Pico 4
The PICO 4 is a standalone virtual reality head-mounted display developed by PICO (a ByteDance subsidiary), released in October 2022 as a direct competitor to the Meta Quest 2. The Pico 4 introduced pancake lens technology to the consumer standalone VR market, enabling a significantly lighter and thinner form factor with a 26% weight reduction and 39% thickness reduction compared to previous designs. Featuring dual 2160×2160 Fast-LCD displays with 105° field of view, motorized IPD adjustment, and balanced weight distribution, the Pico 4 was praised as "The Beginning Of A New Era In Consumer VR."
| Pico 4 | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR |
| Platform | PICO OS |
| Developer | ByteDance |
| Manufacturer | PICO |
| Release Date | October 2022 |
| Price | €429 EUR (128 GB), €499 EUR (256 GB) |
| Website | https://www.picoxr.com/global/products/pico4 |
| Predecessor | Pico Neo 3 Link |
| Successor | Pico 4 Ultra |
| System | |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Memory | 8 GB LPDDR4 |
| Display | |
| Display | 2× 2.56" Fast-LCD |
| Resolution | 2160×2160 per eye |
| Refresh Rate | 72 Hz, 90 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 105° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Pancake lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 62-72mm (seamless motorized) |
| Passthrough | Color |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | Inside-out 6DoF (4 cameras) |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Audio | |
| Audio | 360° stereo speakers, 3D spatial audio |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C |
| Device | |
| Weight | ~295g (headset), ~586g (total with strap) |
History and Development
PICO, acquired by ByteDance in 2021, released the Pico 4 in October 2022 targeting global markets (excluding the United States). The headset marked the first time pancake optics were available in a consumer-priced standalone VR headset, eliminating the god rays associated with Fresnel lenses while achieving a more compact form factor.[1]
The Pico 4 was succeeded by the Pico 4 Ultra in 2024 with upgraded Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor and mixed reality capabilities.[2]
Design and Hardware
Display
High-resolution Fast-LCD displays:
- Dual 2.56-inch Fast-LCD panels
- 2160×2160 resolution per eye (higher than Quest 2)
- 1200 PPI pixel density
- 72 Hz and 90 Hz refresh rates
- 105° field of view (wider than Quest 2)
- Excellent clarity and reduced screen door effect
Optics
Revolutionary pancake lens technology:
- Pancake lenses: First in consumer standalone VR
- Folded optical path
- No Fresnel god rays
- No digital distortion correction needed
- Displays positioned closer to lenses
- Lighter and thinner design
Form Factor
Dramatically improved ergonomics:
- ~295g headset weight (without strap)
- 26% lighter than Fresnel designs
- 39% thinner profile
- Balanced weight distribution (battery in rear)
- Center of gravity fits snugly against face
- Cushioned rear support
- "Superbly comfortable fit"
Processing
- Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor
- 8 GB LPDDR4 RAM
- 128 GB or 256 GB storage
IPD Adjustment
Motorized adjustment:
- Seamless motorized IPD (62-72mm range)
- Software-controlled adjustment
- Warning when lenses approach nose
- Precise positioning
Battery
- 5300 mAh capacity
- Rear-mounted for balance
- ~2-3 hours usage
Audio
- 360° stereo speakers
- 3D spatial audio
- Sound positioning based on head movement
- Precise, realistic audio effects
Tracking
Inside-out tracking system:
- 4 cameras for 6DoF tracking
- Room-scale without base stations
- Hand tracking support
- Color passthrough
Controllers
PICO 4 controllers:
- 6DoF tracking
- Ergonomic design
- Battery-powered
Comparison with Quest 2
| Feature | Pico 4 | Quest 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 2160×2160/eye | 1832×1920/eye |
| Optics | Pancake | Fresnel |
| Field of View | 105° | 97° |
| IPD | Motorized (62-72mm) | 3 presets |
| Headset Weight | ~295g | ~503g |
| God Rays | None | Present |
| Availability | EU, Asia, etc. | Global (incl. US) |
Reception
Praise:
- "The Beginning Of A New Era In Consumer VR" - MRTV
- Pancake lenses eliminate god rays
- Higher resolution than Quest 2
- Wider 105° field of view
- Dramatically lighter design
- Motorized IPD adjustment
- Balanced weight distribution
- Comfortable for extended use
- 3D spatial audio
- Excellent value proposition
Criticism:
- Not available in United States
- 90 Hz maximum (no 120 Hz)
- LPDDR4 RAM (not LPDDR5)
- Smaller game library than Quest
- No eye tracking (available on Pro/Enterprise)
- LCD displays (not OLED)
- Requires ByteDance account[3]
See Also
References
- ↑ "Pico 4 Review - The Beginning Of A New Era In Consumer VR". MRTV. https://mrtv.co/2022/10/pico-4-review-the-beginning-of-a-new-era-in-consumer-vr/.
- ↑ "PICO 4". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PICO_4.
- ↑ "Pico 4 VR headset review". PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/pico-4-ve-headset-review/.
- ↑ "Pico 4: features, price and specifications of the new VR headset". Ludus Global. https://www.ludusglobal.com/en/blog/pico-4-features-price-specifications-vr-headset.