The Bigscreen Beyond features micro OLED displays with a resolution of 2560 by 2560 per eye, offering excellent visual clarity. However, the brightness settings can impact visibility, particularly in terms of persistence and glare.
Brightness and Persistence:
- High Brightness: At higher brightness settings, such as 100% or above, some users may notice persistence blur, which can manifest as a motion blur effect when moving the head. This is more pronounced at higher brightness levels, such as 150%, where the display emits around 200 nits to the eye[5]. Some users find this acceptable for a brighter image, while others prefer lower settings to minimize persistence[5].
- Low Brightness: Lowering the brightness, typically to around 50%, reduces persistence blur and provides a sharper image during head movements. This setting also keeps dark scenes truly dark, which is characteristic of OLED panels[1][5]. Users often find this balance optimal for most VR experiences.
Glare:
- High Contrast Scenes: The Bigscreen Beyond uses pancake optics, which can introduce glare in high contrast scenes. This glare is less directly attached to objects compared to Fresnel lenses but can still be noticeable, especially in nighttime or dark environments[1].
- Brightness Impact on Glare: While brightness settings don't directly reduce glare, adjusting the brightness can affect how noticeable it is. In darker scenes, glare might be more apparent, whereas in brighter, daylight-like environments, it is less noticeable.
OLED Display Characteristics:
- OLED panels provide excellent contrast and true blacks, making dark scenes appear very dark. However, they generally do not achieve the same peak brightness as LCD displays. This means that while the Bigscreen Beyond's displays are adequate for most VR experiences, they may not be as bright as some other headsets like the Quest 3[3][5].
In summary, adjusting brightness in the Bigscreen Beyond affects visibility primarily through persistence and glare. Lower brightness settings reduce persistence blur but may make dark scenes darker, while higher settings increase brightness but can introduce more persistence. Glare is more noticeable in high contrast scenes but can be mitigated by adjusting viewing angles or playing in brighter environments.
Citations:
[1] https://www.roadtovr.com/bigscreen-beyond-review-pc-vr-headset/
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/bigscreen/comments/18i0erk/i_bought_the_bigscreen_beyond_im_disappointed/
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5OgYbEMDzs
[4] https://www.bigscreenvr.com/displays
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/virtualreality/comments/18tmoyc/my_review_of_the_bigscreen_beyond/
What are the pros and cons of using lower brightness settings in Bigscreen Beyond
Using lower brightness settings in the Bigscreen Beyond can have several advantages and disadvantages. Here's a detailed overview:
Pros of Lower Brightness Settings
1. Reduced Persistence Blur: Lowering the brightness reduces persistence blur, which is a motion blur effect that occurs when moving your head. This results in sharper images during dynamic movements, enhancing the overall visual experience.
2. Improved Contrast and Black Levels: OLED displays, like those in the Bigscreen Beyond, provide excellent contrast and true blacks. Lower brightness settings can further enhance this by making dark scenes appear even darker, which is beneficial for immersive experiences in VR.
3. Less Eye Strain: Lower brightness can be easier on the eyes, especially during extended VR sessions. High brightness can sometimes cause eye strain or discomfort, particularly in low-light environments.
4. Power Efficiency: Lowering the brightness can potentially extend the battery life of the headset, though this effect might be minimal compared to other factors like processing demands.
Cons of Lower Brightness Settings
1. Dimmer Image: The most obvious drawback is that the image appears dimmer. This can be particularly noticeable in bright or well-lit virtual environments, where details might not be as clear as they would be at higher brightness settings.
2. Limited Visibility in Bright Scenes: In scenes with high lighting or bright colors, lower brightness settings can make it harder to see details. This might detract from the overall visual fidelity and immersion in certain VR experiences.
3. Potential for Over-Compensation: Some users might compensate for low brightness by increasing the in-game brightness settings, which can lead to washed-out colors or reduced contrast in certain scenes.
4. Impact on Color Accuracy: While OLED displays generally maintain good color accuracy, very low brightness settings might slightly affect color vibrancy or saturation, though this is typically minimal.
In summary, using lower brightness settings in the Bigscreen Beyond offers benefits like reduced persistence blur and improved contrast but may result in a dimmer image and potential issues with visibility in bright scenes. The optimal brightness setting often depends on personal preference and the specific VR content being experienced.
Does the brightness setting impact the battery life of the Bigscreen Beyond
The brightness setting in the Bigscreen Beyond can have a minor impact on battery life, but it is not the primary factor affecting overall battery duration. Here's a detailed explanation:
Impact of Brightness on Battery Life
1. Power Consumption: OLED displays, like those in the Bigscreen Beyond, consume less power when displaying black or dark content because only the active pixels use electricity. However, when it comes to brightness settings, increasing the brightness does consume more power, as more energy is required to illuminate the display.
2. Minor Effect Compared to Other Factors: While higher brightness settings do increase power consumption, the difference is relatively small compared to other factors that significantly affect battery life. These include:
- Processing Demands: The computational load from running VR applications, especially those with complex graphics or physics, is a major drain on the battery.
- Wireless Connectivity: If the headset is connected wirelessly, maintaining a stable connection can also consume power.
- Audio Output: Using high-quality audio or spatial audio can also contribute to power consumption.
3. Battery Life Expectations: The Bigscreen Beyond is designed to provide a certain level of battery life based on typical usage patterns. Adjusting brightness might extend or shorten battery life by a few minutes, but it is unlikely to make a dramatic difference.
Practical Considerations
- Balancing Brightness and Battery Life: Users often find a balance between desired brightness for optimal viewing and battery life. For most users, the impact of brightness on battery life is not significant enough to dictate their viewing preferences.
- Charging Convenience: The Bigscreen Beyond can be charged via USB-C, making it easy to top up the battery if needed, which reduces the concern about minor variations in battery life due to brightness settings.