Alex Novak

A few years ago people would ask, why is VR porn low quality? Fortunately, that time has long passed, and thanks to sites like SLR ultra-realistic high-definition scenes have become the norm. A big part of this is down to resolution - usually, discussing video resolution can be a bit technical, but let’s break it down to see how it works and why it matters.

Why Does Video Resolution Matter for Virtual Reality?

Because video resolution refers to the clarity of the scene, it makes a huge difference when experiencing something in virtual reality. If the resolution is too low, it leads to the screen door effect, which looks like a tiny black grid superimposed on the image. 

Part of the reason why you need such high VR resolution is that your eyes are so close to the screen. Also, as you move your head around the virtual space, you don’t want to experience too much blurring or pixelation as the scene renders in real time. Finally, the headset uses magnifying lenses to stretch the image, making it more necessary to have a higher pixel density. 

Overall, having a high VR resolution allows users to feel more immersed in the environment. Even if they look closely at a section of the screen, they won’t feel like they’re looking into a simulated environment. 

Video Resolution and Field of View

Your field of view is the entire image you can see from one peripheral to another. With human eyes, the total field of view is about 180 degrees. Even if you move your head around, the FOV stays the same, but it shifts with your perspective. 

To help create a more immersive experience, VR producers shoot scenes with a higher FOV so users can feel like they’re actually in the scene. Some videos even have 210 or 360-degree field of view, allowing individuals to focus on everything everywhere all at once. 

But what does the field of view have to do with video resolution? Well, think of it as wrapping a big-screen TV around your eyes. The bigger the screen, the more pixels it needs to showcase an image, so the higher the resolution necessary. 

As a rule, 180-degree videos should be shot in at least 4K, while 360-degree scenes should be in 8K. These resolution standards offer the best consumer experience. Let’s break down what these terms mean in the next section. 

What is the Best VR Resolution?

Technically, the best VR resolution is the one that offers the most clarity for the field of view. However, these days, there are three primary resolution options that are considered the “gold” standard - 8K, 6K, and 5K. 

8K Resolution

As the name suggests, 8K resolution has about 8,000 pixels on the screen. However, with VR, the total gets split in two, with half going to each eye. So, technically, you’re getting two sets of 4K resolution, but your eyes combine to make it 8K. 

6K Resolution

Because 8K resolution is still relatively new, few VR headsets have the capability of rendering scenes with such high-quality imaging. However, 6K took over a few years back, thanks to VR producers going all-in on this resolution. 

6K scenes deliver 6144 x 3160 pixels total, or 3062 x 3160 resolution per eye.

5K Resolution

It’s hard to believe that 4K was considered revolutionary as far back as 2011, but now it’s been surpassed so much that most videos aren’t even shot in 4K anymore. Instead, 5K dethroned the titan, thanks to its extra boost of high-resolution imagery. 5K videos provide 5,400 x 2,700 pixels, or 2,700 x 2,700 for each eye. 

Which VR Headsets Offer the Best Resolution? 

If you’re looking for high resolution scenes, you need top-tier headsets to view them. Fortunately, next-generation models are able to render images and deliver better resolution, so you’ll get a feast for the senses next time you log on. Here are our top picks: 

• Pimax 8K X - 7680 x 2160 total resolution, 3840 x 2160 per eye
• Pico 4 - 4320 x 2160 total resolution, 2160 x 2160 resolution per eye
• HTC Vive Pro 2 - 4896 x 2448 total resolution, 2448 x 2448 per eye
• Meta Quest Pro - 3840 x 1800 total resolution, 1920 x 1800 per eye
• Meta Quest 2 - 3664 x 1920 total resolution, 1832 x 1920 per eye

The Bottom Line

When discussing high-resolution images and VR, you have to make sure the hardware and software match. After all, there’s no point in trying to experience an 8K video if your headset can only display 4K. 

What’s even more compelling about these leaps is that they’re still happening. While 8K might seem like a massive step up (it is), it’s still not enough to provide the ultimate clarity for VR scenes. Still, questions like, “why are VR videos low quality?” are a relic of the past.

In the future, we’ll likely be seeing 9K, 10K, and even as high as 20K videos and wondering why we settled for something so quaint as 8K. Until then, it’s often better to invest in technology that can handle current standards and trends. So, if you’re still rocking a 4K headset, you might want to consider upgrading pretty soon.