Pimax reveals Dream Air prototype and answers key questions

reply: Internally, we have been growing the Crystal Tremendous micro-OLED and Dream Air for over a 12 months (internally, they’re just about the identical headset). We’ve got a completely working optical engine and consider the time remaining till Could is adequate to finish the remaining work, just like the event interval for Crystal Tremendous final 12 months.

Dream Air makes use of the identical optical engine answer and underlying know-how as Crystal Tremendous, however with a brand new type issue design. Study extra about how Dream Air and Crystal Tremendous micro-OLED characteristic the identical know-how elements.

The primary problem is the availability of micro-OLED panels and presumably ringless controllers. (At present, we consider that the primary batch of headsets will include ring controllers, just like Crystal/Gentle/Tremendous, and will be swapped out for ringless controllers later).

We’re assured that we can ship roughly 200-300 headsets in Could. That is additionally why we needed to current the headset now. (Some causes are defined beneath.)

reply: There are a number of causes. We introduced the Dream Air now as a result of we did not need to announce it after the Tremendous began delivery and make folks really feel like, “If I had identified, I’d have ordered it.” This assertion has already been confirmed on Discord, however in actuality, clients can change their pre-orders from Tremendous to Dream Air if they need.

Another excuse is the shortage of micro OLED panels. At present, within the micro OLED panel market, demand far exceeds provide, leading to lengthy supply occasions of a number of months. We’re beginning pre-orders to get a way of what number of headsets customers need and to order panels for the Dream Air, which is able to ship in Could. This order should be positioned earlier than or in early January, as suppliers are additionally on vacation throughout the Lunar New Yr interval.

Pimax isn’t alone in having lengthy wait occasions for micro-OLED panels. We don’t supply refundable pre-orders as our rivals have comparable merchandise with the identical concern.

That stated, our pre-orders are refundable earlier than delivery (and customers even have a trade-in interval after the headset arrives). We have additionally added a $1 reservation choice.

reply: VR headsets are additionally quickly diversifying, so we’ve robust ambitions to turn out to be a multi-SKU firm. Our focus is at all times on delivering the last word expertise, and we’ve the Crystal line and the brand new Dream line for quite a lot of use instances.

That stated, all of our headsets share lots of the similar core applied sciences, from software program to {hardware}. All headsets are PCVR centered. We’ve got realized from the previous (e.g. Portal not PCVR).

Pimax has a nine-year historical past of producing VR headsets, has two R&D workplaces, and is opening a second meeting line to assist this multi-SKU technique.

By providing a number of SKUs utilizing shared know-how, we are able to focus extra sources on growing know-how that advantages all headsets. It additionally eliminates one giant annual gross sales peak and spreads orders extra evenly all year long, making it simpler to handle provide and manufacturing sources (we personal our personal factories). (and has its personal employees). Peaks are typically very dangerous for effectivity.

reply: Some older fashions can be up to date, however except for the 12K, there’ll now not be any headsets with larger specs than the Dream Air or Crystal Tremendous.

reply: The internals of the headset are totally engineered and examined with a completely working optical engine. Software program-wise, every part is shared with Crystal Tremendous, together with SLAM monitoring, eye monitoring, and hand monitoring for the headset and controllers. , all settings for Pimax Play.

In regards to the exterior: Whereas we’re presently growing the outside housing for the Dream Air, we’re additionally testing and growing this with the Crystal Tremendous housing (micro OLED optical engine).

Right here we current two prototypes created throughout improvement.

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What’s new:

reply: Cobb’s actual estimated arrival time isn’t but obtainable. Cobb is an add-on to Dream Air, and we hope so as to add some options that weren’t communicated within the Frontier announcement.

reply: The vital factor is that it is robust sufficient to carry a light-weight headset, however not robust sufficient to harm anybody. The interior strap is product of elastic rubber. (This isn’t new know-how; the identical factor is utilized in self-tightening footwear such because the Nike Auto Adapt.)

reply: Sure, the top strap is detachable with the stem

There aren’t any plans for this. Internally, it is the very same headset with the Crystal Tremendous’s micro-OLED optical engine, so it really works with Pimax Play as a PC VR headset (additionally with OpenXR/OpenVR runtimes and SteamVR).

reply: Crystal Tremendous is prepared for demonstration at CES 2025, and particularly the QLED 57 PPD optical engine will ship on the finish of January. The 50 PPD optical engine and micro OLED optical engine are additionally nearing readiness and can ship in March and April, respectively.

A non-local dimming model of Crystal Gentle is anticipated to be obtainable round June 2025 and can be priced even decrease.

The unique Crystal’s 60G Airlink was additionally demoed at CES2025 and exterior beta testing is about to start. Scheduled to ship in April 2025.

For 12K, we’re unable to supply a precise estimated arrival time at the moment. After we introduced this, we had an answer to every of our main technical challenges. Sadly, a few of these options didn’t meet our high quality necessities. There are some that did not work as properly, similar to the twin DP 1.4 answer and the panel answer, however I can not share the small print.