When Pimax unveiled its latest creation, the Dream Air VR headset, it stirred up a flurry of curiosity and questions within the VR community. Naturally, we reached out to Pimax for some answers and got a sneak peek at early prototypes, a detailed spec list, and updates on yet-to-be-released products.
By now, Pimax is a familiar name in the VR headset market, having a fair share of both fans and critics. The company has often been under the microscope for issues like product refinement, focus, delayed launches, and jumping the gun on new announcements without delivering on past promises.
With the recent buzz around the Dream Air headset, these concerns surfaced once again. We took some of the pressing questions straight to Pimax. Here’s a rundown of their responses, complete with prototype images, specs, and updates on the status of previously announced products that are still in the pipeline.
Q: How confident is Pimax about Dream Air being ready and widely available by May 2025?
A: We’ve been working behind the scenes on the Crystal Super micro-OLED and Dream Air for over a year. They share much of the same technology. Our optical engine is fully operational, and we’re optimistic that, given our timeline, we can finish the remaining work by May, akin to what we achieved with the Crystal Super.
The Dream Air uses the same optical solutions as the Crystal Super but opts for a new design. A significant hurdle remains the supply of micro-OLED panels and potentially the ringless controllers. Our plan is that the earliest headset batches may come with existing controllers, which can be swapped for ringless ones later.
We aim to deliver between 200 to 300 units by May. Announcing the headset now was critical for a few reasons.
Q: Why announce this headset right after the Super and start pre-orders?
A: Several reasons drove this decision. If we waited until after the Super started shipping, some users might feel they missed out on choosing Dream Air. We are already addressing this concern in our Discord community, allowing customers to switch pre-orders if desired.
Another factor is the limited availability of micro-OLED panels. The demand vastly exceeds supply, causing long lead times. We’re opening pre-orders now to gauge interest, which helps us secure enough panels by May. Orders need to be placed by early January due to holiday schedules like Chinese New Year.
The scarcity isn’t just our problem; our competitors face similar challenges and hence don’t offer refundable pre-orders. We prefer being flexible—our pre-orders are refundable before shipping, and there’s even a $1 reservation option.
Q: Some people feel Pimax should concentrate on fewer products. Your thoughts?
A: We’re determined to expand our range because VR technology is diversifying fast. Our goal has always been to deliver top-tier experiences tailored for various applications, reflected in our Crystal and Dream lines.
Despite having multiple product lines, they share a considerable amount of core technology. This approach streamlines our resources toward developing advancements that benefit all models. And it evens out our production workload throughout the year, reducing inefficiency peaks that occur with single-product sales.
Q: Are there other headsets on the way from Pimax?
A: We’re updating some existing models, but no new products will surpass the Dream Air and Crystal Super’s specs, with the exception of the upcoming 12K.
Q: Is the Dream Air’s design finalized, and are there working prototypes?
A: The core of the headset is fully realized, with functioning optical and software systems borrowed from the Crystal Super. This includes various tracking technologies and settings.
Externally, we are testing the Dream Air components in a Crystal Super shell, but the Dream Air’s exterior is still being refined. Here are images of two prototypes developed along the way, highlighting the evolution from older to newer designs.
Q: Will Cobb, the standalone module for Dream Air, be ready in 2025?
A: We don’t have a definitive timeline for Cobb yet. It’s an add-on for Dream Air, and we’re still working on features that weren’t initially announced.
Q: What safety features does the auto-tightening headstrap have to ensure safety in case of a malfunction?
A: The strap is strong enough to support the lightweight headset but not powerful enough to cause harm. It’s made with elastic rubber, a tried technology similar to what’s used in self-lacing shoes.
Q: Are head straps replaceable, and how?
A: Yes, the head strap can be detached at the stems for replacement.
Q: Future plans to run HorizonOS or AndroidXR on Dream Air?
A: There are no such plans. The Dream Air shares the same internals with the Crystal Super, operating as a dedicated PC VR headset using Pimax Play, compatible with OpenXR/OpenVR and SteamVR platforms.
Pimax also released an extensive specification list for the Dream Air headset, underscoring its technological features.
Pimax Product Shipping Forecast
Q: What are the shipping timelines for Pimax’s unreleased products?
A: The Crystal Super will be on display at CES 2025, with the QLED 57 PPD optical engine shipping by the end of January, followed by others in March and April.
A more affordable version of the Crystal Light without local dimming is expected around June 2025.
We are showcasing our 60G Airlink at CES 2025, with an external beta imminent and shipping planned for April 2025.
As for the 12K, we can’t provide a precise date now. Although we initially tackled each technical obstacle, some solutions failed to meet our standards or didn’t work as planned, like certain display panel technologies.
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