The author, a frequent tech conference attendee, initially found Gunnar’s yellow-tinted gaming glasses problematic due to color distortion, despite liking the frames. Years later, Gunnar introduced Clear Pro lenses. These solved the color issue, while their Gunnar Focus feature provided a slight magnification, enhancing detail and text readability. This transformed the author’s experience, making new models like Fremont and Tahoe suitable for both gaming and general use.
My career has involved attending approximately 200 gaming and tech conferences and press events. I find it invaluable to walk the show floors and collect direct observations. This approach, which I consider my “boots on the ground” research, is inspired by investment fund manager Peter Lynch’s renowned method of “walking the malls” for primary data.
Gunnar Fremont with Clear Pro lenses. (Source: JPR)
Gunnar Optiks has been a long-standing presence at these events. About 10 years ago at a gaming conference, I decided to buy a pair of their Enigma-model glasses, curious if blocking blue light would benefit me. While there might be some advantages, I quickly discovered a significant drawback for gaming: color distortion. The yellow-tinted lenses made white pixels appear yellow, which was a deal-breaker. As most gamers know, achieving true whites and deep blacks is crucial for display quality. Perhaps maximum blue light blocking makes sense for professionals constantly exposed to screens, but for my gaming experience, nothing can compromise crisp white tones.
Figure 1. Enigma in back. Fremont under Enigma. Tahoe on right. (Source: JPR)
That said, I found the glasses frames to be of great style and quality. As a glasses nerd, I even enjoyed occasionally wearing them out at night, as they subtly made me look more intelligent (LOL). The color distortion, thankfully, isn’t noticeable in non-computer environments. Nevertheless, they were never used for gaming again.
This year, Gunnar approached me to try their new Reaper model, a collaboration with Blizzard. While the frames were robust, similar to sport sunglasses, I wondered if their lens technology had changed. Unfortunately, the high level of blue light blocking still shifted whites to yellows. However, while playing Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord (an incredibly detailed game), I observed what seemed like a magnification effect, though I wasn’t entirely certain.
Figure 2. Gunnar Reaper. (Source: Gunnar)
The Gunnar rep confirmed I was not imagining things, and they call their nonprescription magnification “Gunnar Focus.” I then bemoaned the color issue and was told they also have a Clear Pro lens option for color accuracy. Now that I had to try! What was going toward negative feedback to the company turned into exciting anticipation. They sent me two models (Tahoe and Fremont) with the Clear Pro lenses with Gunnar Focus.
Essentially what they do is make your display appear larger by about 5%. This may not sound like a lot, but I can attest that it makes a significant improvement seeing detail and reading small text. While their yellow tint lenses block 65% of blue light, the Clear Pro blocks 20%, which is fine by me since the color distortion is a non-issue with the Clear Pros.
My sunglass collection includes Maui Jim, Oakley, Revo, Wiley X, and Julbo, and my preference is full wrap with beefy frames. However, I found Gunnar’s light frame styles to be more my preference for gaming and night-style glasses.
I found the Fremont was perfect for gaming, as it has wide field of view, and the Tahoe was the most stylish and will be used out and about along with my original Enigmas.
What do we think? Display detail and display size are big deals at JPR. Anything that improves computer display experience is a big thumbs up from us.
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