The Pimax Dream Air headset is carving out a new niche for a company known for its larger-than-life VR gear. Traditionally, Pimax headsets have been on the hefty side, designed to offer an expansive field of view. But the Dream Air flips the script; it’s a headset that’s both compact and packed with features. A standout feature is the auto-tightening headstrap, a first in the VR industry.
Expecting a May 2025 release, this VR marvel is tagged at $1,900 and is gunning for the high-end, compact headset market alongside competitors like Bigscreen Beyond and Shiftall MaganeX Superlight.
True to Pimax’s ambitious style, the Dream Air isn’t just about the headset. The company has teased the ‘Cobb,’ an optional compute puck that promises to transform the headset into a standalone VR device. This puck is said to house a Snapdragon XR2 chip and a battery, with the added option of a SteamVR Tracking faceplate.
Yet, Pimax’s track record of unveiling new gadgets before delivering existing promises is worth noting. The Dream Air follows this pattern. The Crystal Super headset was announced in April 2024, with a release planned for late that year, yet it’s now pushed back to early 2025.
The Dream Air itself is expected to be a compact powerhouse with a slew of specs:
– Weighing in at a mere 200g
– 13MP (3,840 × 3,552) micro-OLED per-eye resolution at 90Hz, complete with “HDR”
– 102-degree field of view
– Inside-out tracking
– Includes motion controllers and hand-tracking
– Built-in audio system
– Optional prescription lenses
– Eye-tracking
– Automatic IPD and an automatic strap-tightening feature
That last feature, the automatic strap-tightening, is intriguing. Finding the perfect fit for a headset has always been tricky; most users tend to over-tighten to avoid slippage, sacrificing comfort. If Pimax nails this innovation, it could be a game-changer in the VR space.
Although we’ve only seen the design via renders, the auto-tightening strap appears thoughtfully integrated. It could smoothly and seamlessly adjust the fit, providing stability without compromising comfort. Similarly, the automatic IPD adjustment aims to align the lenses according to each user’s eye width, simplifying what is usually a manual process.
It remains to be seen if Pimax can deliver on its promise of a sleek and stylish headset. For now, it’s clear they’re breaking away from their previous utilitarian and boxy designs, showcasing a fresh approach to industrial design.
Despite this shift, Pimax isn’t abandoning its roots. The brand is still committed to its larger headsets known for their wide fields of view. Pre-orders for the Dream Air are now open, priced at $1,900, with an anticipated launch in May 2025.
