PICO 4
| PICO 4 | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-Mounted Display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR |
| Platform | PICO OS (Android-based) |
| Developer | PICO (ByteDance) |
| Manufacturer | PICO |
| Release Date | October 2022 |
| Price | €429 (128GB) / €499 (256GB) |
| Website | https://www.picoxr.com/global/products/pico4 |
| Successor | PICO 4 Ultra |
| System | |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 128 GB / 256 GB |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM |
| Display | |
| Display | LCD (pancake lenses) |
| Resolution | 2160x2160 per eye |
| Refresh Rate | 72/90 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 105° |
| Optics | |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| Passthrough | Yes (grayscale) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (inside-out) |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Audio | |
| Audio | 360° stereo speakers (spatial) |
| Connectivity | |
| Device | |
| Weight | 295g (headset) |
Property "Platform" (as page type) with input value "PICO OS]] (Android-based)" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process. Property "Developer" (as page type) with input value "PICO]] (ByteDance)" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.
The PICO 4 is a standalone virtual reality head-mounted display developed by PICO (owned by ByteDance), released in October 2022. The PICO 4 features pancake lenses for a lighter design, 2160x2160 per eye LCD displays delivering 4K+ resolution, 105° field of view, Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor, and a balanced front-back weight distribution. Available in Europe and Asia (but not the US), the PICO 4 positioned itself as a competitor to Meta Quest 2 with superior display specifications, hand tracking, and passthrough capabilities at a competitive price point.
History and Development
PICO launched the PICO 4 in October 2022, representing a significant advancement from the PICO Neo 3. The device introduced pancake lenses to the PICO lineup, enabling a lighter and more compact design while improving visual quality. As a ByteDance subsidiary, PICO has focused on the European and Asian markets, with the PICO 4 becoming one of the leading VR headsets in regions where it's available. The PICO 4 Ultra succeeded it in September 2024 with upgraded specifications.[1]
Design and Hardware
Display
High-resolution pancake lens system:
- 2160x2160 per eye resolution
- 4K+ total resolution
- LCD panels (Flash-LCD)
- Pancake lenses technology
- 72/90 Hz refresh rate
- 105° field of view
- Improved clarity over Fresnel
- Reduced weight from lens design
Processing
- Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2
- 8 GB LPDDR4 RAM
- 128 GB or 256 GB storage
- Standalone VR capable
- PC VR streaming supported
Tracking
Comprehensive spatial tracking:
- 6DoF tracking
- Inside-out tracking
- Proprietary omni-directional SLAM
- Infrared optical positioning
- Upgraded optical sensors
- Hand tracking support
Passthrough
- See-through mode
- Grayscale passthrough
- Low resolution (gen 1)
- Basic mixed reality
Audio
- 360° stereo speakers
- 3D spatial sound
- Sound positioning
- Head movement responsive
- No headphones required
Build
Balanced ergonomic design:
- 295g headset (front)
- Battery counterweight (rear)
- Balanced weight distribution
- IPD 62-72mm (motorized adjustment)
- Comfortable for extended use
- Pancake lens compact design
Controllers
- 2x 6DoF controllers
- Ergonomic design
- Tracking ring
- Haptic feedback
- Standard VR controls
Battery
- ~2.5 hours battery life
- Rear-mounted battery
- USB-C charging
- Battery as counterweight
Features
Standalone VR
- No PC required
- Onboard processing
- Wireless experience
- Full VR library
PC VR Streaming
- PICO Streaming Assistant
- Wi-Fi 6 recommended
- SteamVR compatible
- High-quality streaming
Hand Tracking
- Controller-free interaction
- Gesture recognition
- Natural interface
- Application support
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 2160x2160 per eye LCD |
| Lenses | Pancake |
| FOV | 105° |
| Refresh Rate | 72/90 Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon XR2 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128/256 GB |
| Tracking | 6DoF (inside-out) |
| IPD | 62-72mm |
| Weight | 295g |
| Price | €429/€499 |
Availability
- Europe: Available
- Asia: China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore
- United States: Not available
- Enterprise edition available (PICO 4E)
Reception
Praise:
- 2160x2160 per eye excellent resolution
- 105° FOV wider than competitors
- Pancake lenses lighter design
- Balanced weight distribution comfortable
- €429 competitive pricing
- Hand tracking included
- 8GB RAM generous
- Snapdragon XR2 capable
- IPD motorized adjustment
- PC VR streaming supported
Criticism:
- Not available in United States
- Grayscale passthrough limited
- Controllers dated design
- Content library smaller than Quest
- 2.5 hour battery average
- LCD vs OLED contrast
- ByteDance privacy concerns
- Limited mixed reality[2]
See Also
References
- ↑ "PICO 4". PICO. https://www.picoxr.com/global/products/pico4.
- ↑ "PICO 4". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PICO_4.