The Oculus Quest 3 is the latest virtual reality headset from Meta, offering a whole host of improvements including a new and better display.
One common question between people who are thinking of getting the Quest 3, and those who have it is whether or not it comes with the screen door effect.
No, the Quest 3 does not come with the screen door effect, however, you may still be able to see the pixels on your screen due to its new high-quality display.
In this article, I’ll be covering what exactly SDE is, explaining in detail why some users might still see pixelation on the Quest 3, and comparing other devices with no SDE.
I’ll also be explaining in detail, what the screen door effect is and how many people get it confused.
Does Quest 3 Have Screen Door Effect?
No, the Quest 3 doesn’t have SDE (Screen door effect) since this was confirmed by the Meta users themselves, however many users still say they are experiencing it.
This is different compared to other models like the Quest 2 which did come with a noticeable SDE, however, it hasn’t really been that big of a problem when it comes to Quest devices in general.
Since the Quest 3 does come with a better display quality, users will be able to see the screen indetail which will include them seeing pixels.
Many of those users will then mistake this for SDE when it, in fact, isn’t, you’re just able to see people due to there being a higher resolution.
Why Can I Still See the Screen Door Effect
If you are still seeing the Screen Door Effect, it is just because of the resolution. This isn’t exactly bad, you are just able to see more of the screen due to better picture quality.
This makes things less blurry and more detailed compared to the Quest 2.
With a higher Field of View than the Quest 2, you’re also seeing more of the screen which will result in you noticing more minute details such as this one.
You will also have to keep in mind that SDE may occur on certain games even if the device itself doesn’t come with this display deficit.
Games that come with a certain effect, have outdated graphics, or are just not that compatible with the Quest 3 may appear to be more pixelated due to there being worse graphics and image quality.
You can’t then, however, mistake this for the Screen Door effect. If you are seeing the Screen Door Effect on your Quest 3, it would be wise to blame it on the game and not the headset.
These are just how certain games are designed. To confirm this, you can just compare different games and have a look at how their screen quality differs.
Games like Dungeons of Eternity do show a lot of pixels during gameplay due to the outdated graphics. This isn’t what you call SDE, it’s just the design of the game.
So keep this in mind when you want to get rid of your Oculus.
What Actually is The Screen Door Effect?
Many people actually wonder what the screen door effect is. A big misconception is that it’s about seeing pixels. It’s not just about the pixels, it’s the hidden spaces between them that make a grid-like pattern.
This effect makes the view a bit fuzzy and blurry, making it difficult to concentrate on the game. It’s just a digital mesh, creating a visual gridlock in a digital world.
So, the difference between that you can see the gaps between the pixels. This can disrupt a lot of users during gameplay and make it difficult to focus on the game.
With the Quest 3, you can see the pixels on your screen with certain games, however, this is just due to the high quality.
You won’t be able to see all those tiny little annoying gaps between each pixel which causes you to lose concentration.
VR Devices With No Screen Door Effect
If you’re fed up with your device giving you the Screen Door Effect, don’t worry, there are still some devices that come with no screen door effect.
The devices down below take the lead in making strides to get rid of this annoying screen defect.
The Samsung Odyssey
The Anti-SDE diffuser used in the Samsung Odyssey + makes the display look a bit softer. The Field of View is similar to the Valve Index despite technical differences.
It offers good colors with an OLED Screen, but the audio is not as strong. Inside-out tracking makes setup easier.
You can adjust it according to your eyes, but it is not made anymore, usually, it’s only available second hand.
HP Reverb G1
The HB Reverb G1 has the same resolution as G2. Unlike the Samsung Odyssey, the colors are not great due to the LCD screen. In terms of audio, it runs at 90 Hz.
Setup is easy with inside-out tracking, but there is no adjustment to your eyes. This headset was replaced by G2.
HP Reverb G2
With better display and bright colors, HP Reverb G2 has the same resolution as G1. The Field of View is bigger than Oculus but smaller than Odyssey+ and Valex Index.
The audio runs at 90 Hz. Easy setup with Inside-out tracking and adjustable to eyes. These are available for pre-order.
My Final Thoughts
The Oculus Quest 3 has made major changes to stop the screen door effect from occurring since it has plagued most VR devices in recent years.
By removing the grid-like gaps between pixels, the Quest 3 provides more immersive, uninterrupted views into virtual environments, rather than a fuzzy boxy screen which reduces gameplay quality.
You may still notice some plication due to the high-resolution display from the Quest 3 since you will be able to see finer details but this wouldn’t be classed as an SDE effect.
You will notice the higher resolution screen rather than fixating on the smaller pixels.
Despite the high-quality display, the Quest 3 will be a stand-alone device that displays minimal SDE while offering a high-quality display.
