The Pimax Dream Air headset signals a fresh direction for the company, which is known for its typically bulky designs built to deliver expansive fields of view. This time around, Pimax is shifting gears with the Dream Air, focusing on a more compact yet fully loaded headset. Among its impressive features is an automatic headstrap that tightens without manual intervention—a first in the industry.
Set to be available for $1,900 with a shipping timeline aimed at May 2025, the Pimax Dream Air is stepping into the competitive market of sleek, high-end PC virtual reality headsets, challenging devices like the Bigscreen Beyond and the Shiftall MaganeX Superlight.
But in true Pimax fashion, the company isn’t stopping there. They’re venturing into ambitious grounds with additional promises that might complicate their ability to stick to schedules and deliver on expectations. For the Dream Air, one such promise is an optional compute puck. This puck, dubbed ‘Cobb’ by Pimax, is designed to transform the headset into a standalone VR device and comes equipped with a Snapdragon XR2 chip and a battery. They’re even planning to offer an optional SteamVR Tracking faceplate.
The trend of announcing new products before the last ones hit the shelves continues with the Dream Air. Pimax had introduced the Crystal Super headset back in April 2024, originally targeting a late 2024 launch, which has since been pushed to early 2025.
The Dream Air is said to be compact yet boasts a mighty list of specs and features:
– 200g in weight
– 13MP (3,840 × 3,552) micro-OLED per-eye resolution at 90Hz, complete with HDR
– 102-degree field-of-view
– Inside-out tracking
– Motion controllers with hand-tracking capabilities
– Built-in audio options
– Optional prescription lenses
– Eye-tracking capabilities
– Automatic IPD and strap tightening
The concept of automatic strap tightening is groundbreaking. Headset users often struggle with finding the perfect balance between tightness and comfort. The automatic adjustment could be game-changing by dynamically dialing in the precise fit without sacrifice to comfort or stability.
The initial designs hint at an innovative approach too. While only renders are available so far, it seems that the tightening mechanism is neatly concealed under fabric, creating the effect of the headstrap shrinking to fit.
Successfully achieving the right strap tension could greatly enhance user experience. The headset also sports an automatic IPD system, meaning fewer headaches for users manually adjusting the lens distance for their specific eye width, an adjustment that most find tricky.
As we await to see if Pimax can deliver on their sleek vision, this move marks a bold departure from their traditionally utilitarian and boxy headset designs, showcasing a new capability in sophisticated industrial design.
Still, Pimax isn’t entirely discarding their classic designs. They acknowledge that focusing on a compact headset is new for them, but they intend to keep developing their hallmark headsets known for their large fields of view.
Eager customers can already place orders for the Dream Air, with it priced at $1,900 and aimed for a May 2025 release.
