Pimax Launches 5K SUPER VR Headset with 180Hz Refresh Rate

[Uskompuf]

Pimax, a VR hardware manufacturer known for innovative features such as extremely wide field of view and high resolution previously demoed a prototype VR headset at CES 2020 called the Pimax 5K SUPER together with Pimax new flagship headset the Pimax 8K X. Today Pimax is announcing the general availability of the new Pimax 5K SUPER, a refreshed version of the popular Pimax 5K Plus with a wide variety of updates.

The Pimax 5K SUPER features an Industry-leading high refresh rate with a standard 160Hz and even an experimental 180Hz mode along with an updated Modular Audio Strap (MAS) that allows much greater comfort and ease of use. The headset includes the popular Pimax comfort kit face cowling, Pimax nose guard, Pimax ruggedized housing system, and Pimax VR Experience software.





Steam VR Lighthouse Tracking

The 5K SUPER is supported by both Steam VR 1.0 and 2.0 lighthouse tracking technology that allows for large room tracking up to 10 m x10 m, enabling the users to move freely in a big space with reliable tracking performance such as tracking consistency. Lighthouse tracking is the most advanced and accurate room-scale tracking system on the market today and allows tracking even when your controllers are below the waist, behind you or when they move close to the headset.

The NEW Pimax VR Experience Software

Pimax headsets now include the new Pimax VR Experience software which automates and dramatically reduces configuration time for VR software. This system automatically applies all VR optimizations required for Pimax headsets and can launch VR software from any platform with just a single click.

5K SUPER's Refresh Rate Breakthrough

The 5K SUPER with its standard refresh rate hitting 160Hz and even includes an experimental 180Hz mode, offers the user multiple selectable refresh rates and fields of view that set new standards for VR immersion. This amazing flexibility allows for the best possible experience with all VR titles available today. From watching movies to playing rapid reaction games out there the ideal refresh rate is easily selectable with a click. With our new breakthrough refresh rates fast-paced action appear buttery smooth and allow you to see ALL the action.

Pricing & Availability

The Pimax 5K SUPER is now available to purchase for 749 USD.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[m9eyNqp9]

And not a single word on screen resolution and lens quality?

 

[Valantar]

Their "8K" models used two UHD 4k displays, right? So this is likely two 1440p ones then. Should be decent enough; at least they are right in prioritizing refresh rate and viewing angles for immersion. Still, no inside-out tracking is a deal-breaker for me at that price. That's the ever-returning chicken-and-egg problem of VR; adoption never happens because the good solutions are ridiculously expensive and overly complex while the cheap ones are typically rather poor (except maybe the Quest), leading most people trying the cheap ones to be disappointed and adoption not really taking off. I don't think there's a viable market for VR bundles above ~$400 in the long run, except as a luxury niche.

 

[kayjay010101]

And not a single word on screen resolution and lens quality?

It's 5K (well, 2x 2.5K [2x 1440p]), like the name says. Pimax already has multiple 5K headsets with that res.

 

[dj-electric]

Genji expects his royalties any day now.

 

[Anvirol]

It's 5K (well, 2x 2.5K [2x 1440p]), like the name says. Pimax already has multiple 5K headsets with that res.

Yeah nice marketing
It's nowhere near "5K" resolution. It's 1440p per eye.

HP Reverb G2 has 2160x2160 per eye which is much better than this Pimax "5K". But I guess according to Pimax their product has higher pixel count

• Pimax 5K Super
  • Total Pixels: 3.6864 Mpx (per eye)
• HP Reverb G2
  • Total Pixels: 4.6656 Mpx (per eye)

 

[Valantar]

Yeah nice marketing
It's nowhere near "5K" resolution. It's 1440p per eye.

HP Reverb G2 has 2160x2160 per eye which is much better than this Pimax "5K". But I guess according to Pimax their product has higher pixel count

• Pimax 5K Super
  • Total Pixels: 3.6864 Mpx (per eye)
• HP Reverb G2
  • Total Pixels: 4.6656 Mpx (per eye)

While true, I would likely prefer the wider FOV of the Pimax to the higher resolution of the HP. Of course a combination would be even better, ideally with eye tracking and foveated rendering to make the workload manageable.

 

[swirl09]

Thats nice and all, but I wont be buying another wired headset, no matter spec or price.

 

[Warsaw]

Thats nice and all, but I wont be buying another wired headset, no matter spec or price.

Same. I've been holding off on buying a high end VR headset until it's wireless (ex. HTC Vive w/wireless adapter) and connects to my PC. If it can do that with at least 120hz display, 4k res per eye, and controllers similar or better than Index I'll jump at the chance. Though I've always wanted VR gloves instead eventually.

 

[Franzen4Real]

And not a single word on screen resolution and lens quality?

Definitely not great.

While true, I would likely prefer the wider FOV of the Pimax to the higher resolution of the HP.

I think this is true with many of us VR enthusiasts, but I can't agree in the case of PiMax. The distortion at the peripheral to me is worse than if it were just less FOV. Until someone can come up with lenses/optics to give a proper wide FOV without distortion, I will take resolution first.

Yeah nice marketing
It's nowhere near "5K" resolution. It's 1440p per eye.

HP Reverb G2 has 2160x2160 per eye which is much better than this Pimax "5K". But I guess according to Pimax their product has higher pixel count

• Pimax 5K Super
  • Total Pixels: 3.6864 Mpx (per eye)
• HP Reverb G2
  • Total Pixels: 4.6656 Mpx (per eye)

Another thing that I think people do not consider, is that the PiMax resolution is stretched across a much wider FOV, resulting in lower pixel density for a given resolution. In my opinion, what reviews/marketing/etc need to state is the number of pixels per degree, not just the number of pixels per eye.

I do have to give it to PiMax, they certainly do check all of the right boxes on their marketing slides to appear to be bleeding edge, however I would take an Index 10 out of 10 times even with the higher cost of the headset.

 

[Valantar]

Another thing that I think people do not consider, is that the PiMax resolution is stretched across a much wider FOV, resulting in lower pixel density for a given resolution. In my opinion, what reviews/marketing/etc need to state is the number of pixels per degree, not just the number of pixels per eye.

I do have to give it to PiMax, they certainly do check all of the right boxes on their marketing slides to appear to be bleeding edge, however I would take an Index 10 out of 10 times even with the higher cost of the headset.

I would think curved display panels could alleviate this by keeping the display surface equidistant from the eye at as many points as possible, though making lenses to match those panels would probably still be an utter nightmare. Not to mention that the sales volumes Pimax has for their headsets likely isn't even close to what would make a custom curved LCD panel a feasible feature without driving prices up massively. They are essentially using off-the-shelf phone panels these days, after all.