Bigscreen Beyond 2e
| Bigscreen Beyond 2e | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC VR |
| Platform | SteamVR |
| Developer | Bigscreen |
| Manufacturer | Bigscreen |
| Announcement Date | March 2025 |
| Release Date | March 2025 |
| Price | $1,219 USD |
| Website | https://store.bigscreenvr.com/products/bigscreen-beyond-2 |
| System | |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | 2× Micro-OLED (RGB stripe) |
| Resolution | 2560×2560 per eye (13.1 million pixels total) |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 116° |
| Horizontal FoV | 116° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Pancake lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 48-75mm (manual adjustment) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | Outside-in 6DoF (SteamVR Base Stations) |
| Eye Tracking | Yes |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Audio | |
| Audio | None built-in (optional audio strap) |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort, USB |
| Device | |
| Weight | ~110g (headset only) |
| Color | Black, Translucent Purple (VRChat Edition) |
The Bigscreen Beyond 2e is an ultra-lightweight PC VR head-mounted display developed by Bigscreen, released in March 2025. It is a variant of the Bigscreen Beyond 2 that includes integrated eye tracking. The headset features dual micro-OLED displays and weighs approximately 110 grams, making it one of the lightest VR headsets available. The "2e" model is designed for enthusiasts who want eye tracking capabilities for applications like VRChat social presence and future foveated rendering support.
History and Development
The original Bigscreen Beyond was released in 2023 and gained attention for its extremely compact and lightweight design. However, users criticized the original for its limited field of view, significant glare, and lack of physical IPD adjustment.
In March 2025, Bigscreen announced the Beyond 2 and Beyond 2e, addressing these criticisms with new optics, wider field of view, manual IPD adjustment, and (for the 2e model) integrated eye tracking.[1]
A special VRChat Edition of the Beyond 2e was also released, featuring a translucent purple casing and unlocking exclusive in-game stickers and profile badges.
Design and Hardware
Display and Optics
The Beyond 2e uses dual 1-inch micro-OLED displays with an RGB stripe subpixel layout, each with a resolution of 2560×2560 pixels. The total pixel count is over 13.1 million pixels across both eyes. The micro-OLED technology provides:
- Perfect blacks with infinite contrast ratio
- Vibrant, accurate colors
- High pixel density for sharp text and details[2]
The updated pancake lenses provide a 116-degree field of view—wider than the Meta Quest 3's 110 degrees—with reduced glare and edge-to-edge clarity compared to the original Beyond.
IPD Adjustment
Unlike the original Beyond which required custom face cushions for different IPD values, the Beyond 2e features manual IPD adjustment with a range of 48-75mm, accommodating a much wider range of users.
Eye Tracking
The Beyond 2e includes built-in eye tracking hardware. While foveated rendering support is still in development (planned for a software update), the eye tracking can be used for:
- Social VR applications like VRChat for more expressive avatars
- Eye-based interactions in supported applications
- Future foveated rendering for performance optimization
Weight and Ergonomics
At approximately 110 grams (107g for the non-eye-tracking Beyond 2 model), the Beyond 2e is one of the lightest consumer VR headsets ever produced. The compact design is achieved by offloading all processing to an external PC—the headset contains only the displays, optics, and tracking sensors.[3]
Audio
The Beyond 2e does not include built-in audio. An optional audio strap accessory is available separately. Users can also use their own headphones or earbuds.
Tracking
The Beyond 2e requires external SteamVR base stations (version 1.0 or 2.0) for positional tracking, as it does not have inside-out tracking cameras. This provides highly accurate tracking but increases the overall system cost and setup complexity.
Specifications
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 2× 1-inch Micro-OLED (RGB stripe) |
| Resolution | 2560×2560 per eye |
| Total Pixels | 13.1 million |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz |
| Field of View | 116° |
| IPD Range | 48-75mm (manual) |
| Eye Tracking | Yes |
| Tracking | SteamVR (external base stations) |
| Weight | ~110g |
| Connection | DisplayPort + USB |
Pricing and Availability
The Bigscreen Beyond 2e is priced at $1,219 USD, excluding the optional audio strap and required SteamVR base stations. The non-eye-tracking Beyond 2 is available for $1,019 USD.
Owners of the original Beyond can upgrade to the Beyond 2 for $489. Customers who ordered the original Beyond but had not yet received their headset received a free upgrade to the Beyond 2.[5]
Reception
The Bigscreen Beyond 2 and 2e have received positive reviews from the VR community:
Praise:
- Exceptional image quality with micro-OLED displays
- Perfect blacks and vibrant colors
- Significantly improved field of view over original
- Manual IPD adjustment addresses major criticism
- Reduced glare compared to original
- Ultra-lightweight design for comfort
Criticism:
- No built-in audio
- Requires external SteamVR base stations
- Higher total system cost when including base stations
- Eye tracking foveated rendering not yet implemented
Road to VR called the Beyond 2 "the most interesting and promising new dedicated PC VR headset to come out in years."[2]
VRChat Edition
A special VRChat Edition of the Beyond 2e features:
- Translucent purple casing
- Exclusive in-game VRChat stickers
- Exclusive VRChat profile badges
See Also
References
- ↑ "Bigscreen Beyond 2 headset debuts with micro-OLED, weighing only 107g". FlatpanelsHD. https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1742549361.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Bigscreen Beyond 2 Review - Refining A Winning Formula". MRTV. https://mrtv.co/2025/04/bigscreen-beyond-2-review-refining-a-winning-formula/.
- ↑ "Bigscreen Beyond 2: Very light VR headset features micro-OLED displays". NotebookCheck. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Bigscreen-Beyond-2-Very-light-VR-headset-features-micro-OLED-displays.999151.0.html.
- ↑ "Bigscreen Beyond 2e: Full Specification". VRcompare. https://vr-compare.com/headset/bigscreenbeyond2e.
- ↑ "Bigscreen Beyond 2: A Game-Changer for PC VR Enthusiasts". XR Headlines. https://xrheadlines.com/bigscreen-beyond-2-a-game-changer-for-pc-vr-enthusiasts/.