Despite how popular home consoles are, PC gaming still has one notable exclusive to entice PS4 and Xbox owners. Highly immersive virtual reality still eludes both consoles and at the forefront of premium virtual reality, the eagerly awaited Pimax 8K VR headset is now available for pre-order. Head below for an in-depth look.
Virtual reality has been in the limelight for quite a while now. Throughout 2018 with every new PSVR title debut or the release of Oculus’ new headset, VR continues to gain traction and appeal to a broader audience.
Pimax entered the scene towards the end of 2017 with the launch of a Kickstarter campaign to bring an 8K VR headset to market fo the first time. Having raised over $4 million, it has taken the company nearly a year to ready its product. Now Pimax has opened preorders for both its 8K and 5K headsets.
Adding an 8K headset to its virtual reality rig won’t come cheap. Pimax’s 8K headset will run you $899, and that’s not even including the VR controllers that headsets usually come bundled with. On the more affordable end, the 5K+ model will enter with a $699 price tag.
Preorders are currently live on both options, although Pimax’s website is down. So those wishing to lock in their reservation will have to wait just a little bit longer. Those who previously backed the original Kickstarter campaign will be the first to receive their new headsets. As of now, no time frame has been given on when either headset will be shipping. Although opening up preorders like this hopefully means that date will be sooner than later.
Despite their higher price tags, both of Pimax’s headsets are fairly competitive for what they offer. HTC’s comparable Vive Pro headset sells for $799 on its own, just $100 less than the 8K version. So those looking to upgrade to the latest and greatest won’t have to pay that high of a premium. And considering you’re getting dual 3,840 × 2,160 pixel screens versus 2,880 x 1,600, the added value is certainly there.
Upfront pricing isn’t the most cost-prohibitive aspect of these headsets though. What raises the barrier to entry is that they’re going to require some serious power to put them to use. Driving dual 4K panels requires a pretty capable graphics card. As one of its preorder bundles, you’ll be able to grab the headsets alongside Nvidia’s RTX 2080Ti or RTX 2080 cards, neither of which are inexpensive.
For those who already have maxed-out gaming rigs, the Pimax headsets will probably be very popular. Regardless, they enter with premium specs at a competitive price that will hopefully allow them to standout against big names like HTC and Oculus.
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