Pico 4S: The first renders of the Quest 3 competitor just leaked
UPDATEUpdate from August 9:
Render images of the Pico 4S leaked.
Update from August 7:
Pico teases the launch of a new product. More information can be found below.
Update from July 4:
Alleged image of the Pico 4S added.
Pico's new VR headset is set to be announced soon. The first product images have now been leaked.
OnLeaks has leaked renders of the Pico 4S via Androidheadlines.
Pico writes on X that a new product is on the way.
"For exploration or gaming, it boosts your MR/VR experience to next level. Stay tuned," writes Pico in the X post.
The image is likely to show the front of the device and its sensor array.
Pico also provides a date. Could the device be unveiled on August 20th?
Thrilled to share: PICO's new product is on the way! For exploration or gaming, it boosts your MR/VR experience to next level. Stay tuned!#RealityAmplified pic.twitter.com/5OXIcA2P9a
— PICO XR (@PICOXR) August 7, 2024
The previous leaks about the Pico 4S and more context can be found below.
Pico hasn't announced or confirmed that it's building a new VR headset, but there have been several reports and leaks suggesting that it is.
The latest comes from VR enthusiast Luna, who claims to have spoken to several people familiar with the device and seen several devkits.
The name Pico4S is preliminary, but Pico trademarked the name in March.
PICO 4S (preliminary naming)
Things may change but from what I'm told this is likely final.
Same drill as last time, I have seen multiple devkits and spoken to several people familiar with ByteDance's next Mixed Reality headset, details: pic.twitter.com/z8FznpbxAr
- Luna (@Lunayian) June 27, 2024
Luna lists the following specifications:
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2
- Display: Dual LCDs with 2,160 by 2,160 pixels per eye
- Frame rate: 90 Hz
- Lenses: Pancake lenses with motorized IPD adjustment
- Sensors: 4 x tracking cameras, 2 x RGB passthrough cameras, 2 x IR illuminators for depth detection of the room
- Controller: Ringless controllers
- New mixed reality features: Room scanning and floating panels that can be freely positioned in the room
Details may still change, but according to Luna's sources, these features are likely final.
A recent South Korean certification of the device suggests that the headset could be released in the next months.
A purported image of the Pico 4S has appeared on a South Korean VR forum, showing the two passthrough cameras.
Exactly as I reported on a couple days ago 😀 you can't see the IR depth sensors here unless you boost the contrast though.
AdThe upper middle dot is a privacy light for Passthrough from what I'm told. (Similar to Quest 3's blinking white LED and Quest Pro's white/blue LED) https://t.co/Cv5jlvPaBS
— Luna (@Lunayian) July 4, 2024
Pico 4S: Specs on par with Quest 3
If these specifications are correct, the Pico 4S will be a more powerful mixed reality version of the Pico 4 thanks to an upgrade to the Snapdragon XR 2 Gen 2, 4 GB more RAM and two dedicated passthrough cameras, which should ensure depth-correct mixed reality. The display and field of view will likely remain the same. The headset could also get ringless controllers.
While the Pico 4S seems to be a clear upgrade over the Pico 4, the Quest 3S will be a downgrade of the Quest 3 (see Luna's Quest 3S leak). If the unannounced headsets are indeed called Quest 3S and Pico 4S, this naming scheme will cause a lot of confusion among consumers.
In terms of price, the Pico 4S could be positioned between the Quest 3S and the Quest 3, while in terms of specs it is on par with the Quest 3.
Click on the table below to compare the specifications of the Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest 3S (via Luna), Pico 4 and Pico 4S (via Luna).
Specifications of Quest and Pico standalone headsets. Click on the image to view or download it in full size. | Image: MIXED
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