Reviews - SteelSeries Scope Pro Gaming Glasses

INTRODUCTION

How many of you have felt their eyelids heavy or had terrible headaches after long periods in front of their computer screen? Well i know it has happened to me more than just once, probably hundreds of times and so i imagine that the same goes for most people out there who spend far too many hours in front of their screens whether for playing games or working. Up until today the solution was simple, just work/play in rooms with plenty of light or get some rest and then keep at it. Still since it's easy to lose track of time and also because no matter how much light a room has you will eventually get eyestrain that's where the Scope Pro Gaming glasses by SteelSeries and GUNNAR come in.

From day one, SteelSeries has been focused on making professional gaming gear that provide meaningful benefits to gamers of all skill-level, with the most demanding being those gamers whose lively hood depends on the performance of our products. We believe, as most gamers do, in winning, not trying! What originally began as a small two-person operation in Copenhagen back in 2001 has become a global leader in professional gaming products. SteelSeries recognized the need for superior, high-quality professional gaming gear that would give players a competitive edge. Fast-forward to today, and we've come a long way since our first glass mousepad. We have global offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, providing an integrated portfolio of products designed specifically for gaming. Fueling our growth is you, the gamer!

SteelSeries worked alongside GUNNAR optics to design and develop the Scope Pro Gaming glasses, a company best known for their Digital Performance Eyewear that reduce eye fatigue and protect against CVS (Computer Vision Syndrome). According to GUNNAR such glasses are also designed to improve the visual experience gamers have by reducing both their eyestrain and fatigue so such a product should prove quite useful to professional gamers who make their living by competing in tournaments.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

The list of features and specifications was taken as is from the official SteelSeries website.

PACKAGING

SteelSeries ships the product inside a small box with a clear plastic window on the front, their logo and the GUNNAR logo.

A few words about the product in 4 languages along with contact information can be seen at the bottom.

The features of the Scope Pro Gaming glasses are mentioned at the rear of the box right next to an image of the unit.

The rear opens like a book revealing a second clear window, the features of the unit in 3 languages and an picture of one of the gamers who helped develop the product.

CONTENTS

The box contains just the Scope Pro Gaming glasses, a white microfiber protective cleaning bag and a user's manual.

THE SCOPE PRO GAMING GLASSES

Although quite hard to see the carrying/cleaning bag comes with the GUNNAR logo on the front.

The SteelSeries Scope Pro Gaming glasses measure 135mm wide from corner to corner and 122mm from tip to lens. Each of the lens measures 56mm wide by 35mm tall while the nose piece is just 16mm wide.

The lens of the Scope Pro Gaming glasses come with AMBeR tint which according to SteelSeries and GUNNAR increases contrast and decreases brightness and that change relaxes the eyes by reducing strain. The lenses of the unit also feature the GUNNAR NEOscopic technology which provides a slight magnification to further enhance ones visual experience.

The GUNNAR logo is placed on top of the left lens.

The SteelSeries logo is placed on both sides although its placement is not ideal.

Although the rear end of the arms comes with a carbon-like cover that is not the case since it is just plastic.

The nose pads are very comfortable and fully adjustable in case the default placement is not an exact fit for your nose.

The GUNNAR logo along with the model classification is placed on the interior of the left arm.

I don't know about you but whenever i see anything with SWISS written on it i just can't think less of it.

USING THE SCOPE PRO GAMING GLASSES

Above i placed two pictures while playing Crysis 2 (last level), one without the Scope Pro Gaming glasses and one with them. You can easily see the slight magnification provided by the glasses and the AMBeR tint which turns the entire view yellow thus somewhat spoiling the entire picture right? True at first i honestly didn't like to see everything with a yellow cover and certainly not a game with so many explosions and special effects and even after 5 days of playing with the SteelSeries/GUNNAR glasses part of me still doesn't. However keep in mind that these glasses are mostly targeted towards people who spend far too many hours in front of a screen and not for the average player and so if you are a professional gamer and expect to gain a living by playing games or if you generally spend many hours in front of your screen but you really cherish your eyes then there's little choice but to own a pair of such glasses.

CONCLUSION

I really haven't used every GUNNAR model out there so i can't really say that the SteelSeries Scope Pro Gaming glasses are the best or not but they performed exactly as advertised and then some so that alone means a lot to me. These glasses managed to reduce eyestrain since even after 5 continuous hours in front of the screen i felt ok, magnified whatever i was looking at and at the same time the light weight frame allowed me to forget i was wearing them whenever i got up. The downside of course is the yellow color which changes every single color you see but until technology allows for something better i guess there's really little choice for any of us.

The current price tag of USD99 inside the USA and 99Euros inside the USA for the SteelSeries Scope Pro Gaming glasses clearly states that this is not a product for everyone but rather for enthusiasts and professionals. Still considering that most people spend a good sum of money on CPU Coolers, graphics cards, memory modules, mouse units, keyboards, speaker sets, PC Cases and many other things then i wouldn't consider it impossible for most people to own a pair of such glasses. True with the same amount of money you can get a nice pair of sunglasses and also use them on the street or while drinking coffee but do remember that just like sunglasses keep your eyes safe from sun beams the Scope Pro Gaming glasses keep your eyes safe from extended periods of time in front of an screen. So although part of me still doesn't like the yellow color while playing games i can't disregard all of the positive things this pair offers and that is why i am awarding it the Editors Real Deal Choice Award.

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PROS

- Build Quality

- Reduces Eyestrain 

- Improves Detail/Clarity

- Magnification 

- Light Weight Frame

- Filters Glare

- Design

CONS

- Price (For Some)

- Amber Tint Alters Colors

Source: Real World Labs