It's not looking good for Pixel owners who want to use Google's new Daydream View VR headset. The phone's 1080p resolution AMOLED display is good enough for daily use when held at a nominal distance from one's face, but strapped into a VR headset, the individual pixels are not only visible but distracting, and our advice is to avoid using the smaller Pixel for mobile VR.

The resolution

Let's talk about the resolution. I spent a lot of time going between the Pixel and Pixel XL in the Daydream View, and the higher density on the latter phone's QHD display — 534ppi to the Pixel's 440ppi — is not only obvious but essential to the enjoyment of the experience. I found myself often distracted, even in the midst of a video or game, by the individual components comprising the whole. And while those components are still somewhat noticeable on the larger Pixel XL, we've learned by now that the more we can minimize distraction while in virtual reality, the more immersive and enjoyable the experience. Verizon is offering the Pixel 4a for just $10/mo on new Unlimited lines I still enjoyed the Pixel in the Daydream View, and unless you've used a Gear VR with Galaxy S7 or something with an equally high density you may not be disappointed, but I have, and it was. The field of view

The other thing to keep in mind about using the smaller Pixel is that its physically smaller screen makes the field-of-view ever-so-slightly narrower, lessening by a few millimeters the amount of space you can see in virtual reality. In, ahem, reality, it's not that big a deal, and you're unlikely to notice it unless, as above, you're coming from the Pixel XL, but keep these things in mind. Light bleed

This is a problem for both Pixels, but the smaller unit does let in noticeably more light than the larger one. It's not necessarily the bottom area that leeches in additional light, but the overall surface area of the phone being smaller that, in a well-lit room, makes the experience slightly more distracting. That's easily avoided by lowering the ambient light around you — turn off the bulbs, lower the blinds, close the curtains — but if you're in an environment like an airplane where you can't control these things, the Pixel XL is a superior choice. Battery life and heat