Pimax 8K X
| Pimax 8K X | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-Mounted Display |
| Subtype | PC VR |
| Platform | SteamVR, Pimax Platform |
| Developer | Pimax |
| Manufacturer | Pimax |
| Announcement Date | CES 2020 |
| Release Date | 2020 |
| Price | $1,299 USD |
| Website | https://pimax.com/ |
| Predecessor | Pimax 5K Plus |
| Successor | Pimax Crystal |
| System | |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | LCD (dual 4K) |
| Resolution | 3840x2160 per eye (native) |
| Refresh Rate | 75/90 Hz (native) / 90/114 Hz (upscale) |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 200° diagonal / 170° horizontal |
| Optics | |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | SteamVR Lighthouse (external) |
| Eye Tracking | Optional module |
| Latency | 15ms MTP |
| Audio | |
| Connectivity | |
| Device | |
The Pimax Vision 8K X is a high-end PC-tethered virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Pimax, announced CES 2020 and released 2020 at $1,299. Pimax's flagship ultra-wide VR headset featuring dual native 4K displays at 3840x2160 per eye (true 8K combined), industry-leading 200° diagonal field of view, Dual Engine Mode for 4K native or upscaled rendering, SteamVR Lighthouse tracking, and canted display design. Winner of Digital Trends CES 2020 Top Tech AR/VR award.
History and Development
Pimax showcased the Vision 8K X at CES 2020 as their flagship headset, where it won Digital Trends' Top Tech of CES 2020: AR/VR award. Delivering on Pimax's promise of consumer 8K VR (originally Kickstarter-funded 2017), the 8K X features true native 4K per eye displays without upscaling (unlike the earlier 8K model). The ultra-wide FOV canted display design differentiates Pimax from all competitors.[1]
Design and Hardware
Display
Dual 4K native:
- 3840x2160 per eye (native)
- 7680x2160 combined (8K)
- Dual 4K LCD panels
- Full RGB subpixels
- CLPL (Custom Low Persistence Liquid)
Dual Engine Mode
Flexibility:
- Native 4K mode: 3840x2160x2 @ 75Hz
- Upscale mode: 2560x1440x2 → 4K @ 90Hz
- User switchable
- Performance vs quality tradeoff
Refresh Rate
- 75/90 Hz (native 4K)
- 90/114 Hz (upscale mode)
Field of View
Ultra-wide:
- 200° diagonal
- 170° horizontal
- Near human vision
- Canted display angle
- Industry-leading FOV
Optics
- Dual Fresnel lenses
- Angled (canted) design
- Wide FOV enabled
IPD
- 55-75mm range
- Hardware adjustment
Tracking
- SteamVR Lighthouse
- 1.0 and 2.0 compatible
- External base stations
- 6DoF
- 9-axis sensors
Latency
- 15ms MTP typical
- Motion-to-photon
Modules
Optional upgrades:
- Eye tracking module
- Hand tracking module
- Wireless adapter (prototype)
PC Requirements
High-end system needed:
- NVIDIA RTX 2080 recommended
- Dual DisplayPort connections
- Powerful CPU
- Native 4K extremely demanding
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Native Mode | Upscale Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 3840x2160/eye | 2560x1440/eye → 4K |
| Combined | 7680x2160 | 7680x2160 |
| Refresh Rate | 75/90 Hz | 90/114 Hz |
| FOV | 200° diagonal | 200° diagonal |
| IPD | 55-75mm | 55-75mm |
| Tracking | Lighthouse | Lighthouse |
| Price | $1,299 | - |
Reception
Praise:
- True 8K (native 4K/eye)
- 200° FOV unmatched
- Near human vision
- CES 2020 award winner
- Dual Engine Mode flexible
- Native + upscale options
- SteamVR compatible
- Modular upgrades
Criticism:
- $1,299 expensive
- RTX 2080+ required
- Very demanding native mode
- Lighthouse required (extra cost)
- Heavy headset
- Software polish issues
- Pimax customer support
- Limited sweet spot[2]