Pimax Adopts Software Subscription Model to Offset US-China Trade War Expenses

Pimax, a virtual reality headset manufacturer based in China, recently addressed how the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China are affecting them, especially in terms of pricing for their newest Crystal Super VR headset. U.S. customers might see a slight price uptick, but Pimax’s innovative subscription payment plan is helping to cushion this impact significantly.

Introduced in April 2024, the Crystal Super is Pimax’s latest flagship model in the world of PC VR headsets. It features top-notch specs: a base 57 PPD version with QLED panels, boasting a remarkable resolution of 3,840 x 3,840 pixels per eye and a generous 120-degree field-of-view (FOV). For now, it’s available for pre-order, with shipments anticipated to roll out shortly.

Currently, a hefty 145% tariff has been levied by the U.S. on products made in China, which poses a challenge for VR headset manufacturers everywhere since China leads in manufacturing this segment’s products. As the dust begins to settle, Pimax is among the first to reveal how these tariffs are influencing their pricing strategy.

In a recent blog update, Pimax detailed what these changes mean for their U.S. customers, and it’s not as dire as one might expect. The company assures that U.S. orders placed before February 4, 2025, will evade these extra tariff costs, although customers might experience a slight delay of about 20 days due to bulk shipments moving to U.S. warehouses.

For those ordering between February 4 and April 10, a $75 ‘Regional Surcharge’ will apply to help manage the increased shipping and logistics expenses. Looking ahead past April 10, a $95 surcharge will tack on to all new U.S. orders, with shipments kicking off around June. Meanwhile, Pimax is planning to set up a factory in Delaware to handle the final assembly of their products.

Despite these adjustments, the overall price of the Crystal Super isn’t fundamentally changing. Pimax has tweaked their pricing structure, which, while a bit less straightforward thanks to the introduction of subscription-based software pricing, aids in mitigating the cost effects of the tariffs.

The base price for the Pimax Crystal Super has been lowered to $799, and the remaining $885 will be payable later through Pimax Play with Prime, bringing the total up to $1,684 (excluding the U.S.-only $95 surcharge).

Globally, the change is minimal. Previously, the headset was priced at $999, with a subsequent Prime subscription cost of $696, totaling $1,695. The revised pricing reflects a reduction in the upfront cost for international buyers.

Moreover, Pimax continues to offer its 14-day trial period. For those outside the U.S., this makes the Crystal Super an even more appealing investment, given the lowered initial outlay that remains refundable if returned within the trial window.

This pricing shift places Pimax in a favorable position to leverage its high-cost yet beneficial subscription model to rebalance its expenses—a strategic advantage not shared by competitors like Meta, who typically subsidize hardware to enhance software appeal.

Meta hasn’t revealed any plans for price hikes following this tariff shake-up, though they’ve adjusted headset pricing before. Remember when the COVID-19 pandemic drove the Quest 2’s price from $300 to $400 back in 2022? It’ll be interesting to watch how they respond this time.

Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the impact of the U.S.-China trade war tariffs on the XR hardware industry. More updates are on the horizon.