GUNNAR Optiks Overwatch Ultimate review — Made to be worn underneath headphones while gaming

You can surmise from my previous reviews for the GUNNAR Optiks Cupertino and Tahoe glasses that I am a huge fan of GUNNAR’s blue light blocking glasses. GUNNAR consistently puts out meticulously crafted products which not only look and feel great when worn, but also do a fantastic job of preventing eye strain by blocking harmful blue light and UV. The only downside so far has been the price point, which has been admittedly a bit high. Enter the GUNNAR Optiks Overwatch Ultimate, a new style with a much lower price point, made specifically to be worn during gaming sessions.

When I say made to be worn while gaming, I mean it, as these glasses specifically feature lower profile temples so that they will fit snugly underneath a headset, allowing you to partake in multiplayer matches while still benefiting from the blue light protection and without fear of the glasses falling off. This design, while ultimately intuitive, does take a moment to get used to. When I first put the Overwatch Ultimate glasses on, something felt off. I was able to recognize that there was a significant difference in design compared to the Tahoe or Cupertino glasses but was unsure what the change was. It wasn’t until I began checking the specs that I realized that this new design was intentional to allow for comfort while utilizing a headset, which made perfect sense, and when used in that manner the glasses felt much better. I do want to specify that I’m not knocking the design, just stating that it does take a moment to adjust to, but the tradeoff is worth it when you are hours into a grueling multiplayer session and the Overwatch Ultimate glasses are doing their job.

The Overwatch Ultimate glasses feature the iconic Overwatch symbol on each temple along with orange highlights and an overall gray frame. This color scheme does a great job of matching the game’s aesthetic while not being so colorful as to not fit in with a basic outfit, though it might not work so well when mixed with business clothing – but hey, you do you. The temples are also quite flexible, able to withstand a surprising amount of force with no issue, always returning to its base shape immediately. Being made of polymer allows these frames to have an overall soft look and feel, with no rough or hard edges anywhere.

I’ll admit that I have been spoiled by the more expensive GUNNAR options, so upon first glance and use of the Overwatch Ultimate I was disappointed. Not by their blue light blocking ability, but rather by the lightweight polymer frames and design. Of course, upon wearing them for a few hours I began to appreciate both the physical and visual aspects of the design. They certainly feel cheaper when compared to the Tahoe or Cupertino, but also feel far less fragile, which I’d assume is a worthwhile tradeoff for an avid gamer. For what it’s worth, this is the first pair of GUNNAR glasses I’ve owned that I’ve felt I could drop without any worry over damage occurring to the frames or lenses.

Whether or not you like the design will likely skew more toward those who are Overwatch fans, as expected, but either way you can’t deny that GUNNAR has once again done what they do best and created an inexpensive pair of glasses using their highly acclaimed blue light blocking lens technology while still providing the clarity needed to accurately game.  For the purpose of this review, I tested out the GUNNAR Optiks Overwatch Ultimate Ash Clear glasses, which block out 35% of blue light, though there is apparently an Amber lens version available which can block out 65% of blue light. Even with only 35% blockage, you immediately feel a significant difference upon putting these glasses on. My eyes spend much of the day straining due to my dual monitor setup at work, so being introduced to GUNNAR has been a game changer for my well-being during work hours.

A few more details and specs for those interested. The Overwatch Ultimate is officially licensed by Blizzard Entertainment and features GUNNAR’s patented lens technology and G-Shield lens coating, which is both anti-reflective and smudge resistant, along with multi-barrel hinges.  The lens width is 57 mm, lens height is 42 mm, nose is 15mm, frame width is 132mm, temple is 140mm, and weight is 20 grams. Every purchase includes a custom Overwatch microfiber pounce and microfiber cleaning cloth, along with a 12-month warranty.

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