Pimax Introduces Software Subscription to Mitigate Costs from US-China Trade Tensions

Pimax, a leading Chinese manufacturer of PC VR headsets, recently broke its silence about how the ongoing US-China trade war is affecting its operations, particularly regarding its Crystal Super VR headset. For customers in the US, this will mean a slight price increase, although Pimax’s innovative subscription payment model seems to ease much of the financial burden.

Announced in April 2024, the Crystal Super marks Pimax’s next big offering in the PC VR lineup. It boasts a base version with 57 pixels per degree (PPD), dazzling QLED panels providing 3,840 x 3,840 pixels per eye, and a 120-degree field-of-view. Although it’s still in the pre-order phase, orders are set to ship soon.

In light of the current situation, the US has slapped a hefty 145% tariff on products made in China. This poses a challenge for XR headset manufacturers worldwide, given China’s role as the largest production hub for these items. Pimax is stepping up as one of the first companies to communicate price adjustments as a result of these new tariffs.

In a recent blog post, Pimax detailed the situation for its US customers, and the news is not as dire as one might expect. The company assured that US orders of the Crystal Super placed before February 4, 2025, won’t incur extra tariff charges, although the shipments might face a 20-day delay due to bulk transport to US-based warehouses.

On the other hand, orders made between February 4 and April 10 will have a $75 ‘Regional Surcharge’ to partly account for increased shipping and logistics fees. Starting April 10, all new US orders will carry a $95 surcharge, with shipments aiming to begin in June. To tackle these challenges, Pimax is even setting up a factory in Delaware for final assembly tasks.

Amid all these adjustments, the Crystal Super’s overall price hasn’t significantly changed. Thanks to Pimax’s revamped pricing structure and its new subscription-based model, tariff costs are being balanced out. The base price for the Crystal Super is reduced to $799, with an additional $885 due later via Pimax Play with Prime, totaling $1,684, excluding the US-only $95 surcharge.

For buyers worldwide, the change is relatively nominal. Previously, the headset was tagged at $999 with an extra Prime subscription cost of $696, bringing the total to $1,695. Now, local price changes reflect reduced upfront costs. Plus, Pimax continues to offer a 14-day trial period, making the Crystal Super an even more tempting choice outside the US, as it requires less initial spending—and you can get a refund if it’s sent back before the trial period ends.

Pimax’s position allows it to adeptly balance its costs, especially given its premium subscription model, a luxury not afforded to platform holders like Meta. It’s worth noting that Meta has also made price adjustments in the past, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic when it temporarily increased the Quest 2’s price from $300 to $400. So, we may see more changes on that front too.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on how these tariffs from the US-China trade war continue to impact the XR hardware market, so stay tuned for further updates.