LG and Valve show VR headset with a resolution of 1440×1280 pixels per eye

LG has demonstrated a prototype of an advanced VR headset at the Game Developer Conference in collaboration with Valve. The VR glasses have 3.64″ OLED screens with a resolution of 1440×1280 pixels per eye and a refresh rate of 90Hz.

The resolution of LG’s VR glasses is higher than that of the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Those glasses also have an OLED panel, but the resolution is 1200×1080 pixels per eye. The angle of view depends on the adjustment of the glasses, but if placed as close to the eyes as possible, it would be 110 degrees. That is comparable to headsets such as the Rift, Vive and PSVR.

LG has hardly released any details about the headset itself. Just before the start of the Game Developer Conference, the South Korean manufacturer announced that it would show advanced VR glasses at the fair. Tom’s Hardware was able to try the prototype and published a hands-on that also details the specifications.

According to Tom’s Hardware, the prototype works remarkably well. The website writes that the final glasses should probably make ‘mixed reality’ possible. This would be done using cameras that show the image of the environment on the screen. On top of that, information can be displayed again. Microsoft and Acer announced a VR headset with similar functionality on Wednesday. That is a model with two LCDs, each showing 1440×1440 pixels.

LG’s prototype runs on SteamVR and uses the same Lighthouse stations as the HTC Vive for roomscale tracking. That seems to imply that it is possible to play Vive games on the LG glasses, but the manufacturer does not want to say anything about that yet.

The controllers are also based on those of the Vive, but have a slightly different appearance. According to Tom’s Hardware, the headset is made by Valve, on behalf of LG. LG would use its own techniques such as the OLED panel and lenses. The glasses shown are a prototype and the final design may differ. LG wants to further develop the headset based on feedback it receives at the GDC.

Photo: Tom’s Hardware