Whether you’re into first-person view (FPV) drone racing, or you’re just a technology enthusiast who loves streaming FPV video, having this as a hobby can be tough on the wallet. If you know anything about FPV goggles, then you know that they can be super expensive. Some goggles can cost more than an entire drone setup. However, if you’re on a budget or a newbie trying to figure out if you will like the hobby, there are plenty of low-cost FPV goggles available as well. You’re trying to understand which goggles will give you the immersive experience you are looking for while not dipping too far into your bank account. Don’t worry, with our help you’ll be able to find cheap FPV goggles within your budget.
FPV is the best way to get the full immersive flying experience. For most drone pilots, that is the closest to actually being in the pilot’s seat as you’ll ever get. If you’ve never tried it before, then you are in for a treat! We most definitely recommend all drone pilots try it out; flying will never be the same. Whether you know a lot about FPV goggles or you know nothing, we will help you choose some of the best FPV goggles under $200. After all, it’s not about how much you pay; it’s about the experience itself, and we want to help you have the best one that’s available to you and your pocket. Let’s get started!
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Types of Cheap FPV Goggles
First, let’s address the two types of goggles available. There are box goggles, which are comfortable but bulky, and there are compact goggles, which are compact – slim and lightweight. Obviously, there are pros and cons for both, but the main thing to know is that FPV goggles make flying much easier, giving the pilot much better control. When using goggles, you can avoid obstacles better while also being able to fly further as well as being able to maintain better vision. If you are into racing drones, we believe that FPV goggles are absolutely necessary.
When it comes to price, it really just depends on what you want and how much money you have to spend. Smaller, compact goggles may be lighter and feel better to wear, but they also typically cost more than the box type. We do have some compact goggles on our list, though, so if that’s what you want, that’s what you can get. There are also some goggles which have two screens for displaying what the drone’s camera sees in real time, while others only have one screen. Again, it comes down to what you want and your budget.
When FPV headsets first came out, they were all expensive. Luckily, because of demand, there are now some that are very affordable. There are also still some very high-end products as well, but we want to talk about the best cheap FPV googles 2018 has to offer.
Cheap FPV Goggle Selection Considerations
Resolution
Before we roll out the selections, we’d like to mention a few selection considerations first. Let’s begin with the display. The higher the resolution, the better the picture. This is also true for your drone camera as well. If one has a much higher resolution than the other, you may not be able to notice due to the inferior resolution. Make sure both are around the same resolution for best results.
Field of View (FOV)
You will also want a larger field of view (FOV). The larger the FOV, the better and more immersive your flying experience is going to be. Generally, goggles with a larger FOV have the screen set closer to your eyes. Head tracking is also a feature that will increase your immersive experience. It’s basically exactly what it sounds like: the goggles track your head movement, making the onboard camera move the same way. It really adds to the experience.
Screen Aspect Ratio
Another factor which needs to match with the drone camera is the screen aspect ratio. Some goggles have an aspect ratio as high as 16:9, which is awesome for aerial photography, while others have smaller ratios such as 4:3, which is what most board cameras support. The reason it is important for the aspect ratio of the goggles to match that of the camera is that if it doesn’t, everything may look shrunken down.
Inter-Pupillary Distance (IPD)
One factor that is actually super important but is often overlooked is the interpupillary distance (IPD). This needs to be adjustable because everyone’s eyes are spaced differently. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to looking through the goggles. With an adjustable IPD, you can fit the goggles to how your eyes are spaced. If you are considering FPV goggles without this feature, be sure to try them on before getting too comfortable with them.
DVR
Some goggles have DVR capabilities, which means they have the ability to record in-flight via a Micro SD card which is conveniently placed within the goggles. This can be used as backup for your flight footage. This really comes in handy if you have crashed your drone and aren’t sure where it is. The DVR footage will help make recovering your drone much easier.
Reception
Another consideration is the FPV receiver antenna. Some goggles come with FPV receiver antenna, some come with a receiver bay, which means they support an antenna, and some come with neither. There are also two basic types of antennas as well. There are linear antennas, which sends signals out along a line which are great for long distances but tend to be more prone to interference. Then there are circular antennas, called Cloverleaf antennas, which are better at close ranges and multi-rotor flight.
Comfort and Design
Lastly, be sure to check out the design of the FPV goggles. Vent fans are important for keeping them from fogging up. Check for HDMI ports. Be sure they fit well and aren’t bothersome. Most importantly, check for overall quality of build. You don’t want to shell out a couple of hundred dollars for something just to have it break the first time out.
5 Best Cheap FPV Goggles in 2018
SJ RG01 FPV Goggles
These goggles will run you just under a hundred bucks and come with free shipping on Amazon. They have dual displays with 960×240 resolution and adjustable IPD. This product is compatible with a 5.8GHz band which is one of the most popular on the market. These goggles have the diversity receiver module, enabling stable imaging. They allow FPV recording in real-time using a trans-flash (TF) card, allowing you to share images and videos with friends and family. The SJ RG01 FPV goggles have an attractive appearance, are lightweight and compact and are designed based on the facial structure for ensuring a more comfortable experience when wearing them. Weight: 9.6 ounces
SJ RG01 FPV Goggles PROS:
• Affordable price
• Lightweight and compact
• Attractive design
• Adjustable IPD
• Stable images and videos
SJ RG01 FPV Goggles CONS:
• Not as high as screen resolution as some may want
• Not as wide a field of view as some may want
See what other reviews say:
Buy on Amazon
EACHINE EV800 FPV Goggles
The Eachine EV800 has a 5-inch screen which can be used as a small monitor on your radio controller or with a tripod due to its unique separable design. This product comes with an advanced auto-searching function for showing working frequency on the built-in display. The HD LCD screen has a resolution of 800×480 with HD high brightness LCD which is specifically tuned for FPV racing drones. These goggles have comfortable face sponge for longer wearability without irritation. The stock battery included with the goggles gives up to three hours of charge. This set of cheap fpv goggles is right at a hundred dollars. Weight: 13.3 ounces
EACHINE EV800 PROS:
• Perfect for beginners
• Big screen
• Clear image/good resolution
• Easy frequency/channel locator
• Ready to go out of the box
EACHINE EV800 CONS:
• Average antenna – consider an upgrade
• Battery meter may not be accurate; be sure of how much charge is left.
See what other reviews say:
Buy on Amazon
Eachine VR-007 PRO
The Eachine VR-007 is super affordable, coming in under seventy dollars. It has an upgraded receiver with both a frequency display and power indicator. The customized eyeglass means there isn’t a need to wear glasses for those who are nearsighted. This product has a settled three-point fillet which can reduce long-time wear and pressure. They are highly soft, ventilated, and come with an environmental sponge which fits the contours of your face making wearing it more comfortable while blocking ambient. These cheap fpv goggles come with a standard 1600 mAH 3.7V Lipo battery complete with power display function. In addition, the battery supports USB 5V charging. Weight: 7.7 ounces.
Eachine VR-007 PRO PROS:
• Perfect for those on a budget
• Comfortable fit
• Easy to use/great for beginners
• Battery included
• Auto-scan channels
Eachine VR-007 PRO CONS:
• Average quality
• No head tracking
See what other reviews say:
Buy on Amazon
Eachine EV100 FPV Goggles
These goggles support AV input and output. However, they don’t support audio in FPV mode, but they do in AV-IN mode. This product supports external HDMI to AV module and DVR module. The single receiver has dual antennas, enhancing the reception and stabilizing performance. These have an adjustable focal length and allows pilots with under four hundred degrees myopia to view directly without the use of glasses. The auto search function allows all frequencies to be searched automatically so that the channel with the strongest signal is selected. These compact goggles are really the coolest set under two hundred bucks. In addition to having a sleek design, they are packed with features such as three racing modes, a cooling fan, low battery alert, a bright, crisp image, and comfortable wearability. These really give high-end models a run for their money.
Eachine EV100 PROS:
• Packed with features
• Sleek look, compact, and comfortable
• Affordable
• Racing modes
• Stable performance
Eachine EV100 CONS:
• Average antenna – upgrade may be necessary
• Battery life on the lower side of average.
See what other reviews say:
Buy on Amazon
Skyzone SJ-V01 Glasses Goggles
Our last set of goggles are a bit over the two hundred dollar mark and are starting to edge out of the “Cheap FPV Goggles” category. These Skyzone SJ-V01 goggles have a mind-blowing seventy-two degrees FOV. These bad boys come with a massive seven-inch immersive display screen with a resolution of 1280x800px, giving you the feeling of sitting in front of a cinema screen. The 5.8GHz 40CH receiver included is hypersensitive with automatic channel search and can search a maximum of ten channels. These goggles come with HDMI input and you can connect them directly to any HD downlink. Adjustable straps make fitting a breeze and they are lightweight and highly comfortable. The built-in speaker allows audio with volume control. OSD display shows current information.
Skyzone SJ-V01 PROS:
• 72 degree FOV
• Seven-inch screen, great resolution
• Lightweight and comfortable
• Built-in speaker with volume control
• Hypersensitive receiver and auto channel search
• Totally worth the price!!
Skyzone SJ-V01 CONS:
• Priced a bit above $200
• Just out of our under $200 budget price range
See what other reviews say:
Buy on Amazon
Conclusion
If you are looking for a decent set of cheap FPV goggles, look no further. We have done the research for you; all you have to do is choose a pair. We have goggles for most budgets from a little over fifty dollars to just over two hundred, nothing any higher. All have great features. As we said before, it just depends on how much you play and how much you can play.
We hope you enjoyed our review and that we helped you make a decision on a pair of FPV goggles for your drone. Have fun!
Come back sometime and check out some more of our product reviews and best-in-class lists.