Bigscreen Beyond: Difference between revisions

|Type = [[Head-mounted display]]

|Price = $999

|Website = https://store.bigscreenvr.com/products/bigscreen-beyond

|Display = Dual micro-OLED (Samsung)

|Subpixel Layout = PenTile Diamond

|Peak Brightness = ~100 nits

|Resolution = 2560 × 2560 per eye (5120 × 2560 combined)

|Pixel Density = ~32 PPD

|Refresh Rate = 75Hz, 90Hz

|Field of View = 90° (horizontal) × 93° (vertical)

|IPD Range = Factory-set (based on 3D face scan)

|Adjustable Diopter = Via prescription lens inserts

|Base Stations = Required (SteamVR 1.0 or 2.0)

|Eye Tracking = No

|Hand Tracking = No

|Body Tracking = Via SteamVR trackers

|Audio = None built-in (external required)

|Connectivity = DisplayPort 1.4, USB-A

|Ports = DisplayPort 1.4, USB-A

|Dimensions = ~140mm × 55mm × 50mm (visor)

|Weight = 127g (visor only), 170-185g (with strap)

The '''Bigscreen Beyond''' is an ultra-compact [[PC VR]] [[head-mounted display]] developed by [[Bigscreen]], announced in February 2023 and released later in 2023 at a price of $999. Weighing just 127 grams for the visor alone—less than many smartphones—the Beyond represents a radical departure from traditional VR headset design, achieving its minimal form factor through custom-manufactured facial interfaces based on individual 3D face scans. The headset features dual Samsung micro-OLED displays with 2560 × 2560 resolution per eye and custom pancake lenses, delivering premium visual quality while using SteamVR base station tracking for precise positional tracking. The Beyond's extreme emphasis on comfort and portability has made it popular among VR enthusiasts, sim racers, and users who found traditional headsets too heavy for extended use.

Bigscreen Inc. was founded in 2014 by Darshan Shankar and others, initially developing the Bigscreen VR application—a social virtual reality platform for watching movies, gaming, and hanging out in virtual environments. The application became popular across multiple VR platforms, giving the team deep insight into user pain points with existing VR hardware.

 

Bigscreen's hardware development began with the observation that existing VR headsets were too heavy, too bulky, and required compromise between visual quality and comfort. The team set out to create what they called "the world's smallest VR headset" by rethinking every aspect of headset design.

=== Custom Face Scanning Approach ===

The Beyond embodies a specific philosophy:

=== Samsung Micro-OLED Panels ===

* '''Infinite contrast''': Perfect blacks enable HDR-like experience

* '''Fast response''': Near-instantaneous pixel switching

* '''Vibrant colors''': Wide color gamut coverage

* '''Low persistence''': Reduces motion blur significantly

=== Refresh Rates ===

The OLED panels support HDR content:

=== Custom Pancake Lenses ===

Balanced FOV for the size:

* Measured from customer's 3D face scan

* Optimal clarity for that specific user

* No adjustment mechanism (reduces weight and complexity)

* Cannot be shared effectively between users with different IPDs

== Custom Facial Interface ==

* Use Bigscreen app on iPhone with Face ID

* Capture multiple angles of face

* System generates facial geometry

* Custom interface manufactured to match

=== 3D Printed Interface ===

* Cannot easily share headset with others

* Replacement interfaces required for different users

* Higher barrier to purchase

* Longer order-to-delivery time

== Weight and Comfort ==

=== Ultra-Light Visor ===

* '''Visor alone''': 127 grams

* '''With standard strap''': 170-185 grams depending on strap choice

* '''Comparison''': Lighter than Meta Quest 3 (515g) or Valve Index (809g)

=== Comfort Benefits ===

* '''Included strap''': Basic rigid strap

* '''Comfort strap''': Optional padded alternative

* '''Third-party options''': Various aftermarket solutions

== Tracking System ==

The Beyond uses external tracking:

* No tracking cameras add weight to headset

* No processing overhead for optical tracking

* Leverages existing SteamVR ecosystem

* Highest possible tracking accuracy

=== Base Station Requirements ===

* Valve Index controllers (recommended)

== Audio System ==

! Feature !! Bigscreen Beyond !! Valve Index

| IPD Adjustment || Factory-set || Manual

| Price || $999 || $999

 

| Weight || 127g (visor) || 515g

| Standalone || No || Yes

| Tracking || External (base stations) || Inside-out

| Display Type || Micro-OLED || LCD

| Resolution per eye || 2560 × 2560 || 2064 × 2208

| Passthrough || No || Yes

== Bigscreen Beyond 2 ==

 

| Bigscreen Beyond || $999 || Headset only, requires base stations

| Base Stations || ~$150-200 each || Sold separately

|-

| Prescription Inserts || Varies || Third-party (VR Optician, etc.)

 

 

{| class="wikitable"

| Total Pixels || 13.1 million

| Refresh Rate || 75Hz / 90Hz

| IPD || Factory-set via 3D face scan

| Built-in Audio || None

|-

| Weight || 127g (visor), 170-185g (with strap)

|-

| Connection || DisplayPort 1.4, USB-A

|-

|}

* [[PC VR]]

* [[SteamVR]]

* [[Micro-OLED]]

* [[Pancake Lenses]]

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:VR Headsets]]

[[Category:Head-mounted displays]]

[[Category:Micro-OLED]]

[[Category:2020s VR]]