Pimax 5K Plus
| Pimax 5K Plus | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC VR |
| Platform | SteamVR, Pimax Play |
| Developer | Pimax |
| Manufacturer | Pimax |
| Release Date | 2018 |
| Price | ~$699 USD |
| Website | https://pimax.com/ |
| Predecessor | Pimax 4K |
| Successor | Pimax 5K Super |
| System | |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | 2x LCD (CLPL) |
| Resolution | 2560x1440 per eye (5120x1440 combined) |
| Refresh Rate | 72 Hz, 90 Hz, 120 Hz, 144 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 200° diagonal, 170° horizontal |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Custom angled lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 55-75mm (manual) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (SteamVR Lighthouse 1.0/2.0) |
| Eye Tracking | No (optional add-on) |
| Hand Tracking | No (optional add-on) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | 3.5mm jack, optional MAS |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort 1.4, USB |
| Device | |
The Pimax 5K Plus (Pimax 5K+) is an ultra-wide field of view PC VR head-mounted display developed by Pimax, released in 2018. The headset pioneered consumer-accessible 200° diagonal field of view—marketed as "the closest to human vision of any commercially available product"—featuring dual 2560x1440 LCD displays with up to 144 Hz refresh rate. The 5K Plus established Pimax as the leader in wide-FOV VR headsets, offering nearly double the field of view of competitors like the Vive Pro and Valve Index while maintaining high resolution and refresh rates.
History and Development
Pimax launched the 5K Plus in 2018 following a successful Kickstarter campaign that promised ultra-wide FOV VR. The 5K Plus launched alongside the Pimax 8K, sharing the same chassis but using native 2560x1440 panels instead of upscaled 4K displays. The 5K Plus became popular among sim racing and flight simulation enthusiasts who valued peripheral vision over maximum resolution. It was succeeded by the Pimax 5K Super which offered higher refresh rates.[1]
Design and Hardware
Display
Wide dual LCD panels:
- Dual CLPL (Custom Low Persistence Liquid Crystal) panels
- 2560x1440 resolution per eye
- 5120x1440 combined resolution
- RGB subpixel layout
- Reduced screen door effect
- High color accuracy
Refresh Rate
Multiple options:
- 72 Hz
- 90 Hz
- 120 Hz
- 144 Hz maximum
- Variable by FOV mode
Field of View
Industry-leading ultra-wide:
- 200° diagonal FOV (Large mode)
- 170° horizontal (Large mode)
- "Closest to human vision"
- Multiple FOV modes:
- Large: 200° diagonal
- Normal: 170° diagonal
- Small: 140° diagonal
- Nearly 2x competitors (Vive Pro: 110°)
- Enhanced peripheral vision
Optics
- Custom angled lens design
- Canted displays
- Manual IPD adjustment (55-75mm)
- Physical slider
- Large sweet spot
Tracking
SteamVR Lighthouse compatibility:
- 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DoF)
- SteamVR Tracking 1.0 support
- SteamVR Tracking 2.0 support
- External base stations required (sold separately)
Build
Large form factor:
- ~11.5 inches (29.2 cm) wide
- 3.75 inches (9.5 cm) tall
- 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) deep
- Comfortable foam padding
- Adjustable head strap
- Wide facial interface
Audio
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Optional Modular Audio Strap (MAS)
- No built-in speakers (base model)
System Requirements
Minimum
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1070 or equivalent
- CPU: Intel i5-4590 or equivalent
- RAM: 8 GB
- Ports: DisplayPort 1.4, USB 2.0/3.0
Recommended
- GPU: RTX 2080 or higher
- High-end system for Large FOV mode
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | LCD (CLPL) |
| Resolution | 2560x1440 per eye |
| Refresh Rate | 72-144 Hz |
| Field of View | Up to 200° diagonal |
| IPD Range | 55-75mm (manual) |
| Tracking | SteamVR 1.0/2.0 |
FOV Modes
| Mode | FOV (Diagonal) | GPU Load |
|---|---|---|
| Large | 200° | Highest |
| Normal | 170° | Medium |
| Small | 140° | Lower |
Reception
Praise:
- 200° FOV revolutionary for consumer VR
- Enhanced peripheral vision immersive
- 5120x1440 resolution sharp
- 144 Hz refresh rate smooth
- Multiple FOV modes flexible
- Excellent for sim racing/flight sim
- SteamVR Lighthouse compatible
- RGB LCD reduces SDE
- Manual IPD wide range
- Price competitive for features
Criticism:
- Large, heavy headset
- Distortion at FOV edges
- Requires powerful GPU
- Controllers sold separately
- Base stations sold separately
- Software can be finicky
- IPD adjustment imprecise
- Some edge warping[2]
See Also
References
- ↑ "Pimax 5K Plus Review: Another Look at the Ultrawide VR Headset". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pimax-5k-plus-vr-headset,5990.html.
- ↑ "I tried Pimax's 5K and 8K VR headset with 200-degree field of view". PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/i-tried-pimaxs-5k-and-8k-vr-headset-with-200-degree-field-of-view/.
- ↑ "Pimax". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimax.