Hyperrealistic VR: A 90-PPD, 1400-Nit, High-Contrast Headset

We demonstrate a virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) that provides an angular resolution of 90 pixels per degree (PPD), up to 1, 400-nit brightness, and high contrast. Leveraging inside-out tracking from the Meta Quest 2, this HMD utilizes an optical design that achieves diffraction-limited performance at 90 PPD. By utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and Nvidia’s DLSS 3 AI supersampling method, hyperrealistic demos can be supported at interactive frame rates. We present this Emerging Technologies installation to exhibit the combined visual benefits of ultra-high-resolution, high-brightness and high-contrast displays. To our knowledge, this work documents the first VR HMD that achieves this combination of visual benefits in a manner supporting a natural sense of visual immersion — setting a new milestone in terms of how realistic VR experiences can be with state-of-the-art technologies.