Pimax, the hardware manufacturer, is trying to engage a wider audience in VR. They are shipping their newest and most attractive PCVR model with a very compact form factor, focused on comfort.
We have a new code for Dream Air SE headset: boxthislap25
Dream Air SE is on the way
We’re extremely excited to confirm that the Dream Air SE is now shipping, marking the arrival of the most accessible small-form high-end PCVR headset on the market. Pre-orders remain open, with benefits attached.
For the full details, see the launch event video here:
About the Dream Air SE
The Dream Air SE features micro-OLED panels with 2.5K resolution per eye (5120 x 2560 total), supporting 72Hz natively and 90Hz with upscaled rendering from 1920×1920 to 2560×2560 per eye. The panels use micro-OLED technology, allowing individual pixels to turn off completely for true blacks. Pancake lenses, iterated on twice since last year, deliver edge-to-edge clarity with a wide sweetspot and minimal glare, with the concave element positioned internally and optimized specifically for this panel.
Accessibility is central to the Dream Air SE’s pitch, and Pimax breaks it down into four areas.
- On features, the headset ships in two configurations: a Lighthouse-tracked version that slots into existing SteamVR ecosystems, and a SLAM version with inside-out tracking using four onboard cameras and bundled controllers, eliminating the need for base stations entirely. The SLAM version also opens up portable use cases, as the headset is small enough to fit in a backpack and be ready to use within a minute. Tobii eye tracking with ten infrared lights per eye is included at no extra cost, as is integrated audio, with the same speakers found on the Dream Air.
- On comfort, the headset is extremely lightweight with a redesigned mask that covers more of the forehead, and dual-fan cooling, one per panel, allows full brightness use without overheating.
- On performance, eye tracking unlocks dynamic foveated rendering that can double framerates in demanding titles like DCS, while Pimax Play brings optimizations including Quadviews support, sharpening, and render resolution tuning. The 2.5K panel resolution is also deliberately balanced, keeping GPU requirements accessible across a wide range of hardware.
- On modularity, audio stems are removable, the backstrap is replaceable, and the facemask is magnetic. STP files have been shared on Printables, third-party accessories are already in development, and Pimax is working on a DMAS hardstrap, a halo strap, a native SteamVR driver for all Pimax headsets, and an integrated facetracker for the Crystal and Dream Air series.
The Dream Air SE starts at $899, with eye tracking and integrated audio included at that price. If you pre-order now, you also get pre-order benefits. Head to the product page to learn more here.
Those who want to try the headset in person can attend Pimax’s upcoming roadshow across Asia, Europe, and the United States.
I have to say I’m particularly thrilled by this one. My main complaint with Pimax was the form factor, and this seems to be a HUGE step forward.
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