Pimax, a company known for pushing the boundaries of virtual reality, has officially unveiled its latest flagship headset, the Crystal Pro. This new device is designed to offer a versatile VR experience, functioning as both a standalone headset and a high-fidelity PC VR display.
Cutting-Edge Display Technology
At the heart of the Crystal Pro is its impressive display system. It features non-aspherical glass lenses paired with QD Mini LED panels, boasting a remarkable 2880×2880 resolution per eye. This high resolution, combined with a 576-zone local dimming backlight, promises exceptional clarity and vibrant visuals. Users can select from three refresh rates: 72Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz, catering to different performance needs and preferences. The headset also offers a wide horizontal field of view (FOV) of 110 degrees, immersing users more deeply in virtual environments.
Powerful Internals and Connectivity Options
Powering the Crystal Pro is the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 processor, enabling it to operate as a standalone VR device. For PC VR connectivity, Pimax offers multiple options. The headset comes standard with Wi-Fi streaming capabilities. For a more robust wired experience, a DisplayPort 1.4a connection is supported. Additionally, Pimax is introducing its third-generation 60GHz millimeter-wave AirLink connection kit. This kit is a standout feature in the VR space, being the first to support 2×2 MIMO technology. This allows for a theoretical total throughput of 6Gbps with an additional latency of less than 2ms, ensuring a smooth and responsive wireless PC VR experience.
Advanced Tracking and MR Capabilities
The Crystal Pro integrates several advanced tracking technologies. It includes eye-tracking capabilities for foveated rendering and enhanced user interaction. Alongside this, it utilizes SLAM 2.0 inside-out tracking for precise positional awareness without external sensors. Pimax also emphasizes the modularity of the Crystal Pro with its interchangeable faceplates. Users can opt for Lighthouse laser tracking faceplates for traditional VR setups or choose a mixed reality (MR) faceplate that offers full-color passthrough and depth sensing, paving the way for more sophisticated mixed-reality applications.
Pricing and Bundles
The Pimax Crystal Pro is priced at $1,399 USD. For those looking to take advantage of the advanced wireless capabilities, the bundle including the AirLink connection kit is available for $1,899 USD. The AirLink kit can also be purchased separately for $599 USD.
Complementary Peripherals
Alongside the Crystal Pro headset, Pimax also announced a new set of ringless VR controllers and a dedicated PC VR desktop, the Spation. The controllers utilize camera-based hand tracking, combined with infrared and motion sensors, to achieve a latency of less than 15ms. The Spation desktop is designed for PC VR enthusiasts and supports both Windows and SteamOS operating systems, offering a powerful platform for immersive gaming and applications.
