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Bigscreen Beyond: Difference between revisions

Improving page with detailed specifications, sections, and references
Tag: Reverted
Improving page with detailed specifications, sections, and references
Tag: Reverted
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|image =
|image =
|VR/AR = [[Virtual Reality]]
|VR/AR = [[Virtual Reality]]
|Type = [[Head-mounted display]]
|Type = [[Head-Mounted Display]]
|Subtype = [[PC VR]]
|Subtype = [[PC VR]]
|Platform = [[SteamVR]]
|Platform = [[SteamVR]]
|Developer = [[Bigscreen]]
|Developer = [[Bigscreen]]
|Manufacturer = [[Bigscreen]]
|Manufacturer = [[Bigscreen]]
|Announcement Date = February 2023
|Release Date = 2023
|Release Date = Q3 2023
|Price = $999 USD
|Price = $999 USD
|Website = https://store.bigscreenvr.com/products/bigscreen-beyond
|Website = https://store.bigscreenvr.com/products/bigscreen-beyond
|Successor = [[Bigscreen Beyond 2e]]
|Successor = [[Bigscreen Beyond 2]]
|Display = Micro-OLED
|Display = Micro OLED
|Resolution = 2560×2560 per eye (5120×2560 combined)
|Resolution = 2560x2560 per eye
|Pixel Size = 7.2 μm
|Refresh Rate = 75/90 Hz
|Refresh Rate = 90 Hz
|Field of View = ~90°
|Field of View = 90° × 93°
|PPD = 28 PPD
|IPD Range = Custom (factory set)
|Ocularity = Binocular
|Ocularity = Binocular
|Optics = Custom pancake lenses
|Tracking = SteamVR (outside-in)
|Tracking = Outside-in (SteamVR Lighthouse)
|Lenses = Pancake
|Eye Tracking = No
|IPD = Factory configured (custom)
|Hand Tracking = No
|Audio = Optional audio strap
|Audio = Optional (3.5mm jack)
|Tethered = Yes (PC required)
|Connectivity = DisplayPort, USB
|Weight = 127g (visor only)
|Weight = 127g
|Design = Custom-fit (3D face scan)
}}
}}


The '''Bigscreen Beyond''' is a [[PC VR]] [[head-mounted display]] developed by [[Bigscreen]], announced in February 2023 and shipped in Q3 2023. Marketed as "the world's smallest VR headset," the Beyond weighs just 127 grams—approximately 6× lighter than competing headsets—and measures less than 1 inch at its thinnest point. It features dual Micro-OLED displays with 2560×2560 resolution per eye (2-3× higher than most competitors), custom pancake optics, and a unique custom-fit design manufactured based on each customer's 3D face scan. The Beyond requires SteamVR base stations for tracking and is tethered to a PC.
The '''Bigscreen Beyond''' is a PC [[virtual reality]] [[head-mounted display]] developed by [[Bigscreen]], released in 2023. The Beyond achieved a breakthrough in VR headset design at just 127 grams (visor only), making it the lightest high-end VR headset ever created. Featuring dual 2560x2560 micro OLED displays with true blacks, pancake lenses, and SteamVR tracking compatibility, the Beyond requires custom manufacturing with factory-configured IPD based on a 3D face scan. At $999, the Beyond targets VR enthusiasts and sim racers seeking the most comfortable, compact, and visually stunning PC VR experience.


== History and Development ==
== History and Development ==


Bigscreen, known primarily for their social VR cinema application, announced the Beyond in February 2023 as their first hardware product. The company designed the headset to solve what they saw as fundamental problems in VR: size, weight, and resolution. By using cutting-edge Micro-OLED displays and custom pancake optics, they achieved an unprecedented form factor at the expense of features like inside-out tracking and adjustable IPD.<ref name="techpowerup">{{cite web |url=https://www.techpowerup.com/304754/bigscreen-introduces-beyond-the-worlds-smallest-vr-headset/ |title=Bigscreen Introduces Beyond—the World's Smallest VR Headset |publisher=TechPowerUp |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>
Bigscreen, known for its social VR application, announced the Beyond in 2023 as a response to the industry's increasingly heavy VR headsets. By removing onboard processing, batteries, and cameras, and using a custom-fitted design, Bigscreen achieved a dramatic weight reduction. The Beyond was succeeded by the Bigscreen Beyond 2 in 2025, which further reduced weight to 107g while adding mechanical IPD adjustment and eye tracking.<ref name="bigscreen">{{cite web |url=https://store.bigscreenvr.com/products/bigscreen-beyond |title=Bigscreen Beyond |publisher=Bigscreen |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>
 
In March 2025, Bigscreen announced the [[Bigscreen Beyond 2e]] with improved field of view, manual IPD adjustment, and optional eye tracking.<ref name="wikipedia">{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigscreen_Beyond |title=Bigscreen Beyond |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>


== Design and Hardware ==
== Design and Hardware ==


=== Form Factor ===
=== Display ===


Revolutionary miniaturization:
Premium micro OLED technology:


* '''127 grams''' total weight (6× lighter than competitors)
* '''2560x2560 per eye''' resolution
* Less than 1 inch at thinnest point
* '''1-inch micro OLED''' panels
* Ski goggle-like form factor
* '''True blacks''' (OLED)
* Custom-fit to each customer's face
* '''75 Hz or 90 Hz''' refresh rate
* Unprecedented comfort for extended use
* HDR support
* Exceptional contrast
* No screen door effect
* Cinema-quality visuals


=== Display ===
=== Lenses ===


High-resolution Micro-OLED technology:
* '''Pancake lenses'''
* Compact optical design
* Wide sweet spot
* Edge-to-edge clarity
* Reduced size vs Fresnel


* Dual Micro-OLED displays
=== IPD ===
* '''2560×2560 resolution per eye''' (2-3× higher than Valve Index)
* 5120×2560 combined resolution
* 90 Hz refresh rate
* 90° × 93° field of view
* '''28 pixels per degree (PPD)'''
* 7.2 μm pixel size
* RGB stripe subpixels
* High fill factor—no visible screen door effect
* 18mm display width (extremely compact)


=== Optics ===
Custom manufacturing:


Custom pancake optical design:
* '''Factory-configured IPD'''
* 3D face scan required
* Custom facial interface
* Perfect fit for user
* Not adjustable post-manufacture
* Enables weight reduction


* Pancake lenses (not Fresnel)
=== Tracking ===
* Compact optical path
* Wide field of view in small form factor
* Note: 90% light loss from pancake design (compensated by bright OLEDs)


=== Custom-Fit Manufacturing ===
* '''SteamVR tracking''' (outside-in)
* Base stations required
* Lighthouse 1.0/2.0 compatible
* Sub-millimeter accuracy
* Full room-scale support


Unique personalization process:
=== Build ===


* '''3D face scan required''' before manufacturing
Ultra-lightweight design:
* iPhone XR or newer needed for scan
* Bigscreen iPhone app captures face shape
* Eye position measured for optical alignment
* IPD configured at factory (not adjustable)
* Each Beyond custom-made per customer
* Will not fit well on other users' faces


=== Tracking ===
* '''127g visor weight'''
* 170-185g total (with strap)
* '''5x lighter than Meta Quest 3''' (515g)
* '''8x lighter than Valve Index''' (888g)
* Custom facial interface
* Premium materials
* Compact form factor


Uses SteamVR ecosystem:
=== Audio ===


* Outside-in tracking via Lighthouse base stations
* '''Optional audio strap'''
* 6 Degrees of Freedom
* Speakers sold separately
* Requires SteamVR 1.0 or 2.0 base stations
* Standard 3.5mm jack
* Compatible with Valve Index controllers
* Third-party compatible
* Basic strap included


=== Audio ===
=== Connection ===


* 3.5mm audio jack
* '''PC tethered''' (required)
* No built-in speakers (external audio required)
* DisplayPort connection
* Supports any 3.5mm headphones
* USB for tracking data
* No standalone capability
* High-end PC recommended


== Limitations ==
== Requirements ==


Features not included:
=== Ordering Process ===
1. Download Bigscreen app
2. Complete 3D face scan
3. Submit scan for custom manufacturing
4. Receive custom-fitted headset


* No eye tracking (added in Beyond 2e)
=== PC Requirements ===
* No face tracking
* SteamVR compatible PC
* No inside-out tracking (requires base stations)
* DisplayPort output
* No wireless capability
* Base stations (sold separately)
* No adjustable IPD (factory set)
* High-end GPU recommended
* Custom-fit means no sharing
* PC tethered only


== Specifications ==
== Technical Specifications ==


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 119: Line 120:
! Specification !! Details
! Specification !! Details
|-
|-
| Resolution || 2560×2560 per eye (5120×2560)
| Display || 2560x2560 micro OLED (x2)
|-
|-
| Refresh Rate || 90 Hz
| Refresh Rate || 75/90 Hz
|-
|-
| Field of View || 90° × 93°
| Lenses || Pancake
|-
|-
| PPD || 28
| FOV || ~90°
|-
|-
| Tracking || SteamVR (external base stations)
| Tracking || SteamVR (outside-in)
|-
|-
| Weight || 127g
| IPD || Factory configured
|-
|-
| Price || $999 USD
| Weight || 127g (visor)
|-
| Connection || PC tethered
|-
| Base Stations || Required (sold separately)
|-
| Price || $999
|}
|}
== Successor: Beyond 2 ==
The Bigscreen Beyond 2 (2025) features:
* '''107g weight''' (20g lighter)
* '''116° field of view'''
* '''Mechanical IPD adjustment'''
* '''Eye tracking''' (Beyond 2e variant)
* $1,019 base / $1,219 with eye tracking


== Reception ==
== Reception ==


'''Praise:'''
'''Praise:'''
* World's smallest VR headset
* 127g revolutionary lightweight
* 127g weight revolutionary for comfort
* 2560x2560 micro OLED stunning
* 2-3× higher resolution than most competitors
* True blacks exceptional contrast
* 28 PPD eliminates screen door effect
* Pancake lenses compact
* RGB stripe Micro-OLED displays
* Custom fit perfect comfort
* Pancake optics in compact form factor
* SteamVR tracking accurate
* Custom-fit maximizes comfort and optics
* No screen door effect
* SteamVR compatibility with existing equipment
* Premium build quality
* Ideal for simulation enthusiasts
* Extended wear comfortable
* "Unprecedented form factor"
* Sim racing excellent


'''Criticism:'''
'''Criticism:'''
* $999 price (headset only)
* $999 premium pricing
* Requires SteamVR base stations
* Custom IPD not adjustable
* No adjustable IPD (factory set)
* Cannot share between users
* Cannot share with others (custom-fit)
* Base stations extra cost
* No eye or face tracking
* No standalone capability
* No inside-out tracking
* PC tethered required
* No wireless option
* Audio strap optional extra
* iPhone required for face scan
* 3D scan ordering process
* Missing "next-gen" features<ref name="panox">{{cite web |url=https://www.panoxdisplay.com/application/micro-oled-application-bigscreen-beyond.html |title=Micro OLED Application: Bigscreen Beyond, smallest VR |publisher=Panox Display |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>
* ~90° FOV narrower than some
 
* No inside-out tracking option<ref name="uploadvr">{{cite web |url=https://www.uploadvr.com/bigscreen-beyond-weight-specs/ |title=Bigscreen Beyond Specs |publisher=UploadVR |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>
<ref name="hypebeast">{{cite web |url=https://hypebeast.com/2023/2/bigscreen-beyond-vr-headset-smallest-release-info |title=Bigscreen's Debut VR Headset Said to Be World's Smallest |publisher=Hypebeast |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
* [[Bigscreen Beyond 2e]]
* [[Bigscreen Beyond 2]]
* [[Valve Index]]
* [[Valve Index]]
* [[Pimax Crystal]]
* [[Pimax Crystal]]
* [[Varjo Aero]]
* [[Varjo VR-3]]
* [[HP Reverb G2]]


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:Devices]]
[[Category:Devices]]
[[Category:Virtual Reality Devices]]
[[Category:Virtual Reality Devices]]
[[Category:PC VR Headsets]]
[[Category:Head-Mounted Displays]]
[[Category:PC VR]]
[[Category:Bigscreen]]
[[Category:Bigscreen]]
[[Category:SteamVR]]
[[Category:2023 in technology]]
[[Category:2023 in technology]]