Arpara Tethered 5K
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| Arpara Tethered 5K | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC VR |
| Platform | Windows 10 PC, Android phones; SteamVR (3DoF driver, or 6DoF with the arpara Gaming Kit) |
| Creator | Arpara |
| Developer | Arpara |
| Manufacturer | Arpara (arpara Technology Co., Ltd., Huzhou, China) |
| Announcement Date | 1 June 2021 |
| Release Date | Pre-orders from June 2021; sold in arpara's online store by March 2023 |
| Price | US$599 (pre-order price, June 2021); US$399 (Kickstarter early-bird pledge, December 2021) |
| Website | https://www.arparaland.com/ |
| Versions | Tethered 5K (basic headset); arpara Gaming Kit (headset with arpara Tracker and DisplayPort 1.4 cable) |
| Requires | Windows 10 PC with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 or better, or a compatible Android phone (Android 6.0 or later) |
| System | |
| Operating System | None (no on-board system; runs from the connected PC or phone) |
| CPU | None (uses the connected device) |
| GPU | None (uses the connected device; NVIDIA only on PC) |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual 1.03-inch Micro-OLED (OLED-on-silicon, supplied by SeeYA) |
| Resolution | 2560 x 2560 per eye (5120 x 2560 combined) |
| Pixel Density | 3514 PPI |
| Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (at reduced resolutions); 70 Hz at 5088 x 2544 |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 95 degrees |
| Average Pixel Density | 32 PPD |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Pancake lenses (folded optical path) |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 56-72 mm |
| Adjustable Diopter | Yes, +1D to -5D |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 3DoF; 6DoF with the arpara Tracker and SteamVR Base Stations |
| Base Stations | Optional: up to 2 SteamVR Base Station 1.0 or up to 4 Base Station 2.0 (with the arpara Tracker) |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Latency | Display 2 μs; sensor 1 ms (arpara figures) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Dual-channel directional speakers; 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Microphone | Dual digital microphones |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | USB-C (DisplayPort video); proprietary DisplayPort 1.4 cable for desktop PCs |
| Ports | USB-C 3.2 x1, 3.5 mm audio jack x1, Micro USB x1 |
| WiFi | No |
| Power | Powered by the connected device (no internal battery) |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | 164 x 55 x 250 mm |
| Weight | 200 g |
| Headstrap | Adjustable head band with 15-degree upward sloping design; optional arpara Elite Strap |
| Color | White, Black |
| Sensors | Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer, proximity sensor |
| Input | Volume, 2D/3D and resolution buttons; SteamVR controllers with the Gaming Kit |
| Cable Length | 1.5 m USB-C cable (included); 3.5 m DisplayPort 1.4 cable (optional) |
The Arpara Tethered 5K is a lightweight virtual reality head-mounted display made by the Chinese company Arpara. It has two 1.03-inch Micro-OLED displays with 2560 x 2560 pixels each, 5120 x 2560 in total, and weighs 200 grams because it contains no processor or battery; it draws video and power from a connected PC or Android phone.[1][2] Arpara first announced it on 1 June 2021 as the "arpara VR headset", launched it on Kickstarter as the "arpara 5K VR Tethered", and later sold it as the "arpara Tethered 5K", the name used on the company's own product pages; its homepage also called it the "arpara 5K VR Headset".[3][4][5]
On its own the headset tracks only head rotation (3DoF) and is aimed at watching 2D, 3D, 180-degree and 360-degree video. Arpara also sold it in an "arpara Gaming Kit" with a clip-on arpara Tracker that uses SteamVR Tracking base stations for 6DoF PC VR gaming.[2][6] A sister model with the same displays and a built-in Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2, the Arpara AIO 5K, is a separate product and is covered in its own article.[7]
Announcement and release
2021 announcement and pre-orders
Arpara introduced the headset on 1 June 2021 at an online reveal event called "Discover Yourself in a Parallel Universe", together with the all-in-one model and a virtual social platform called arparaland. The press release described a 200-gram headset, "1/3 of a typical VR headset", with a 95-degree field of view and a 120 Hz refresh rate, and said it could be connected to phones, computers and game consoles, with a separate 6DoF tracking kit completing a PC VR setup. It was priced at US$599 and open for pre-order on arpara.net, with shipping expected to begin in August 2021.[3]
Crowdfunding
On 14 December 2021 Arpara launched a Kickstarter campaign for the "arpara 5K VR Tethered" and the "arpara 5K VR All-In-One". Early-bird pledges started at US$399 for the tethered headset and US$599 for the all-in-one, and delivery was estimated for March 2022.[4][7] Tethered backers were promised the headset, a 1.5 m USB-C cable, a face mask, a headband and an instruction guide.[7] The campaign listed an MSRP of US$699 for the tethered headset. It also offered "Deep Gaming Kit" tiers for 6DoF PC VR that paired the headset with the arpara Tracker and either the DisplayPort 1.4 cable or a 3.5 m USB-C cable; the campaign said the DisplayPort 1.4 cable allowed a 70 Hz refresh rate at 5K resolution.[8] According to the Kickstarter tracking site Kicktraq, the campaign ran from 14 December 2021 to 12 February 2022 and raised US$728,139 from 1,200 backers against a US$50,000 goal; an Arpara project update said it was fully funded in 15 minutes.[9]
In May 2022 the headsets were offered for pre-order through Indiegogo InDemand. Notebookcheck reported prices of about 499 euros for the basic tethered headset and from 622 euros for the Deep Gaming Kit.[10][11]
Retail sales
By March 2023 the headset was listed in arpara's own online store, in white and black, alongside the arpara Gaming Kit and accessories: the arpara Tracker, a 3.5 m DisplayPort 1.4 cable, the arpara Elite Mask, the arpara Elite Strap and a storage bag.[12] The retail box contained the headset, a mask, a 1.5 m USB-C cable and a head band.[13] The company's website still listed the Tethered 5K, the arpara AIO 5K and the Gaming Kit in late 2023.[5]
The headset and the arpara Tracker each received a Red Dot Design Award for product design in 2022, both credited to arpara Technology Co., Ltd. of Huzhou, China.[14][15]
Design and hardware
Displays
Each eye has a 1.03-inch micro-OLED panel with 2560 x 2560 pixels. Arpara lists 3514 pixels per inch, 32 pixels per degree, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a color gamut of 90% DCI-P3 (127% sRGB). Its product page also gives an aperture ratio of 47%.[1][16] Arpara's marketing said the high aperture ratio of the micro-OLED panels removes the screen door effect, and that the resolution gives images "5 to 6 times more detail than a traditional VR headset".[3][12] The company gave a 1 microsecond response time at launch, and its FAQ lists a display latency of 2 microseconds and a sensor latency of 1 ms.[3][2] Brightness is adjustable with buttons on the headset. The FAQ states that the headset does not support HDR.[2]
In a May 2023 teardown of the Tethered 5K, Omdia analyst Jay Shao identified the panels as OLED-on-silicon (OLEDoS) microdisplays from SeeYA, a Chinese microdisplay supplier. They use white OLED with color filters to produce full color. Omdia estimated that the displays and optical module together account for about 88% of the headset's material cost.[17]
Optics
The headset uses pancake optics with a folded light path. Arpara says the optical group is 10 to 20 mm thick, "effectively eliminates distortion and chromatic aberration" and gives a 95-degree field of view.[16] Omdia found four lenses in each optical module: three form the folded optical path, and the fourth provides the diopter adjustment.[17] The diopter can be set from +1D to -5D (arpara also wrote this as 100 to -500 degrees), so many nearsighted users can use it without glasses. The interpupillary distance adjusts from 56 to 72 mm.[1][2][17] Arpara did not offer custom prescription lenses and suggested contact lenses for users beyond -5D.[2]
Display modes and refresh rates
Arpara advertised refresh rates of "up to 120 Hz", but the highest rates are only available at reduced resolutions.[1][16] The FAQ lists these modes when the headset is connected to a computer:[2]
| Mode | Resolutions listed by arpara |
|---|---|
| 2D | 2560 x 1440 at 60 Hz; 1920 x 1080 at 60 Hz; 1920 x 1080 at 120 Hz (native and scaled) |
| 3D | 5088 x 2544 at 70 Hz; 3840 x 1920 at 60 Hz; 3840 x 1080 at 60 Hz (native and scaled); 3840 x 1080 at 120 Hz (native and scaled); 5120 x 2560 at 30 Hz |
The DisplayPort 1.4 cable supports up to 5088 x 2544 at 70 Hz.[18] The Gaming Kit page says the headset runs at 4K resolution and 90 Hz in the kit. Notebookcheck reported that in SteamVR the tethered headset ran at up to 70 Hz at 5120 x 2560 or 90 Hz at 3840 x 1920.[6][10]
Body, audio and controls
With no system-on-chip or internal battery, the headset weighs 200 g (7.05 oz) and measures 164 x 55 x 250 mm.[1][12] Its head strap slopes upward at 15 degrees to move weight toward the back of the head and away from the face and nose. Arpara called it the first VR headset with this design.[12] The standard fiber head band can be swapped for the arpara Elite Strap, and an adjustment knob tightens the fit.[12]
Audio comes from two directional speakers, and there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack; headphones with in-line controls are not supported. The headset has two digital microphones.[2][1] Ports are one USB-C 3.2 port, the 3.5 mm jack and a Micro USB port. The FAQ lists a gyroscope, an accelerometer and a magnetometer as the built-in sensors.[1][2] The product overview also shows a proximity sensor, air vents, volume buttons, 2D and 3D mode buttons, and IPD and diopter adjusters.[13] Holding the 2D/3D button switches display modes, and holding the resolution button changes resolution.[2] The specifications list low blue light certification.[1]
Connectivity and compatibility
The headset has no Wi-Fi and uses DisplayPort 1.4 for video. Laptops with a DisplayPort-capable USB-C port connect with the included USB-C cable. Desktop graphics cards without USB-C need the separate arpara DisplayPort 1.4 cable.[2] The 3.5 m cable combines DisplayPort 1.4 and USB and has an L-shaped connector.[18]
Arpara published these minimum PC requirements:[19]
| Component | Desktop minimum | Laptop minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5-9400 or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | Intel Core i7-9750H or AMD Ryzen 5 5600H |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 or better (AMD not supported) | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 or better (AMD not supported) |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Video output | DisplayPort | USB-C with DisplayPort |
| Operating system | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
For phones, arpara required Android 6.0 or later. Its compatibility list included Samsung Galaxy S20 5G and S21 models, Huawei Mate and P series phones, OnePlus 8, 9 and 10 Pro models, OPPO Find X2 Pro and X3 Pro, Black Shark and ROG Phone 5.[19] The FAQ states that the headset cannot connect to a Mac. It also cannot be used with Blu-ray or DVD players, set-top boxes, Xbox, PlayStation 4 and 5, or Nintendo Switch, because those devices need HDMI and the headset has only USB-C. The June 2021 announcement had described it as connectable to game consoles.[2][3]
Software and tracking
The headset has no operating system or game platform of its own.[2] On phones, video is played through the arparahome app, which offers picture size and distortion settings, 3D and VR video selection, and a virtual "Universe" scene. It plays 2D, 3D, VR180 and 360-degree video and supports WebDAV, SMB, FTP and SFTP network shares. In 2023 the app was available in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English and Japanese.[2] Arpara also offered an arparahome client for Windows, and a 3DoF driver, released in 4K and 5K versions dated 24 March 2023, that runs 3DoF SteamVR games without arparahome or the Tracker.[20]
The headset's own tracking is 3DoF only. Arpara's FAQ states that the Tethered 5K by itself does not support PC VR and that the Gaming Kit does.[2] The kit adds the arpara Tracker, the 3.5 m DisplayPort 1.4 cable, a 3.5 m USB-C cable, the Elite Mask and the Elite Strap. Arpara gave the total weight as less than 320 g.[6] The Tracker has 28 optical sensors and weighs about 120 g. It works with up to two SteamVR Base Station 1.0 units or up to four SteamVR Base Station 2.0 units, and with HTC Vive and Valve Index controllers.[21] The Red Dot entry for the Tracker says it is based on SteamVR Tracking HDK technology.[15] Notebookcheck reported that Viveport was not supported on the tethered models.[10]
Reception
UploadVR advised readers not to back the Kickstarter. In a December 2021 editorial, Ian Hamilton cited early hands-on reports from Cas and Chary VR and VR_Oasis. Cas and Chary VR delayed its video because the headset's Nolo tracking was "just not enough", and VR_Oasis wrote "It's not good VR". Hamilton also called a March 2022 delivery "unrealistic (at best)" given pandemic component shortages and the company's lack of a track record. He questioned the all-in-one model's inside-out tracking claims and a referral scheme that paid backers an 8% commission.[22]
The Red Dot jury said the headset "impresses aesthetically, is a user-oriented device that is comfortable to wear and at the same time offers an attractive experience". The award listing credits the design to Zhong Chonglei and Chen Shurui.[14] In Omdia's teardown, Jay Shao wrote that the -5.00D to +1.00D diopter range makes the headset "more friendly to end users who need to wear vision correction glasses".[17]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "arpara Tethered 5K - Specs". arparaland. arpara. 2023-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328135917/https://www.arparaland.com/pages/arpara-tethered-5k-specifications. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 "arpara Tethered 5K - FAQ". arparaland. arpara. 2023-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328135917/https://www.arparaland.com/pages/arpara-tethered-5k-faq. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "arpara VR 5K Headset and All-In-One Headset Announced Globally". PR Newswire. arpara. 2021-06-01. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arpara-vr-5k-headset-and-all-in-one-headset-announced-globally-301302120.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "arpara launches Kickstarter campaign for world's first 5K dual micro-OLED VR headset". PRWeb. arpara. 2021-12-14. https://www.prweb.com/releases/arpara-launches-kickstarter-campaign-for-world-s-first-5k-dual-micro-oled-vr-headset-806762712.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "arpara Global Website". arparaland. arpara. 2023-10-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20231031210130/https://www.arparaland.com/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "arpara GamingKit". arparaland. arpara. 2023-09-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20230923000128/https://www.arparaland.com/GamingKit. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Sam Sprigg (2021-12-16). "arpara launches Kickstarter campaign for its new tethered and standalone VR headsets". Auganix. https://www.auganix.org/arpara-launches-kickstarter-campaign-for-its-new-tethered-and-standalone-vr-headsets/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "arpara: World's First 5K Micro-OLED All-in-One VR Headset". Kickstarter. arpara. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/969477673/arpara-worlds-first-5k-micro-oled-all-in-one-vr-headset. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "arpara: World's First 5K Micro-OLED All-in-One VR Headset". Kicktraq. https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/969477673/arpara-worlds-first-5k-micro-oled-all-in-one-vr-headset/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Silvio Werner (2022-05-02). "Arpara: Diese VR-Headsets mit Micro-OLED und 5K-Auflösung startet zum kleinen Preis". Notebookcheck. https://www.notebookcheck.com/Arpara-Diese-VR-Headsets-mit-Micro-OLED-und-5K-Aufloesung-startet-zum-kleinen-Preis.616821.0.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Simon Lüthje (2022-05-03). "Arpara introduces VR headset with micro OLED display and 5K resolution". Basic Tutorials. https://basic-tutorials.com/news/arpara-introduces-vr-headset-with-micro-oled-display-and-5k-resolution/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 "arpara Tethered 5K". arparaland. arpara. 2023-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328135903/https://www.arparaland.com/pages/arpara-tethered-5k. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "arpara Tethered 5K - Product Overview". arparaland. arpara. 2023-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328135917/https://www.arparaland.com/pages/arpara-tethered-5k-product-overview. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Red Dot Design Award: arpara headset". Red Dot. 2022. https://www.red-dot.org/project/arpara-headset-59206. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Red Dot Design Award: arpara tracker". Red Dot. 2022. https://www.red-dot.org/project/arpara-tracker-59244. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "arpara Tethered 5K". arparaland. arpara. 2023-12-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203173508/https://www.arparaland.com/hmd. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Jay Shao (2023-05). "The arpara Tethered 5K features OLEDoS displays from SeeYA". Omdia. https://omdia.tech.informa.com/blogs/2023/may/the-arpara-tethered-5k-features-oledos-displays-from-seeya. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "arpara Displayport 1.4 Cable". arparaland. arpara. 2023-12-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203181647/https://www.arparaland.com/cable. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "arpara Tethered 5K - Compatibility". arparaland. arpara. 2023-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328135917/https://www.arparaland.com/pages/arpara-tethered-5k-compability. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "arpara Tethered 5K - Download". arparaland. arpara. 2023-06-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20230608004108/https://www.arparaland.com/hmd/download. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "arpara Tracker". arparaland. arpara. 2023-12-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20231203181249/https://www.arparaland.com/tracker. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Ian Hamilton (2021-12-16). "Why We're Weary Of Arpara's Kickstarter Fundraising Campaign". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/arpara-kickstarter-weary/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.