Pico G2
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| Pico G2 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR |
| Platform | Pico Store, Viveport, Vive Wave |
| Developer | Pico VR |
| Announcement Date | 31 July 2018 |
| Release Date | 1 August 2018 (China); September 2018 (businesses worldwide, per Pico) |
| Price | CN¥1,999 (China launch price, 2018) |
| Website | https://www.pico-interactive.com/us/G2.html |
| Predecessor | Pico Goblin |
| Successor | Pico G2 4K |
| System | |
| Operating System | Android-based (listed by VR Expert as open Android 6.0) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Kryo 280 |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno 540 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 32 GB UFS 2.1 (China retail model); 64 GB in Pico's launch press release; microSD up to 256 GB |
| Memory | 4 GB LPDDR4 |
| Display | |
| Display | 3K LCD, blue ray reduction (two fast-response LCD panels) |
| Resolution | 1440 x 1600 per eye (2880 x 1600 combined) |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz, 615 ppi |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 101 degrees |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel lenses |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 3DOF |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Built-in speakers; 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Microphone | Yes |
| Camera | Monocular RGB camera on front (in the July 2018 launch announcement; Pico's later US comparison lists the camera only on the G2 Pro) |
| Connectivity | |
| Power | Rear-mounted battery in the head strap |
| Battery Capacity | 3500 mAh |
| Device | |
| Weight | 268g(w/o Band) |
| Input | 1 3DOF Controller (with trigger, powered by two AAA batteries); buttons on the headset |
The Pico G2 is a standalone 3DOF virtual reality head-mounted display made by the Chinese company Pico (Pico Interactive). "G2" stands for Goblin 2: it is the second generation of the Pico Goblin, and Pico's own product page introduced it as "the All-In-One Pico Goblin 2".[1] In China it was sold as the Pico G2 小怪兽2代 (Goblin, second generation).[2]
Pico unveiled the G2 at a press conference in Beijing on 31 July 2018. It went on sale in China the next day for 1,999 yuan, and Pico said it would ship to businesses worldwide from September 2018.[3][2] The headset uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and two LCD panels with a combined resolution of 2880 x 1600, which Pico marketed as "3K". It tracks head rotation only and comes with a single 3DOF controller.[4][5] Through a partnership with HTC Vive, it runs HTC's Vive Wave VR Open Platform and gives access to the Viveport store alongside the Pico Store.[3]
The G2 was followed by the Pico G2 4K, which Pico showed at CES in January 2019.[6]
Introduction
Pico G2, part of the Pico VR product line, stands for Pico Goblin 2, the successor to the original Pico Goblin. This device improved upon the Goblin in multiple ways:
Outside China, Pico Interactive sold the G2 to enterprise customers: Pico's US product page offered the G2 as "Available for businesses only".[1] In January 2019, UploadVR reported that Pico had recently decided to shift to a primarily enterprise-focused strategy.[6] In China, however, the headset was first sold to consumers.[5]
The Pico G2 is the first in a line of G2 headsets:
- Pico G2 Pro
- Pico G2 4K
In a comparison table on Pico's US website, the G2 and the G2 Pro both had a 3K display, a 90 Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 835 and a weight of 268 g. The G2 had 32 GB of storage and no external camera, while the G2 Pro had 64 GB and one RGB camera. The table listed the G2 4K with a 4K display, a 75 Hz refresh rate, 32 GB of storage and a weight of 276 g. Pico stated that kiosk mode, casting and broadcast control were available on all three devices and that all of them supported microSD cards of up to 256 GB.[7]
Release and pricing
Pico announced the G2 on July 31, 2018 and said it would be available to ship in September 2018.[3]
The launch event was a press conference at the Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing hotel, which Pico said was attended by nearly 500 people from the VR industry and the media.[3] OFweek reported that the event was themed "Here I Am".[2] Pico announced the headset together with a Series A funding round of 167.5 million yuan (about US$24.7 million), co-led by GF Qianhe and GF Xinde Investment, with participation from Jufeng S&T Venture Investment.[4] Pico CEO Henry Zhou said at the time: "Pico will keep focusing on all-in-one VR and will also increase its investment in 3D sensing (TOF) and AR technologies in the near future."[4]
In China, the G2 cost 1,999 yuan and went on sale on 1 August 2018 through online retailers including JD.com and Tmall.[2][8] Road to VR and UploadVR gave the price as ¥2,000 RMB, about US$290 and US$300 respectively, and both reported that the headset was not yet available in Western markets.[4][5] Pico's English-language press release said the G2 would be available from September 2018 directly from Pico to businesses and enterprises around the world, supported by its B2B support program.[3] UploadVR wrote in January 2019 that the base G2 had been unveiled the previous August.[6]
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 31 July 2018 | Launch press conference in Beijing; Series A funding announced[3][9] |
| 1 August 2018 | On sale in China at 1,999 yuan[2] |
| September 2018 | Planned start of shipments to businesses worldwide[3] |
| January 2019 | Successor Pico G2 4K shown at CES 2019[6] |
Hardware
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 XR platform (Qualcomm Kryo 280 CPU, Adreno 540 GPU)[5][8] |
| RAM | 4GB (LPDDR4-1866)[1] |
| Storage | 32GB (UFS 2.1 on the China retail model)[5][8] |
| Added Storage | Micro-SD up to 256GB[5] |
| Display | Two fast-response LCD panels, 1440 x 1600 each (2880 x 1600 combined, marketed as 3K)[8][4] |
| Pixel density | 615 ppi[1] |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz[1] |
| Field of view | 101 degrees[5] |
| Tracking | 3DOF head tracking; one 3DOF controller[4] |
| Battery | 3500 mAh, mounted in the head strap[8] |
| Weight | 268 g[1] |
The headset is counter-weighted by the battery on the back.[3][1]
Sources differ on some launch specifications. Pico's English-language press release listed "4+64GB" of memory and a 75 Hz refresh rate.[3] Road to VR, citing a company statement, also reported 4+64GB.[4] Pico's US product page, Road to VR and UploadVR all gave 90 Hz, and UploadVR and Chinese launch reports listed 32 GB of storage.[1][4][5][2] Pico's later US comparison table listed 32 GB for the G2 and 64 GB for the camera-equipped G2 Pro.[7]
Display and optics
Pico's product page describes a 3K LCD display with 1440 x 1600 resolution, a 90 Hz refresh rate, a pixel density of 615 ppi and "blue ray reduction".[1] OFweek reported that the screens carried TÜV low blue light certification.[2] According to GeekPark, Pico said the lenses used an equal groove depth design based on conventional Fresnel optics, intended to improve overall lens clarity and reduce the screen-door effect while keeping a wide field of view. GeekPark also reported that the G2 supports adaptive interpupillary distance adjustment, so the physical adjustment wheel on top of the first Goblin was removed.[8]
Weight and design
Pico says the G2 weighs 268 g, 40% less than the first Goblin, and that the counterweighted battery design makes it more comfortable to wear.[1] At the launch, Pico attributed the saving to thin-wall injection molding, aviation-grade metal and a simplified structure. GeekPark reported that the shell was 20 g lighter, the metal parts 20 g lighter and the structural parts 15 g lighter than on the Goblin, and that the G2 weighs 172 g less than its predecessor overall.[8] The 3500 mAh battery sits in the rear head strap instead of the front housing.[8] OFweek reported that the head strap was a self-adapting design that needs no adjustment, meant to spread the pressure of the headset and reduce the load on the face.[2]
GeekPark compared the one-piece body with the Oculus Go and noted that the front panel kept the fabric covering of the Goblin. The back, confirm and Home buttons are on the right side of the headset, and the volume and power buttons are underneath. The headset has built-in speakers, a microphone and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.[10]
Camera
Pico's July 2018 press release said the front of the headset has a monocular RGB camera for "pass-through" views of the surroundings and for hand gesture input in menus.[3] Road to VR reported the same from Pico's statement.[4] In Pico's later US comparison table, however, the RGB camera is listed only for the G2 Pro, and the G2 is listed without an external camera.[7]
Setup
VR Expert's comparison lists the Pico G2 as not requiring an account to get started; in the same review it notes that an account is needed to download or purchase applications from the Pico Store.[11]
The headset comes with Kiosk mode, which launches a specific application upon start-up. This may make onboarding easier within an enterprise context. [11][7]
VR Expert's comparison tables, published in its review of the Pico G2 4K, also list the G2 as having a calibration button on the headset and a plastic (PU) face cover.[11]
Input devices
Each headset comes with one, 3 degrees-of-freedom controller similar to Oculus Go or Daydream View.[5]
Compared with the Goblin's controller, the G2 controller adds a trigger button and has a revised button layout. Pico said this improves grip and makes it easier to port applications across platforms.[3] The controller runs on two AAA batteries, and its confirm button is touch-sensitive.[10]
The Pico G2 can also be controlled by looking (gaze control) instead of with the controller. [11] Because the back, confirm and Home buttons are on the headset itself, most basic operations can be done without the controller.[10]
Apps
For the G2, Pico partnered with HTC Vive to offer more content. Through Viveport, users can interact with more apps than available on the Pico Store. [1]
At launch, Chinese press reported that the Pico Store had integrated 18 major video platforms, including iQiyi, Youku and Huashu TV, and offered more than 100 compatible games, with more than 100 further games planned for 2018.[2] Pico also presented new media features with the G2: a multi-user cinema in which several users can watch together in one online theater and talk with voice, expressions and gestures, phone screen casting, 8K foveated video decoding and a giant-screen cinema mode.[8] According to GeekPark, the casting feature relies on the Lebo casting app, which must be installed on the phone and paired with the headset. It can show video from services such as Youku, iQiyi, Tencent Video, Douyu and Huya on a large virtual screen.[10]
Stores
- Pico Store
- Viveport
Developer
Pico's developer documentation includes information on the Unity and Unreal SDKs. [11]
Pico partnered with HTC Vive to expand developer resources. The Pico G2 uses the Vive Wave VR Open Platform, which Pico said makes it easier for content developers to create for a common platform.[1] According to Pico's press release, the platform "brings a consistent user experience across a variety of mobile VR headsets".[3]
VR Expert's comparison lists the Pico G2 as running open Android 6.0, with Unity and Unreal Engine SDKs available.[11]
Reception
GeekPark tried the G2 briefly at the launch event and found it more comfortable to wear than most standalone headsets on the market.[8] In a longer hands-on published on 9 August 2018, it praised the low weight, the head-strap battery and the screen casting feature, and reported that screen flicker was well controlled. It criticized the controller's accuracy calibration as not very satisfying and said details such as the buttons lacked refinement; the volume and power buttons are narrow strips with a small surface and an unsatisfying press. GeekPark concluded that the 1,999 yuan price was competitive for the hardware and features.[10]
Research use
The Pico G2 appears as the headset in several peer-reviewed studies. Some later studies used the related Pico G2 4K instead; the table lists only papers that name the Pico G2.
| Study | Field | Use of the Pico G2 |
|---|---|---|
| De La Cruz Herrera et al., PLOS One (2025)[12] | Pediatric pain and anxiety | Children in the intervention group wore Pico G2 goggles, controlled from an Android tablet, while receiving two vaccines. In the 300-child trial, 53.3% of the VR group reported no pain at the first vaccination, compared with 25.3% of the control group. |
| Szczepocka et al., BMC Psychiatry (2024)[13] | Cognitive training in older adults | The control group used a Pico G2 with an app showing nature videos, while the experimental group used a Pico Neo 3 Pro. |
| Gullo et al., Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology (2023)[14] | Procedural anxiety | The self-hypnosis device used a Samsung Gear VR headset or a Pico G2. In the 100-patient trial, 76% of the VR group and 46% of the usual-care group responded with lower anxiety. |
| Tvrtković-Hasandić and Ünal-Aydın, Behavioral Sciences (2024)[15] | Mindfulness for Internet gaming disorder | All participants used the same Pico G2 headset for four weekly 20-minute mindfulness sessions. |
| Yin et al., PLOS One (2024)[16] | Restorative landscapes | 320 participants viewed panoramic photos of autumn landscapes through a Pico G2. |
| Rosenkjær et al., Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (2022)[17] | Reproductive medicine | A Pico G2 presented videos to sperm donors at four locations in Denmark, compared with a touch screen monitor. |
Images
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 "Pico G2 - All-In-One VR taken to the next level". Pico Interactive. Pico Interactive. http://web.archive.org/web/20191214233330/https://www.pico-interactive.com/us/G2.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Pico小怪兽2 VR一体机发布 搭载骁龙835 售价1999元". OFweek. 2018-08-01. https://wearable.ofweek.com/2018-08/ART-8220-5010-30253518.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 "The New Generation of VR is Here. Introducing the All-in-One Pico G2, the Most Powerful Lightweight Headset Yet.". Newswire. Pico Interactive. 2018-07-31. https://www.newswire.com/news/the-new-generation-of-vr-is-here-introducing-the-all-in-one-pico-g2-20583167. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Scott Hayden (2018-08-01). "Pico Raises $24M Series A Funding, Goblin 2 Standalone Headset Announced". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/pico-raises-24m-series-funding-round-goblin-2-standalone-headset-announced/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 David Jagneaux (2018-08-07). "Pico Announces Goblin 2 Standalone VR Headset Amid $24.7M Series A". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/pico-announces-goblin-2-standalone-vr-headset-amid-24-7m-series-a/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 David Jagneaux (2019-01-13). "CES 2019: Hands-On With Pico's G2 4K Enterprise Standalone VR Headset". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/ces-pico-g2-4k/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Product comparison table: Pico G2 4K, Pico G2 Pro and Pico G2 (archived January 2020)". Pico Interactive. Pico Interactive. http://web.archive.org/web/20200107202806/https://www.pico-interactive.com/us/common/prod_compare_table.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 豆腐店店长丶 (2018-07-31). "除了只有 268g 的重量，Pico G2 VR 一体机还带来了一个很有创意的设计". GeekPark. https://www.geekpark.net/news/231528. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "Leading VR Brand Pico Completes $24.7 Million RoundA Financing, Breaking VR Capital Freeze". PR Newswire. Pico Interactive. 2018-07-31. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leading-vr-brand-pico-completes-24-7-million-rounda-financing-breaking-vr-capital-freeze-300689536.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 豆腐店店长丶 (2018-08-09). "Pico G2 VR 一体机体验：大幅减重，还带来了一个很棒的功能". GeekPark. https://www.geekpark.net/news/231763. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 "Pico G2 4K VR Headset Review". VR Expert. 2020-03-15. http://web.archive.org/web/20210730170419/https://vr-expert.com/news/pico-g2-4k-vr-headset-review/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ M. De La Cruz Herrera, A. Fuster-Casanovas, Q. Miró Catalina, et al. (2025). "Use of virtual reality in the reduction of pain after the administration of vaccines among children in primary care centers in Central Catalonia: Randomized clinical trial". PLOS One, vol. 20, no. 5, e0322840. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322840. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ E. Szczepocka, Ł. Mokros, J. Kaźmierski, et al. (2024). "Virtual reality-based training may improve visual memory and some aspects of sustained attention among healthy older adults - preliminary results of a randomized controlled study". BMC Psychiatry, vol. 24, no. 1, 347. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05811-2. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ G. Gullo, D. C. Rotzinger, A. Colin, et al. (2023). "Virtually Augmented Self-Hypnosis in Peripheral Vascular Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial". Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 786-793. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-023-03394-1. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ S. Tvrtković-Hasandić, P. Ünal-Aydın (2024). "Investigating the Effectiveness of a Virtual-Reality-Based Mindfulness Intervention on Internet Gaming Disorder". Behavioral Sciences, vol. 14, no. 12, 1137. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14121137. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ M. Yin, K. Li, Z. Xu, R. Jiao, W. Yang (2024). "Exploring the impact of autumn color and bare tree landscapes in virtual environments on human well-being and therapeutic effects across different sensory modalities". PLOS One, vol. 19, no. 4, e0301422. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301422. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ D. Rosenkjær, A. Pacey, R. Montgomerie, A. B. Skytte (2022). "Effects of virtual reality erotica on ejaculate quality of sperm donors: a balanced and randomized controlled cross-over within-subjects trial". Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, vol. 20, no. 1, 149. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01021-1. Retrieved 2026-09-28.