pixels that make the image appear to have black lines across it (making it look as if you’re viewing the on-screen objects through a screen door).

If true, the high pixel count of the micro-OLED panels should make the screen door effect appear much less noticeable, and may even eliminate it. What’s more, the headsets would also benefit from the better contrast and energy efficiency afforded by OLED displays, compared to the LCD displays currently used by Meta’s Quest 2 and Quest Pro.

Unfortunately, if Meta does plan to adopt this LG and SKHynix-made display, we expect that we won’t see it until whatever headset follows the Oculus Quest 3 appears. Because the Quest 3 is almost certainly releasing later this year – unless it’s hit by a delay – there’s likely not going to be enough time for those display companies to develop a new display for it, let alone manufacture it and incorporate it into the design.

It’s far more likely that we’ll see these micro-OLED displays first appear in either the Meta Quest Pro 2 or the Oculus Quest 4, both of which are at least a couple of years away. That said, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Quest 4 joined in the Quest 3 in missing out on the upgraded micro-OLED panels.

The new displays will likely be pretty pricey – too pricey for Meta’s less-expensive line of Quest devices. Because of this, we expect this will be a prosumer improvement that will stay exclusive to the Quest Pro line for a generation or two – just like the eye- and face-tracking features Meta introduced with its first Pro headset, which it has said won’t be coming to the base models until the cost of the components comes down.

We’ll have to wait and see if and when these improved panels come to light – and which models they’re used in – but hopefully, we"ll see some better screens in Meta"s headsets soon. The screen door effect can be a big obstacle to how immersive VR experiences feel for some, and improving the hardware is the only way to remove it, and make the best VR headsets even better.

Whichever VR system you choose could determine how enjoyable the experience. Therefore, it is critical to do the research and find the best VR that fits you. However, you are in luck as we have done most of the work for you. Now, we will describe and compare some of the most popular Virtual Reality Systems. These will include the new Oculus Quest 2which was just released on October 13th. Make sure to read on if you are considering trading in your Rift-S or Questfor the new Quest 2.

The Rift-S is ai5 processor accompanied by a GTX 970-1060 graphics card and at least 5 gigabytes (GB) of RAM. The system requires the user to use a display port rather than an HDMI. So, plenty of space is required on the computer. The Rift-S has a 1x2560x1440 LCD panel at80 Hertz (Hz). These specifications create a better resolution than most all-in-ones, but it is not great compared to other PC VR systems. The built-in speakers are also reportedly not great, but this can be resolved with an external set of headphones. Despite the resolution and sound not being fantastic, the tracking is decently advanced. It uses three forms of inside-out tracking.

The tracking system is similar to the Rift-S including the infraredtracking headset cameras. The Oculus, however, also allows the user to see the outside world through the headset by selecting a viewing setting. But, this feature comes at the cost of a somewhat disorientingdelay. One of the best features of the Quest is its ability to hold guardian spacesin memory. With it, you do not have to measure the same space twice. If you have measured a space before, the system will recognize it and instantly place you into the virtual environment.

Now, for the moment we have all been waiting for, theQuest 2 review. Starting at the same price of$299 as the Quest 1, the Quest 2’s goal is to completely replace the Quest and Rift-S as both are entering retirement, but is the upgrade really worth it for those still using the Rift-S andQuest?

With prices at $299 for 64 GB and$400 for 256 GB, the Quest 2 is certainly an upgrade. However, most have described it as more of a Quest + or Quest Pro rather than a completely new system. The new 50% increase in resolution at 90 Hz, its access to AAA games, its lighter1.12 lb frame, and its new line of accessories, sold separately of course. These new accessories include better head straps to replace the Quest 2’s new, cheaper, and mobile, cloth strap; like the$50 Elite Strap or the$130 Elite Strap which doubles the battery life from 2-3 hours to4-6. Other accessories include Fit Packs which offer swappable facial interfaces.

The Quest 2 also has some subtle differences which came from trial and error with the first Quest. For instance, the Quest has two headphone jacks to cater to Oculus’ duel-headphones, but the Quest 2 only has one due to this previous accessory’s failure. The interpupillary distance (IPD) adjuster is also different. It combines hardware and software to allow the user to push the eye width into one of three settings. These settings can presumably be changed through the software as opposed to the Quest’s simple slider bar. The controller itself is also slightly different from some extra thumb room and a more secure battery cover.

If these features sound like an upgrade worthwhile, go ahead and splurge on the new Oculus Quest 2. Otherwise, as we here at AVT Simulation like to say, save your money for something with a little more bangfor your buck. In our next post, we will cover other popular VR systems as well as MR and AR systems.

Initially, Applied Visual Technology Inc., AVT has been developing modeling and simulation expertise through engineering services since 1998. This is due to our founder who has accumulated over 30 years of military MS&T expertise in aviation applications. Nonetheless, everyone at AVT specializes in making old training systems new again and making new ones for less. Consequently, for 20 years AVT has served our Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine customers by providing the highest quality of service and solutions. Following its inception, AVT’s highly specialized staff of engineers has included some of the top leaders in the simulation industry. With over 20 years of simulation experience, our dedicated team provides specialized solutions for customers with complex problems.

Oculus Quest 2 is a virtual reality (VR) headset created by Oculus, a brand of Facebook Technologies, LLC and successor to the Oculus Quest. It was announced at Facebook Connect 7 and shipped on October 13, 2020.

As with its predecessor, the Quest 2 is capable of running as both a standalone headset with an internal, Android-based operating system, and with Oculus-compatible VR software running on a PC when connected over USB. It is a refresh of the original Oculus Quest with a similar design, but with a lighter weight, updated internal specifications, a display with a higher refresh rate and per-eye resolution, and updated Oculus Touch controllers.

The Quest 2 received mostly-positive reviews as an incremental update to the Quest, but some of its changes faced criticism, including its strap, reduced interpupillary distance (IPD) options, and a newly-introduced mandate requiring users to log in with a Facebook account in order to use the headset and Oculus services.

Its design is similar to the original Oculus Quest, but replacing the black, cloth-covered exterior with white-colored plastic and a black face pad. It is lighter than the first-generation Quest, at 503 grams (17.7 ounces) in comparison to 571 grams (20.1 ounces). The strap was changed to a fabric-based version (rather than the elastic-based strap of the Quest), while the power button was relocated to the side of the headset, instead of the original"s more forward facing one.

The Quest 2 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 system-on-chip (which is part of a Snapdragon product line designed primarily for VR and augmented reality devices), with 6 GB of RAM — an increase of 2 GB over the first-generation model.

Its display is a singular fast-switch LCD panel with a 1832×1920 per eye resolution, which can run at a refresh rate of up to 90 Hz (an increase from 1440×1600 per-eye at 72 Hz). 90 Hz support was only available as an experimental feature for the home area at launch, with support within games added via a software update in November 2020. The headset includes physical interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment at 58 mm, 63 mm and 68 mm, adjusted by physically moving the lenses into each position. This is also combined with software adjustment.

The included Oculus Touch controllers have been updated with a slightly larger size influenced by the first-generation version. Their battery life has also been increased four-fold over the controllers included with the first-generation Quest.

Unlike the original Oculus Quest, the Oculus Quest 2 is not backwards compatible with Oculus Go apps and games. It otherwise supports all games and software that are supported on the first-generation model, and existing titles can be updated to support higher graphical fidelity on Quest 2.

Oculus presented an "Elite Strap" accessory, which contains a ring-like pad for the back of the head and a tightness dial, along with a variant with a battery pack built into the strap. Oculus is also promoting Logitech headphones "certified" for Quest 2 (including the G333 VR, the company"s first in-ear headphones model), which have shortened cords designed for use with VR headsets.

In addition, Oculus partnered with Logitech to support their K830 keyboard as part of the "Infinite Office" feature, allowing the keyboard to be detected and displayed within a virtual reality environment.

Quest 2 was officially unveiled on September 16, 2020 during Facebook Connect 7. The 64 GB model was priced at US$299, a $100 decrease over the original Quest model. The 128 GB model of the first-generation Quest was replaced by a 256 GB model at US$399.

Meta is reportedly planning some major upgrades to the screens used in its upcoming headsets, though we expect it will be some time before the rumored micro-OLED panel it’s been working on.

One problem that most VR headsets suffer from – be it budget-friendly models like the Oculus Quest 2 or a more premium device like the Meta Quest Pro – is the “screen door” effect. Because your eyes are so close to the screen, you may start to see gaps in the pixels that make it look like black lines are running across the screen (making it look like you’re looking at the objects on the screen through a screen door).

If that’s true, the high pixel count of the micro OLED panels should make the screen door effect much less noticeable and even disappear. In addition, the headsets would also benefit from the better contrast and power efficiency of OLED screens, compared to the LCD screens currently used by Meta’s Quest 2 and Quest Pro.

Unfortunately, if Meta plans to adopt this display made by LG and SKHynix, we don’t expect to see it until the headset that follows the Oculus Quest 3 appears. With the Quest 3 almost certainly coming out later this year – unless it’s hit by a delay – there probably won’t be enough time for those display companies to develop a new display for it, much less produce it and put it in the market. to include design.

It’s much more likely that we’ll first see these micro-OLED screens appear in the Meta Quest Pro 2 or the Oculus Quest 4, both of which are at least a few years away. That said, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Quest 4 along with the Quest 3 lacked the upgraded micro-OLED panels.

The new screens will probably be quite pricey – too expensive for Meta’s cheaper range of Quest devices. So we expect this to be a prosumer enhancement that will remain exclusive to the Quest Pro line for a generation or two – much like the eye and face tracking features that Meta introduced with its first Pro headset, which is said to be won’t come to base models until component costs come down.

We’ll have to wait and see if and when these improved panels come to light – and which models they’ll be used in – but hopefully we’ll see some better screens in Meta’s headsets soon. The screen door effect can be a major obstacle to how immersive VR experiences feel to some, and improving the hardware is the only way to remove this and make the best VR headsets even better.

The lines of code suggest that the internal prototype, codenamed Eureka865, uses asingle LC display with a resolution of 4,128 by 2,208 pixels, which corresponds to2,064 by 2,208 pixels per eye. In terms of pixel count, that would be a 30 percent increase over Meta Quest 2. The refresh rate was specified at 90 hertz.

Now, Samulia reports that a 120 hertz version of the display configuration has surfaced in the latest beta firmware version 49, suggesting that Meta Quest 3 could support a higher maximum refresh rate.

Meta Quest 2 has already supported 120 hertz by default for a few months, but only for VR apps that are optimized for it. The home environment and the system menus still run at 90 hertz. If Meta Quest 3 does indeed get a faster SoC, these areas, as well as other VR games, could benefit from a higher frame rate.

According to VR analyst Brad Lynch, JDI and probably BOE will manufacture the Meta Quest 3’s LCD panels. Local dimming for higher contrast like in Meta Quest Pro is not expected, Lynch said.Update on Quest 3 displays prediction:

The $1,800 premium headset supports a maximum refresh rate of 90 hertz. That’s a downgrade from Meta Quest 2 that isn’t likely to carry over to its successor. John Carmack said during his last Connect talk that all Meta headsets following Meta Quest Pro will support up to 120 hertz refresh rate. Accordingly, the firmware find is no surprise.

Another change Samulia discovered in the firmware is a change in the codename from “Eureka865” to “Eureka.” The number 865 was a reference to the Meta Quest 2’s SoC, which is the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1, which in turn is a derivative of the Snapdragon 865 smartphone SOC. Lynch thinks that this change suggests a switch to the next SoC generation, the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2. A chip that is supposed to be considerably faster.

According to Lynch’s sources, Meta Quest 3 will definitely be based on the (still unannounced) next-gen SoC. The first test chips are said to have already been sent to Meta and other companies.

In his update, the well-informed analyst makes further predictions about the device: that it will feature pancake lenses and that it will ship with VR controllers similar to Meta Quest 2, i.e. tracking rings instead of inside-out tracking (see Quest Touch Pro Controller).

The Meta Quest 2 makes it easier—and fun enough to be worth it—to give VR a try compared with headsets that require cables and expensive PCs. The Quest 2 has two capable controllers and is compatible with some of our favorite games. It’s also small enough to toss into a tote bag or a backpack, so you can break it out at the office or a party (or could, if you didn’t need to safely distance from others). You can set it up and start playing in less than a minute; thanks to built-in sensors that track the two Touch controllers and your other movements, you can navigate an entire room, and the headset won’t ever lose your location. As a result, we consistently reach for it over headsets that cost two or even five times as much.

By default, the Quest 2 is cordless. Sensors for tracking your head and hands are built into the headset and controllers, which means you can walk around the entirety of a room and your virtual body will do the same. Although a PC headset with more-precise tracking, such as the Valve Index or the HTC Vive Pro 2, can better replicate your movement and avoid reality-breaking glitches, like your hands floating away, we found the Quest 2 convincing enough to cross that initial threshold into “realness.” The ability to play without a cord also means you aren’t pulled out of a game when you inevitably trip on the cable tethering you to a PC.

However, many of the best VR games require a connection to a PC to give the headset additional processing power. We think the Oculus Link cable is a worthy buy for any Quest 2 owner because it allows you to play PC games on the headset, unlocking the full Meta Quest and SteamVR libraries.

The Quest 2’s LCD screen offers 1832×1920 pixels per eye, which made it one of the first headsets that didn’t regularly give us the “screen door effect,” which is a light grid laid over your field of view. The Quest 2 currently has a maximum refresh rate (think of this as the VR way of saying “frames per second”) of 120 Hz, matching the HTC Vive Pro 2 and beating the Quest Pro’s 90 Hz. Higher refresh rates are generally believed to reduce the likelihood that users might experience motion sickness while using a VR headset.

At a claimed 503 grams (1.1 pound), the Quest 2 is a hair heavier than we prefer for our VR headsets (it’s like hanging a half-liter bottle of water from your face). But due to cushy foam padding that rests on your face and adjustable straps that reach around to the back of your head, we found that the Quest 2 is fairly comfortable to wear for hour-long play sessions, though we had to fiddle with the fit to get it to sit correctly. The headset’s strap is a downgrade in quality and comfort from previous Meta headsets. If you care enough to want to change it, you have to shell out $50 extra for the halo-style Elite Strap.

The Quest 2’s Touch controllers, which are similar to the original Rift Touch controllers, are among our favorite styles of VR controllers. The two controllers are molded to sit in your hand, with your pointer fingers resting on triggers and your middle fingers resting on “grip” buttons. Your thumbs can reach a small joystick, plus A, B, and home buttons. Sensors built into the headset track the location of the controllers, so moving your hands physically moves them in VR. The Quest 2’s controllers are intuitive to use and easy to hold for long periods. While Ars Technica reports that the newer controllers are less accurate than those that came with the original Quest, Tested notes that they seem to simply operate in a different way. In practice, we didn’t notice a change in quality between the controllers. The lack of external sensors that a headset like the HTC Vive Pro 2 uses to carefully replicate your hand movements in VR might be missing here, but we found the Quest 2’s controllers still accurate enough to fly through difficult levels of Beat Saber without frustration.

Interestingly, the Quest 2 also gives you the option to ditch the controllers and use just your hands to interact with menus and some games. We found the tracking to be functional, but fairly inaccurate; if you move your hands too far away from the headset, it loses sight of them and you’re no longer in control. You also need to learn a series of gestures, such as pinches and drags, which means the learning curve is just as steep as using the controllers. We think hand tracking has long-term potential for even more natural gameplay, but we didn’t find it intuitive enough to choose over the controllers for now.

The Quest 2 does not have built-in headphones. Instead, it has built-in speakers that direct 3D sound toward your ears. The Quest 2’s audio quality is good enough for immersive VR (and sounds even better than the original Quest), though it isn’t as clear as you’d get with a pair of nice headphones.Thankfully, you can plug in your own headphones (or buy the $50 earbuds that Meta advertises) on either side of it. We do like the open-ear setup in a social setting, where the speakers can clue onlookers in on what the person wearing the headset is seeing.

Meta says that the Quest 2’s battery lasts two to three hours, though we found it fell closer to the two-hour mark. That’s plenty of time for solo play. However, when we’ve used cordless headsets with friends, we have always ended up running out of battery power. You can use the Quest 2 while it’s plugged in, though you won’t be able to move around as much when you’re connected to a cable. We managed to play Beat Saber with the headset plugged in for a while, but we eventually ripped the cord out of the socket.

The Quest 2 takes advantage of the new Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ XR2 platform and 6GB of RAM for optimal performance. Both displays have a resolution of 1832 x 1920 pixels per screen. Play with complete freedom of movement with these stand-alone 6 DoF headset.

The Oculus mobile application combined with the helmet"s front camera and the Guardian system makes configuration very intuitive. The Guardian system delimits your playing area to warn the player of obstacles.

The Oculus library of games and experiences offers hundreds of varied titles for families and gamers alike. Discover Oculus applications and games (Beat Saber, Echo VR, Phantom: Covert Ops, Star Wars, Robo Recall, Netflix...).

The big picture: Virtual reality has yet to take off in a big way, but a shift in consumer habits along with the introduction of more affordable headsets like the Oculus Quest 2 have rejuvenated this market segment to the point where Japan Display is betting its future on making displays for VR headsets. It"s a calculated risk that could pay off in the future when the market will be more mature and JDI will have established a strong foothold.

Japan Display (JDI) used to be one of Apple"s main suppliers of LCDs for the iPhone, and over the years most of its business was focused on that. Back in 2019, the company sold its screen manufacturing plant to Sharp for $390 million to repay debt to Apple and avoid further losses from the industry"s growing preference for OLED screens in smartphones.

That said, the Tokyo-based LCD manufacturer believes OLED still are at a disadvantage compared to LCD technology when it comes to achieving a higher yield for high-resolution displays, which in turn makes the latter technology more competitive in terms of price.

According to a Bloomberg report, the lockdowns during the pandemic have created higher demand for VR headsets, with Facebook and HTC both experiencing a surge in sales over the last 12 months. That consumer trend has persisted even as the restrictions eased, and VR headset manufacturers have largely shifted away from OLED on newer models like the Oculus Quest 2.

JDI VR chief Takeshi Harayama told Bloomberg, "it"s hard to find a VR headset maker who doesn"t have a relationship with us," which is why the company feels confident about its strategy. Chief VR headset engineer Yoshihiro Watanabe says JDI is capable of making displays with pixel densities of 1,200 pixels per inch, which is a lot higher that that found on high-end smartphones.

OLED makers like Samsung and LG aren"t particularly interested in the VR headset market, since it"s a lot smaller than the smartphone market. JDI believes it can fill this gap, but not all VR headset manufacturers are opting for LCD screens. For instance, Sony is said to use OLED panels in its next PlayStation VR headset, but JDI still expects revenue from non-mobile businesses, which includes VR headsets, to increase 25 percent this year and reach 70 billion yen ($637 million).