Pimax Dream Air SE: A more affordable lightweight micro-OLED VR headset enters the ring
Pimax is expanding its lineup with the Dream Air SE — a new headset that brings Micro-OLED displays and eye tracking to a much lower price point than its premium sibling.
Pimax has just unveiled the Dream Air SE, a more budget-friendly version of the recently announced Dream Air VR headset. According to the company, the Dream Air SE offers many of the flagship features found on the larger Dream Air, but at a significantly lower entry price.
The Dream Air SE comes equipped with Micro-OLED displays offering a resolution of 2560 × 2560 pixels per eye. For comparison, the standard Dream Air — now featuring new Sony panels — bumps that up to 3840 × 3552 pixels per eye. Pimax hasn’t confirmed which manufacturer is supplying the displays for the SE.
Eye and hand tracking, pancake lenses, and built-in audio
For the first time, Pimax is using pancake lenses in its Dream Air lineup. The SE model is said to deliver a balanced field of view of over 90 degrees, while the regular Dream Air lists a 105-degree FOV. Both headsets share several features, including integrated audio, inside-out tracking, and hand tracking.
In the presentation, Pimax also shows a concept image of an optional Halo headband for the Dream Air models. | Picture: Pimax
One of the key advantages here is Tobii-powered eye tracking, which is designed to reduce system load by enabling foveated rendering on both Dream Air models.
Both headsets ship with ringless VR controllers — if you opt for the SLAM version with built-in inside-out tracking. There’s also an optional Lighthouse tracking variant, but that one skips the controllers.
Upgrade paths and accessory support
The included soft strap, which wraps around the back of your head in a style reminiscent of the Apple Vision Pro, is designed to auto-adjust to fit, while still letting you fine-tune the pressure. Pimax also announced an optional halo headband with a silicone face cover and tilt adjustment.
Attaching third-party accessories should be straightforward, according to Pimax. With a weight of under 150 grams, the Dream Air SE is engineered to be extremely lightweight and portable.
Pricing and availability: Dream Air vs. Dream Air SE
The two Dream Air models land at very different price points. The Dream Air SE SLAM version (with inside-out tracking and controllers) comes in at $1,199. The Lighthouse version, which ditches the controllers, drops to $899.
For reference, the standard Dream Air starts at $1,899 for the Lighthouse edition and $2,199 for the SLAM version. Pre-orders are open now, and Pimax is only requiring a $1 deposit to reserve your spot.
Both headsets are expected to ship in Q3 2025, a bit later than Pimax originally planned. The company cites longer-than-expected lead times for the Sony OLED panels and says it’s also made some design tweaks to further reduce weight.
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