Pico Neo 3 Pro
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| Pico Neo 3 Pro | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR |
| Developer | Pico VR |
| Announcement Date | 10 May 2021 |
| Release Date | 2021 (shipping to businesses by 1 October 2021) |
| Price | US$699 (announced launch price); €600 in Europe (October 2021) |
| Website | https://www.picoxr.com/global/products/neo3-pro-eye |
| Versions | Neo 3 Pro; Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye (adds Tobii eye tracking, US$899) |
| Requires | None (standalone); optional PC for PC VR streaming |
| Predecessor | Pico Neo 2 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Android 10 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 |
| CPU | Kryo 585, 8 cores, 64-bit, up to 2.84 GHz, 7 nm process |
| GPU | Adreno 650, 587 MHz |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 256 GB UFS 3.0 |
| Memory | 6 GB LPDDR4X |
| Display | |
| Display | Single 5.5-inch SFR TFT LCD, 773 PPI |
| Resolution | 3664 x 1920 (1832 x 1920 per eye) |
| Refresh Rate | 72/90 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 98 degrees |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel lenses |
| IPD Range | 58 mm, 63.5 mm and 69 mm (three physical positions) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF, inside-out, four cameras |
| Eye Tracking | No (available on the Neo 3 Pro Eye) |
| Hand Tracking | Not built in (as of April 2022); optional Ultraleap accessory bundle |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Built-in dual stereo speakers; 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Microphone | Dual omnidirectional microphones with noise canceling |
| Camera | 4 mono fisheye cameras |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort (via Pico DP cable), USB Type-C 3.0 |
| Ports | USB Type-C 3.0, 3.5 mm jack |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 b/g/n/ac/ax), 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, 2x2 MIMO |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 |
| Power | 5300mAh battery, charging with AC adapter & USB-C cable; QC 3.0 supported |
| Battery Capacity | 5300 mAh |
| Battery Life | About 2-3 hours (Pico claim, confirmed in The Ghost Howls' tests) |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | 190 x 135 x 112 mm |
| Weight | 395 g (without straps); 673 g (total) |
| Sensors | 9-axis sensor (1 kHz sampling), face proximity sensor |
| Input | Two 6DoF optically tracked controllers with linear resonant actuators; buttons on the headset |
The Pico Neo 3 Pro is a standalone virtual reality head-mounted display for business customers, made by Pico Interactive. It uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chipset, a single 5.5-inch LCD with a combined resolution of 3664 x 1920, and inside-out tracking with four cameras for both the headset and its two optically tracked controllers.[1][2] Pico announced it on 10 May 2021 alongside the Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye, a version with Tobii eye tracking, at US$699 and US$899 respectively.[3]
The headset can also work as a PC VR headset. With a DisplayPort cable, a PC renders directly to its display, a mode whose image quality The Ghost Howls and MIXED praised in their reviews.[3][4][5] It was sold to businesses in North America and Europe; the consumer Pico Neo 3 was at first sold only in China.[3][6]
Announcement and release
On May 10, 2021, Pico Interactive announced an extension to their Neo 3 line, the Pico Neo 3 Pro and Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye. These devices are Pico's next generation of enterprise VR headsets and an upgrade from the Pico Neo 2 line.[3] Pico said they would be available in the third quarter of 2021 in western markets including North America and Europe, and that they would also be released in China.[2][6] The Neo 3 Pro was available for pre-order at US$699 and the Neo 3 Pro Eye at US$899.[3]
The enterprise options in the Neo 3 line have similar specs to the consumer-level Pico Neo 3. They have the same Snapdragon XR2 processor, Wi-Fi 6 and four cameras. At launch, the Neo 3 was only available in China, whereas the Neo 3 Pro and Neo 3 Pro Eye were sold in the West.[2] In China, Road to VR reported, the consumer Neo 3 came in three versions priced at the local equivalent of US$390, US$420 and US$470.[6] In the announcement, Pico Interactive CEO Henry Zhou linked the Neo 3 line to changing business needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, including demand for remote collaboration.[3]
In an update dated 1 October 2021, Road to VR reported that the Neo 3 Pro and Neo 3 Pro Eye had launched and were shipping to businesses worldwide. It compared their prices of US$700 and US$900 with the Oculus Quest 2 Business Edition (US$800) and the HTC Vive Focus 3 (US$1,300).[6] In Europe, The Ghost Howls reported prices of €600 for the Neo 3 Pro and €750 for the Neo 3 Pro Eye, with sales handled by Pico's sales agents rather than general retail. The DisplayPort cable for PC streaming cost €55.[5]
ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, confirmed its acquisition of Pico at the end of August 2021, shortly before the headsets shipped.[7] Pico later launched the Pico Neo 3 Link for consumers; MIXED described it as the same headset as the Neo 3 Pro with a larger app store.[4]
Neo 3 Pro and Neo 3 Pro Eye
The two models share the same body, display, chipset and storage. According to Pico's specifications, the Neo 3 Pro has 6 GB of RAM and three physical IPD positions, while the Neo 3 Pro Eye has 8 GB of RAM, two eye-tracking cameras (400 x 400 at 120 Hz) and a self-adaptive IPD range of 55-71 mm in place of the physical positions.[1] Like the Pico Neo 2 Eye, the Neo 3 Pro Eye has eye tracking from Tobii, the Sweden-based eye-tracking company.[6] The eye-tracking model is covered in its own article.
Design and hardware
Display and optics
The Neo 3 Pro has one 5.5-inch SFR TFT LCD with a resolution of 3664 x 1920 (773 PPI) and refresh rates of 72 Hz and 90 Hz. The Fresnel lenses give a 98-degree field of view, and the lenses can be set to three interpupillary distance positions: 58, 63.5 and 69 mm. Pico states that a low blue light mode, certified by TÜV Rheinland, can be turned on in the system settings.[1] In MIXED's review, 72 Hz was the default and 90 Hz had to be enabled.[4]
Computing, audio and connectivity
The headset runs Android 10 on the Snapdragon XR2 (Kryo 585 CPU at up to 2.84 GHz, Adreno 650 GPU at 587 MHz), with 6 GB of LPDDR4X memory and 256 GB of UFS 3.0 storage. It has Wi-Fi 6 with 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.1, built-in stereo speakers, two noise-canceling microphones and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The USB Type-C 3.0 port handles data transfer, OTG accessories and video output over DisplayPort. A 5300 mAh battery supports Quick Charge 3.0.[1]
Design and comfort
Like its predecessors, the Neo 3 line is counterbalanced by having the battery pack on the rear of the headset. Pico described this design as compatible with adults and children.[3] The headset weighs 395 g without straps and 673 g in total, and measures 190 x 135 x 112 mm.[1] Road to VR compared the battery strap to Oculus' Elite Battery Strap.[6]
Reviewers noted an internal fan. MIXED found it clearly audible, while The Ghost Howls said it kept the face cool but could blow into the eyes.[4][5] The Ghost Howls noted three buttons on the right side of the headset that allow a point-and-click mode without the controllers.[5]
Tracking and controllers
The Neo 3 Pro and 3 Pro Eye come with two new 6DoF controllers that are tracked optically by the headset's four cameras, replacing the electromagnetic controller tracking of the Neo 2 generation.[2] According to the specification list in The Ghost Howls' review, the controllers have 32 tracking points.[8][5] The controllers have linear resonant actuators for haptic feedback,[1] and each runs on two AA batteries.[4] With four cameras instead of two, Pico improved the Guardian boundary system, which UploadVR reported supports a play area of up to 10 x 10 m, compared with 3 x 3 m on the Neo 2.[3][2]
In April 2022 UploadVR reported that the Neo 3 Pro lacked built-in controller-free hand tracking, and that Ultraleap would sell a bundle of the headset with its Stereo IR 170 tracker, a custom mount and preinstalled software. An early-access version for developers and evaluation was offered at €999 in Europe, with a formal release planned for summer 2022.[9]
Accessories
The headsets come with replaceable PU face cushions that can be sterilized and washed, making it more hygienic to share with others in the office.[10][3] In The Ghost Howls' review unit, the box contained the headset, controllers, a power adapter, a USB-C cable and an instruction manual.[5] The 5 m Pico DP cable for PC VR use is sold separately.[11]
Comparison with the Neo 2 line
Compare the enterprise options in the Neo 3 line to the Neo 2 line:
| Neo 3 Pro & 3 Pro Eye | Neo 2 & 2 Eye | |
|---|---|---|
| Controller tracking | optical | electromagnetic |
| Cameras | 4 | 2 |
| FOV | 98 degrees | 101 degrees |
| IPD | manually adjustable, 3 settings (Neo 3 Pro) | fixed |
| Guardian play space | 10x10m | 3x3m |
| Streaming from PC | wired or wireless | wireless |
Software and features
PC VR streaming
The Neo 3 Pro and 3 Pro Eye can stream PC games through Direct Mode by way of a DisplayPort cable and the Pico VR streaming assistant. Direct Mode is "a high-performance, low-latency way to render PC VR content to Pico HMD display."[3] Pico describes a native 4K at 90 Hz wired connection, and its product page says the headset can run SteamVR content with the DP cable.[3][1]
Both reviewers praised the wired mode. The Ghost Howls explained that the proprietary cable connects the headset's USB-C port to the graphics card's DisplayPort output, so the headset works like a PC VR headset connected to the GPU, and found the visual quality and fluidity better than Oculus Link.[5] MIXED noted that the cable also needs a USB port on the PC. It had trouble getting the headset to detect the cable, but after reinstalling the software it reported a "super-sharp" image with no compression losses.[4]
Wireless streaming over Wi-Fi 6 uses Pico's Streaming Assistant PC software, which in MIXED's test offered Fast, Standard and HD quality settings. MIXED found Fast smooth but blurry, Standard better looking but with noticeable latency, and HD nearly unusable because of latency. It wrote that Pico was "at the very beginning" compared with Air Link and Virtual Desktop.[4] The Ghost Howls also called Wi-Fi streaming "a bit sub-par", with visible artifacts or lag at higher quality settings.[5]
The Neo 3 line also supports NVIDIA CloudXR, which enables wireless streaming over 5G and Wi-Fi networks. Pico said enterprises could use it to bring VR into workflows such as "design reviews, virtual production, location-based entertainment".[3][8][6]
Enterprise features
In western markets Pico sold the Neo 3 Pro only to businesses, as UploadVR noted in April 2022.[9][5] Its settings include a kiosk mode and VPN configuration.[5] MIXED noted that no user login was needed except for the Pico app store, and that files and APK packages could be opened with a few controller clicks, which it found convenient for developers.[4] The Ghost Howls found that the Guardian rarely remembered the room, so the play area had to be set up again each time the headset was switched on. Passthrough could be turned on with a shortcut, but the view looked distorted, with objects appearing slightly smaller than in reality.[5]
Development
The new line supports development of apps through all major engines as well as OpenXR.[8] The Ghost Howls reported in October 2021 that the Pico SDK had adopted Unity XR, so applications built with Unity's XR Interaction Toolkit for Quest could be ported in a few hours. The same review found the SDK documentation in need of polish and found no hand tracking or passthrough AR in the SDK at that time.[5]
Specifications
| Component | Neo 3 Pro |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 (Kryo 585 CPU, up to 2.84 GHz; Adreno 650 GPU, 587 MHz) |
| Memory and storage | 6 GB LPDDR4X; 256 GB UFS 3.0 |
| Operating system | Android 10 |
| Display | 5.5-inch SFR TFT LCD, 3664 x 1920, 773 PPI, 72/90 Hz |
| Optics | Fresnel lenses, 98-degree FOV, IPD 58/63.5/69 mm |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out, four cameras; 9-axis sensor at 1 kHz; face proximity sensor |
| Controllers | Two 6DoF controllers with optical positioning and linear resonant actuators |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, 2x2 MIMO); Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Ports | USB Type-C 3.0 (with DisplayPort video output); 3.5 mm jack |
| Audio | Dual stereo speakers; dual omnidirectional microphones with noise canceling |
| Battery | 5300 mAh; QC 3.0 charging |
| Weight | 395 g without straps; 673 g total |
| Dimensions | 190 x 135 x 112 mm |
Source: Pico product specifications.[1]
Reception
In its October 2021 review, The Ghost Howls called the Neo 3 Pro "a very solid headset for enterprise usage". The reviewer found the visuals crisp with almost no screen door effect, but noted distortion when turning the head and aberrations toward the edge of the lenses. Headset and controller tracking were described as "solid, reliable, and accurate", though "not as amazing as Oculus Insight". The rear battery made the headset feel balanced, but after an hour the reviewer's face still showed red marks. The controllers use two AA batteries each, twice as many as Quest 2 controllers, and the reviewer found them 15 g heavier than the competition's and more tiring over long sessions. The reviewer's tests matched Pico's claimed battery life of about two to three hours, closer to two with heavy use. The review called the €600 price "very compelling" and a good fit for small and medium enterprises, while noting that the Pico Store had not yet become like the Quest Store.[5]
MIXED's review, dated June 2022, called the Neo 3 Pro "(Very) good" for business use. It praised the quick setup, image clarity, large sweet spot and controller tracking, which it rated on par with the Quest 2 controllers. It criticized the head strap, the light leaks around the face pad and the stability of the operating system, which occasionally showed a fragmented or black image that required a restart. The review said the headset offered the best price-to-performance ratio for companies but did not recommend it for private use.[4] An update to the review stated that, after ByteDance bought Pico, business trust in Pico had gone and more and more companies were turning away from it over privacy concerns.[4]
Research use
The Neo 3 Pro has been used as the display device in published clinical and behavioral studies:
| Study | Year | Use of the Neo 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| "Godrevy Project" trial, BMJ Oncology | 2023 | Oncology and palliative care inpatients received a VR intervention on the headset; 58 of 60 recruited participants were analyzed, with total ESAS-r symptom scores improving 42% from baseline.[12] |
| VR cognitive training for older adults, BMC Psychiatry | 2024 | The Neo 3 Pro delivered the cognitive training to the experimental group, while the control group used a Pico G2; the preliminary analysis covered 72 healthy adults aged 65-85.[13] |
| VR group activities in nursing homes, JMIR Human Factors | 2024 | A VR group intervention in nursing homes used the headset with Pico Neo 3 controllers, at 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye and 72 Hz; the acceptance analysis covered 113 older adults.[14] |
| VR fear conditioning with spider-fearful participants, Scientific Reports | 2025 | 71 participants took part in a two-day conditioning paradigm built in Unity and presented on the Neo 3 Pro.[15] |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Product Specifications - Neo3 Pro". PICO Global. PICO Immersive. https://www.picoxr.com/global/products/neo3-pro-eye/specs. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Harry Baker (2021-05-10). "Pico Announces Neo 3 Pro, Neo 3 Pro Eye For Enterprise Market". UploadVR. https://uploadvr.com/pico-neo-3-pro-eye/. 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 "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.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Benjamin Danneberg (2022-06-12). "Pico Neo 3 Pro review: B2B VR headset partially catches up with Quest 2". MIXED. https://mixed-news.com/en/pico-neo-3-pro-review/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 Skarredghost (2021-10-16). "Pico Neo 3 Pro full review: a very solid device". The Ghost Howls. https://skarredghost.com/2021/10/16/pico-neo-3-pro-full-review/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 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.
- ↑ Kyt Dotson (2021-08-30). "TikTok owner ByteDance acquires VR headset maker Pico". SiliconANGLE. https://siliconangle.com/2021/08/30/tiktok-owner-bytedance-acquires-vr-headset-maker-pico/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 https://www.pico-interactive.com/us/neo3.html
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 David Heaney (2022-04-12). "Pico Neo 3 Pro Is Getting An Ultraleap High Quality Hand Tracking Bundle". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/pico-neo-3-ultraleap-hand-tracking-accessory/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ https://www.vrfocus.com/2021/05/pre-order-enterprise-ready-pico-neo-3-starting-from-699/
- ↑ "Neo3 Pro - VR Headset". PICO Global. PICO Immersive. https://www.picoxr.com/global/products/neo3-pro-eye. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Moon NO, Henstridge-Blows JR, Sprecher EA, Thomas E, Byfield A, McGrane J (2023). "'Godrevy Project': virtual reality for symptom control and well-being in oncology and palliative care - a non-randomised pre-post interventional trial". BMJ Oncology, vol. 2, no. 1, e000160. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjonc-2023-000160. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Szczepocka E, Mokros Ł, Kaźmierski J, 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.
- ↑ Li Y, Shiyanov I, Muschalla B (2024). "Older Adults' Acceptance of a Virtual Reality Group Intervention in Nursing Homes: Pre-Post Study Under Naturalistic Conditions". JMIR Human Factors, vol. 11, e56278. https://doi.org/10.2196/56278. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Grill M, Kloft M, Anhäuser S, Haberkamp A (2025). "Threat expectancies in a VR fear conditioning paradigm follow non-linear extinction patterns but are not influenced by intolerance of uncertainty". Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 1, 36125. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-23629-0. Retrieved 2026-09-28.