Watch On
It looks like solely yesterday that the Valve Index launched—all 800+ grams of it. And what a special world we reside in at the moment, as a result of we are able to now look to a not-too-distant launch of a extra technologically spectacular VR headset that weighs lower than 200 g.
That’s in response to Pimax, whose upcoming Dream Air VR headset guarantees “a small type issue with excessive efficiency and full options” that is available in at “lower than half the burden of a Coca-Cola bottle”.
And what a suave factor it appears to be, all gray and curvy and considerably Apple Vision-esque. It makes use of the identical form of panel tech because the Vision Pro, too: Micro-OLED.
That’s what permits it to be so small and light-weight, and it is the identical tech (together with pancake optics, Micro-OLED panels, and Qualcomm chip) discovered within the also-upcoming Pimax Crystal Super, which Pimax is looking the “world’s first retina-level VR headset” alongside the Dream Air.
The distinction between the 2? The Crystal Super is chunky—even hefty, one would possibly say—and extra modular, whereas the Dream Air is small and light-weight. Oh, and prices a heck of much more. We’re speaking $1,199 for the upfront reservation cost and $1,991 complete—and that is not together with transport or taxes. That’s in comparison with $699 for the Crystal Super.
But we are speaking a 90 Hz Micro-OLED VR headset that weighs beneath 200 g. For reference, the imaginative and prescient Pro is 600+ g and the latest Meta Quest 3S is 464 g with out the strap.
It would not appear to be you are actually sacrificing something with the Pimax Dream Air, both. Pimax says this “world’s smallest, full-feature 8K decision VR headset” is “smaller, lighter, however not much less”.
That’s as a result of it has inside-out monitoring cameras, microphone, built-in spatial audio, Type-C DisplayPort and Type-C equipment port, ringless controllers, a self-adjusting headstrap, auto-IPD, hand monitoring, and even eye monitoring. The entire caboodle, principally.
Pimax says that “that is the one VR headset on this weight class and type issue with eye monitoring”, and that tracks. The Dream Air would possibly face competitors from the likes of the 127 g Bigscreen Beyond, as an illustration, if it weren’t for this eye monitoring.
The solely actual query is whether or not the shape issue can be value the additional $1,000+ in comparison with the Pimax Crystal Super. And, in fact, whether or not the Crystal Super is value it. We did not charge the unique Pimax Crystal too extremely, however with its Micro-OLED shows, the brand new Crystal Super may be a special story.
Pimax expects to begin transport the Dream Air in May 2025, somewhat after the Micro-OLED Crystal Super.
