Pico G3
More actions
| PICO G3 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR, Enterprise VR |
| Platform | PICO OS |
| Developer | ByteDance |
| Manufacturer | PICO |
| Announcement Date | 12 April 2023 (Laval Virtual) |
| Release Date | 2023 (pre-orders from 12 April 2023; shipping announced for early May 2023) |
| Price | €399 excluding VAT (launch price, Europe) |
| Website | https://www.picoxr.com/global/products/g3 |
| Predecessor | Pico G2 4K |
| System | |
| Operating System | Android 10 (PICO OS) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 |
| CPU | Kryo 585, 8 cores, 64-bit, 2.84 GHz, 7 nm |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 128 GB, UFS 3.1 |
| Memory | 6 GB LPDDR4x, 2133 MHz |
| Display | |
| Display | LCD (single 5.5-inch SFR TFT panel) |
| Resolution | 3664×1920 (combined), 773 PPI |
| Refresh Rate | 72 Hz, 90 Hz (dynamic) |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 98° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel (PMMA) |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Manual, three positions: 58 mm, 63.5 mm (default), 69 mm |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 3DoF (head rotation only) |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Dual stereo speakers, one on each side |
| Microphone | Dual microphones |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C |
| Ports | 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 |
| Power | Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, USB PD 3.0 |
| Battery Capacity | 5300 mAh |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | 86 (length) × 166 (width) × 90 (height) |
| Weight | 604 g (total) |
| Input | One PICO G3 controller (3DoF) |
The PICO G3 is a 3DoF (3 Degrees of freedom) standalone virtual reality head-mounted display developed by PICO (a ByteDance subsidiary), announced at Laval Virtual in April 2023. PICO describes it as the first 3DoF all-in-one VR headset equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 platform.[1] It was designed specifically for enterprise applications in education, healthcare, training, and marketing.[2] It succeeds the Pico G2 4K; The Ghost Howls noted that the G3 has a more advanced processor, more RAM and a larger battery than the G2 4K.[3]
The headset tracks only head rotation and comes with a single 3DoF controller.[4] Its launch price was €399 excluding VAT, and it was sold to business customers rather than consumers.[3] As of September 2026, PICO's global website still has a product page for the G3.[1]
History and development
PICO unveiled the G3 at Laval Virtual 2023 as an enterprise-focused 3DoF headset. Writing about the launch, The Ghost Howls noted that 3DoF had disappeared from the consumer market in favor of 6DoF headsets, while companies in sectors such as multimedia, training, education and marketing still used hundreds of 3DoF headsets.[3] The Laval Virtual conference took place at Espace Mayenne in France from 12 to 14 April 2023.[5]
Pre-orders opened on 12 April 2023 through the PICO Enterprise Channel and resellers, with shipping announced for early May 2023.[2][3] The European reseller VR Expert took pre-orders from 12 April until mid-May 2023.[6] At the launch, Oliver Wöhler, PICO's Enterprise Lead for EMEA, said: "The G3 offers businesses a more powerful headset via a secure and trusted platform with world-class support, allowing them to realize their potential at an affordable price with a next-generation headset."[2]
VR Expert described the G3 as "the most powerful 3DOF VR headset on the Enterprise VR market", noting that it uses the same processor that powers most 6DoF standalone VR headsets.[6] MIXED suggested that one reason for choosing 3DoF could be the frequent use of PICO's G series in kiosk mode for one-off applications such as demonstrations and trade shows, where ease of use and fast content delivery matter.[2]
PNY sells the headset under part number PHS-G3-E09272H.[7] VR Expert also sells a variant called the G3+ (G3 Plus), which has 256 GB of storage, double that of the standard G3, and a silicone strap intended for environments with strict hygiene standards such as clean rooms.[8]
Design and hardware
Display
The G3 has a single 5.5-inch SFR TFT LCD panel with a combined resolution of 3664×1920 and a pixel density of 773 PPI.[4] The refresh rate can be changed dynamically between 72 Hz and 90 Hz, adjusting to the requirements of different applications.[1][9] The Fresnel lenses are made of PMMA, and PICO lists a 98° field of view.[4] According to a PICO product brochure, the lens set suppresses distortion and dispersion and corrects the halo effect that stray light causes in ordinary Fresnel lenses in dark environments.[9] A low blue light mode is certified by TÜV.[4]
Interpupillary distance is set manually with a three-position lens adjustment: 58 mm, 63.5 mm (the default) and 69 mm.[4] In his announcement coverage, the writer of The Ghost Howls noted that some visual specifications are slightly lower than those of the G2 4K on paper, citing a smaller field of view (98° versus 101°) and a lower per-eye resolution.[3]
Processing
The G3 is the first 3DoF headset with the Snapdragon XR2, according to PICO, which describes the chip as delivering "superior performance along with exceptional power efficiency".[1] PICO's specification sheet lists a Qualcomm XR2 with eight Kryo 585 cores at up to 2.84 GHz on a 7 nm process, 6 GB of LPDDR4x RAM at 2133 MHz, and 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage.[4] PICO says the memory lets the headset run multiple apps and resources at once.[1] The headset has a built-in fan to keep CPU performance stable when running VR applications.[9]
Battery
The 5300 mAh battery supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 and USB PD 3.0 charging.[4] It sits at the back of the head strap, where it acts as a counterweight for a balanced design.[1] PNY lists a runtime of 2.0 to 2.5 hours.[7]
Build and comfort
PICO states that the G3 is designed for prolonged wear. It has soft straps that hold the headset firmly in place, a rear-mounted battery as a counterweight, and a removable PU foam pad that is easy to clean. The headset can be worn with glasses.[1] PICO lists a total weight of 604 g and dimensions of 86 (length) × 166 (width) × 90 (height).[4] PNY lists a magnetic PU face cushion.[7]
Audio and connectivity
The G3 has dual stereo speakers, one on each side, dual microphones and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Wireless connectivity is Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.[4]
Tracking and input
The G3 uses 3DoF tracking: it tracks head rotation (pitch, yaw and roll) only, with no positional (6DoF) tracking. It ships with one 3DoF controller.[4][3] According to the user guide, the box contains the headset, the controller, two alkaline batteries, a USB-C to C 2.0 data cable and the guide; the batteries are installed in the controller, while the headset battery is not user-removable.[10]
Enterprise features
PICO Business Suite
The built-in PICO Business Suite app gives administrators extra settings and configurations for system functions, including Sync, Streaming, Kiosk Mode and customized themes.[1][9] The brochure lists customizing the home screen, enabling kiosk mode, and controlling and streaming content among multiple devices.[9] PICO also offers the PICO Business Store, which hosts only enterprise-oriented VR applications and services.[3] XR Today reported that the store offers applications for vertical markets, including collaboration, education and healthcare.[5]
For deploying multiple devices and content within IT infrastructure, PICO says the G3 is compatible with a wide range of mobile device management (MDM) partners.[9] On 26 July 2023, the MDM provider ArborXR added remote control of PICO firmware updates for the PICO Neo 3 Pro, PICO 4 Enterprise and PICO G3.[11]
Developer SDK
The G3 has a dedicated enterprise SDK with more low-level features than the consumer SDK, giving businesses greater control over the headset.[3] PICO lists the G3 as compatible with the G2 4K SDK.[1] VR Expert states that the enterprise SDK supports development with Unity, Unreal Engine, OpenXR and WebXR.[12]
The PICOEnterprise plugin of PICO's Unreal Integration SDK lists the G3 among the enterprise devices it supports.[13] PICO Unity OpenXR SDK 1.2.0, released on 26 December 2023, added support for developing apps for PICO G3 devices.[14]
Security
The G3 uses ARM TrustZone technology for higher kernel security.[3] PICO's brochure also describes device-side data security (PICO OS supports Android-based encryption), online service and data security, and defined policies for managing upgrades, patches and incident responses.[9]
Software
The G3 runs a new version of PICO OS, based on Android 10.[1][4] PICO says the new OS supports migrating existing apps to the G3 with full compatibility.[1]
Target markets
PICO aimed the G3 at businesses in education, healthcare, training and marketing.[2] XR Today reported that PICO's developer portal gives designers tools, resources and technical support for building custom VR applications for uses such as training, events and branded experiences.[5]
Comparison with G2 4K
| Feature | Pico G2 4K | Pico G3 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 835[15] | Snapdragon XR2[4] |
| RAM | 4 GB[15] | 6 GB[4] |
| Storage | 32 GB[15] | 128 GB[4] |
| Resolution (combined) | 3840×2160[15] | 3664×1920[4] |
| Field of view | 101°[16] | 98°[4] |
| Refresh rate | 75 Hz[15] | 72/90 Hz (dynamic)[1] |
The Pico G2 4K Enterprise, a 2020 variant of the G2 4K, has 128 GB of storage.[16]
Reception
Skarredghost of The Ghost Howls wrote that the G3 showed that 3DoF virtual reality was "still relevant enough" for a major manufacturer to develop new products, but noted its slightly weaker visual specifications than the G2 4K and said a headset "can't be judged on paper".[3]
MIXED described the G3 as "not technically up to date", pointing out that PICO had chosen a 3DoF headset priced about the same as its own 6DoF Pico 4, which also has a more attractive form factor.[2] XR Today wrote that the G3 improves on the previous model's specifications, but that the Pico 4 Enterprise "dwarfs the features and form factor" of the G3.[5]
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 "PICO G3 3DoF All-in-One Enterprise VR Headset with XR2 Chipset". PICO Global. PICO. https://www.picoxr.com/global/products/g3. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Benjamin Danneberg (2023-04-12). "Pico G3 VR headset unveiled". MIXED. https://mixed-news.com/en/vr-headset-pico-g3-info/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 Skarredghost (2023-04-13). "Pico announces G3 headset and gives new life to 3DOF". The Ghost Howls. https://skarredghost.com/2023/04/13/pico-g3-announced/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 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 "PICO G3 Specs". PICO Global. PICO. https://www.picoxr.com/global/products/g3/specs. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Rory Greener (2023-04-13). "Pico Debut G3 VR Headset for Enterprise". XR Today. https://www.xrtoday.com/virtual-reality/pico-debut-g3-vr-headset-for-enterprise/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Jakob (2023-04-12). "Pico announces the Pico G3 all-in-one 3DoF VR headset". VRX. VR Expert. https://vrx.vr-expert.com/pico-announces-pico-g3-3dof-vr-headset/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "PICO G3 - Virtual Reality Headset". PNY Pro. PNY Technologies. https://www.pny.com/pico-g3. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "Buy the Pico G3+". VR Expert. https://vr-expert.com/en-us/vr-headsets/pico-g3-plus/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 "PICO G3: 3DoF Enterprise-Grade All-in-One VR Headset (product brochure)". PNY. PICO Immersive. 2024. https://www.pny.com/file%20library/company/support/product%20brochures/pico/pico-g3/english/pico-g3-product-brochure.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "PICO G3 Series VR Headset with Controller User Guide". Adorama (Manuals+ copy). PICO. https://www.adorama.com/col/productManuals/PICSG3E9272H.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "New in ArborXR: Save Bandwidth with Differential Updating, PICO Firmware, and More". ArborXR Updates. ArborXR. 2023-07-26. https://updates.arborxr.com/announcements/new-in-arborxr-save-bandwidth-with-differential-updating-pico-firmware-and-more. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "Buy the Pico G3". VR Expert. https://vr-expert.com/vr-headsets/buy-pico-g3/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "PICO-Unreal-Integration-SDK". GitHub. PICO Developer. https://github.com/Pico-Developer/PICO-Unreal-Integration-SDK. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "PICO Unity OpenXR SDK 1.2.0 is now available". PICO Developer. PICO. 2023-12-26. https://developer.picoxr.com/blog/v4rx0xn1/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 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.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Pico Interactive Expands G2 4K Line for Enterprise, Doubling Down on 3DoF Commitment". GlobeNewswire. Pico Interactive. 2020-07-14. https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2020/07/14/2061940/0/en/Pico-Interactive-Expands-G2-4K-Line-for-Enterprise-Doubling-Down-on-3DoF-Commitment.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.