When Pimax unveiled its upcoming Dream Air headset, it stirred up a flurry of questions from the virtual reality community. Keen to get some answers, we reached out directly to the company and got an exclusive look at early prototypes, detailed specs, and updates on products that haven’t yet hit the market.
Known for its VR headsets, Pimax has been around the block for a while, but its journey hasn’t been without bumps. The company often grapples with criticisms over product refinement and its habit of teasing new releases before delivering on previous promises. The unveiling of the compact Dream Air headset has reignited these frustrations, leaving many to wonder about what makes this launch different. In response, we gathered the most pressing questions and went straight to the source. Here’s what we discovered.
The Road to a May 2025 Launch
Question: How confident is Pimax about hitting the May 2025 shipping target for the Dream Air?
Answer: We’ve been focused on developing the Dream Air, alongside the Crystal Super micro-OLED, for over a year, both headsets sharing significant similarities. We already have a working optical engine, and anticipate that the remaining time until May is sufficient to complete the project, based on the development timeline we followed for the previous model. The Dream Air uses the same optical technologies as the Crystal Super but comes in a fresh design. A significant challenge is securing a supply of micro-OLED panels and perhaps the controllers without rings. Initially, headsets might ship with ringed controllers like previous models, with an option to swap for ringless ones later. We aim to ship 200-300 units in May, which is why the announcement came now.
Why Announce Now?
Question: What prompted the early announcement of the Dream Air and the opening of pre-orders?
Answer: Timing here is crucial. We chose to announce before the Super ships to avoid leaving customers feeling they would have preferred the Dream Air had they known. We’ve made it possible for current pre-order customers to switch to the Dream Air if they choose. Another factor is the shortage of micro-OLED panels; there’s more demand than supply, which makes lead times very long. Opening pre-orders helps us gauge interest and place necessary orders before the end-of-January deadlines—otherwise, production delays due to supplier holidays, like Chinese New Year, can occur. Similar issues affect our competitors, too, and they often don’t offer refundable pre-orders, unlike us. Our pre-orders can be refunded before shipping, and we offer a $1 reservation option.
Addressing Concerns and Future Plans
Question: What’s Pimax’s response to those suggesting a narrower product focus?
Answer: Our ambition is to become a multi-product company as VR tech becomes rapidly diverse. Our mission is to deliver a first-class experience, catering to different needs through our Crystal and Dream lines. Our headsets share a lot in common in terms of core technology, focusing on PCVR. We have learned from experiences like the Portal, which wasn’t PCVR-centric. With almost a decade of history, two R&D centers, and soon two assembly lines, our strategy is well-supported. Shared technology across products allows us to enhance tech that benefits all our models, ensuring a steadier production pace and avoiding the inefficiencies of boom-and-bust sales cycles.
Question: Are there other headsets in the works?
Answer: We’re updating older models, but apart from the Dream Air and Crystal Super specs, no headsets surpassing these are on the horizon, except for the 12K.
Current Development Stage
Question: How developed is the Dream Air’s design? Are there functional prototypes?
Answer: The headset’s internals are fully developed, with a working optical engine in testing. Most software, including SLAM tracking, eye-tracking, and settings are shared with Crystal Super. We’re currently testing the design in the Crystal Super housing while developing a dedicated exterior for Dream Air. Here’s a peek at two prototypes made during development—note that we’ve corrected an earlier mislabeled image.
Additional Queries and Specifications
Question: Will the standalone Cobb module for Dream Air ship in 2025?
Answer: No exact date yet, as we’re still adding features not communicated in our Frontier announcement.
Question: What safety measures are integrated for the auto-tightening headstrap?
Answer: The headstrap is designed to support the lightweight headset comfortably without exerting too much pressure. Its elastic rubber component is similar to self-lacing shoe technology (like in Nike’s Auto Adapt).
Question: Can users replace the head straps?
Answer: Yes, they can be replaced at the stems.
Question: Any plans for HorizonOS or AndroidXR compatibility?
Answer: Nope, it’s designed as a PC VR headset similar to the Crystal Super, using Pimax Play, OpenXR/OpenVR, and SteamVR.
In addition to this Q&A, we’ve got a detailed specification list for the Dream Air headset:
Pimax Dream Air Specs
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Visuals
- Display: 2 × micro-OLED, 100% DCI-P3 colors
- Resolution per-eye: 13MP (3,840 × 3,552)
- Max Refresh Rate: 90Hz
- Optics: Pancake
- FOV: 102°H
- Passthrough View: Black & white
- Optical Adjustments: Continuous IPD (automatic), Prescription lenses (optional)
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Input & Output
- Connectors: DP 1.4 (PC) to USB-C (headset)
- Input: Dream Air controllers (rechargeable battery), Hand-tracking
- Audio: In-headstrap speakers
- Microphone: Dual-microphone
- Weight: 200g
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Sensing
- Headset-tracking: Inside-out or through SteamVR (optional)
- Eye-tracking: Yes
- On-board Cameras: 4 tracking, 2 passthrough
- Price
- MSRP: $1,900
Shipping Updates on Upcoming Pimax Products
Question: Can you give us the latest on shipping timelines for other Pimax products still in the pipeline?
Answer: Crystal Super’s ready for a CES 2025 demo, alongside the QLED 57 PPD engine shipping in January’s end. The 50 PPD and micro-OLED engine headsets are set for March and April, respectively. The non-local dimming Crystal Light releases in June, marking another price reduction. Sharing the stage at CES is the 60G Airlink for the original Crystal, expected to ship by April, after an imminent external beta. As for the 12K headset, unfortunately, we don’t have a solid timeline due to some unforeseen setbacks with previously established technical solutions.
Got more questions for Pimax? Let us know in the comments.
