Somnium Starts US Shipments of VR1 PC VR Headset, Plans Price Increase

Somnium Space, stationed in Prague, Czech Republic, is making waves in the U.S. with the official rollout of its innovative PC VR headset, the Somnium VR1. The company is aiming to simplify choices for users by trimming down to three consumer-friendly versions and is preparing for a price hike on their top-tier models soon.

In an effort to streamline its offerings, Somnium Space has decided to discontinue several of its previous configurations, such as the Striker Edition, Classic Edition, Specter Edition, and Translucent Edition.

The formerly entry-level Classic Edition, which was priced at €1,900 (roughly $1,980), did not come with eye-tracking. Now, the most affordable option is the Visionary Edition, which includes eye-tracking and is priced at €2,499 (around $2,600). Note that these prices exclude local taxes.

"For those who have already purchased the editions that are being phased out—rest assured, your orders are secure, and you will receive them as promised," the company assured in a recent statement. "In fact, owning one of these editions will make your headset even more distinct and unique."

The company further explained its decision to focus on fewer variants, stating, "This change allows us to enhance our service delivery of the Visionary, Ultimate, and Titan Editions more swiftly and precisely, maintaining the excellent quality you expect from us."

Somnium Space is set to raise the prices of their Visionary, Ultimate, and Titan Editions, although the exact new prices remain unannounced. The current pricing will hold steady until January 16th, 2025, from which day the new pricing will take effect.

For the moment, here is a breakdown of the current lineup and their prices (tax excluded):

• Visionary Edition (VR, eye-tracking): €2,499 (~$2,600)
• Titan Edition (VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking): €2,899 (~$3,020)
• Ultimate Edition (VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking, MR passthrough): €3,499 (~$3,659)
• Military Edition (VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking, MR passthrough): ???

"We aim to keep the Somnium VR1 accessible, but we won’t sacrifice quality. Manufacturing these headsets is proving to be more intricate than we expected, necessitating the price increase for our Visionary, Ultimate, and Titan models," the company clarified.

Orders placed today are anticipated to ship between February and March 2025, reaching customers across much of Europe, the UK, and the U.S. Looking into the future, starting in 2025, Somnium Space plans to offer spare parts for the Somnium VR1, such as optical modules, main boards, electronics, cables, and screens.

Somnium VR1 Specifications

• Display: QLED Mini-Led Fast LCD – 2,880 × 2,880 per-eye
• Field of View: 130° horizontal, 105° vertical (capable of rendering up to 140° horizontally, though actual FOV may vary based on face and eye shape)
• Refresh Rate: 72 Hz, 90 Hz, upgradeable to 120 and 144 Hz (experimental)
• Local Dimming Zones: 576 per eye
• Eye Tracking: 120 Hz, featuring an open-source algorithm that can be tailored for various applications
• Connectivity: USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm audio jack
• IPD Range: 57 to 76 mm

Curious to dive deeper into what Somnium VR1 has to offer? Check out our comprehensive review from July 2024 to get a detailed impression.