Although 3D televisions have fallen out of favor in recent years, they still have a small but loyal fan base. Many video projectors are equipped with 3D technology, and there is a steady supply of titles available on 3D Blu-ray. To enjoy this type of content, however, you will need special 3D glasses, of which there are two types: passive polarized and active shutter. We compare the specifications and features of both below.

The choice between passive polarized and active shutter speed glasses largely depends on how much you are willing to spend. Passive polarized glasses are fairly low-tech; they look and feel like cheap sunglasses and require no power source. Active shutter speed glasses are more expensive and high-tech, requiring batteries and a transmitter that syncs to the refresh rates on the screen. However, they do provide a sharper, higher-resolution image.

Active shutter glasses offer a sharper, higher-resolution image. They achieve this by rapidly alternating the image to each eye using shutters. Rather than compromising resolution by shifting entire lines of pixels to one eye or another, active shutter glasses sync with the screen’s refresh rate to expose the full resolution to each eye alternately. The downside is that the image looks duller and can have a subtle flickering appearance.

Passive glasses are inexpensive, often ranging from $5 to $25 a pair. There are some differences in style that can affect the price, such as material and flexibility. Active shutter glasses cost between $50 and $150, due to the advanced technology and power sources required to operate them. Whether the extra price is worth a more extensive system is up to the buyer.