First-person view (FPV) goggles are an absolute must for drone racing. They let you see everything that your drone’s camera sees as if you were really there. FPV goggles can get pretty expensive, but you can still find some great models for a surprisingly reasonable price.
The most important factors in a pair of FPV goggles are reception, resolution, and comfort. You need to be able to see what your drone is seeing with the most clarity possible. You also need a visor that you can wear for extended periods of time.
In our opinion, the SJ-RG01 goggles are the best drone racing FPV goggles under 100 dollars. When we reviewed cheap FPV goggles back in 2018, this model made the top of our list. The market still hasn’t come up with a replacement for this modern, comfortable, and affordable design.
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Product Specifications
| Product: |   |
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| Specifications: | • Weight: 1 pound • Display size: Dual 4.3-inch displays • Resolution: 960 by 240 pixels • Interpupillary distance: Adjustable between 58 and 63 millimeters • Battery: 1500mAh, 3.7V LiPo battery included • Battery life: 1.5 hours • Receiver: 5.8G, 48 channels • Antenna: Dual antennae design • DVR: Records to 32G TF card |
SJ-RG01 Pros List
• Good range and resolution for the price point
• Lightweight and comfortable fit for most users
• Videos are easy to record and can be played with included AV cable
SJ-RG01 Cons List
• Antennae are medium quality; consider replacing
• The battery is short-lived; consider bringing a spare for long races
• Resolution and field of view are limited compared to more expensive models
Overall Rating List
Bottom Line
Hands down, the SJ-RG01 model goggles are the best drone racing FPV goggles under 100 dollars. They aren’t perfect, but they’ll get the job done, and they’re unlikely to give out on you.
These goggles have a decent resolution and an acceptable battery. The padded foam lining is comfortable for most users, and the adjustable interpupillary distance lets you find a focus point that works for your eyes. The reception is reasonable for the price point, and the recorded videos are great to share with your friends.
There’s a reason that the SJ-RG01 model keeps making our best-of lists. Better pairs of FPV goggles exist, but they all cost significantly more. Whether you’re a beginning drone racer or an expert on a tight budget, try the SJ-RG01 goggles for an affordable FPV drone racing solution.
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Resolution
Resolution is one of the most important factors for a set of FPV goggles. The better the resolution is, the more you’ll be able to see. The SJ-RG01 gets a 6/10 for its acceptable-quality resolution.
The resolution of the SJ-RG01 model is a topic of contention. The product is advertised as high resolution with a dual-screen, 960-by-240-pixel display. Despite this, most user reviews seem to agree that the resolution is subpar compared to more expensive FPV goggles on the market.
The truth is that while the resolution isn’t fantastic, it’s more than acceptable for the price point. Customer DVR recordings show that the resolution changes slightly based on reception. If the reception cuts out, the resolution will decrease in quality. This is a common feature for inexpensive FPV goggles; even the most expensive models may suffer from resolution problems when the drone is at a great distance.
Manage your expectations walking into this purchase. You’ll be able to see where your drone is going, but there will be a medium amount of pixelation, clipping, and static. The quality of your drone camera is also going to be a major factor in determining the clarity of your video.
This video from RVA Live Sound shows footage recorded by the SJ-RG01 from a Hawk 5 drone. This is a good sample of what you’ll see if you wear these goggles. Notice that there are some slight pixelation and color shifts but that the overall visuals are quite clear.
Battery
The battery life of your FPV goggles determines how long you can keep racing. If you run out of battery in the middle of a race, you’ll need to pop in a spare or control your drone without first-person vision. The SJ-RG01 gets a 7/10 for a decent and replaceable battery.
The SJ-RG01 features a rechargeable 3.7-volt lithium polymer (LiPo) battery that is included with your purchase. This battery is easy to replace and can be charged with the included cable.
The manufacturer states an expected battery life of 1.5 hours. This matches with consumer reviews, although users have experienced both shorter and longer battery lives.
It’s worth noting that LiPo batteries have a limited life span. Factors like the charger that you use, the device that the battery is used in, and the way that the battery is stored can all impact how well your LiPo battery holds a charge in the future. If you notice your battery life starting to decrease, you may want to purchase a new battery. With how fragile LiPo batteries can be, you should always keep a freshly charged spare.
Luckily, the SJ-RG01 shows your current battery charge on the main display. If you notice that you’ve dropped below 5%, take the goggles off and switch to a spare battery. Consider bringing two spare batteries to every drone racing event; one is for you, and the other is for a friendly racer experiencing an emergency equipment failure.
Comfort
Comfort is fairly important for a set of FPV goggles, but it’s also extremely subjective. What one person finds comfortable may not work at all for another racer. We’re considering comfort to include both the shape of the visor and the way that it treats your eyes. With that in mind, the SJ-RG01 gets an 8/10 for its soft head strap, foam lining, and adjustable interpupillary distance.
The SJ-RG01 model features a foam lining between the visor and your face. For maximum comfort, loosen the strap and lightly press the visor to your face. Ask a friend to help you tighten the strap until the visor is held on without pressing too hard into your forehead or the bridge of your nose.
The interpupillary distance on the SJ-RG01 is completely adjustable. Don’t underestimate how much this feature will assist with your comfort; play with the settings until you feel like each screen is centered in front of your eyes. Adjusting this distance will alleviate motion sickness and keep you racing for much longer.
Reception
Reception is the connection between your FPV goggles and your drone. Good reception results in a smooth video feed even when your drone is at great distances. The SJ-RG01 gets a 7/10 for a decent reception with cheap antennae.
The factory antennae included on the SJ-RG01 are of reasonable quality and have a good range. The poor resolution that many users complain about may actually be caused by faulty antennae. Luckily, the antennae are completely replaceable, and this upgrade can be completed for significantly less than the cost of a more expensive pair of goggles. Make sure you get antennae that are compatible with the 5.8G receiver.
Check out this video by Joshua Bardwell for a breakdown of the best FPV antennae for drone racing. Good antennae are important for both your FPV goggles and your transmitter.
Recording
Your racing drone is ideally recording on its own internal camera. FPV goggles often record a second set of footage on an internal DVR. If you lose your drone, you’ll have backup footage that will help you find it. The SJ-RG01 gets a 9/10 for recording smooth video footage that can be played back easily.
The SJ-RG01 records to an internal 32-gigabyte TF card. An AV cable included in the package lets you download the video. You can also plug the goggles directly into your television to watch your most recent footage. Footage will be recorded at the same quality level at which it was received; if there was static mid-flight, it will appear in the video.
See what other reviews say
C Ray Tech notes that the SJ-RG01 is significantly more compact and comfortable than other models at the same price point.
Conclusion
The SJ-RG01 goggles are the best drone racing FPV goggles under 100 dollars for a reason. These sleek and comfortable goggles will introduce you to the fun of drone racing without breaking your bank. They have a decent resolution and record thoroughly enjoyable footage. You might want to upgrade the antennae or replace the battery, but these goggles will last you for years of budget drone racing.
Check out the SJ-RG01 goggles and let us know what you think.
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