The Pimax Dream Air headset marks a significant shift in the company’s approach. Known for their expansive field-of-view, often resulting in chunkier designs, Pimax is now venturing into the realm of sleek and sophisticated headsets. The Dream Air, despite its more compact form, promises to be brimming with features. Among its innovative offerings is an automatic headstrap-tightening mechanism, a first in the VR industry.
Set to be released in May 2025 with a price tag of $1,900, the Dream Air is Pimax’s ambitious entry into the market of high-end, compact PC VR headsets, pitting it against models like the Bigscreen Beyond and the Shiftall MaganeX Superlight.
True to Pimax’s ambitious nature, they’re not stopping at just creating a remarkable headset. They’ve also announced an optional accessory called Cobb, a compute puck that transforms the Dream Air into a standalone VR device. Equipped with a Snapdragon XR2 chip and a battery, along with an optional SteamVR Tracking faceplate, Cobb is designed to enhance Dream Air’s versatility.
However, Pimax’s race to introduce new products might be stretching their focus thin. The announcement of the Dream Air follows a pattern, seen previously with the Crystal Super headset—announced in April 2024 for a late 2024 release, which has now slipped to early 2025.
The Dream Air is not just about its size; it’s packed with impressive specifications:
– Weight: 200g
– Resolution: incredible 13MP (3,840 × 3,552) micro-OLED per eye at 90Hz with “HDR”
– A 102° field-of-view
– Inside-out tracking
– Motion controls and hand-tracking
– On-board audio
– Optional prescription lenses
– Eye-tracking
– And features such as automatic IPD adjustment and a pioneering auto-tightening strap
The innovation of an auto-adjusting headstrap addresses the perennial challenge of achieving a secure yet comfortable fit. Users often grapple with striking the right balance—tightening too much can lead to discomfort, while loose fitting can compromise stability. The Dream Air’s refined design and hidden tightening mechanism aim for seamless comfort and functionality.
Adding to user comfort is the automatic IPD adjustment, precisely setting lens distance to match individual eye width, a task many struggle with manually. While it remains to be seen if Pimax can deliver on such sleek design promises, the Dream Air indicates a potential departure from their traditionally utilitarian, boxy designs.
Yet, Pimax hasn’t completely abandoned their roots. Alongside this new focus on compact headsets, they still intend to develop their well-known, larger models with broad fields of view.
Pre-orders are already being accepted for the Dream Air, with the highly anticipated headset expected to make waves in the market in May 2025.
