Pimax has introduced new virtual reality headsets that provide the broadest field of view available. Today, Pimax announced a significant enhancement to its Micro-OLED product range: the Dream Air SE, Dream Air, and Crystal Super Micro-OLED. Initially unveiled earlier this year, these headsets are nearing their launch with finalized specifications, improved features, and confirmed release dates. Collectively, they demonstrate Pimax's capability to integrate Micro-OLED displays and pancake optics into VR headsets that challenge industry standards.
Advancement in Micro-OLED VR
Micro-OLED technology offers exceptionally high pixel density, rich blacks, and near-limitless contrast; however, it encounters difficulties with heat regulation, optical performance, and high-resolution scaling. Pimax has addressed these issues with its proprietary ConcaveView pancake optics, positioning itself as the first VR manufacturer to provide Micro-OLED headsets at scale, rather than merely prototypes.
Product Offerings
- Dream Air SE – A lightweight (less than 140 g) all-in-one 5K headset featuring a 2560 × 2560 resolution per eye, Tobii eye-tracking, dynamic foveated rendering, 6DOF SLAM tracking, and spatial audio. Priced at $899, it makes Micro-OLED VR viable for gamers and creators alike.
- Dream Air – The world's most compact fully-featured 8K VR headset, delivering a resolution of 3840 × 3552 per eye (over 27 million pixels total). Weighing under 170 g, it offers a 110° horizontal and 120°+ diagonal field of view with optimized stereo overlap, achieving a balance between portability and premium image quality.
- Crystal Super Micro-OLED – Pimax's flagship model, showcasing a 116° horizontal and 128°+ diagonal field of view, the broadest ever in Micro-OLED VR. As part of the modular Crystal ecosystem, it supports interchangeable optical engines (Ultrawide, 57 PPD clarity, and Micro-OLED), making it ideal for enthusiasts and professional simulation users.
What is Micro-OLED VR?
Micro-OLED VR denotes virtual reality headsets that utilize Micro-OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays. This innovation represents a substantial progression for virtual reality by addressing numerous constraints associated with conventional VR displays, such as LCDs and standard OLEDs.
Here are the primary characteristics of Micro-OLED VR:
Ultra-High Pixel Density: Micro-OLED displays are constructed on silicon wafers, which enables the production of remarkably small and closely arranged pixels. This results in a pixel density exceeding 4,000 pixels per inch (PPI), significantly surpassing that of smartphones or other displays. Such high density is vital for virtual reality, as the lenses within a headset magnify the display, making individual pixels more discernible.
Elimination of the "Screen-Door Effect": The elevated pixel density of Micro-OLED effectively eradicates the "screen-door effect," which is the conspicuous grid-like pattern evident between pixels in lower-resolution VR headsets. This enhancement fosters a smoother, more seamless, and immersive visual experience.
Superior Image Quality: As with other OLED technologies, Micro-OLED is self-emissive, meaning each pixel generates its own light. This facilitates:
Perfect Blacks and Infinite Contrast: Pixels can be completely turned off, yielding true black levels and an exceptionally high contrast ratio.
Vibrant Colors: The technology boasts a wide color gamut and high color fidelity.
Fast Response Time: Micro-OLED displays exhibit an exceedingly rapid response time, functioning in nanoseconds. This is crucial for virtual reality to minimize motion blur and latency, which can induce motion sickness during swift head movements.
Compact and Lightweight Design: The panels are exceptionally small and thin, permitting the creation of lighter, more comfortable, and ergonomically designed VR headsets. This alleviates user fatigue during extended usage.
Energy Efficiency: Since Micro-OLED displays do not necessitate a separate backlight, they exhibit greater power efficiency, particularly when displaying darker content. This offers a significant advantage for standalone VR headsets, as it prolongs battery life and mitigates heat generation.
Micro-OLED technology has been embraced by premium and high-end VR headsets, including the Apple Vision Pro, Bigscreen Beyond, and Shiftall MeganeX, indicating a transition towards higher-quality and more immersive virtual reality experiences.
Is It Available?
Pre-orders for all three headsets are currently open, with shipments expected to commence later this year. Early adopters will receive exclusive accessories, including prescription lens frames and a complimentary copy of Le Mans Ultimate. Each model is backed by the Pimax Prime program, ensuring customer support and ongoing software updates. Additionally, we are offering a limited series of prototype micro-OLED optical engines for exclusive loan to our earliest Crystal Super backers.
Examining the Future of VR
With the introduction of the Dream Air SE, Dream Air, and Crystal Super Micro-OLED, Pimax stands as the sole brand providing a complete range of Micro-OLED coupled with pancake lens VR headsets. This achievement demonstrates that Micro-OLED VR is not merely a concept; it is now a tangible, polished reality, ready for users around the globe.
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