Pimax is venturing into a fresh frontier with its new Dream Air headset. Known for its bulky headsets designed to offer expansive fields of view, Pimax is shifting gears with this compact yet feature-packed model. Notably, the Dream Air introduces an automatic headstrap that adjusts itself—a groundbreaking innovation within the industry.
Set at a price of $1,900, the Dream Air is anticipated to hit the market in May 2025. This new release by Pimax is aimed at challenging other compact, high-end PC VR headsets such as the Bigscreen Beyond and the Shiftall MaganeX Superlight.
In true Pimax fashion, the company’s ambitious aspirations might spread its focus thin and lead to delivery delays. One such ambition for the Dream Air is the optional compute puck, known as ‘Cobb’, which allows the headset to operate as a standalone VR device. Cobb is expected to be equipped with a Snapdragon XR2 chip and a battery, and users can also opt for the SteamVR Tracking faceplate.
Yet again, Pimax’s pattern of announcing new products before fulfilling previous promises persists. The Dream Air announcement follows the Crystal Super headset, initially revealed in April 2024 with plans for a release in Q4 of the same year. However, the launch is now pushed back to Q1 2025.
Regarding specs, the Dream Air is set to impress with:
– A weight of just 200 grams
– 13MP (3,840 × 3,552) micro-OLED screens per eye at 90Hz with HDR
– A 102° field of view
– Inside-out tracking features
– Motion controllers and hand-tracking capability
– Built-in audio
– Optional prescription lenses
– Eye-tracking
– Automatic IPD adjustment and strap tightening
The automatic strap tightening stands out as a novel feature in the VR market, as it brings a new level of comfort and customization to the user experience. Users often struggle with finding the right balance between snugness and stability, and this feature helps achieve that perfect fit.
The design of this auto-tightening mechanism seems thoughtfully executed, as seen in the renders shared so far. It conceals the tightening process beneath the fabric, presenting a sleek look while providing functionality.
With automatic IPD (interpupillary distance) adjustment, Dream Air further personalizes the visual experience by aligning the lenses to the user’s eye distance—a task many find challenging manually.
While Pimax’s ability to deliver such an innovative design remains to be seen, the company appears to be stepping up its aesthetic game. This marks a departure from the utilitarian, boxy designs of the past.
Despite this new direction towards more refined industrial design, Pimax assures fans that it will continue to develop its larger headsets with broader fields of view. Yet, the launch of Dream Air marks a significant milestone in Pimax’s evolution in the VR space.
The Dream Air is available for pre-order now, with the $1,900 price tag and expected release drawing plenty of anticipation for what promises to be a game-changer in virtual reality experiences.
