Pimax Crystal: Standalone high-end VR headset launches in November
With Crystal, the Chinese manufacturer Pimax wants to launch a standalone high-end VR headset in November.
Pimax already announced the Crystal headset at the end of May. Technical highlights include QLED displays with MiniLED backlighting at 2,880 x 2,880 pixels, a refresh rate of up to 160 hertz, and aspherical, exchangeable lenses. A Tobii eye tracking system is also implemented, which can automatically adjust the lens distance.
For standalone operation, Pimax relies on the Qualcomm XR2, as almost all standalone XR headsets currently do. The headset can also be connected to the PC via WLAN, an additional WiGig module, or via Displayport for VR streaming.
Pimax Crystal production starts
Now Pimax announces that the production of the Crystal headset has started. The first batch is said to be ready, and the company expects production to pick up speed in October.
Pimax is aiming for an official worldwide presale launch in mid-October: A device can then be reserved for a down payment. Existing Pimax customers will be given priority for delivery.
Pimax hopes that all orders can be delivered by Christmas 2022. In China, deliveries of the Pimax Crystal will start in November.
In addition, Pimax is planning a worldwide roadshow. Details will follow shortly.
Standalone mode will be added later
For the first buyers, the Crystal headset can initially only be used as a PC device. According to Pimax, the software for the standalone platform is still under development. It is to be launched at the same time as the standalone store later in the year. Pimax does not give an exact date. The standalone mode will be added via an OTA software update.
Crystal uses four integrated cameras for room tracking. On the PC, the VR headset also supports SteamVR 2.0 tracking via an optional faceplate. Pimax Crystal does not offer a mixed reality mode via RGB camera passthrough like Pico 4 or Quest Pro.
The price for the entire package is around 1,900 US dollars, two Pimax Reality Controllers are included.
Since the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 is a bit too outdated for Crystal's high-end specs and the standalone software is apparently not ready yet, the Pimax Crystal should be especially interesting for PC VR gamers.
An alternative to Crystal on the PC could be Varjo Aero or Metas Quest Pro, which are in a similar price range. Quest Pro is supposed to offer more in terms of software and probably also hardware. Pico also wants to launch a Pro device this year that runs as a standalone device and on the PC and is supposed to be significantly cheaper than Crystal, Aero, or Quest Pro.
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