The Pimax Dream Air headset marks a fresh direction for the company, known for its typically hefty headsets that provide a wide field-of-view. With the Dream Air, Pimax ventures into making a more compact device that doesn’t skimp on features. Among these innovations is the industry’s first automatically tightening headstrap.
At $1,900, and set to start shipping in May 2025, the Dream Air is Pimax’s response to the growing market of compact high-end PC VR headsets, challenging models like the Bigscreen Beyond and Shiftall MaganeX Superlight.
Yet, true to its form, Pimax adds ambitious promises, potentially diverting focus from timely deliveries. The Dream Air boasts an optional compute puck that transforms it into a standalone VR headset. Named ‘Cobb’, this puck includes a Snapdragon XR2 chip and a battery. Users can also opt for a SteamVR Tracking faceplate.
Timing has been a recurring issue for Pimax. The Dream Air is yet another new product announced while prior offerings, like the Crystal Super headset—revealed in April 2024—and intended for Q4 2024 release, linger in delay, now expected in Q1 2025.
As for the Dream Air, it promises to be both small and packed with desirable specs and features:
– Weighs just 200g
– 13MP (3,840 × 3,552) micro-OLED resolution per eye @ 90Hz with HDR
– 102° field-of-view
– Inside-out tracking
– Motion controllers & hand-tracking
– Built-in audio
– Optional prescription lenses
– Eye-tracking
– Automatic IPD and strap tightening
The automatic strap tightening is particularly noteworthy. While many users like to secure their headsets firmly to prevent movement, finding the perfect balance between tightness and comfort can be tricky. The auto-tightening feature aims to solve this issue seamlessly.
From the available renderings, the design of this innovative strap looks carefully thought out, with the mechanism hidden beneath fabric, giving the appearance that the strap naturally contracts to fit snugly.
If Pimax successfully delivers on this, it could greatly improve the user experience. Plus, the automatic IPD adjustment aligns the lens distance to suit each user’s eye width—another detail often challenging to set manually.
Whether Pimax can pull off such a sleek design remains to be seen, but they are certainly pushing their design boundaries, moving away from the practical yet uninspired aesthetics of their past headsets.
Still, Pimax isn’t abandoning its roots in developing larger models with expansive fields-of-view. The company is expanding its scope to include compact headsets, without leaving behind what made it known in the first place.
Pre-orders for the Dream Air are open now, with this promising headset expected to hit the market in May 2025, priced at $1,900.
