The Pimax Dream Air is a headset that marks a fresh direction for Pimax, a company known for its large-field-of-view devices, but often hefty and a bit bulky. This time, they’re aiming to create something smaller that doesn’t skimp on features. A standout innovation is its headstrap, designed to automatically tighten—a first in the headset industry.
With a price tag of $1,900 and a launch planned for May 2025, Dream Air is targeting the growing market for compact, high-end PC VR headsets. It’s positioning itself as a rival to devices like the Bigscreen Beyond and Shiftall MaganeX Superlight.
Yet, in true Pimax fashion, they’re making ambitious promises that could distract from timely product delivery. Central to these promises is an optional accessory called ‘Cobb,’ a compute puck designed to transform the headset into a standalone device, powered by a Snapdragon XR2 chip and its own battery. There’s also an optional faceplate for SteamVR Tracking.
This unveiling continues a pattern for Pimax—introducing new products even as previous announcements are still pending fulfillment. Take their Crystal Super headset: announced back in April 2024 and initially slated for a late 2024 release, it’s now only expected to hit the market in early 2025.
As for the Dream Air, it’s expected to be a compact and technologically advanced device with features to match any VR enthusiast’s wishlist:
– Weighing in at just 200 grams
– Boasting a 13MP (3,840 × 3,552) micro-OLED screen for each eye at 90Hz with HDR
– A 102° field-of-view
– Inside-out tracking capability
– Motion controllers and hand-tracking
– Built-in audio
– The option for prescription lenses
– Eye-tracking technology
– Automatic IPD adjustment, alongside the innovative auto-tightening headstrap
The automatic strap feature, not seen in any major headset before, is intriguing. Getting the right balance between a secure and comfortable fit can be challenging for users who prefer their headsets snug to avoid slipping. This new mechanism appears to be cleverly designed. Though we’ve yet to see it in action, the renders show it seamlessly integrated, almost as if the strap is naturally shrinking to fit.
Should this system work as intended, it could significantly enhance user comfort. Alongside this, automatic IPD adjustment ensures the lenses are perfectly positioned, accommodating the width of the user’s eyes—a task that’s often tricky to get just right manually.
Whether Pimax can deliver on these lofty promises remains to be seen. However, based on initial impressions, they’re showcasing a flair for industrial design that moves away from the utilitarian, boxy look of previous models.
Interestingly, Pimax isn’t abandoning its roots in larger, more expansive field-of-view setups. While the compact Dream Air is a novel pursuit, they’re committed to continuing development of their traditional, broader headsets.
The company has already opened pre-orders for the Dream Air, setting the price at $1,900 with a potential release in May 2025.
