In the world of drones, the infamous DJI goggles have a huge following of die-hard fans. With all of their rave reviews, it’s hard to believe that this piece of equipment has competition. Unfortunately, DJI goggles don’t come cheap, and many are left looking for alternatives. Luckily, there is a wide range of drone compatible goggles available, and not all of them are as costly. In fact, prices range from super cheap DIY models to future high-tech innovations. There is a DJI goggle alternative for everyone. 

What are Drone Goggles?

Also known as First-person View (FPV) goggles, drone goggles are specialty eyewear cleverly designed to give someone flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) a first-person view of where their drone flies. 

Popular with drone racers, aerial videographers, and hobbyists all around the world, drone goggles take flying to whole new heights. Instead of watching your drone footage on a hand-held tablet, slip on a pair of goggles, and suddenly you are soaring in the air. Drone goggles let see the world as your drone does, giving you a birds-eye view of the world below. 

But drone goggles aren’t all created equally and each model offers something slightly different to the wearer. So, once you have decided that you want to purchase goggles for flying your drone, how do you decide which pair to buy?

Things to Consider While Shopping for Drone Goggles

Apart from the all-important price point, there are a few things to consider. The first is pixel resolution. The higher the resolution, the clearer your image. We suggest that you look for the best resolution that you can afford. Where pixel resolution creates a clearer image, a goggles field of vision (FOV) controls how much you can see. Choose goggles with a high FOV to observe more of the world as you fly. 

However, be cautious. A very high FOV can come at a cost. With more of the world in view, the image quality decreases. There is a trade-off to be made here, and you may need to consider whether you value quality or quantity more heavily.

Will Goggles from Another Brand Work with My DJI Drone?

If you plan to use your goggles while flying a DJI drone, you may be wondering about compatibility. Will goggles from other brands even work with your drone? That’s a good question. Some goggles, like those produced by Epson and Cinemizer, are automatically compatible with DJI drones. Others require a little more work.

Luckily, help is on hand. A quick search will show plenty of useful YouTube tutorials explaining how to connect goggles to DJI drones. It is advisable to watch these tutorials before purchasing your goggles, to ensure that you are comfortable following the instructions provided. One last thing to bear in mind — DJI uses HDMI to connect with its own-brand products. This means that workarounds are easiest on models that include HDMI ports. So, since you’ve probably already read about the goggles DJI has to offer, let’s have a look at the alternatives.

10 Alternatives to DJI Goggles

When looking at alternatives to DJI goggles, it is important to consider what is important to you, the buyer. Are you most concerned with style or price? Is battery life important or do you value image quality over everything? Whatever your priority, there is a goggle out there for you.

Let’s start by looking at a couple of low-budget options:

Yuneec SkyView FPV Headset

Durable and ergonomic, the Yuneek SkyView Headset features a 5-inch screen and USB port that allows for fast charging. With a soft padded mask and adjustable straps, you can be sure of a comfortable flight.

Key Features:

• FOV- 75.5 degrees
• Resolution-720 x 1280
• Screen size- 5 inch
• HDMI compatible 

The Yuneec SkyView is a super low-budget option for your goggle needs. Purchase them here through Amazon.

So, what’s the takeaway? As far as price is concerned, the Yuneex is a winner. And for a budget option, these goggles really do deliver.

Quanum DIY Goggles

For drone enthusiasts on a seriously limited budget, the Quanum DIY Goggles are hard to beat. The catch? You have to build them. The DIY pack includes a screen, two blocks of foam that form the casing over the screen, a fresnel lens, and a sleeve with straps that slips over the foam blocks, to hold everything in place.

Currently out of stock, the Quanum DIY Goggles usually retail at a very low price. However, there are some additional costs associated with the Quanum kit. To get your DIY goggles working, you’ll also need to find an FPV receiver and a 3S battery. View the Quanum goggles on Amazon here.

The takeaway? These are the cheapest goggles on our list and are good for those on a budget that don't mind sourcing the parts not included in the kit.

Samsung Gear VR Goggle

The Samsung Gear VR is a goggle with a difference. To use, simply slip your smartphone and the super AMOLED display, wide field of view, and precise head-tracking brings the virtual to life.

The downside? To use the Samsung Gear VR Goggle, you need a compatible Galaxy smartphone. The models currently supported are the Galaxy Note8, S8, S8+, S7, S7 edge, Note5, S6 edge+, S6, and S6 edge.

Instructions on how to connect to a DJI drone can be found on youtube. Here is an example: Virtual Reality with Mavic Pro ( Gear VR goggles )

Key Detail:

• FOV- 101º
• Weight 0.76lbs
• Resolution- dependent on smartphone
• USB Type-C & Micro USB phone connection

And the price? The Samsung Gear Goggle is perfect for drone enthusiasts on a mid-level budget.

The takeaway? Though not the most high-tech option on the market, the Samsung Gear is a good option for hobbyists.

Walkera FPV Drone Goggle 

Comfortable and stylish, the Walkera FPV Goggle is a good choice for fashion-conscious drone enthusiasts. With dual antenna for stability, a wide FOV, and foam padding for ease of wear, they balance function and wearability with ease. 

Though most reviews are positive, some users report issues with glitches and short memory life. Although users report that the Walkera can be used with DJI drones, it’s important to note that since there is no HDMI input integrated into the goggles, workarounds will be needed.

Key Features:

• FOV- 32 degrees
• Resolution- 800 x 600
• AV input and output ports

The Walkera FPV is a fairly budget-friendly option for your drone flying needs.

The takeaway? If you have the time and inclination to find compatibility workarounds, the Walkera offers good value for money. However, if style and comfort aren’t top of your list of requirements, there are better options at similar prices on the market. 

Avegant Glyph Headset

Designed primarily to work as a portable cinema, the Avegant Glyph Headset is a spectacular testament to design. Instead of a traditional screen, the Avegant Glyph uses DLP projectors. Instead of filling your entire field of view, these projectors simulates a large TV screen approximately 6 feet in front of the viewer.

As an added bonus, the Avegant Glyph can be pushed back onto the head and used as headphones when not being used to fly.

Key Features:

• FOV- 40 degrees
• Supports all HDMI output devices
• Lightweight design

The Avegant Glyph offers a lot in the way innovative technology for its price tag.

The takeaway? For goggles with a difference, an Avegant Glyph is a great option. However, for serious drone enthusiasts, there may be better products on the market.

Eachine EV800D FPV Drone Goggles

With a super-wide FOV, 6 Leaf RCHP 5 dBi antenna, a 16 dBi Panel antenna, and a built-in 5.8 GHz 40 channel diversity receiver, the Eachine EV800D is a favorite option for serious drone enthusiasts. With your goggles automatically switching to the best antenna, you will be free to concentrate on flying high.

Key Features:

• FOV-82 degrees
• Resolution- 800 x 480
• 2-hour battery life
• AV input

The Eachine EV800D is another budget-friendly option that can be found on Amazon here.

What’s the takeaway? With its wide FOV and clear resolution, the Eachine EV800D offers good value for money. However, as it does not include an integrated HDMI port, a workaround is needed to connect the Eachine EV800D to DJI drones.

Now let’s have a look at some top-end pieces of tech. None of the following models are cheap, but they do offer a lot for serious drone enthusiasts with money to spare. 

Fat Shark FSV1076 Dominator HD3 Core

Fat Shark makes some of the most popular drone goggles on the market, particularly with the racing crowd. Often used by top contestants in the Drone Racing League, all Fat Shark models have great optics with no edge blur and zero light-intrusion.

Key Features:

• FOV- 42°Diagonal
• Resolution- SVGA 800 X 600
• Modular Head Tracking Bay
• 59-69mm IPD Range (adjustable)
• HDMI port

The Fat Shark FSV1076 Dominator V3 Goggles are great for those with more cash to spare. And if your budget stretches a little higher, the Fat Shark FSV1076 Dominator HD3 offers all the above benefits, with a slightly clearer screen and improved fit.

What’s the takeaway? Though more expensive than some other models on this list, the mid-range Fat Shark FSV1076 has some great features and offers good value for money. 

Aomway Commander V2 Drone Goggles

Popular with fans of drone racing, the Amway Commander is designed for minimal light leakage and includes a built-in fan to minimize fogging.

Key Features:

• FOV- 32 degrees
• Resolution- 854×480
• HDMI Input
• Glass optics (binocular) 

Find the Aomway Commander here on Amazon. 

The takeaway? Lightweight and high quality, the Aomway Commander is a solid choice for experienced fliers not constrained by a tight budget.

Epson Moverio BT-300 FPV Goggles

The Epson Moverio is a popular goggle for good reason. Its innovative transparent display allows you to keep sight of your drone and check on-screen flight statistics, even while watching the live video feed. 

100% compatible with DJI drones, the Epson Moverio is a perfect option for DJI enthusiasts.

Let’s take a look at the specs:

• FOV-23 degrees (diagonal)
• Resolution- 1280 x 720
• Main memory 2 GB and 16 GB user memory
• Endorsed by DJI

The Epson Moverio isn’t cheap, but it does offer a lot in terms of value for money. 

So, what’s the takeaway? An expensive model, but well worth it if your budget allows, especially considering it is endorsed by DJI and allows you to keep sight of your drone while making use of the live camera feed.

CinemizerOLED FPV Glasses

With its futuristic design, 30° FOV and fantastic pixel density, the CinemizerOLED is a solid choice for drone enthusiasts looking for a cinematic viewing experience. Plus, with a battery life of 6 hours, CinemizerOLED users can enjoy the amazing view all day long. 

In terms of compatibility, the CinemizerOLED works with DJI drones, without any fiddly workarounds.

Key Features:

• FOV-30 degrees
• Resolution- 870×500
• 24 Bit RGB color depth
• Compatible with DJI drones

Find pricing for the CinemizerOLED here on Amazon.

The takeaway? The CinemizerOLED is an expensive piece of equipment. However, it is an advanced piece of technology and well worth the money for die-hard drone enthusiasts with a large budget and a DJI drone.

Selecting the Best Alternative to DJI Goggles for You

OK, now that we have looked at all the options, it’s time for a re-cap to help you select the best pair of DJI goggle alternative:

For smaller budgets, the Yuneec SkyView and Quanum DIY models offer an immersive flying experience without the hefty price tag. In terms of mid-level options, there is a wide range of products on the market. This includes favorites like the innovative Samsung Gear; the stylish Walkera FPV; the exciting Avegant Glyph; and the reliable Eachine EV800D. When we get to the top-end models, wearable tech giants Fat Shark; Aomway; Espon; and Cinemizer fight it out to offer the best flying experience for their users.

So, which are our favorites? In terms of low-budget options, the Yuneec SkyView is hard to beat. With its HDMI compatibility, FOV of 75.5 degrees and 720 x 1280 resolution, it offers a lot for a tiny price tag.

For those looking for a more mid-range option, our favorite is the Eachine EV800D. While the Avegant Glyph gets serious points for style and the Samsung Gear offers fantastic FOV, the Eachine wins for all-round value for money. With its innovative antenna, FOV of 82 degrees, and 800 x 480 resolution it’s well worth it.

With so many high-quality options, it is difficult to choose a favorite from our selection of high-end models. While none of the high-end goggles win prizes for their FOV, they more than make up for it in terms of image quality. In the end, the Epson Moverio BT-300 just beats the competition with its super-high resolution of 1280 x 720, along with its DJI endorsed status.

The drone world is built on its fantastic community, so please share your thoughts and recommendations below!

Whichever goggles you choose, we hope you enjoy your immersive flying experience.