Pimax Unveils Dream Air Prototypes and Addresses Important Queries

When Pimax teased the VR community with a sneak peek of their new Dream Air headset, it sparked a wave of curiosity and raised several questions. To clear the air, we reached out to Pimax directly, gaining insights into their development process, a full rundown of specifications, and updates on products that have yet to make it to the market.

Pimax has been around the block when it comes to crafting VR headsets, but it hasn’t been without its share of criticisms. Concerns about the refinement of their products, strategy execution, unmet release timelines, and the habit of announcing new gadgets before fulfilling existing promises have all been points of contention.

Their latest announcement, the svelte Dream Air headset, wasn’t free from these recurring critiques. Many are curious about what measures Pimax is taking to change course. With that in mind, we questioned them directly and gathered some responses, alongside photos of the Dream Air prototypes, a detailed spec list, and an update on earlier announcements yet to see the light of day.

Q: Is Pimax confident that the Dream Air will be ready and shipped in substantial amounts by May 2025?

A: Internally, we’ve been hard at work on both the Crystal Super micro-OLED and Dream Air for over a year now, as they share much in common. With a solid optical engine in place, we believe the time left until May is sufficient to wrap things up, drawing parallels with the past year’s development of the Crystal Super.

The Dream Air leverages the same optical engine as the Crystal Super but introduces a fresh design. You can find out more about the technical similarities between Dream Air and the Crystal Super micro-OLED here.

Our main hurdle involves securing micro-OLED panels, along with the potential challenge of ringless controllers. Initial headset batches might come with ringed controllers like those used in the Crystal/Light/Super models, which we plan to replace with ringless ones later.

We’re aiming to ship about 200 to 300 units by May. Announcing the headset now was crucial for a few reasons, which we’ll address below.

Q: Why unveil the headset just after the Super, and why accept pre-orders already?

A: We had several motivations for unveiling the Dream Air now. One, we wanted to ensure users didn’t regret buying the Super without the knowledge of the Dream Air option. Feedback in our Discord suggests this is a real consideration for our community.

The scarcity of micro-OLED panels in today’s market exacerbated matters, with high demand outpacing supply significantly. Pre-orders help us gauge interest and place a precise panel order for Dream Air by January since our suppliers observe Chinese New Year breaks.

This situation isn’t unique to us; competitors are dealing with similar challenges and thus avoid offering refundable pre-orders. In contrast, our pre-orders are refundable before shipping, with a trade-in window post-arrival, plus we offer a $1 reservation option.

Q: How do you address those suggesting Pimax should narrow its focus to fewer products?

A: We’re committed to being a multi-SKU company as VR headsets diversify rapidly. Each product, whether from the Crystal or Dream lines, aims to deliver an unparalleled experience for varying uses.

Despite different models, our headsets share core technologies, from software to hardware, maintaining our focus on PCVR. Past experiences, like the Portal which wasn’t PCVR, have taught us valuable lessons.

Pimax has a solid 9-year legacy in VR headset manufacturing, supported by two R&D offices and an expanding assembly line, reinforcing our multi-SKU approach.

Sharing technology across models allows us to channel resources into innovations benefiting all devices, spreading orders throughout the year for better supply and production efficiency in our in-house factory.

Q: Are there new headsets we can expect from Pimax?

A: We’re working on updating some older models, but no upcoming headset will surpass the Dream Air and Crystal Super in specs, except for the 12K.

Q: What’s the status on the Dream Air’s design, and were the announcement renders mere mockups or more developed designs? Is there a working prototype available?

A: The headset internals are fully designed, and we’re actively testing with a functional optical engine. Its software shares everything with the Crystal Super, from SLAM tracking to eye and hand-tracking, all integrated with Pimax Play.

The external design is under development within the Crystal Super housing as we finalize the Dream Air’s shell. Here are prototypes from different development stages.

Newer Prototype:

Older Prototype:

Q: Will the Cobb module be a reality in 2025?

A: We can’t provide an exact ETA for Cobb yet. It’s an add-on for the Dream Air with additional features that weren’t included in our Frontier announcement.

Q: How do you ensure the auto-tightening headstrap remains safe to use?

A: The strap is designed to be sturdy enough to support the lightweight headset but gentle enough to avoid causing harm. They’re made from elastic rubber, akin to the tech used in self-lacing shoes like Nike’s Auto Adapt.

Q: Can users swap out the head straps, and how is that achieved?

A: Yes, the head strap is removable at the stems.

Q: Is there a possibility for the Dream Air to run HorizonOS or AndroidXR down the line?

A: Currently, there are no plans for this as the headset essentially runs with the micro-OLED optical engine of the Crystal Super, geared towards PC VR with Pimax Play, OpenXR/OpenVR, and SteamVR.

Pimax generously provided a comprehensive specification sheet for the Dream Air headset:

Pimax Dream Air Specs

Visuals:

• Display: 2 × micro-OLED, 100% DCI-P3 colors
• Resolution per-eye: 13MP (3,840 × 3,552)
• Max refresh rate: 90Hz
• Optics: Pancake
• Field-of-view: 102°H
• Pass-through view: Black & white
• Optical adjustments: Continuous IPD (automatic), Prescription lenses (optional)
• IPD adjustment range: 58–72mm

Input & Output:

• Connectors: DP 1.4 (PC) to USB-C (headset), 1 × USB-C accessory port
• Input: Dream Air controllers (rechargeable battery), Hand-tracking
• Audio: In-headstrap speakers
• Microphone: Dual-microphone
• Weight: 200g

Sensing:

• Headset-tracking: Inside-out (no external beacons), SteamVR Tracking (external beacons) [optional]
• Controller-tracking: Headset-tracked (line-of-sight needed)
• Eye-tracking: Yes
• Expression-tracking: No
• On-board cameras: 4 × tracking, 2 × passthrough
• Depth-sensor: No

Price:

• MSRP: $1,900

Pimax Product Shipping Update

Q: Can you provide the latest estimated shipping times for all unreleased Pimax products?

A: We are showcasing the Crystal Super at CES 2025, with the QLED 57 PPD optical engine shipping at January’s end. The 50 PPD and micro-OLED optical engines are close to ready, with anticipated shipments in March and April.

The non-local dimming Crystal Light version is slated for June 2025, marking another price drop. The 60G Airlink for the original Crystal is also being demonstrated at CES 2025, with an external beta test on the horizon. It should start shipping in April 2025.

Regarding the 12K, we can’t pinpoint an ETA currently. Solutions for key technical hurdles at the time of announcement didn’t meet our lofty standards. Some, like a dual DP 1.4 solution and an undisclosed panel solution, didn’t pan out as hoped.

Got more questions for Pimax? Toss them in the comments below!