For optimal performance and user comfort in virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) applications, a high frame rate is crucial. The generally recommended frame rate is 90 frames per second (fps).
Why Frame Rate Matters in VR
The frame rate, also known as the refresh rate when referring to the display itself, indicates how many unique images your VR headset shows per second. A higher frame rate results in smoother motion and a more realistic, comfortable experience.
Based on recommendations for VR/MR applications:
- In order for virtual reality or mixed reality applications to perform well and not cause discomfort (Motion sickness and Cyber Sickness), especially if scenes contain movement, it is recommended to try to achieve as close to 90 frames per second as possible.
Falling below this recommended threshold can lead to issues like motion blur and judder, which can quickly induce feelings of nausea and disorientation, commonly known as VR sickness or cybersickness.
Achieving the Recommended Frame Rate
Maintaining a consistent frame rate of 90 fps or higher is a primary goal for VR developers and hardware manufacturers. This requires:
- Powerful Hardware: Both the VR headset's display and the computing device (PC, console, or mobile chip) rendering the VR experience must be capable of generating and displaying frames at this speed.
- Optimized Content: VR applications and games must be highly optimized to render complex 3D scenes efficiently within the strict time budget of 1/90th of a second per frame.
- Low Latency: Beyond just frame rate, the delay between user input (like head movement) and the corresponding visual update on the display (motion-to-photon latency) must also be minimized. A high frame rate contributes significantly to reducing this latency.
Meeting the 90 fps recommendation helps ensure that head movements translate smoothly and immediately to the virtual world, creating a believable and comfortable sense of presence for the user and mitigating the risk of discomfort.
