Pico 4 Pro
| Pico 4 Pro | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR |
| Platform | PICO OS |
| Developer | ByteDance |
| Manufacturer | PICO |
| Release Date | April 2023 |
| Price | ¥3,799 CNY (~$552 USD) |
| Website | https://www.picoxr.com/ |
| Predecessor | Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye |
| Successor | Pico 4 Ultra |
| System | |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Memory | 8 GB LPDDR5 |
| Display | |
| Display | 2× LCD |
| Resolution | 2160×2160 per eye |
| Refresh Rate | 72 Hz, 90 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 105° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Pancake |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 62-72mm (automatic) |
| Passthrough | Color (RGB camera) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | Inside-out 6DoF (4 cameras) |
| Eye Tracking | Yes |
| Face Tracking | Yes |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Built-in speakers |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C |
| Device | |
| Weight | ~295g (headset only) |
The PICO 4 Pro is a standalone virtual reality head-mounted display developed by PICO (a ByteDance subsidiary), released in April 2023 exclusively in China. It is an enhanced version of the Pico 4 that adds eye tracking with automatic IPD adjustment, face tracking for avatar expressions, doubled storage (512 GB), and upgraded LPDDR5 memory. The Pico 4 Pro was the first consumer PICO headset to include both eye and face tracking capabilities.
History and Development
PICO launched the Pico 4 Pro in April 2023 as a premium upgrade to the standard Pico 4. The headset was designed to compete with high-end standalone VR experiences by incorporating eye tracking and face tracking technologies previously found only in enterprise or PC VR headsets. The Pro model was released exclusively in the Chinese market and was not made available in Western markets.[1]
The addition of eye tracking enabled automatic IPD adjustment, optimizing the lens-to-pupil distance for each user automatically, while face tracking allowed for more expressive avatar animations in social VR applications.[2]
Design and Hardware
Display
The Pico 4 Pro uses the same display system as the standard Pico 4:
- Dual LCD panels
- 2160×2160 resolution per eye (over 2K)
- 1200 PPI pixel density
- 72 Hz and 90 Hz refresh rates
- 105° field of view
- Pancake optical lenses for clearer image
- ~20 pixels per degree
Processing
- Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor
- 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM (upgraded from LPDDR4X)
- 512 GB storage (doubled from standard Pico 4's 256 GB)
Eye Tracking
Key differentiating feature from the standard Pico 4:
- High-frequency eye tracking sensors
- Decodes eye movements for VR applications
- Automatic IPD adjustment: Optimally adjusts lens distance based on pupil position
- Enables foveated rendering for performance optimization
- Works as additional input modality in supported apps
Face Tracking
The Pico 4 Pro includes face tracking capability:
- Real-time facial expression capture
- Avatar expressions reflect user's actual expressions
- Enhanced social VR presence
- "Truly brings your avatar to life"
Tracking
- Indoor-outdoor 6DoF tracking
- Multiple positioning cameras for 360° movement
- Front RGB camera for color passthrough
- Supports mixed reality experiences
Battery
- 6070 mAh battery (larger than standard Pico 4)
- Extended usage time compared to base model
- USB-C charging
Build
- Same form factor as Pico 4
- Pancake optics for compact design
- ~295g headset weight (without strap)
- Balanced weight distribution
Features
Color Passthrough
- Front RGB camera for see-through view
- Full color passthrough without removing headset
- Mixed reality development support
Automatic IPD
The eye tracking enables fully automatic IPD adjustment, eliminating the need for manual calibration and ensuring optimal image quality for each user.
Social VR Enhancement
Face tracking enables more natural avatar expressions in social VR applications, making virtual interactions more lifelike.
Comparison with Pico 4
| Feature | Pico 4 | Pico 4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~€429 EUR | ¥3,799 CNY (~$552) |
| Storage | 128/256 GB | 512 GB |
| Memory | LPDDR4X | LPDDR5 |
| Eye Tracking | No | Yes |
| Face Tracking | No | Yes |
| Automatic IPD | No | Yes (via eye tracking) |
| Battery | 5300 mAh | 6070 mAh |
| Availability | Global (excl. US) | China only |
Reception
Praise:
- Eye tracking with automatic IPD adjustment
- Face tracking for expressive avatars
- Doubled storage (512 GB)
- Upgraded LPDDR5 memory
- Larger battery capacity
- Same comfortable pancake design
Criticism:
- China-only availability
- Higher price than standard Pico 4
- Same XR2 processor (not XR2 Gen 2)
- Limited app support for eye/face tracking features[3]
See Also
References
- ↑ "Pico 4 Pro headset launched with eye and face-tracking functions". TechNode. https://technode.com/2023/04/20/pico-4-pro-headset-launched-with-eye-and-face-tracking-functions/.
- ↑ "Pico 4 Pro: Full Specification". VRcompare. https://vr-compare.com/headset/pico4pro.
- ↑ "PICO 4". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PICO_4.