Review on Pimax 4K - virtual reality helmet

The VR industry is developing by leaps and bounds and is gaining popularity every day. If earlier not everyone could afford virtual reality glasses, today there are a lot of budget options. But is it possible to find really worthy and high-quality devices among inexpensive products?

Crocoapps will help you deal with this issue using the example of one interesting model from a Chinese manufacturer - Pimax 4K VR.

The first of its kind

At one time, Pimax VR made a breakthrough by releasing the first virtual reality glasses with a 4K AMOLED screen, ahead of such giants as Vive, Oculus, OSVR. Even today, this model from 2016 is ahead of the VR Pimax Artisan released in 2020 in resolution:

• 1920 x 2160 vs 1700 x 1440 for each eye;
• Pimax 4K can even compete with HP Reverb, which is only 11% more resolution, but the price is almost twice as high.

So you can't call Pimax obsolete.

Features and Compatibility

In addition to the main feature, the 4K display, the helmet is also equipped with an automatic blue light regulation system, which helps protect the wearer's eyes.

The refresh rate is 60 Hz, which is lower than other leading models, but we should not forget that we are talking about a budget series device. And in some ways it will still be inferior to more expensive options.

The device is equipped with many sensors: acceleration sensor, magnetometer sensor, range sensor, light sensor.

Thanks to the gyroscopic sensor, there is almost no dizziness, and the location in space is quite accurate and without delay. But it's important to note that there is no positional tracking.

One of the main disadvantages of VR devices today is high system requirements. And Pimax VR 4K is no exception.

Minimum system requirements

• Operating system: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10
• Video card: Nvidia GTX 960 / AMD R9 290
• Processor: Intel i5-4590, AMD FX 8350
• RAM: 4 GB
• Ports: HDMI 1.4B, USB v2.0 / USB v3.0

Nice Features

• Lenses with a blue light filter to help protect your eyes
• Enable users with vision problems not to use their own glasses (including astigmatism)
• Steam VR/Oculus/PiPlay compatible
• Built-in headphones
• Light weight, which allows you to wear a helmet for a long time and not experience discomfort

Disadvantages

• No controllers
• The glasses are uncomfortable on the bridge of the nose
• In games, there is still a delay and the quality of the picture suffers
• Distortion of the image in the lenses, noticeable when turning the head

Sound

The headphones themselves are very conveniently attached to the straps, they are ideally designed for VR helmets. The ear cushions are of good quality, very soft and comfortable, the ears do not get tired. As for the sound - it is balanced, does not smother with bass. For its price - beyond praise. The volume can be adjusted with the buttons located directly on the headphones, also a small but nice bonus.

Getting Ready

Setting up Pimax 4K is easy:

1. First, install the PiPlay app.
2. Connect the device to the PC via HDMI and USB ports.
3. Launch PiPlay Desktop, which will show a list of VR applications. There is also a store with VR applications and videos for purchase.
4. If you launch a SteamVR game through PiPlay Desktop, you will need to go through setup for the first time. In the future, applications will start immediately.
5. By default, the brightness of the image is quite low, but, fortunately, in the settings it can be raised to a comfortable level.

Main question

Is the game worth the candle?

The answer is ambiguous - depending on the purpose for which you purchase the device.

The current generation of VR headsets have one common problem - the screen door effect. It's like the picture is lined with a black grid. This happens when dark spaces between pixels are visible up close. But thanks to the good resolution of the Pimax 4K, this is better than many other models.

So these glasses are great for watching videos and experience. For serious gaming, it is better to consider other options, the picture in games leaves much to be desired. Users complain about blurry images.

Plus, after all, the lack of controllers excludes a huge share of interactive. One of the main joys of virtual reality is the exploration of worlds, the ability to pick up objects and interact with the environment.

Of course, you can still use the mouse and keyboard, so you won't be left without the opportunity to play at all. In addition, Pimax 4K copes well with simulators.

Some games you can play

DCS World

As mentioned earlier, Pimax 4K is quite suitable for simulators. And Digital Combat Simulator is a perfect example of this. Players can get an unforgettable experience of driving all kinds of vehicles in a variety of conditions. The graphics are amazing, especially in VR, the game is available for free on Steam.

Elite Dangerous

Another simulator, but not of terrestrial transport, but of space transport. Explore the most dangerous places in the universe in the cockpit of your ship! Fight, make deals, make discoveries! Full immersion thanks to VR will bring an unforgettable experience, and you will not be able to tear yourself away from the game for a long time.

Project Cars 2

One of the most technically advanced racing simulators. If you love these games, then with Pimax 4K you will love even more, because now you can fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere and feel at the helm. Drive powerful cars and win super-fast races!

Where to buy and for how much?

Although the Pimax VR helmet has been removed from sale on the official website of the manufacturer, it can still be bought on the same Avito. The average price is 15 thousand rubles. We also managed to find several options on Ebay. But on Amazon and Aliexpress, unfortunately, the helmet is no longer available.

Conclusions

There is no ideal device that suits everyone. Everyone chooses a product for himself, based on many factors: manufacturer, compatibility, design, system requirements, price, etc.

Today we reviewed one of the budget virtual reality helmets, which proved to be pretty good. Pimax 4K at one time managed to make a breakthrough in image quality, while maintaining a fairly low price tag, and not losing relevance even 5 years later.

If you don't plan to use glasses for demanding games, want to try VR for the first time and see if it's right for you or not without spending a lot of money, then Pimax 4K is the perfect option.