Evaluation of the Wearable Eye Tracker Pupil Labs Neon for Gaze Fixation Analysis in Screen-Based Fixation Tasks: Comparison with Tobii Pro Fusion

Wearable eye-tracking devices are primarily used for eye movement analysis in real-world environments. Owing to their increasing availability and ability to provide measurements with high ecological validity, it is important to determine whether they can also be applied to gaze fixation analysis involving screen-based stimuli. This study evaluated the performance of the wearable eye tracker Pupil Labs Neon for gaze fixation analysis under controlled laboratory conditions by comparing it with the screen-based Tobii Pro Fusion. A total of 46 participants were enrolled in the study. Eye-tracker accuracy was assessed across different gaze directions, whereas fixation stability was evaluated exclusively during central fixation. Tobii Pro Fusion demonstrated significantly higher overall accuracy compared to Pupil Labs Neon. Notably, the accuracy of both devices was affected by stimulus background. Furthermore, the Tobii Pro Fusion showed significantly better accuracy at central positions than at peripheral gaze positions; in contrast the Pupil Labs Neon exhibited no significant variations in relation to stimulus eccentricity. Finally, no significant differences in fixation stability during central fixation were observed between the two devices. Considering its significantly higher overall accuracy, Tobii Pro Fusion appears better suited for gaze fixation analysis in screen-based tasks, especially within the central positions, whereas Pupil Labs Neon may provide more stable data quality across different gaze positions.