The Pimax Dream Air headset marks an exciting new direction for the company, which has traditionally been known for its robust headsets offering a wide field of view. With Dream Air, Pimax is venturing into the world of compact, yet feature-rich headsets. A standout feature in this new line is a headstrap that tightens automatically—an innovation that would be pioneering in the industry.
Set at a price of $1,900 and with an expected shipping date in May 2025, the Dream Air is Pimax’s entry into the budding market of high-end compact PC VR headsets, going head-to-head with rivals like Bigscreen Beyond and the Shiftall MaganeX Superlight.
True to its style, Pimax has made ambitious promises with the Dream Air, which could potentially divert focus from delivering on time. One intriguing promise is the addition of an optional compute puck, enabling the headset to transform into a standalone VR device. Dubbed ‘Cobb,’ this add-on will house a Snapdragon XR2 chip and a battery, and should pair with an optional SteamVR Tracking faceplate.
Despite shifting focus, Pimax continues its pattern of making new product announcements without fulfilling promises of previously announced models. For instance, the Crystal Super headset was announced back in April 2024 with an intended release by Q4 2024, but it’s now expected sometime in Q1 2025.
Looking at the Dream Air itself, it aims to be compact while packed with a host of features high on enthusiasts’ lists:
– A light 200g weight
– 13MP (3,840 × 3,552) micro-OLED resolution per eye at 90Hz with HDR
– 102° field of view
– Inside-out tracking
– Motion controllers and hand-tracking
– Built-in audio
– Optional prescription lenses
– Eye-tracking
– Automatic IPD and strap tightening
The automatic strap tightening deserves particular attention. This feature has the potential to change how headsets are worn, offering a balance between snugness and comfort. Users often face the dilemma of securing their headset tightly for stability versus leaving it looser for comfort. The Dream Air promises a solution by dynamically adjusting tightness, concealed attractively under the fabric of the strap.
Besides, its automatic IPD adjustment feature ensures that lens distance is perfectly aligned with the user’s eyes, which is typically a manual and often overlooked adjustment.
While skepticism remains about whether Pimax can deliver on these ambitious claims, the Dream Air represents a departure from the utilitarian designs of the past, flaunting a more refined industrial design.
Yet, Pimax isn’t abandoning its signature bulky designs. Although the focus has shifted to compact headsets, the company will still cater to fans of the larger models with broader fields of view.
Pimax is currently accepting pre-orders for the Dream Air, which is priced at $1,900, with the release slated for May 2025.
