Pico G2 4K
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| 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)[1] |
| Release Date | March 2019 (Pico's product timeline)[2] |
| Website | https://www.picoxr.com/jp/products/g2-4k |
| Versions | G2 4K; related G2 4K S and G2 4K Enterprise variants |
| Requires | Standalone computing; no external PC for native applications |
| Predecessor | Pico G2[3] |
| System | |
| Operating System | Pico OS; Android 8.1 in Pico's Japan specification[4] |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835[4] |
| CPU | Eight Kryo 280 cores, up to 2.45 GHz[4] |
| GPU | Adreno 540[5] |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 64 GB in Pico's Japan listing; 32 GB reported at announcement[4][1] |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM[4] |
| SD Card Slot | microSD, up to 256 GB[4] |
| Display | |
| Display | One 5.5-inch TFT LCD[4] |
| Subpixel Layout | RGB (manufacturer description)[3] |
| Resolution | 3840 × 2160 panel; nominally 1920 × 2160 per eye[4] |
| Pixel Density | 818 PPI (panel)[4] |
| Refresh Rate | 75 Hz[4] |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 101° (manufacturer figure; axis unspecified)[4] |
| Optics | |
| Optics | PMMA Fresnel lenses[4] |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 3DoF, inertial[4] |
| Tracking Frequency | 1 kHz sensor sampling (manufacturer figure)[4] |
| Base Stations | Not required for inertial orientation tracking |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes (3DoF)[2] |
| Positional Tracking | No (3DoF)[2] |
| Play Space | Stationary use; seated in the documented EaseVRx configuration[6] |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Integrated stereo speakers[4] |
| Microphone | Dual omnidirectional microphones; manufacturer lists noise cancellation[4] |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Yes, stereo[4] |
| Camera | No front camera on standard G2 4K; Enterprise variant differs[4] |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 4.2[4] |
| Ports | USB-C, microSD, 3.5 mm audio[4][7] |
| Wireless Video | Miracast listed in Pico's 2021 brochure[2] |
| WiFi | 2.4/5 GHz, 2×2 MIMO, 802.11b/g/n/ac[4] |
| Bluetooth | 4.2[4] |
| Power | Rear-mounted rechargeable battery[4][6] |
| Battery Capacity | 4200 mAh in Pico's Japan listing[4] |
| Battery Life | About 2.5 hours of content in AppliedVR's configuration; estimate[7] |
| Charge Time | About 2 hours from empty in AppliedVR's guide; estimate[7] |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | 89 × 172 × 93 mm (length × width × height; Japan listing)[4] |
| Weight | 276 g without straps; 470 g total (Japan listing)[4] |
| Material | Fabric straps; microfiber fabric and foam face interface (standard model)[4] |
| Headstrap | Adjustable fabric straps; rear battery[4][7] |
| Sensors | Nine-axis inertial sensor; face proximity sensor[4] |
| Input | One 3DoF controller; headset buttons; application-specific head-directed selection[4][7] |
The Pico G2 4K is a standalone virtual reality headset developed by Pico Interactive. Announced around CES in January 2019, it combines a 3840 × 2160 LCD with three degrees of freedom (3DoF) head tracking and a single orientation-tracked controller. Its computing hardware is built into the headset, while its battery sits at the rear of the straps. Pico marketed the device for media and enterprise applications, including deployments that could operate without the handheld controller.[1][2]
The standard G2 4K should be distinguished from the later G2 4K S and G2 4K Enterprise. Specifications also differ between announcement reporting, later regional listings and customized application packages. In particular, 4K describes the panel's total resolution, and the often quoted front-unit weight excludes the complete strap and rear-battery assembly.[4][1][8]
History and variants
Pico's 2021 company brochure dates its founding in China to 2015 and places the G2 4K's launch in March 2019. Its predecessor, the G2, had been announced in July 2018 with a display marketed as 3K and enterprise shipments planned for September. The G2 4K increased display resolution while retaining 3DoF head and controller tracking. ByteDance acquired Pico in 2021; a company representative confirmed the acquisition to Caixin on 30 August.[2][3][9][10]
UploadVR's contemporary announcement report, published on 3 January 2019, described a planned U.S. release in the first half of that year and said that pricing had not yet been announced. That report listed 32 GB of storage; Pico's 2021 brochure and Japan specification list a 64 GB standard G2 4K.[1][2][4]
On 14 July 2020, Pico announced two additional models. The G2 4K S increased storage to 128 GB and was advertised with a battery 20% larger than the original G2 4K's. The G2 4K Enterprise added a 16-megapixel RGB camera and a polyurethane face interface intended for cleaning between users. The announcement priced the S at US$375 and the Enterprise at US$449, with Enterprise availability then planned for the third quarter of 2020. Those were variant-specific announcement prices, rather than a verified launch price for the standard model.[8]
Design and intended operation
The G2 4K combines its display, processor and storage in an all-in-one device. Its 3DoF design tracks changes in viewing direction, rather than the user's position in a room. Applications can therefore respond to looking around, selecting with a pointer or watching panoramic content, but do not gain room-scale head-position tracking from the headset's standard inertial tracking system. Pico's 2021 product brochure positioned the G2 4K alongside its separate 6DoF Neo 2 products.[2]
Pico's Japan listing specifies a fabric strap and a microfiber-covered foam face interface for the standard model. It lists the Enterprise's silicone strap and molded polyurethane interface separately. The rear battery distributes some of the worn assembly's mass behind the head; Pico describes this arrangement as a weight-balancing design. This manufacturer description does not establish a measured comfort advantage for every user.[4]
Display
The headset uses one 5.5-inch TFT LCD with a total resolution of 3840 × 2160, a panel density of 818 pixels per inch and a 75 Hz refresh rate. Splitting the panel equally between the two eyes gives a nominal 1920 × 2160 pixels per eye; that figure describes the panel allocation, rather than a guarantee that applications render at that resolution. Pico describes the display's subpixel layout as RGB.[4][3]
The Japanese product page also advertises panoramic image and video input up to 12K and an 8K adaptive foveated-rendering feature. These are descriptions of media handling and software optimization: the physical display remains 3840 × 2160. The page places experimental visual options in the Labs area of PICO UI 3.0.[3]
Optics and field of view
Pico specifies PMMA Fresnel lenses and a 101° field of view, without identifying the measurement axis on its Japan specification page. The panel's PPI value is a physical pixel-density specification; it does not establish angular resolution or a uniform pixels-per-degree figure across the view.[4]
In the customized EaseVRx configuration, an FDA device review lists a default interpupillary distance of 63 mm. That configuration-specific value does not establish a physically adjustable lens-spacing range for the standard headset. AppliedVR's G2 4K guide describes wearing glasses inside the headset and adjusting the straps to fit.[6][7]
Processing and storage
The G2 4K uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 system-on-chip. Pico specifies eight Kryo 280 CPU cores, a maximum CPU frequency of 2.45 GHz and 4 GB of LPDDR4X memory. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 product brief identifies its graphics processor as the Adreno 540. Features supported by the underlying chip do not, by themselves, establish which interfaces or functions Pico implemented in the headset.[4][5]
Storage requires a dated configuration reference. UploadVR reported 32 GB at the January 2019 announcement, while Pico's 2021 brochure and its Japan specification identify a 64 GB G2 4K. The latter lists UFS 2.1 storage and microSD expansion up to 256 GB, allowing local application and media files to be carried on the device.[1][2][4]
Tracking
Head tracking measures orientation in three degrees of freedom. The Japan specification lists a nine-axis inertial sensor sampled at 1 kHz and a face proximity sensor. Sensor sampling frequency is distinct from the LCD's 75 Hz refresh rate and from an application's frame rate. The standard model has no front camera in Pico's specification; the front RGB camera belongs to the Enterprise variant.[4]
Orientation tracking supports turning the head to inspect a scene from a fixed virtual viewpoint. It does not track changes in head position caused by walking or leaning, as a 6DoF system would. The accompanying controller is also 3DoF, so its tracked orientation supplies pointing input rather than a measured hand position in the room.[2]
Controller and headset input
Pico lists one 3DoF controller. AppliedVR's guide shows a touchpad, an index-finger trigger and Home, Menu and volume controls. The headset itself also has selection and navigation buttons. In that provider's software, holding Home recenters the view, and the optional controller uses two AAA batteries.[4][7]
Controller-free operation depends on the application. AppliedVR's guide describes moving a selection cursor by turning the head and choosing an item either with a headset button or by dwelling on it for about two seconds. This is head-directed selection, rather than a measurement of eye movements. The guide documents a provider-specific interface, so its selection timing and button behavior should not be assumed for every G2 4K application.[7]
Audio and connectivity
The headset has integrated stereo speakers, a 3.5 mm stereo headphone connection and two omnidirectional microphones, for which Pico lists noise cancellation. Its wireless interfaces are 2.4/5 GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi with 2×2 MIMO and Bluetooth 4.2. A USB-C connection supports USB 3.0 data transfer; Pico also lists USB OTG functions with an adapter.[4]
Pico's 2021 brochure lists Miracast screen casting. The USB-C data connection and this historical casting support do not establish compatibility with a particular PC VR streaming application or a wired display input.[2][4]
Battery, dimensions and fit
Pico's Japan specification lists a 4200 mAh battery and dimensions of 89 × 172 × 93 mm, in length × width × height order. It gives a standard G2 4K weight of 276 g without straps and 470 g in total. The FDA's review of the customized EaseVRx device instead lists 278 g without the headband and the same 470 g total. These front-unit figures should not be compared with another headset's complete worn weight.[4][6]
AppliedVR estimates about 2.5 hours of content playback and about two hours to charge a fully depleted headset in its G2 4K guide. Those are provider estimates for its configuration, rather than measured runtime for every application or battery condition. Although Pico's 2021 brochure calls the battery serviceable, AppliedVR's guide instructs users to leave battery servicing to authorized personnel; it does not describe a user-swappable battery.[7][2]
The standard model uses adjustable fabric straps and a rear battery housing. AppliedVR's fitting instructions describe adjusting the side straps and accommodating glasses. A fabric strap assembly should not be described as a rigid halo headband solely because it carries a battery at the rear.[4][7]
Software and deployment
The G2 4K runs Pico's Android-based software; the Japan specification lists Android 8.1. Pico's 2021 brochure documented a Pico Store, Unity, Unreal and native Android development through the Pico SDK, and Vive Wave SDK support. It also listed Firefox Reality and WebXR at that time. These dated ecosystem listings do not establish the current availability of every named application or compatibility with current engine releases.[4][2]
Pico's kiosk-mode documentation distinguishes several system versions and setup methods. It describes configuring a custom launcher on G2 4K with PUI 4.0 or later and setting a home-screen application through Business Settings version 1.1.3 or later. Its separate ADB launcher method lists G2 4K support from PUI 3.11.3. These options allow a deployment to open a selected application instead of the normal launcher, subject to the documented software version and configuration.[11]
As inspected on 15 October 2026, the PICO Unreal Integration SDK 3.4.0 overview still listed G2 4K, G2 4K E and G2 4K Plus under the PICOEnterprise plugin, with system version 4.0.3 or later. That listing concerns enterprise interfaces within the integration package; it should not be read as support for all features offered by its other plugins on this older headset.[12]
Production and third-party support
Distributor VR Expert reported that the G2 4K line would reach the end of production in the first quarter of 2023. This is a dated distributor report. Separately, ManageXR's device policy states that its support for G2 and G2 4K variants entered long-term support on 1 June 2026, receiving critical hotfixes but no new ManageXR features. ManageXR's policy describes its own management service, rather than a Pico firmware or security-update commitment.[13][14]
Applications and research
Pico's 2021 brochure described the G2 4K as a device for video-centric businesses and projects. The company also described enterprise partners' use of its hardware in medical, training, collaboration, presentation, marketing and out-of-home entertainment. For the G2 4K, local storage, head-directed interaction and kiosk configuration provide documented ways to deliver preselected content. The headset's 3DoF tracking constrains how a virtual scene can respond to physical movement; an application offering a virtual tour or training sequence does not thereby provide room-scale positional tracking.[2][7][11]
Customized therapeutic systems
The FDA's De Novo review of EaseVRx identifies its headset as an off-the-shelf Pico G2 4K, model A7510, combined with AppliedVR software and a mechanical breathing amplifier. The amplifier directs breathing sounds toward the headset microphone for use by the application. The reviewed product is a prescription behavioral-therapy system for adults with chronic lower-back pain, used as an adjunctive treatment. Its regulatory scope concerns that complete hardware-and-software system, rather than a general therapeutic indication for a stock G2 4K or arbitrary VR content.[6]
AppliedVR's manual likewise documents its own therapeutic content, head-directed menu selection and breathing-amplifier attachment. This configuration demonstrates one use of the microphone and headset controls; it does not establish that the standard headset measures respiration with a dedicated physiological sensor.[7]
Hip-arthroplasty distraction trial
Araujo-Duran and colleagues used identical Pico G2 4K headsets in a randomized trial after hip arthroplasty. The VR arm received AppliedVR relaxation or distraction content, while the comparison arm viewed two-dimensional nature footage in a virtual theater. Among 106 participants included in the primary analysis, the adjusted pain-score difference 15 minutes after treatment was −0.1 on a 0-10 scale, with a 95% confidence interval of −0.5 to 0.2. The investigators found no statistically significant difference in that primary outcome. Because both groups used the same headset, this was a comparison of content and treatment protocols in a postoperative setting, rather than a comparison of headset hardware.[15]
Home relaxation feasibility study
Humbert and colleagues loaned Pico G2 4K headsets to 40 psychiatric outpatients for a four-week observational study in 2022. A preinstalled application offered 20 selected 360° nature videos; participants were advised to use the device while seated, at least twice weekly for about 20 minutes per session. Twenty-nine completed the study and 11 dropped out. The authors emphasized the small, selected sample and absence of randomization as limitations, so the study cannot establish treatment effectiveness. Its apparatus and home-use procedure document a specific G2 4K deployment. The article received a correction in January 2024, including additions to a baseline quality-of-life table.[16][17]
Comparison with Oculus Go
Both the G2 4K and Oculus Go were standalone devices with orientation tracking and a single 3DoF controller. Oculus Go launched in May 2018 at US$199 for 32 GB and US$249 for 64 GB. The following figures describe published hardware specifications, rather than measured image quality, application performance or a price comparison at the same date.[2][18][19]
| Feature | Pico G2 4K | Oculus Go |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal per-eye panel allocation | 1920 × 2160 | 1280 × 1440 |
| Total panel resolution | 3840 × 2160 | 2560 × 1440 |
| Display | TFT LCD; RGB subpixel layout[3] | Fast-switch LCD |
| Panel pixel density | 818 PPI | 538 PPI |
| Processor | Snapdragon 835 | Snapdragon 821 |
| Head and controller tracking | 3DoF | 3DoF |
Capabilities and limitations
The G2 4K's documented capabilities include a 4K panel, expandable local storage, integrated audio and a rear battery. Its single 3DoF controller and application-specific head-directed selection support relatively simple input and content-delivery workflows. The display's 75 Hz refresh rate, panel resolution and 101° manufacturer field-of-view figure describe different aspects of the viewing system; none alone establishes perceived clarity, comfort or application performance.[4][7]
The main tracking limitation is the absence of measured head position in the standard 3DoF system. Software compatibility also needs a particular application, system version and date: the existence of historical Pico Store or SDK support does not guarantee that a current program will run on this model. Likewise, customized therapeutic systems and studies using the G2 4K do not establish clinical benefits for every use of the headset.[2][12][6][15][16]
Technical specifications summary
Unless stated otherwise, these are the standard G2 4K figures in Pico's Japan specification, inspected on 15 October 2026. They should not be substituted for the G2 4K S, Enterprise or a customized clinical configuration.[4]
| Specification | Published details |
|---|---|
| Display | One 5.5-inch TFT LCD; nominally 1920 × 2160 panel pixels per eye |
| Total resolution | 3840 × 2160 |
| Panel pixel density | 818 PPI |
| Refresh rate | 75 Hz |
| Field of view | 101°; axis unspecified |
| Processor | Snapdragon 835; eight Kryo 280 cores, up to 2.45 GHz |
| Memory and storage | 4 GB RAM; 64 GB UFS 2.1 storage; microSD up to 256 GB. The January 2019 report listed 32 GB.[1] |
| Tracking | 3DoF head and controller tracking; nine-axis inertial sensor, 1 kHz sampling |
| Battery | 4200 mAh in the Japan listing; about 2.5 hours of playback estimated in AppliedVR's configuration[7] |
| Weight | 276 g without straps; 470 g total |
| Dimensions | 89 × 172 × 93 mm (length × width × height) |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Jamie Feltham (2019-01-03). "CES 2019: Pico Reveals Standalone G2 4K VR Headset". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/ces-pico-g2-4k-vr-headset/. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 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 2.15 2.16 "Pico product brochure, Q1 2021". Pico Interactive. 2021. https://cdn.asp.events/CLIENT_Broden_M_55D4E64B_5056_B733_49FA9C1971DA8474/sites/TES-Show-2020/media/libraries/exhibitor-brochures/16450-Pico_RedboxVR_Brochure_2021.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "PICO G2 4K: All-In-One VR Headset". PICO Japan. https://www.picoxr.com/jp/products/g2-4k. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 4.36 4.37 4.38 4.39 4.40 4.41 4.42 4.43 4.44 4.45 4.46 4.47 "Product Specifications: PICO G2 4K". PICO Japan. https://www.picoxr.com/jp/products/g2-4k/specs. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform". Qualcomm Technologies. https://www.qualcomm.com/content/dam/qcomm-martech/dm-assets/documents/snapdragon_product_brief_835_0.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "De Novo Classification Request for EaseVRx: DEN210014". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/reviews/DEN210014.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 "Therapeutic VR Platform: Pico G2 4K, Version 3.0". AppliedVR. https://appliedvr.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/360103484833. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Pico Interactive Expands G2 4K Line for Enterprise, Doubling Down on 3DoF Commitment". Pico Interactive, via GlobeNewswire. 2020-07-14. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/07/14/2061940/0/en/Pico-Interactive-Expands-G2-4K-Line-for-Enterprise-Doubling-Down-on-3DoF-Commitment.html. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ "The New Generation of VR is Here. Introducing the All-in-One Pico G2, the Most Powerful Lightweight Headset Yet.". Pico Interactive, via Newswire. 2018-07-31. https://www.newswire.com/news/the-new-generation-of-vr-is-here-introducing-the-all-in-one-pico-g2-20583167. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ Ding Yi (2021-08-30). "ByteDance Acquires China’s Largest Virtual Reality Headset Maker". Caixin Global. https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-08-30/bytedance-acquires-chinas-largest-virtual-reality-headset-maker-101764003.html. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Replacing Launcher on Neo 2/G2 4K (PicoVR Kiosk Mode v4.0)". Pico Interactive. https://sdk.picovr.com/docs/KioskMode/chapter_two.html. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "PICO Unreal Integration SDK: Overview, version 3.4.0". PICO Developer. https://developer.picoxr.com/document/unreal//. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ "Pico G2 4K Goes End-of-Life in Q1 2023". VR Expert. https://vr-expert.com/news/pico-g2-4k-goes-end-of-life-in-q1-2023/. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ Brooks Filippin. "Supported Devices". ManageXR. https://help.managexr.com/en/articles/5281345-supported-devices. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Jorge Araujo-Duran et al. (2023-09-06). "Virtual reality distraction for reducing acute postoperative pain after hip arthroplasty: a randomized trial". Anesthesia & Analgesia 138 (4): 751–759. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000006642. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Annika Humbert et al. (2023-10-25). "Acceptability, feasibility, and user satisfaction of a virtual reality relaxation intervention in a psychiatric outpatient setting during the COVID-19 pandemic". Frontiers in Psychiatry 14: 1271702. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1271702. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ Annika Humbert et al. (2024-01-04). "Corrigendum: Acceptability, feasibility, and user satisfaction of a virtual reality relaxation intervention in a psychiatric outpatient setting during the COVID-19 pandemic". Frontiers in Psychiatry 14: 1358379. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1358379. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Introducing Oculus Go". Oculus. 2017-10-11. https://developers.meta.com/vr/blog/introducing-oculus-go/. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Oculus Developer News from F8 2018". Oculus. 2018-05-01. https://developers.meta.com/vr/blog/oculus-developer-news-from-f8-2018/. Retrieved 2026-10-15.