Best FPV Goggles in 2023

Flying while using FPV drone goggles is one of my best experiences as a drone pilot (and I’m definitely not alone). But to experience it properly, you must choose the best FPV glasses for your specific face and needs.

In this article, we’ll look in-depth at fields of view, aspect ratio, IPD, resolution, and even head tracking to see the best option for you.

And don’t worry if you wear glasses and wonder if you should get the bigger box type or compact ones, I’ll also cover that.

Since big drone companies like DJI, Yuneec, and Parrot have made their fpv systems or goggles to work with their drones, it’s only fair to cover that a bit.

Box goggles have the advantage of being larger but are typically cheaper. Compact goggles require 2 LCD unit displays and are more engineered to be able to fit all the technology inside a smaller compartment.

Box goggles also give you the space to fit your own eyesight glasses inside of them, if you don’t have contacts.

Here's a great top from our lord and savior, Joshua Bardwell.

Box Goggles offer some really nice benefits at the compromise of being larger in size and making you look a bit like a Ryno.

They are typically cheaper since they only require one larger screen instead of two tinier ones.

They also have unlimited IPD (Inter-pupillary distance) adjustment, compared to more compact goggles that need to still match the position of the two screens somewhat.

Compact goggles are just that, compact and easy to transport. However, they might not fit as well as box ones to everyone's face. They’re typically more expensive and, let’s say higher-end, but not necessarily better than boxed goggles.

There’s a row with RX modules because these goggles don’t always come with a specific receiving module(for the different channels), so you would have to buy that separately.

IPD (interpupillary adjustment) is also more important to check on these goggles, as it’s usually more limited.

These are definitely the best goggles you can buy but don’t think they make all the difference. One of the biggest additions to this more expensive category is the LED display, which makes the blacks look blacker as well as a sharper image overall.

The most different ones on this list are the FPV goggles from DJI which have Digital transmission and that translates into considerably improved FPV image (at the expense of unnoticeably slightly more lag).

While the higher-end FPV goggles can cost you even $500, you can fly FPV for really cheap, using a pair of cheaper FPV box goggles or even cheaper, a monitor.

The field of view of each pair of goggles depends on how immersive you want the experience to be, but it typically ranges between 25% and 45%.

 However, a wide field of view also comes with disadvantages. Some of the images might be in the peripheral vision which might make it hard to detect branches or other objects.

Also, a more stretched image could feel more pixelated and less qualitative.

Here’s a comparison tool from Oscarliang that compares the different FOVs from particular Goggles.

IPD (also known as Interpupillary Distance) is the distance between the center of the pupils of both of your eyes. So pretty much how far apart your eyes are, which is absolutely necessary as a setting. Just think of a pair of binoculars and how important it is to be able to fix the lens directly on the eye sockets.

Thankfully most companies and goggles come with IPD since it’s such an important feature, but make sure to double-check before buying.

Box goggles have basically unlimited IPD adjustments, compared to compact goggles. Compact ones have two screens that need to somewhat alight with the IPD and that's what limits them.

FPV Goggles come with display qualities just like any other screen or monitor, but since you’re way closer to the respective monitor, the resolution is typically way lower.

These are the different resolutions you should expect from a pair of FPV goggles:

• QVGA: 320 x 240 pixels
• VGA: 640 x 480 pixels
• SVGA: 800 x 600 pixels
• FWVGA: 854 x 480 pixels

Considering this, the higher the resolution, the better.

There’s no doubt that glass is the superior material when it comes to optics, so whenever possible choose glass.

 Since the image the goggles show is what they receive from the camera, they also inherit its aspect ratio, either 16:9 or 4:3.

So make sure to match your goggle's aspect ratio with the video the camera is sending or else it might stretch improperly. However, most cameras and goggles these days have a way to change the aspect ratio from the settings.

Depending on whether the goggles are boxed or more compact like Fatshark ones, it can make a huge difference in terms of portability and ease of use. However, there are plenty of box goggles that have a great fit on the face and also allow you to wear glasses, which is great.

FPV goggles with head tracking are exactly what you imagine: they track your head movements and replicate that in real-time with the camera movements of the drone. While this isn’t a feature that can be used in FPV drones that easily, it can definitely be found in most high end FPV goggles for drones with stabilized cameras.

It’s very important to pick goggles that fit your face and head structure, fortunately, most goggles today have plenty of settings from focal distance to intra-pupillary distance, and some even come with different foam fits to make sure you have the proper comfort.

However, not all of them do, and that’s why I’ll only recommend ones that have the maximum amount of options for fitting properly. Besides that, it’s all a subjective experience.

If you’re farsighted, there’s a good chance you’ll need a pair of goggles that fit your glasses. The only alternative would be wearing contacts or settling for a slightly blurred image.

The only type of goggles that have the space for glasses inside are box goggles, as the compact types really can’t fit them.

Even with compact FPV goggles, you can have diopter inserts inside the goggles that compensate if you’re farsighted. These can be made from glass or plastic and must be bought separately according to your prescription, preferably (or close to it).

Some FPV goggles have an adjustable focal length so these are not needed.

You’re probably not interested in a monitor if you’ve read this far about all the types of FPV goggles, but let me tell you why you should read this part even so.

It’s not necessarily a question of getting a monitor instead of FPV goggles, but in addition to a headset.

Since monitors are quite cheap, it would be a great streaming device for your girlfriend, friends, and kids in the park, to see what you’re seeing in the goggles without having to buy them expensive goggles for themselves.

Any screen with a 5.8ghz video receiver can be hooked to the channels of an analogue camera on an FPV drone.

Here are two places to buy one from (cheap):

• Banggood - https://dronesgator.com/fpv-monitor-bgood
• Amazon (affiliate link) - https://amzn.to/2PCXsex