Pimax is taking a bold leap with their new Dream Air headset, steering into fresh territory while holding onto its reputation for innovative features. Traditionally known for producing rather hefty headsets to secure that expansive field-of-view, Pimax’s latest venture promises a more compact design without compromising on the bells and whistles. Remarkably, it includes a headstrap that tightens automatically, which, if realized, would be a pioneering feature in the industry.
Set at a price of $1,900 and anticipated to debut in May 2025, the Dream Air is positioned to challenge other high-end, compact PC VR headsets like Bigscreen Beyond and Shiftall MaganeX Superlight.
Of course, Pimax is no stranger to grand declarations, which sometimes come at the cost of punctual delivery. A standout innovation with the Dream Air is an optional ‘compute puck’, cleverly named ‘Cobb’. This puck transforms the headset into a standalone VR system, integrating a Snapdragon XR2 chip and a battery. And yes, they’re also offering an optional SteamVR Tracking faceplate.
Historically, Pimax has often been seen unveiling new products even before fulfilling previous promises. A case in point is their Crystal Super headset, initially announced in April 2024 for a Q4 release the same year, which is now delayed to Q1 2025.
Now, what does the Dream Air promise? A trim 200g weight, micro-OLED displays with a resolution of 13MP (3,840 × 3,552) per eye at 90Hz offering “HDR”, and a 102° field-of-view. It features inside-out tracking, supports motion controllers and hand-tracking, and includes built-in audio. The list of optional nice-to-haves includes prescription lenses, eye-tracking, automatic IPD adjustment, and that intriguing automatic strap tightening.
The automatic tightening feature is particularly noteworthy. It’s designed to solve the age-old problem of fitting a headset snugly without being uncomfortable. A secure fit generally means a better experience, and if the Dream Air can calibrate its snugness perfectly, it might win over many users who battle with headset stability.
Early designs for the auto-tightening strap show a mechanism hidden under fabric, suggesting a sleek shrinking action that doesn’t disrupt the headset’s aesthetic.
If Pimax can deliver on this, it could redefine how users experience VR comfort. The automatic IPD adjustment should also be a welcome addition, catering the lens fit to individual eye widths, something many struggle with manually.
While we have yet to see if Pimax can achieve a design as sleek in reality as it looks on paper, the Dream Air is undeniably a testament to the company’s potential in industrial design, stepping away from their past utilitarian, boxy styles.
Nonetheless, Pimax assures us that they aren’t bidding farewell to their chunkier designs. While the Dream Air represents a shift towards compactness, the company also plans to continue developing its hallmark large, wide field-of-view headsets.
For those eagerly anticipating the Dream Air, pre-orders are already underway, with a launch price of $1,900 slated for May 2025.
