Pimax Has Launched Pre-Orders for Its 8K and 5K Native Headsets
Pimax is the only VR headset manufacturer that is currently offering consumers a device with a really wide field of view (FOV). It has a 200-degree FOV. Its new Vision 8Kx Pimax eyewear is providing users with a native 4K resolution per eye for the first time.
Now Pimax has opened the new Vision 8K X and the 5K+ virtual reality headsets to pre-orders through its website. Unlike its standard 8K headsets, the new Vision 8K X head-mounted displays will offer a 4K resolution per eye with a DisplayPort 1.4 cable.
Although the native resolution for the Vision 8K X is 4K, Pimax is summing up the combined resolution for the headset to 8K which is just a marketing gimmick as it is mathematically wrong. For an 8K resolution, the total number of pixels is 33, 177,600 while the two 4K displays for every eye will only achieve a half as many pixels (16, 588,800). However, they will be marketed as 8K displays.
The 8K headsets that have been sold so far also provide two 4K displays but these are only accepting a maximum input signal of 2,560 x 1,449 pixels. The resulting image is subsequently scaled up to 4K. Pimax previously unveiled the 5K Plus, 5K OLED and 8K headsets that also have a 200-degree field of view. The Pimax 5K HMDs render the 2,560 x 1,440 natively and therefore generally render an even sharper image.
The Pimax Vision 8K X will be the company’s new flagship virtual reality headset and will feature dual native 4K displays that will have a resolution of 3840 x 2160 per eye. The new HMD features customized low persistence liquid (CLPL) panels with advanced RGB pixel matrix which offer a “50% increase in sub-pixels” according to the company. There is the ‘Dual Engine Mode’ feature that allows users to switch between the input resolutions of 2560 x 1440 and 3840 x 2160*x pixel mode. This allows them to have the output rendered in either a dual native 4K or dual upscaled 4K.
The difference with the Pimax Vision 8K PLUS is only in the display. The Vision 8K X has two 3840 x 2160 CLPL panels so the resolution has been upscaled from the 2560 x 1440 in the Vision 8K PLUS. However, both Vision 8Kx Pimax and the vision 8K PLUS have a 200-degree diagonal field-of-view, an ergonomic design as well as a comfort kit that includes a nose guard that prevents light leakage, a face cowling, a modular audio strap as well as a soft face foam.
Pre-orders are now open for the Pimax Vision 8K X which will be available in two versions. The standard version of the headset will be retailing for $1,299. There is also the deluxe version which will retail for $1,399. On the other hand, the standard version of the Pimax Vision 8K PLUS is currently going for $999 while its deluxe version goes for $1,099.
Pimax will run an upgrade programme for users that already own the older Pimax models that will enable owners to get either the Pimax Vision 8K X or the Vision 8K PLUS from a price of $649 and $449 respectively.
Earlier this year, Pimax had also unveiled the Sword Series controllers. The pre-orders for these had already gone live and it was expected that shipments will arrive by the end of this year. The page that had been created for the pre-orders has now been taken down with the company announcing that the shipments for the controllers has been delayed until March 2020 due to some technical obstacles in their development that still have to be overcome.
Both Pimax Vision 8K X and Vision 8K PLUS headsets are to be demo’d in various upcoming tech forums in both the US and Europe. The first of these will be the VR Days Europe taking place in Amsterdam late this month.
Pimax Vision 8K X Technical Specifications
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 per eye
- Display consists of a customized low persistence liquid (CLPL)
- Refresh rate of 75Hz (native)/ 90Hz (upscale)
- A 200-degree diagonal field-of-view (FOV)
- IPD: 55mm-75mm
- Eye Tracking: Optional eye tracking module
- Hand tracking: Gesture (optional)
- Room scale controller (optional)
- Custom Fresnel*2 lenses
- SteamVR sensor
- Technology: Outside-in Lighthouse base stations 1.0 or 2.0
- MTP Latency: 15ms (typical)
- IO Connector: Audio jack/ headphone/USB*1/Microphone/Type C*2/DP*1
- Button: VOL+ Key and VOL- Key/Power Key
Technical Specifications for the Pimax Vision 8K PLUS
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 per eye (scaled from 2560 x 1440)
- A refresh rate of 90Hz
- Uses a customized low persistence liquid (CLPL) display
- Custom Fresnel * 2 Lenses
- 200-degree field-of-view (FOV)
- Eye tracking: Eye tracking module (optional)
- Hand tracking: Gesture (optional)
- SteamVR sensor
- IPD: 55mm-75mm
- Room scale controller (optional)
- MTP Latency: 15ms (typical)
- Technology: Outside-in Lighthouse base stations 1.0 or 2.0
- IO Connector: Microphone/ USB*1/Audio jack/DP*1/Type C*2
- Button: Power Key/VOL+ Key and VOL- Key
