Pimax is taking aim at high-end wireless PC VR headsets with the Crystal Pro, a new headset that combines 2880 x 2880 resolution per eye, QLED panels, 120 Hz refresh rates, and a new Native Foveated Streaming system. The company unveiled the headset at its “Frontier: Change To Stay The Same” event, where it also introduced Ringless VR Controllers and the Spation mini-PC.
The Crystal Pro is designed to stream PC VR content wirelessly while giving users another option for a direct high-bandwidth connection. The headset includes built-in Wi-Fi streaming and a dedicated Wi-Fi 6E adapter, while Pimax is also offering its 60G AirLink system for users who want to send the GPU’s native image to the headset.
Pimax’s Native Foveated Streaming uses eye tracking to identify where the user is looking. The optional 60 GHz AirLink connection can then send the GPU’s native image directly to the corresponding focus area of the headset panels, avoiding the encoding process normally required for Wi-Fi streaming. The system uses two Room Antennas in a 2×2 MIMO configuration and is rated for up to 6 Gbps of combined throughput with less than 2 ms of added latency.
The headset uses aspheric glass lenses with QLED displays running at 2880 x 2880 pixels per eye. It offers a 110-degree field of view and refresh rates of up to 120 Hz. Eye tracking is combined with SLAM 2.0 inside-out tracking, while a swappable faceplate allows users to add Lighthouse tracking or mixed-reality passthrough with LiDAR depth sensing.
Unlike many standalone VR headsets, the Crystal Pro does not include an internal battery. Pimax instead supplies a 16,000mAh external battery pack to power the headset.
Pimax is also moving away from conventional VR controller designs with its Ringless VR Controllers. The controllers replace the traditional tracking ring with camera-based hand tracking, infrared tracking, and motion sensors. Pimax claims latency below 15 ms, and the controllers can be attached to a gamepad configuration for use with Windows and Steam.
The company also introduced Spation, a compact gaming mini-PC built around desktop hardware. It can be configured with an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor and either an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card. Windows and SteamOS are supported, with a DIY configuration also planned.
Pimax is pricing the Crystal Pro at $1,399, while the version with the 60G AirLink system costs $1,899. The AirLink system is also available separately for $599. Pricing and shipping information for the Ringless VR Controllers and Spation will be announced later. Pimax is currently accepting $1 reservations for the Crystal Pro through its website.
Pimax Crystal Pro – Specifications
| Specification | Pimax Crystal Pro |
|---|---|
| Display | QLED |
| Resolution | 2880 x 2880 per eye |
| Lenses | Aspheric glass |
| Field of View | 110° |
| Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi streaming, Wi-Fi 6E |
| Optional Wireless Link | 60G AirLink |
| AirLink Throughput | Up to 6 Gbps |
| AirLink Latency | Under 2 ms added |
| Tracking | Eye tracking, SLAM 2.0 |
| Optional Tracking | Lighthouse |
| MR Features | Passthrough with LiDAR depth |
| Battery | 16,000mAh external battery |
| Starting Price | $1,399 |
| AirLink Bundle | $1,899 |
| AirLink Price | $599 |
