Pimax Announces the World's Smallest Full-Feature 8K Resolution VR Headset

[TheLostSwede]

Pimax, a manufacturer of leading VR hardware, released in an online keynote presentation the design and specs of an upcoming headset, the Pimax Dream Air. The small and light headset packs 27 million pixels, head, hand and eye-tracking, integrated spatial audio, a DisplayPort connection, and a self-adjusting backstrap.

The Dream Air is a PCVR headset, and borrows a lot of components from the previously announced Crystal Super, including the micro-OLED panels and pancake lenses—but packs this into a small form factor headset, to satisfy different use cases. It breaks with previous Pimax headsets, with a new design language, signalling the small form factor era for Pimax.




Key Features:

• Integrated Eye-Tracking & Auto-IPD: Ensures optimal clarity and interaction.
• Inside-Out Tracking: Powered by Pimax's proprietary SLAM algorithm for seamless setup without base stations.
• Ringless Controllers & Hand Tracking: Enhances usability for gaming and other VR applications.
• Spatial Audio & Lightweight Design: Provides premium sound and a form factor that weighs less than half a Coca-Cola bottle.
• Type-C DisplayPort Cable: Ensures uncompressed visuals with ultra-light cabling.
• Future-Ready: Compatible with modular accessories like prescription lenses and a planned Lighthouse faceplate for users preferring external tracking systems.

Innovating Across Use Cases
Pimax acknowledges the diverse needs of VR users. While the Crystal Super excels as the ultimate PCVR headset for seated simulation experiences like flight and racing, the Dream Air is tailored for active VR users. Its portability and lightweight design cater to applications such as VRChat, room-scale VR, and entertainment on the go.

Expanding VR Beyond the PC
Pimax is also developing Cobb, a standalone device powered by a Snapdragon XR2 chip and battery. Cobb enables the Dream Air to operate independently for streaming movies, running light applications, or gaming, offering even greater versatility.

Pricing & Availability
The price of Pimax Dream Air starts from $1,895, which includes a pair of ringless controllers. A special pre-order price of $1,199 is available, with two payment options for the balance:
One-Time Payment of $696 USD (12% discount).
Or, 24 Monthly Payments of $32.99 USD through Prime membership.

Shipping is expected to begin in May 2025.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[theouto]

Why do companies forgo the top of the strap? Why copy apple's worst decision on the apple vision pro? It doesn't matter how light the headset is, a strap that goes across the top of your head is crucial for balance and comfort.
I also directly reference apple here because look at the headset, look at the marketing slides, it's clear who Pimax is inspired by, and it's probably the wrong company in this market.

 

[evernessince]

Why do companies forgo the top of the strap? Why copy apple's worst decision on the apple vision pro? It doesn't matter how light the headset is, a strap that goes across the top of your head is crucial for balance and comfort.
I also directly reference apple here because look at the headset, look at the marketing slides, it's clear who Pimax is inspired by, and it's probably the wrong company in this market.

A top strap might help but in this instance it's less than 1/3rd the weight.

You can see other ultra-light designs like the big screen beyond seem to do well enough in the comfort department without it. I don't think this design is inspired by Apple, after all some of the top strapless designs predate the apple vision.

 

[theglaze]

Innovation can grab headlines.
But manufacturing quality, software stability, and customer service provide the momentum for natural growth through sales.
Pimax already made too many promises, juggling too many headsets, and struggles to keep it's current audience satisfied.

 

[Octavean]

The Apple reference is funny IMO. I was just thinking that the controllers look like they were made by Meta (Oculus).

 

[theouto]

You can see other ultra-light designs like the big screen beyond seem to do well enough in the comfort department without it. I don't think this design is inspired by Apple, after all some of the top strapless designs predate the apple vision.

I wouldn't really compare this to the bigscreen beyond, which is the only one I would imagine working without a top strap as it was made to essentially be as lightweight as childrens pool goggles. This also looks ever so slightly bulkier. The beyond is 127 grams, and this is supposedly also under 200 grams, so maybe it will be alright, but I'm still somewhat skeptical.

I also directly mentioned apple as the shape of the headset (which closely resembles the vision pro), colours chosen (pimax often goes dark with sharp corners, which is the antithesis of this design) and the spec slide all look like they've taken a page from apple's book.

 

[Mindweaver]

I'll believe this when I see one in a reviewers hand's. Pimax has promised a lot of things but always fall short on delivering. I'm more interested in Samsung/google's new HMD XR device code-named Project Moohan. But the one I'm most looking forward to is Valve's next HMD code-named Deckard and of course Apple next HMD.

 

[evernessince]

I wouldn't really compare this to the bigscreen beyond, which is the only one I would imagine working without a top strap as it was made to essentially be as lightweight as childrens pool goggles. This also looks ever so slightly bulkier. The beyond is 127 grams, and this is supposedly also under 200 grams, so maybe it will be alright, but I'm still somewhat skeptical.

I also directly mentioned apple as the shape of the headset (which closely resembles the vision pro), colours chosen (pimax often goes dark with sharp corners, which is the antithesis of this design) and the spec slide all look like they've taken a page from apple's book.

To be fair, that's how a lot of electronics are designed to look like nowadays. I'm just glad many don't copy the exact corner radius of apple devices, it makes everything look bulbous IMO.

 

[ZoneDymo]

still dont know who buys this...like what for? what do you do with it really? some....basic borderline proof of concept games?

 

[yfn_ratchet]

Pimax always stood out to me as an exceeding mismatch for what's needed to make VR actually successful beyond its (and even after the Quest 2 I'd posit this) boutique market. This headset seems the most egregious. They're copying whatever tech flavor-of-the-week has possessed VR from low profile and light weight to the 'premium' look and feel that somehow justifies such a ludicrous price (and payment scheme, just let me pay in full for the goddamn thing instead of trying to sell me a horrific payment plan).

Pimax won't get anywhere by copying. If they want to be the halo-product company they're presenting themselves as, they need to actually push boundaries instead of mashing every buzzword-tier feature into one chassis and slapping a multi-thousand dollar price tag on it.

Meta (and Pico) have already asserted that the best selling headset is a cheap headset: just enough resolution to get by paired with half-decent lenses. What the space desperately needs is another cheap headset, maybe without the Meta/Bytedance strings attached. Fingers crossed Deckard (or some other work-in-progress) aims for that $300-600 price band and makes everyone happy.

 

[theouto]

I just realised that the promotional render is using 2 right controllers. Never change pimax.

 

[Scrizz]

I wouldn't really compare this to the bigscreen beyond, which is the only one I would imagine working without a top strap as it was made to essentially be as lightweight as childrens pool goggles. This also looks ever so slightly bulkier. The beyond is 127 grams, and this is supposedly also under 200 grams, so maybe it will be alright, but I'm still somewhat skeptical.

I also directly mentioned apple as the shape of the headset (which closely resembles the vision pro), colours chosen (pimax often goes dark with sharp corners, which is the antithesis of this design) and the spec slide all look like they've taken a page from apple's book.

I agree with you. The first thing that came to my mind was they copied the Vision Pro look.
It is for sure a far cry from their previous dark, square, and bulky designs.

The 3rd pic looks like the first pic... and that is the Apple Vision Pro. The 2nd pic is previous Pimax product.
They definitely copied the Vision Pro design and through the V in the front .

 

[Kyan]

still dont know who buys this...like what for? what do you do with it really? some....basic borderline proof of concept games?

We're in 2024-2025, there's a lot of good games from single player, pvp, simulation (especially sim racing), rts that exist and are good in VR. I admit it's not for everyone, it will never replace flat screen but the technology is here to stay now.

 

[ZoneDymo]

We're in 2024-2025, there's a lot of good games from single player, pvp, simulation (especially sim racing), rts that exist and are good in VR. I admit it's not for everyone, it will never replace flat screen but the technology is here to stay now.

not disputing that, I guess its like the mobile-game world, if you are not part of it, it seems like it does not exist.
Like I follow news on gaming and I only know mobile-gaming is a HUGE freaking thing thanks to Angry Joe's news sections speaking about the billions some monopoly game made in the first 2 months or some crazy nonsense like that, its a bigger moneymaker than traditional games.

But yeah, I guess maybe there is a world out there of VR games but im just not getting exposed to it at all.

 

[soul24]

Why do companies forgo the top of the strap? Why copy apple's worst decision on the apple vision pro? It doesn't matter how light the headset is, a strap that goes across the top of your head is crucial for balance and comfort.
I also directly reference apple here because look at the headset, look at the marketing slides, it's clear who Pimax is inspired by, and it's probably the wrong company in this market.

This is because the headset only weights 200 grams

 

[Wye]

What is the actual resolution per eye, refresh rate and type of the display(LCD,OLED,etc)?

"27 million pixels" is not technical data, that is marketing bullcrap that can mean anything and nothing.

 

[Clawedge]

What is the actual resolution per eye, refresh rate and type of the display(LCD,OLED,etc)?

"27 million pixels" is not technical data, that is marketing bullcrap that can mean anything and nothing.

Far right mid way 3840x3552, micro oled, 90hz

 

[DaemonForce]

The render is hilarious once you look at the controller buttons.
I'm sure the upper+lower fitment strap is fine but I'm really surprised there isn't an overhead strap with a haptic sensor.
Doesn't matter if you're doing 90FPS racing sim or headpatting anime girls for hours, it's needed.