PIMAX 4K UHD Virtual Reality Headset

The year 2016 is the year of virtual reality headsets and many Chinese manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon and have announced and released a variety of VR products in the last few months. The PIMAX 4K VR headset is another candidate that is scheduled to appear in August and will be connected to the PC similar to an HTC Vive. The special thing about these VR glasses is the 4K UHD panel, which has a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels. There are no reviews of the PIMAX 4K headset yet, which is why we take a closer look at the glasses in this preview.

PIMAX 4K VR Headset

The PIMAX 4K glasses were announced in April and were released on August 20, 2016. The main focus is on the impressive resolution of 3840x2160 pixels (806 PPI), which even the well-known brand products HTC Vive or Oculus Rift have not yet achieved. The PIMAX 4K is one of the first VR glasses to have a UHD resolution. The display resolution in particular plays a crucial role in VR glasses. If the resolution is too low, the so-called “fly screen effect” occurs, in which individual pixels stand out clearly. This effect has already been reduced immensely in VR models with a 2K resolution, but still remains visible. With a 4K resolution, this effect will still occur, but it will no longer be as annoying as with the first VR models, which were still equipped with Full HD panels.

In order to prevent the unpleasant "drag effect", the PIMAX 4K glasses have a dual gyroscope with 1000Hz, and the input lag is reduced to 18 milliseconds. The field of view is 110° and is therefore identical to that of an HTV Vive. The lenses used (53mm; aspherical) also differ from those of conventional China VR glasses. The lenses should have an “anti-blur” coating, which prevents general blurring, and the lenses should not tarnish when exposed to moisture. The brightness is automatically adjusted to protect your eyes. The PIMAX VR headset can also be used without any problems if you are nearsighted. Clear vision is guaranteed up to -5 diopters of myopia and a pupil distance of 58-71mm.

A decisive selling point for the PIMAX 4K glasses is the existing HDMI connection. Many China VR glasses forego PC compatibility and are released as so-called standalone glasses that have the hardware of a smartphone and rely on Android as the operating system. Such glasses are extremely successful in China, but in this country they prefer a conventional VR headset, which is connected to the PC. According to the manufacturer, head movements should be taken over. It is very likely that it will not be possible to determine your position. A virtual 5.1 sound is made possible via loudspeakers integrated in the headband. An SDK should be available with the release of the headset, and compatibility with Steam VR is guaranteed.

Conclusion

The PIMAX 4K Virtual Reality Headset is an affordable VR headset with a remarkable UHD display. It should be noted, however, that such a high resolution also requires appropriate computing power to display smooth 60 images per second. Even a high-end gaming PC can stumble here quickly. Also because of the missing position tracker, the PIMAX VR glasses are not in direct competition with the well-known branded products. If you want a full VR experience, you should by no means do without positioning.