Pico Neo 3
More actions
| Pico Neo 3 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR |
| Platform | Android |
| Creator | Pico Interactive (ByteDance) |
| Developer | Pico Interactive |
| Announcement Date | April 2021 (teaser); 10 May 2021 (launch event) |
| Release Date | 11 May 2021 (China) |
| Price | 2,499 yuan (128 GB base edition), 2,699 yuan (128 GB Pioneer Edition), 2,999 yuan (256 GB Pioneer Edition); launch prices in China |
| Website | https://www.picoxr.com |
| Versions | 128 GB and 256 GB; related models Pico Neo 3 Pro, Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye, Pico Neo 3 Link |
| Predecessor | Pico Neo 2 |
| Successor | Pico 4 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Android 10 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Kryo 585, 8 cores (4 x A77, 4 x A55), up to 2.84 GHz, 7 nm |
| GPU | Adreno 650 (587 MHz) |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 128 GB or 256 GB (UFS 3.0) |
| Memory | 6 GB (LPDDR4X, 2133 MHz) |
| Display | |
| Display | Single 5.5" LCD (SFR TFT), 773 PPI |
| Resolution | 3664 x 1920 (1832 x 1920 per eye) |
| Refresh Rate | 72/90 Hz at launch; later listed by Pico as up to 120 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 98° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel lenses (PMMA) |
| IPD Range | Three physical positions: 58, 63.5 and 69 mm (Pico-stated adaptation range 54-73 mm) |
| Adjustable Diopter | No; glasses with frames narrower than 160 mm can be worn |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (inside-out, optical) |
| Eye Tracking | No (available on the Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Dual stereo speakers; 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Microphone | Dual (noise-canceling) |
| Camera | Four fish-eye monochrome tracking cameras (640 x 480 at 60 Hz, 166° field of view) |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Ports | USB-C 3.0, 3.5mm audio jack |
| Power | Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, USB PD 3.0 |
| Battery Capacity | 5300 mAh |
| Battery Life | 2.5-3 hours (manufacturer estimate) |
| Device | |
| Weight | 620 g total; 395 g without head straps |
| Material | Replaceable, washable fabric face cushion |
| Color | Black, white and gray |
| Sensors | 4 tracking cameras, 9-axis IMU (1 kHz), proximity sensor |
| Input | Two 6DoF controllers (32 optical sensors) |
The Pico Neo 3 is a standalone virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Pico Interactive, now a subsidiary of ByteDance. Pico launched it as a consumer headset in China at an event in Beijing on 10 May 2021, and sales began on JD.com the next day at 2,499 yuan for the 128 GB base model.[1] In its announcement of the enterprise versions, Pico said the consumer Neo 3 was "exclusively available in China".[2]
The Neo 3 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB or 256 GB of storage. Its single 5.5-inch LCD has a combined resolution of 3664 x 1920 (1832 x 1920 per eye) and ran at 72 Hz or 90 Hz at launch, with a 98-degree field of view.[3] It replaced the electromagnetic controller tracking of the Pico Neo 2 with four-camera inside-out tracking and optically tracked controllers with a tracking ring, similar to the Oculus Touch design.[4][5]
The Neo 3 is the base model of the Neo 3 series. The Pico Neo 3 Pro and Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye are enterprise versions that Pico sold in North America and Europe, and the Pro Eye adds integrated eye tracking from Tobii.[2] The Pico Neo 3 Link is a version of the Neo 3 that Pico sold to consumers in Europe from 2022, with a DisplayPort cable in the box for PC VR.[6][7]
History and development
Announcement
Pico first teased the Neo 3 on its official Weibo account in early April 2021, saying it would be launched at an event on 10 May at the Beijing National Aquatics Center (the "Water Cube"). Citing the Chinese VR publication Yivian, Road to VR reported that the headset in the teaser rendering appeared to have four optical sensors and a new controller resembling the Oculus Touch.[8] UploadVR noted that the Neo 2 had no such tracking ring, which pointed to a move away from its electromagnetic tracking, and that Pico had announced no plans to sell the headset outside Asia.[4]
On 13 April 2021 Pico released a short specification list: the Snapdragon XR2, a 90 Hz display, three physical IPD settings, four wide-angle cameras that Pico said provide "millimeter-level" positioning, optical controllers and a Wi-Fi 6 antenna.[8][5] Road to VR noted that the XR2 is the same chipset used in the Oculus Quest 2, and that Oculus devices could not be bought by consumers in China. Pico said at the time that its enterprise version for markets outside Asia would follow in summer 2021.[8]
2021 release
Pico released the Neo 3 series in 2021: the consumer Neo 3 in China in May, and the enterprise Neo 3 Pro and Neo 3 Pro Eye in North America and Europe in the third quarter.[2][9] The launch event took place at the Water Cube on 10 May 2021 under the theme "All IN PLAY", with close to 500 industry guests, media and early users attending. Three consumer models went on sale exclusively on JD.com at 00:00 on 11 May 2021.[1]
| Model | Storage | Launch price (China) |
|---|---|---|
| Neo 3 base edition | 128 GB | 2,499 yuan |
| Neo 3 Pioneer Edition | 128 GB | 2,699 yuan |
| Neo 3 Pioneer Edition | 256 GB | 2,999 yuan |
Buyers of the Pioneer Editions could join the "Pico Pioneer Pass 2021" program, which gave four launch games with the headset and up to ten top games for completing monthly check-ins.[1] Road to VR gave the three prices as the equivalent of about US$390, $420 and $470.[9] At launch Pico also ran a check-in rebate campaign. VRPinea reported that owners who checked in with the Neo 3 on 180 consecutive days (with up to three missed days allowed to be made up) would get half of the purchase price back.[10] Jiemian later described the requirement as logging in on 180 consecutive days and using the headset for at least half an hour each day, and reported that the finished campaign had drawn a large number of complaints.[11]
At the event, Pico chief executive Zhou Hongwei said that bringing VR to more players needed good hardware and software, enough content and an affordable price.[1] VRPinea reported that the Neo 3 was manufactured for Pico by Goertek, and that its 2,499 yuan starting price was lower than the 3,700 yuan of the earlier Pico Neo 2 Lite.[10]
ByteDance acquisition
ByteDance acquired Pico in 2021. On 30 August 2021 Road to VR reported that Pico had confirmed its acquisition by TikTok's parent company in an internal memo, as reported by the Chinese VR publication Nweon. Citing the Chinese publication VR Tuoluo, Road to VR gave the rumored price as 5 billion yuan (about US$775 million), noting that no official figure had been confirmed, and listed the Neo 3 among Pico's standalone headsets at the time.[12]
Neo 3 variants
- Neo 3 (base model)
- Neo 3 Pro (enterprise features)
- Neo 3 Pro Eye (with eye tracking)
- Neo 3 Link (PCVR-focused)
| Model | Market | Launch | Launch price | Main differences from the Neo 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pico Neo 3 | Consumers in China | 11 May 2021 | 2,499 to 2,999 yuan | Base model; soft head strap and fabric face cushion |
| Pico Neo 3 Pro | Enterprise, North America and Europe | Q3 2021 | US$699 (pre-order); 5,699 yuan in China | Hard headband, replaceable PU face cushion, DisplayPort connection for PC VR, NVIDIA CloudXR support |
| Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye | Enterprise, North America and Europe | Q3 2021 | US$899 (pre-order); 7,999 yuan in China | As Neo 3 Pro, plus Tobii eye tracking and 8 GB of RAM |
| Pico Neo 3 Link | Consumers in Europe | Pre-orders 15 April 2022, shipping from 24 May 2022 | €449; £399 in the UK | DisplayPort cable included for uncompressed wired PC VR |
Sources for the table: Pico's enterprise announcement and specification sheet, launch coverage by A9VG and VRPinea, and UploadVR's report on the Neo 3 Link.[2][3][1][10][6]
Later models
Pico announced the Pico 4 on 22 September 2022, for release on 18 October 2022 in 13 European countries, Japan and Korea, with China to follow later. Road to VR reported that Neo 3 Link owners were given early pre-order access to the new headset.[13] In April 2023 Pico announced the enterprise Pico G3, which the Chinese outlet Qingting described as essentially a 3DoF version of the Neo 3: it keeps the rounded front cover, rear battery and three-step IPD adjustment but drops the 6DoF tracking module and controllers.[14]
Design and hardware
Display system
- Panel: 5.5-inch SFR TFT LCD
- Resolution: 1832 x 1920 per eye (3664 x 1920 total)
- Pixel Density: 773 PPI
- Refresh Rate: 72 Hz or 90 Hz (adjustable)
- Field of View: 98 degrees
Pico's specification sheet lists a single 5.5-inch SFR TFT display with a resolution of 3664 x 1920 and 773 PPI, refresh rates of 72 Hz and 90 Hz with 120 Hz as a "future extension", and a 98-degree field of view.[3] Pico's Chinese Neo 3 product page later advertised a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.[15] An eye-protection mode, certified by TÜV Rheinland for low blue light, reduces blue light in software and can be switched on or off in the settings.[16] VRPinea noted that the resolution was slightly lower than that of the Pico Neo 2 Lite (3840 x 2160, 818 PPI).[10]
Optics
The Neo 3 uses Fresnel lenses made of PMMA.[3] The lens barrels have three physical IPD positions, 58 mm, 63.5 mm and 69 mm, with 63.5 mm as the default; Pico gives the resulting adaptation range as 54-73 mm.[16][15] There is no myopia adjustment. According to the user guide, the headset fits most standard glasses with frames narrower than 160 mm, and a glasses spacer can be attached to the face cushion to add room.[16]
Processor
- SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2
- CPU: 8-core at 2.84 GHz
- GPU: Adreno 650 at 587 MHz
- RAM: 6 GB LPDDR4x (2133 MHz)
- Storage: 128 GB or 256 GB UFS 3.0
The Snapdragon XR2 has eight Kryo 585 cores (four Cortex-A77 and four Cortex-A55) running at up to 2.84 GHz on a 7 nm process, with an Adreno 650 GPU at 587 MHz. The headset runs Android 10 and has a silent cooling fan with airflow designed to reduce lens fogging.[3] The launch models came with 128 GB or 256 GB of storage.[1]
Form factor
- Weight: 620 grams total; 395 grams without head straps
- Dimensions: 86 x 166 x 90mm
- Balance: Rear battery as counterweight
Pico gives the weight as 395 g without head straps and 620 g in total.[3] The front display unit and a rear battery pack balance each other.[5][15] VRPinea described the color scheme as mainly black, white and gray, and reported that the plastic headband of the Pico Neo 2 Lite was replaced by a soft strap with hook-and-loop fastening, and that the cable to the battery pack runs through the top strap.[10]
Comfort
- Soft, flexible head strap
- Replaceable and washable fabric face cushion
- Glasses spacer and light-shield nose pad included
The soft head strap makes the headset smaller to store, and the fabric face cushion can be replaced and washed. The enterprise Neo 3 Pro models use a hard headband and a PU face cushion instead.[3] The user guide gives instructions for disinfecting the face cushion with wipes or 75% alcohol, warns that repeated cleaning wears both PU and fabric cushions, and advises against washing them by hand or in a machine.[16]
Tracking
Inside-out
- 4 optical tracking cameras
- 6 degrees of freedom
- No external base stations
The headset tracks itself in six degrees of freedom with four fish-eye monochrome cameras (640 x 480 at 60 Hz, 166-degree field of view each) and does not need external base stations. Pico's specification sheet lists a guardian boundary system supporting areas of up to 10 m x 10 m and up to five saved play areas. A 9-axis inertial sensor samples at 1 kHz, and a proximity sensor detects when the headset is worn so the screen can sleep.[3] The user guide recommends a play space of at least 2 m x 2 m and warns against rooms with plain single-color walls, large glass or mirrors.[16]
Controllers
- Type: 6DoF with optical positioning
- Sensors: 32 optical tracking sensors per controller
- Haptics: Linear resonant actuators
- Power: Two AA batteries
The controllers are tracked optically through a ring of infrared sensors that the headset cameras can see across a combined field of view of 238 degrees horizontal and 195 degrees vertical. Pico's specification sheet gives a tracking accuracy of under 10 mm within 1.2 m of the headset and a tracking latency of under 20 ms. Each controller has a 6-axis motion sensor, Bluetooth 5.1, linear vibration motors rated up to 1G, a joystick, trigger, grip, app/back and home buttons plus X/Y or A/B buttons, and runs on two AA batteries for up to 100 hours. Each weighs 157 g with batteries.[3] 87870 described them as Pico's third-generation 6DoF controllers with 32 optical tracking sensors.[17]
Hand tracking
At launch, Pico said its gesture interaction system would support 28-degree-of-freedom hand tracking and that it expected to release it in the third quarter of 2021.[1][3]
Battery
Specifications
- Capacity: 5300 mAh
- Runtime: 2.5-3 hours continuous
- Charging: QC 3.0 / USB PD 3.0
Pico rates the 5300 mAh battery at 2.5-3 hours: about 3 hours of video playback or 2.5 hours of gaming.[3] The battery sits in the rear pad of the head strap.[16] VRPinea noted that the Pico Neo 2 Lite's battery pack held 4500 mAh.[10] The user guide describes the battery as non-removable and says only Pico or an authorized service provider may replace it.[16]
Audio
Speakers
Dual built-in stereo speakers. Pico's specification sheet says they support 3D spatial effects and reproduce frequencies down to 200 Hz, compared with 600 Hz on the Neo 3 Pro models.[3]
Microphones
Dual microphones with noise cancellation. Pico lists up to 30 dB of environmental noise reduction and 50 dB of echo cancellation.[3]
Jack
3.5mm audio jack for headphones.[3]
PC VR connectivity
Wireless streaming
The Neo 3 streams SteamVR content from a PC over Wi-Fi. Pico said at launch that its new wireless streaming supported H.265 decoding and the Wi-Fi 6 standard.[1] VRPinea called the feature Pico Link wireless streaming 2.0 and wrote that it was compatible with the SteamVR ecosystem.[10] 87870 reported that both wired and wireless streaming were supported, and tested wireless streaming with games including Beat Saber and Half-Life: Alyx.[17]
DisplayPort
Pico's specification sheet lists DisplayPort output as not available on the Neo 3. The Neo 3 Pro and Neo 3 Pro Eye have DisplayPort connectors and cables for a native 4K 90 Hz wired connection and support NVIDIA's Direct Mode, and the European Neo 3 Link ships with a DisplayPort cable.[3][2][6] The USB Type-C 3.0 port handles charging, data and OTG accessories.[3]
Neo 3 Pro Eye
Eye tracking
The Neo 3 Pro Eye adds eye tracking built in from Tobii, with two monochrome eye-tracking cameras, and has 8 GB of RAM instead of 6 GB.[2][3] Pico said the eye tracking would help businesses gain a deeper understanding of customers, improve training efficiency and raise productivity.[2]
Enterprise features
Applications
Pico described the Neo 3 as a consumer-only headset and marketed the Neo 3 Pro and Neo 3 Pro Eye to businesses instead. Pico's announcement for those models named uses such as training firefighters, remote collaboration for hybrid work, reducing social isolation among seniors and measuring brain health.[2]
Multi-user support
The Neo 3 Pro models have a replaceable, sterilizable PU face cushion that Pico describes as hygienic and washable, for headsets shared between users.[2]
Software and features
The Neo 3 launched with a new version of Pico's system interface (PUI) and the Pico VR Assistant phone app, which Pico describes as a one-stop platform for content, communication and service.[15] Pico also added Pico Fitness, which records play time and calories burned and supports training plans and leaderboards, and Pico Home, a virtual social space for watching videos, playing games and chatting with friends.[1]
Eight launch titles were released alongside the headset, including Contractors, Synth Riders, Eleven Table Tennis, Hyper Dash and Red Matter, and Superhot VR and OhShape were ported from the Neo 2. Pico said its store held about 70 6DoF games at launch and expected more than 200 by the end of 2021.[1] 87870 reported that the store also offered Chinese video services such as iQiyi, Youku, Tencent Video and Bilibili, and that the headset supported multiplayer video watching in a virtual cinema.[17]
The consumer Neo 3 was built for the Chinese market. The Ghost Howls reported in June 2021 that the Pico store blocked downloads outside China, that games had to be bought with Pico Coins paid through Alipay or WeChat Pay, that the software worked mainly in Mandarin, and that buyers outside China would have no support or warranty.[18]
Reception
In its early review, VRPinea found that controller tracking was slightly inaccurate and lagged a little in games, which it suggested might be because its early unit had not yet received bug-fix system updates. It considered the 2,499 yuan price attractive for Chinese buyers compared with about 2,300 yuan for an Oculus Quest 2 bought from Amazon Japan, especially with a national warranty and domestic sales channels.[10]
87870 praised the weight distribution and the nose area, which it said let in less light than the Quest 2. In its tests the headset occasionally lost the floor height after waking from standby and the controllers sometimes drifted in the same situation; 87870 wrote that Pico said these issues would be fixed in an upcoming system update. The controllers also drifted somewhat in strong light. Wireless streaming was quick to set up but occasionally stuttered.[17]
A July 2022 commentary republished by Jiemian described the Neo 3 as comfortable to wear, but reported consumer complaints about Pico's sales promotions, including the check-in rebate and a later 30-day return offer.[11]
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.5" LCD (SFR TFT) |
| Resolution | 1832 x 1920 per eye |
| PPI | 773 |
| Refresh Rate | 72/90 Hz (later up to 120 Hz) |
| FOV | 98° |
| Lenses | Fresnel (PMMA) |
| IPD | 58 / 63.5 / 69 mm |
| Processor | Snapdragon XR2 |
| RAM | 6 GB LPDDR4x |
| Storage | 128 GB or 256 GB |
| Battery | 5300 mAh (2.5-3 hrs) |
| Tracking | Inside-out 6DoF |
| Weight | 620 g (395 g without straps) |
| Price | 2,499-2,999 yuan (China, launch) |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Zenorath (2021-05-10). "新一代6DoF VR一体机Pico Neo3正式发布 售价2499元起惊爆上市". A9VG. https://www.a9vg.com/article/156543. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Pico Interactive Announces Next Gen Enterprise 6DoF Headsets: Neo 3 Pro and Neo 3 Pro Eye". GlobeNewswire. Pico Interactive. 2021-05-10. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/05/10/2226373/0/en/Pico-Interactive-Announces-Next-Gen-Enterprise-6DoF-Headsets-Neo-3-Pro-and-Neo-3-Pro-Eye.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 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 "PICO Neo 3 Series Product Comparison". PNY Technologies. Pico. https://www.pny.com/file%20library/company/support/product%20brochures/pico/pico%20neo%203/pico-neo-3-series-product-comparison.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jamie Feltham (2021-04-08). "Pico Neo 3 Is A VR Standalone With Quest-Like Controllers Coming To Asia Soon". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/pico-neo-3-quest-controllers/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Ian Hamilton (2021-04-13). "Pico Neo 3 Includes Snapdragon XR2, Optical Controllers And Physical IPD Adjustment". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/pico-neo-3-specs/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Jamie Feltham, David Heaney (2022-04-12). "Pico Neo 3 Link: €449 Standalone VR Headset Launching In Europe". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/pico-neo-3-link-europe-launch/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "PICO Neo3 Link". PICO. Pico. https://www.picoxr.com/global/products/neo3-link. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Scott Hayden (2021-04-13). "Pico Neo 3 Specs Revealed: Snapdragon XR2, Physical IPD Adjustments & More". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/pico-standalone-neo-3-headset-china/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Scott Hayden (2021-10-01). "Pico Launches Neo 3 Pro & Neo 3 Pro Eye, Serving up Strong Competition to Oculus & HTC". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/pico-neo-3-pro-eye-release-date-price/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 孜然 (2021-05-14). "评测丨剑指Quest 2，2499人民币的Pico Neo 3实力究竟如何?". VRPinea (republished on Tencent Cloud Developer Community). https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/1824959. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 佘凯文 (She Kaiwen) (2022-07-01). "Pico，能否拯救消费级VR?". Jiemian (republished from Zhineng Xiangduilun). https://www.jiemian.com/article/7680356.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Ben Lang (2021-08-30). "VR Headset Maker Pico Confirms Acquisition by TikTok Parent Company". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/bytedance-tiktok-acquire-pico-report/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Ben Lang (2022-09-22). "Pico 4 VR Headset Coming with October Release Date, Specs vs. Quest 2". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/pico-4-announcement-release-date-specs-vs-quest-2/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "PICO G3正式发布：Neo3简化版，面向企业市场". Sina Technology. Qingting. 2023-04-13. https://finance.sina.com.cn/tech/roll/2023-04-13/doc-imyqffyk6875268.shtml. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 "PICO Neo 3". PICO. Pico. 2022-11-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20221126083938/https://www.picoxr.com/cn/neo3/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 "Pico Neo 3 用户指南 (Pico Neo 3 User Guide)". PICO. Pico. https://web.archive.org/web/20230724093945/https://www.picoxr.com/cn/neo3/pdf/PicoNeo3%E7%94%A8%E6%88%B7%E6%8C%87%E5%8D%97.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "Pico Neo3评测：这就是玩家想要的VR一体机". 87870 (via NetEase). 2021-06-04. https://www.163.com/dy/article/GBLSLLS60511AEA7.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Skarredghost (2021-06-01). "Can the consumer Pico Neo 3 be used in the West?". The Ghost Howls. https://skarredghost.com/2021/06/01/consumer-pico-neo-3-west/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.