Pico G2 4K

Pico G2 4K
Basic Info
VR/AR	Virtual Reality
Type	Head-mounted display
Subtype	Standalone VR
Platform	Pico OS
Creator	Pico Interactive
Developer	Pico Interactive
Manufacturer	Pico Interactive
Announcement Date	January 2019 (CES)
Release Date	2019
Price	$299
Website	https://www.picoxr.com/
Versions	Pico G2 4K
Requires	None (standalone)
Predecessor	Pico G2
Successor	Pico Neo 2
System
Operating System	Pico OS (Android-based)
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (octa-core)
GPU	Adreno 540
Storage
Storage	32GB
Memory	4GB RAM
SD Card Slot	Yes (microSD)
Display
Display	LCD
Subpixel Layout	RGB stripe
Peak Brightness	Not specified
Resolution	1920 × 2160 per eye (3840 × 2160 combined, 4K)
Pixel Density	818 PPI
Refresh Rate	75Hz
Persistence	Low persistence
Image
Field of View	101°
Horizontal FoV	~101°
Vertical FoV	~101°
Average Pixel Density	~15 PPD
Peak Pixel Density	~15 PPD
Foveated Rendering	No
Optics
Optics	Fresnel lenses
Ocularity	Binocular
IPD Range	Software adjustable
Adjustable Diopter	No (glasses compatible)
Passthrough	No
Tracking
Tracking	3DoF (IMU)
Tracking Frequency	N/A
Base Stations	None required
Eye Tracking	No
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	No
Body Tracking	No
Rotational Tracking	Yes
Positional Tracking	No
Update Rate	75Hz
Tracking Volume	N/A (3DoF)
Play Space	Seated/Standing
Latency	<20ms motion-to-photon
Audio
Audio	Integrated speakers
Microphone	Yes
3.5mm Audio Jack	Yes
Camera	No
Connectivity
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2
Ports	USB-C, microSD, 3.5mm audio
Wired Video	No
Wireless Video	Yes (streaming capable)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.2
Power	External battery (headstrap integrated)
Battery Capacity	3500mAh
Battery Life	2-2.5 hours
Charge Time	~2.5 hours
Device
Dimensions	178mm × 106mm × 100mm
Weight	278g (headset only)
Material	Plastic
Headstrap	Halo-style with integrated battery
Haptics	Controller haptics
Color	Black
Sensors	IMU, proximity sensor
Input	3DoF controller (1 included)
Compliance	FCC, CE

Property "Operating System" (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 "Latency" (as page type) with input value "" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.

The Pico G2 4K is a standalone virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Pico Interactive, announced at CES in January 2019 and released in 2019 at a price of $299. As the world's first all-in-one VR headset with a 4K display, the Pico G2 4K featured an impressive 3840 × 2160 total resolution (1920 × 2160 per eye) with 818 PPI and RGB stripe subpixels, delivering exceptional clarity for media consumption, enterprise applications, and educational content. Despite being limited to 3DoF tracking (rotation only, no positional tracking), the G2 4K excelled in its primary use cases of video viewing, virtual tours, and stationary VR experiences where its 4K resolution provided a significant advantage over 2K competitors. At just 278 grams with the innovative rear-mounted battery design for improved weight distribution, the Pico G2 4K demonstrated that high-resolution standalone VR could be both affordable and comfortable.

History and Development

Pico Background

Company evolution:

Founded 2015 in China
Standalone VR focus
ByteDance acquisition (2021)
Growing market presence

Pico G2 Foundation

Previous generation:

2018 release
3K resolution
Established platform
Market validation

CES 2019 Announcement

4K milestone:

First 4K all-in-one VR
Resolution leadership
Industry first
Consumer pricing

2019 Launch

Commercial release:

$299 price point
Global availability
Enterprise and consumer
Strong value proposition

Design Philosophy

4K Resolution Focus

Visual clarity priority:

Highest resolution standalone
RGB stripe clarity
Media consumption
Enterprise documentation

3DoF Simplicity

Stationary experiences:

Seated/standing VR
No positional tracking
Simple setup
Lower complexity

Lightweight Design

Comfort priority:

278g headset
Rear battery
Weight distribution
Extended wear

Affordable Quality

Value proposition:

$299 price
4K resolution
Quality build
Accessible VR

Display Technology

4K LCD Display

Resolution leadership:

Total Resolution: 3840 × 2160
Per Eye: 1920 × 2160
PPI: 818
Type: LCD

RGB Stripe Subpixels

Clarity advantage:

Full RGB per pixel
Sharp text
Clear images
Reduced screen door

Visual Quality

4K benefits:

Near-invisible pixels
Document legibility
Video quality
Professional clarity

75Hz Refresh Rate

Standard timing:

Adequate for VR
3DoF sufficient
Comfortable viewing
Standard for era

Field of View

101° FOV

Good coverage:

Wide viewing angle
Good immersion
Competitive specification
Comfortable viewing

Optical System

Fresnel Lenses

Standard optics:

Good clarity
Wide sweet spot
Some god rays
Standard quality

Software IPD

Digital adjustment:

No physical IPD
Software correction
Wide accommodation
Simple design

Processing Power

Snapdragon 835

Capable mobile VR:

CPU: Octa-core
GPU: Adreno 540
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 32GB (expandable)

Performance

Standalone capable:

4K video playback
VR applications
3D content
Enterprise apps

Expandable Storage

microSD support:

Local content
Video library
Enterprise content
Flexible storage

Tracking System

3DoF IMU Tracking

Rotation only:

Head rotation tracking
No positional tracking
Seated experiences
Simple operation

3DoF Limitations

Use case constraints:

No room-scale
No walking around
Stationary content
Limited interaction

3DoF Controller

Matching input:

Rotational tracking
Pointer-based
Basic gestures
Included controller

Controller

Single 3DoF Controller

Basic input:

Included controller
Rotational tracking
Touchpad
Trigger and buttons

Input Capabilities

Interaction options:

Pointer selection
Basic gestures
Menu navigation
Media control

Audio System

Integrated Speakers

Built-in audio:

Convenient
Spatial capable
No headphones needed
Good quality

3.5mm Jack

Headphone option:

Private listening
Better quality option
User preference
Standard port

Battery

Rear-Mounted Battery

Innovative design:

Capacity: 3500mAh
Life: 2-2.5 hours
Integrated in headstrap
Counter-balance weight

Weight Distribution

Comfort benefit:

Battery in rear
Front weight reduced
Balance improved
Extended wear

Physical Design

Ultra-Lightweight

Exceptional comfort:

Weight: 278g (headset only)
Lightest in class
All-day wearable
Minimal fatigue

Halo Headstrap

Comfort system:

Adjustable fit
Rear battery housing
Weight distribution
Extended sessions

Build Quality

Consumer grade:

Quality plastics
Durable design
Good finish
Reliable

Software

Pico OS

Android-based:

Custom interface
App store
Regular updates
Enterprise tools

Pico Store

Content ecosystem:

VR applications
360° video
Games
Enterprise apps

Enterprise Features

Professional tools:

Kiosk mode
Device management
Content deployment
Enterprise support

Use Cases

Video Viewing

Primary application:

4K video playback
360° content
Virtual cinema
Media consumption

Virtual Tours

360° experiences:

Real estate tours
Travel experiences
Museum tours
Educational content

Enterprise Training

Professional use:

Orientation videos
Training content
Product demos
Safety training

Education

Learning applications:

Educational content
Virtual field trips
Science visualization
Language learning

Comparison with Oculus Go

Feature	Pico G2 4K	Oculus Go
Price	$299	$199-$249
Resolution	1920×2160/eye	1280×1440/eye
Total Resolution	3840×2160 (4K)	2560×1440
Display	LCD (RGB stripe)	LCD
PPI	818	534
Weight	278g	467g
Battery Location	Rear (headstrap)	Front (headset)
Tracking	3DoF	3DoF

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths

4K resolution (first standalone)
818 PPI clarity
RGB stripe subpixels
Ultra-lightweight (278g)
Rear battery design
Good value ($299)
101° FOV

Limitations

3DoF only (no positional tracking)
Limited interactive experiences
75Hz refresh rate
Basic controller
Smaller app ecosystem
No hand tracking
Superseded by 6DoF headsets

Technical Specifications Summary

Specification	Details
Display	LCD, 1920 × 2160 per eye
Total Resolution	3840 × 2160 (4K)
PPI	818
Refresh Rate	75Hz
FOV	101°
Processor	Snapdragon 835
Memory	4GB RAM, 32GB storage
Tracking	3DoF (IMU)
Battery	3500mAh (2-2.5 hours)
Weight	278g
Price	$299

References