Best FPV Goggles In [year]

FPV goggles make your RC experience way more fun. There are numerous FPV goggle companies out there, each with their own merits and demerits. To help you find the right goggles for your drone, we evaluated 24 different FPV goggles. We also consulted three RC sales representatives and two drone experts. After evaluation, we found that the DJI Phantom 4 1080P HD Immersive FPV Goggle is one of the best FPV goggles in the market. It provides a 1080P HD video quality for an immersive flying experience. If you want to learn more, we have also compiled a detailed buyer’s guide to help you make an intelligent purchase decision.

Best FPV Goggles

1. DJI Phantom 4 1080P HD Immersive FPV Goggles

The DJI Phantom 4 is a feature-rich FPV goggle with a live view of 720p at 60 FPS and latency of 110ms. The close-range falls to 720p at 120 fps for these glasses. To fully audit these glasses, we tested it for several parameters such as field of view, video resolution, interpupillary distance, etc.

It features the DJI’s OcuSync wireless transmission system that allows you to connect 4 devices simultaneously. We noticed that the headbang has a built-in antenna that provides 360 degrees of coverage. We found the connection to be highly reliable even when we were flying the quadcopter behind us.

We tested it with a variety of quadcopters and found it to be compatible with most of them. The goggle worked perfectly with Mavic Pro, Phantom 4 Series, Inspire Series (both 1 and 2), Spark, Mavic Air, Phantom 3 Advanced, and Mavic 2 Pro and Zoom.

However, we weren’t able to use it with quadcopters such as Mavic 2 Enterprise, Mavic Mini, and Mavic Air 2. There were some connectivity issues with these gadgets. It worked pretty well for other drones without any noticeable issues.

DJI goggles provide two screens with a resolution of 1920×1080. It is praiseworthy because the number of pixels in these goggles is more than any typical 2K FPV goggle. The video quality was also top-notch in these goggles.

It also features head tracking using which you can control both the camera tilt and drone yaw with your head movements. We loved the head tracking flight mode of these goggles. The operation was as easy as moving your head left or right to yaw and keep it straight to stop turning. We were also able to use it in gimbal mode in which the only gimbal will move without affecting the yaw of the drone.

DJI goggles also have a touchpad with several intelligent features on the left side. Personally, we feel that the placement is wrong and it could have been better if the touchpad is placed at the bottom of the goggles.

As you may already know, low video latency is a significant feature in an FPV goggle. It is the amount of time between the instant when the frame is displayed on your goggle and the instant when the frame is captured by the quadcopter.

Even if you fly a drone without any goggles, the latency from the flying app or remote controller to the drone camera is extremely important. The image that your goggle shows to you is just a fraction of the image captured by the camera of your drone.

As stated above, the video latency for Phantom 4 Series is 110ms with a live view of 720p at 30 fps. It provides a video format of 720p at 120 fps which is quite good as compared to other glasses from DJI. The video quality is great and pictures every detail clearly.

DJI also has a fixed-wing mode but we weren’t able to use it with a lot of drones. However, it worked successfully with the original Mavic Pro (older version) using the intelligent flight mode. We were disappointed with the fact that it didn’t work with Mini or Mavic 2 drone.

This mode allowed us to fly the drone forward with a rotational movement that provides a realistic flight simulation. We combined it with the head tracking mode and enjoyed a fully realized flight experience on Mavic Pro.

We also noticed that there is an AR trajectory prediction feature in these goggles that makes it easier to use the fixed-wing mode in a harsh environment. There are also other intelligent flight modes such as TapFly, Cinematic Mode, Terrain Follow, Tripod Mode, and Active Track.

Bottom Line

All in all, the DJI Phantom 4 is a great gadget with plenty of features to play around with. Whether you are a seasoned pilot or an expert drone flyer, the excellent compatibility of DJI phantom 4 makes it a great choice for you. It is certainly one of the best FPV goggles in the market.

2. Fatshark Dominator V3 FPV Goggles – Best Under $300

If you’re looking to upgrade your RC gear to meet the demand for racing drones, we’d highly recommend you to have a look at the Fatshark Dominator V3 FPV goggle. It is a quality designed google with capabilities that meet the requirements of both beginner and professional pilots.

Talking about our first impression, the Fatshark Dominator V3 comes with a sturdy frame coated with a sleek white body. The appearance looks modern and stylish with a blue hue around the button and controls. There is also a leather face cushion to provide a comfortable wearing experience. We noticed that the goggles provide a good distance from the screen to your eyes.

The gadget itself is lightweight and doesn’t feel like a burden on your head. It is flexible and compact enough to suit both professional and casual pilots. It also has a 1800mAh battery positioned in the head strap pocket of the Fatshark goggles. It doesn’t interfere with the controls and maintains an immersive flying experience.

After charging it fully, we were able to get a runtime of up to three hours. We also used additional batteries to check the efficiency of these goggles. We can certainly conclude that the runtime is perfect for racing without any interruption.

Along with the attractive design, the Fatshark Dominator V3 is equipped with a plethora of features. However, one of our experts had problems wearing these goggles along with glasses. This calls for the need for contact lenses for people with weak eyesight. We believe that some minor tweaks in the design by the company could solve the problem.

Apart from this, the goggles can be easily adjusted as per your requirements and comfort. It has a built-in DVR that allows you to record the in-flight aerial footage for playback. The video quality is certainly amazing.

There is a range of analog receivers powered by bays and Trinity head tracker for better operations. These features made our flying experience one of a kind. We were really impressed with the user-friendly interface of these glasses.

The built-in DVR also allows you to switch between the PAL and NTSC video formats even when it runs out of power while recording. There’s also an HDMI port to stream real-time video in high definition 720p quality.

However, we believe that the Eachine goggles had a much better DVR in comparison to Fatshark. The only practical usage we could find for Fatshark’s DVR was to locate the lost model. It’s just the internal hardware that makes it a value for money product.

The head tracker feature works very accurately with the drone. We were able to command the drone easily without any issues. The operations are as easy as moving your head in left to the right direction to move the drone and keeping your head still to stop the movement.

The Fatshark Dominator V3 also comes with 32 channels and integrated bays for a wide range receiver. The built-in receivers also provide a remote-control range of 300 meters which is perfectly fine for racing drones. It supports receivers of 1G3, 2G4, and 5G8 band.

We found it easier to upgrade the quality of transmission and control range of this goggle. There are plenty of customization options to match your requirements and preferences. Talking about the perception, the Dominator V3 provides a 30-degree field of view. The monitor feels natural with a 16:9 aspect ratio on the WVGA screen.

We were also disappointed with the fact that they didn’t even include a battery charger. At such a price point, they could have at least finished the whole packaging. Even the instructions in the user-manual were limited and unclear.

We admit that there are several other models that don’t provide a battery at the same price point. However, they definitely include a diversity of installation modules. We also witnessed a minimal light leak but it was barely noticeable. We certainly believe that you deserve more at such a price.

Bottom Line

Overall, the Fatshark Dominator V3 is a high-quality FPV goggle for racing drones. With its durable and modular design, you’ll get a highly immersive flight experience. It not only contains a slew of features but also excels in terms of wearability. Moreover, the latest trinity head tracking provides you a multitude of ways to control your drone apart from a standard remote controller.

3. EACHINE EV800D FPV Goggles with DVR – Best Under $200

Eachine is a known brand for making affordable and quality drone gadgets at a budget-friendly price. Keeping the first-person view in mind, they launched the Eachine EV800D FPV goggle which falls under the $200 price range. They market it as a switchable gadget that works as both a goggle and a portable ground station.

We believe it to be an advanced version of the good old EV800. In the latest model, the “D” probably highlights the diversity of receivers. To prove the fact, we found that this model includes two virtual receivers inside the goggles with the ability to switch automatically as per the available signal strength in the area.

It’s similar to have two different sim cards and using either of them according to the signal strength. At a genuinely affordable price, you get a lot of accessories in the package. This includes a panel antenna, cloverleaf antenna, user manual, battery charger, 3S to DC power cable, DC video input cable, wall adapter, and a carrying bag for your goggles.

We found the specifications of these goggles to be really impressive. Even at such a competitive price, it has features that match high-end models such as a DVR and a diversity receiver. It features a 5-inch crisp LCD panel with a resolution of 800×480. The image quality is great but we noticed that it cuts the images at the edges.

The screen brightness is calculated to be 600cd/m2 which is quite good as the aspect ratio for these goggles is 16:9 and 4:3. There is also a built-in 1200mAh battery that operates under 7.4V. We noticed a great battery backup, ideal for at least 3 hours of flight. It also provides an HD video recording with a resolution of 720×576 pixels.

We were extremely satisfied with this goggle at such a price point. Although the charger seems to be flimsy and cheap, we couldn’t expect much from Eachine. There is no doubt that these goggles are comfortable to wear. However, a slight face light was leaking from the sides and the nose of the goggles. We believe that a little bit of extra foam could have been added to block the leakage.

We also loved how the face foam is removable. We researched and found that a replacement for this foam is available in case it gets smelly and sweaty after a certain time of usage. The unit feels good in hands and the material appears to be plastic. Initially, we found the head straps to be flexible but they’re not enough to responsibly hold the goggles.

That’s when we noticed that the straps started sagging with the weight of the goggles. Due to this, we started feeling discomfort in wearing the goggles after using it a couple of times. As the EV800D has a fixed focal length, this is a major drawback for the product. Similar to Fatshark, people with spectacles find it difficult to wear these goggles.

We loved the front placement of the control buttons and the menu screen on the goggles. We were able to use it easily while wearing the goggles. Although it requires some practice to get familiar with the controls, you’ll master it with continuous usage and practice. Another drawback is that it uses a 2.5mm charging connector instead of the standard 3.5mm connector. Due to this, you cannot charge it with your laptop charger and have to use the cheap charger provided by Eachine.

As stated above, there are two virtual receivers that work together to provide you the best possible connection. We found that the receiver also switches between the video formats automatically as per the signal strength. In that case, the receiver with a greater signal strength displays the video. We also noticed that the receiver is not of the best quality but certainly gets the work done.

We also found the stock antennas to be pretty good in these googles. If you want to make it even better, feel free to get a pair of antennas from outside. Eachine also features an auto-scan module with which it scans over 40 channels and connects to the one with the best signal quality. This eliminates the need for manual scrolling and makes the lives of RC pilots easier.

We also stated earlier that it serves as a two-in-one gadget. It works both as a ground station and a goggle. While testing the ground station, we noticed that it can be easily mounted to a 6mm tripod stand and provide you access to other FPV actions. With this ability, you can get started in FPV by mounting the goggles on the tripod stand.

The feature that makes Eachine EV800D stand out is its DVR. This allows you to record in-flight video displayed on the screen of your goggles. Although it is possible to connect a DVR externally, you may experience a few milliseconds of latency with them. With the built-in DVR in EV800D, you won’t have to worry about any external recording device.

Talking about the image quality, we believe that the 5-inch display delivers more than what it promises. There’s an OSD screen that allows you to adjust the brightness and other parameters of your video. The controls are as easy as long-pressing the SRC button to open the menu screen where you get the options to adjust the contrast, brightness, aspect ratio, and sharpness of your video.

We really enjoyed the immersive experience of the 3x magnification feature. There is also a video input port installed on the side body of the goggles. This allows you to connect an external receiver in case you don’t like the video quality of the in-built receiver.

Bottom Line

In comparison to the earlier version of Eachine FPV goggles, the EV800D has made great progress with plenty of useful features. If you’re looking to get started in FPV as a beginner, the EV800D is a great option on a budget of a shoestring.

4. EACHINE EV800 5.8G FPV Goggles – Best Under $100

The Eachine EV800 FPV goggle is the predecessor of the EV800D. It is a very affordable goggle with great capabilities. It has a variety of features and costs very less than its successor. It has compact dimensions of 180x145x82 mm. In our opinion, the size is neither too small nor too big. However, the comfort of these glasses depends entirely on the size of your face.

Accompanied by a wide view angle of 82 degrees, the EV800 features a contemporary matte finish with a high-quality plastic body. The model itself felt really great in our hands.

The thing we loved the most is its ergonomic design. These glasses envelop your face completely without any light leak. Moreover, its lightweight body prevents user fatigue due to extended usage. The overall weight including the battery is just 375g. Talking about the battery, it has a capacity of 200mAh. After a full charge, we were able to use it for more than three and a half hours.

It also allows you to connect 2S or 3S external batteries for additional usage. But we don’t think you may even require any additional batteries. The charging time is also great and you can get it up and running in no time. The reason why we are impressed with its ergonomic design is that it includes a three-way adjustable belt. This allows you to adjust the glasses as per the size of your face.

Even the lens is 92% transparent and allows you to get a clear idea about the distortions along the edges. This allows you to get an unobstructed and clear view every time. We also loved how we can detach the EV800D 5.8 GHz goggles in two separate parts. The LCD can be detached from the wearable part and can be attached to a camera tripod.

Even at a price under $100, the package contains a lot of things such as the manual, a small lens cloth, and a headphone adapter that goes from smaller headphones to larger ones. The main packaging includes a battery adapter, charger lead, bigger antenna, and a small bag to keep your goggles.

The glasses come in two parts – the monitor and the faceplate magnifier. Talking about the screen, it provides you a detailed insight of your channel and band in the top left corner. There’s also a menu button that brings up the screen settings. Here you can adjust the sharpness, brightness, color, contrast, volume, and language. It also allows you to turn your glasses on/off. Once you’re done setting things up, hit the menu button again to exit.

The best thing is that these goggles can be turned into an FPV monitor. As it is a tight fit, you need to slide the front part up, get it high, and push it down low to have a standalone FPV monitor. Another cool thing about it is that there’s a tripod slot at the bottom in the form of a threaded nut. With this, you can easily thread it to any tripod for your FPV station.

There’s also a built-in battery with 2000mAh capacity powered y 3.7V. According to the manufacturer, the unit is supposed to provide you a runtime of 3.5 hours but in reality, we were able to get a flight of just two and a half hours. We won’t suggest you run it that long on a single charge. However, there is a 5V input on the glasses.

Obviously, you can use it with the connector that comes with it. We noticed that it has both JST1 and a wall charger. When you are outside in the field, you cannot use a wall charger, duh. However, you can feel free to use a 10,000mAh power bank to enjoy a long-time flight. The JST1 connector allows you to connect it with lithium-ion batteries. Even if you use 2-3 cells, the voltage regulator knocks it down to 5V.

We were excited to test the compatibility of these glasses with various quadcopters. We turned on the screen and powered up the FPV radian. Initially, we didn’t see anything on the screen because we were on a different channel. So, we hold the search button to use the auto search function of the goggles. After a while, it started showing the image for Fat shark.

We also tested it with Blade and again, the auto search helped us a lot. It also works pretty great with the Spectrum FPV. As it’s a 40 channel, we believe that it can work with pretty much all the brands of quadcopters.

Personally, we loved the idea of turning it into a standalone FPV monitor because if you’re just staring with FPV, you may not be comfortable with putting up googles. Therefore, you can start with a line of sight flying using the standalone monitor mode of these goggles.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, the Eachine EV800 5.8Ghz FPV goggle is made for anyone looking to get a great racing drone FPV experience. It is not only easy to set up but also lasts for a really long time. The price is extremely competitive as compared to the features that it provides.

5. ARRIS 5.8Ghz FPV Goggles – Best Under $50

If you’re looking for the most budget-friendly FPV goggles, you may consider having a look at the ARRIS 5.8Ghz FPV goggles. To be honest, we weren’t expecting these goggles to be good in the first place. The clone look and the 3-inch screen seemed to be skeptical initially. However, the vibrance of colors and clarity totally proved us wrong.

The moment we took it in our hands, we noticed that it is extremely lightweight. We moved ahead to actually wear it and found that it is highly comfortable. Although there is a little bit of light leak, the glasses fit perfectly on the face and don’t feel like a burden on the face. We found the navigation to be pretty straightforward in these goggles.

We noticed that it doesn’t display the name of the channels it is connected to. So, you need to remember the frequency of the channels you are connected to. Inside the screen, you will also find an OSD that shows you the stats related to the battery status and the voltage of your signal. There is an option in the settings to turn this feature on/off in case you find it to be distracting.

It features double antenna reception that switches automatically as per the stability and the strength of the signal. There is a 3.7V 1200mAh battery that provides a runtime of two and a half hours. We were able to charge the battery with the help of a standard USB charger as well.

In comparison to the VR-007, it has a fairly smaller screen size. However, this allows it to provide you a crisp and high-resolution image. We don’t recommend it for 5-inch racers as the picture can seem far away especially when coming around a hairpin 180.

Bottom Line

Overall, we are highly satisfied with the ARRIS 5.8GHz FPV goggles. It is fairly had to get such a wide array of features at such a price range. The picture quality of ARRIS and the stable connection makes it a great fit for beginners looking to get started with FPV.

Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Best FPV Goggles

1. Interpupillary Distance

The interpupillary distance is the length of the area between the center of one pupil to the center of the other pupil. It is measured in terms of millimeters (mm). When you purchase FPV goggles, you need to make sure that they have an adjustable focus.

Every human has a different interpupillary distance (IPD). IPD is available in FPV goggles with two screens. Moreover, it would be even better if you choose a goggle with diopter lenses. It is a dominant factor because incorrect IPD results in a blurry and diminished image.

While every FPV goggle has an adjustable IPD, we still recommend you to measure your IPD using a ruler. This allows you to ideally position your screen in front of your eyes. We recommend DJI Phantom 4 1080P HD Immersive FPV Goggles because it has a very accurate IPD adjustment feature.

2. Field of View (FOV)

The field of view (FOV) is the measurement of the size of the image with respect to your eyes in your FPV goggles. For instance, if a goggle has a FOV of 35 degrees, the angle of the edges of the screen are at 35 degrees from the center point of your eyes.

Generally, FOV ranges from 25-50 degrees for low profile goggles and 50-80 degrees for box goggles. However, it’s completely a personal preference and we prefer a FOV range of 35-50 degrees. A larger FOV means a more immersive picture.

But, a larger FOV can create problems in certain situations. In a larger FOV, you need to constantly move your eyes to see the edges of the screen, especially on an on-screen display. Racing pilots might find it easier to focus on glasses with smaller FOV. 

3. Aspect Ratio

FPV goggles have two general aspect ratios to display videos namely 16:9 and 4:3. Although there are other aspect ratios such as 16:10 available in FPV goggles, we won’t suggest them because you need to match the aspect ratio with your FPV camera.

Otherwise, the image will appear distorted and ruin your viewing experience. Initially, FPV cameras only support an aspect ratio of 16:9 or 4:3. Most of the FPV cameras in the market have a ratio of 4:3. However, certain cameras are being released with switchable ratios.

There are some FPV goggles that chop off the edges of the screen t support a ratio of 16:9 and 4:3. You can identify the aspect ratio of these goggles by simplifying their resolution. For instance, when 1280×960 is simplified, it yields a ratio of 4:3.

4. Resolution

In any device with a screen, the resolution determines the quality of the picture. A higher resolution means better picture quality. However, FPV cameras provide only a 5.8Ghz video transmission system and a limited camera resolution.

Due to this, you won’t be benefitted from a high resolution. In most cases, a resolution of 800×600 is pretty enough because NTSC and PAL formats provide you a resolution of 720×576 and 720×486 respectively.

As the technology and system advance in FPV goggles, you may be able to use a higher resolution for your benefit in the future. Until then, we believe that the have an ideal resolution.

5. Price

Repeat it after us – “expensive FPV goggles are not necessarily better”. Even a $50 box goggle can work fine for you. If you want to fly professionally, you can get a feature-rich FPV goggle that costs up to $300. But there are still numerous cheap and good options in the market.

Keep in mind that FPV goggles are considered to be a long-term investment. Therefore, if you feel that you need to spend a little bit more, go for it. In your RC career, goggles are going to be your most long-lasting partner.

You can use a single FPV goggle for all your quads. So, make sure that you decide on a budget beforehand. Talking about our verdict, we found to be a highly affordable option with the great build quality. 

6. Other Features

FPV goggles can have a variety of features that help you throughout your RC journey. Keep in mind that with every additional feature, the price is supposed to increase. Take a look at the features and determine which one fits the bill for you:

• DVR – a digital video recorder allows you to record your flight video on the go. This also allows you to playback your video and locate a crashed drone.
• HDMI Input – It allows you to connect a display with your goggles. You can use it to connect FPV simulators and practice flying a drone.
• Anti-Fog Fan – As the name suggests, it prevents your goggles from getting foggy in a humid and hot environment.
• Head Tracking – It allows you to synchronize the head movements of the pilot with the camera attached to the drone. As the pilot moves his/her head, the camera will move in the same direction. 
• Audio Output – It allows you to listen to the changing RPM of your motor and provides you a more immersive flying experience.
• 3D Support – It allows you to install a 3D transmission system in your goggles.

Based on your requirements, choose the features that you wish to have in your goggles. The are the most feature-rich FPV goggle we tested so far.

FAQs

1. Can you fly an FPV drone without goggles?

If you’re learning to fly a drone, you can fly it without FPV goggles. In fact, it is suggested for beginners to start flying in plain sight before using a goggle. Once you’re familiar with the basics, FPV goggles take your flying experience to a whole new level.

2. how do FPV goggles work?

In simple terms, FPV goggles work like a television on a smaller scale. The drone is equipped with a camera to capture video. A video transmitter receives the signal and broadcasts it wirelessly just like a television. The video receiver will pick the signal and display a video on the glasses.

The Takeaway

Now when you know everything about FPV goggles, it’s time for you to experience a whole new flight experience. Trust us when we say that FPV goggles will change the way you fly a quadcopter or a drone. Also, make sure that you go through all the products listed above and pick the best FPV goggles as per your requirements. We’ve provided different products that fit the bill for most of the users. If you’re still unsure about the selection, consider having a look at the buyer’s guide before making a purchase decision.