Pimax 5K XR
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| Pimax 5K XR | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC VR |
| Platform | PC, SteamVR |
| Creator | Pimax |
| Developer | Pimax |
| Manufacturer | Pimax |
| Announcement Date | 2018 (as the "5K" BE) |
| Release Date | 24 October 2018 (pre-orders, as the "5K" BE); 30 November 2018 (general sale) |
| Price | US$1,000 (headset only, 2018-2019 list price) |
| Website | https://pimax.com |
| Versions | "5K" BE (original name); 5K OLED RE (ruggedized business version) |
| Requires | Windows PC with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD equivalent or better, 8 GB+ RAM, DisplayPort 1.4; SteamVR tracking base stations |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows (host PC) |
| Display | |
| Display | 2 x Samsung OLED |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 per eye (5120 x 1440 total) |
| Refresh Rate | 82 Hz (Pimax store listing); 85 Hz in 2018-2019 specifications |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 200° diagonal (selectable: 120°/150°/max) |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel lenses |
| IPD Range | Hardware + software adjustable |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (SteamVR 1.0/2.0) |
| Eye Tracking | Optional add-on module |
| Hand Tracking | Optional add-on module |
| Audio | |
| Audio | 3.5 mm audio jack |
| Microphone | Integrated |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort 1.4 |
| Ports | DisplayPort 1.4, USB 2.0/3.0 |
| Device | |
| Weight | 470g |
| Sensors | SteamVR tracking, G-sensor, gyroscope |
| Input | SteamVR controllers compatible |
The Pimax 5K XR is a virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Pimax, a Chinese VR technology company known for ultra-wide field of view headsets. It is the OLED model of Pimax's "5K" headset line. It has two 2560 x 1440 OLED panels, one per eye, and a 200-degree diagonal field of view; Pimax's product listing describes this field of view as "the closest to human vision of any commercially available product".[1]
Pimax first sold the headset as the "5K" Business Edition (BE). Pre-orders opened on 24 October 2018 at US$1,000 for the headset alone, and by March 2019 the company listed it as the "5K" XR, the OLED counterpart of the LCD-based Pimax 5K Plus.[2][3] Apart from the display and its refresh rate, its published specifications match those of the 5K Plus: SteamVR Tracking 1.0 and 2.0 support, a DisplayPort 1.4 connection, and a recommended NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or better graphics card.[2]
History and development
Pimax company
Pimax is a Chinese VR technology company that gained recognition through a successful Kickstarter campaign for wide field of view VR headsets. The company focuses on pushing the boundaries of VR immersion through ultra-wide FOV designs. Its Kickstarter campaign for the "8K" and "5K" headsets ended in November 2017 with US$4.23 million raised, which Road to VR described as the most successful VR campaign on the platform.[2]
From the "5K" to the "5K" BE
The "5K" headset offered during the Kickstarter campaign used a PenTile OLED display.[4] In September 2018, about a month before pre-orders opened, Pimax dropped it in favor of the "5K" Plus, whose LCD panels use an RGB-stripe subpixel layout that Road to VR described as better for text legibility. Backers who had chosen the "5K" were automatically upgraded to the "5K" Plus.[2] At the same time the "5K" BE was added to the lineup as the OLED option.[4][5]
Pimax's model names refer to the combined horizontal resolution of both display panels. Headsets are usually described by the resolution of a single display, so the "5K" name does not mean the wearer sees a 5K image.[2]
Pre-orders and sales
Pre-orders for the "8K", "5K" Plus and "5K" BE started on 24 October 2018. Road to VR listed headset-only prices of US$900, US$700 and US$1,000 respectively and reported that Pimax called the BE a limited-time offer.[2] UploadVR listed the BE at US$999.[4] Motion controllers and SteamVR base stations were not included. UploadVR reported that an optional Leap Motion finger-tracking module cost US$169 extra with any of the three headsets and that Pimax also offered bundles with NVIDIA RTX 2080 series graphics cards.[4]
Pimax said pre-orders would ship after all Kickstarter backer orders, in the order they were placed. Based on the company's production schedule, UploadVR expected pre-order shipments no earlier than January 2019, while noting that Pimax had missed its shipping targets several times.[4] On 30 November 2018 Pimax ended pre-orders and began general sales of the three headsets. It estimated that an order placed that day would ship on 19 February 2019.[5]
Rename to 5K XR
The primary differentiator between the 5K XR and the Pimax 5K PLUS is the use of OLED screens rather than LCD panels.[6]
By March 2019 Road to VR listed the headset as the "5K" XR, "previously BE", at US$1,000 among Pimax's consumer headsets.[3] Auganix reported the same month that Pimax's consumer line consisted of the Pimax 8K, 5K Plus and 5K XR.[7]
5K OLED RE
In March 2019 Pimax announced a ruggedized (RE) business line: the "8K" RE, "5K" Plus RE and "5K" OLED RE. According to Road to VR, the 5K OLED RE is patterned after the 5K XR.[3] Pimax's head of US operations, Kevin Henderson, said the RE models add water resistance, a new foam insert, a rigid headstrap and thicker cabling. They also have greater shock tolerances, more robust components, metal buttons, longer-lasting switches and a protective front cover. He said they would cost "around $500-ish more on the per-unit basis" than the consumer versions. Road to VR reported that the RE headsets share the fundamental specifications of their consumer counterparts and keep the same wide field of view and modular design, with two USB Type-C accessory ports.[3] Pimax showed samples of the RE models at GTC 2019 in San Jose and named location-based entertainment venues, educational and training institutions, and museums as intended customers.[7]
Later support and availability
At its "Pimax Day" event in September 2019, Pimax said owners of the "5K" Plus, "5K" XR or "8K" would receive a discount toward its upcoming "8K" Plus and "8K" X headsets. It did not say how large the discount would be. At the same event Pimax detailed several accessories: an eye tracking module developed with 7Invensun (US$300), a modular audio strap with above-the-ear speakers (US$120) and a Vision Comfort Kit (US$50). All three were described as compatible with all Pimax headsets. It also listed a hand-tracking module made with Ultraleap for US$170.[8] Pimax's current store lists the 5K XR among the headsets supported by its VR Comfort Kit.[9]
Pimax later listed the headset in its online outlet store as "Outlet 5K XR, Headset Only" for US$399. The listing marks it as a final-sale product and says the box includes a DisplayPort cable and a cloth strap.[10] As of September 2026 the outlet listing showed the headset as unavailable.[10]
Design and hardware
Display system
The 5K XR features dual Samsung OLED displays:[6]
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 per eye
- Combined: 5120 x 1440 total
- Display Type: Samsung OLED
- Benefits: Extended dynamic range, true blacks, vibrant colors
Road to VR described the BE as having the same specifications as the "5K" Plus except for its OLED display and refresh rate.[2] The 5K Plus specification lists content delivered at the native 2560 x 1440 per eye, in contrast to the "8K", which upscales a 2560 x 1440 input to its 3840 x 2160 panels.[2] Pimax's specification gives a motion-to-photon latency of less than 15 ms.[3]
Field of view
The 5K XR offers selectable field of view settings:
- Large: Maximum FOV (~200° diagonal)
- Normal: 150 degrees
- Small: 120 degrees
These presets are selected in Pimax's PiTool software.[6]
The headset uses Fresnel lenses.[10] The 200-degree figure is a diagonal measurement, not a horizontal one; Road to VR corrected its own launch report on this point.[2] Pimax describes it as the closest to human vision of any commercially available product.[1] For comparison, Road to VR gave the HTC Vive Pro a field of view of about 110 degrees.[2]
In a hands-on at CES 2019, heise online reported that the displays are mounted at an angle. The distance between screen and eye therefore varies with where the wearer looks through the lens, which the reviewer linked to a slight "wobble" in the peripheral view during head movement.[11]
Refresh rate
Pimax's store listing gives a refresh rate of 82 Hz.[10] Earlier published figures differ slightly: Road to VR's October 2018 report gave the BE's display as "clocked at 85Hz", and the March 2019 specification sheet listed "85±3 Hz".[2][3] The LCD "5K" Plus was specified at 90 Hz with Pimax's Brainwarp support.[2] In a January 2020 review, The VR Realm reported a maximum refresh rate of 82 Hz for the 5K XR, with PiTool offering settings of 64, 72 or 82 Hz.[6]
IPD adjustment
The 5K XR includes both:
- Physical hardware IPD adjustment
- Software IPD adjustment
This dual approach ensures proper eye alignment for a wide range of users.[1]
Audio
The headset has a 3.5 mm audio jack and an integrated microphone.[3] Pimax later offered a modular audio strap with above-the-ear speakers as an accessory.[8]
Comfort
- Weight: 470 grams
- Design: Ergonomic facepad and strap
- Glasses Compatibility: Space reserved for most prescription glasses
Pimax's product listing states that the face pad leaves room for most prescription glasses and gives an item weight of 0.47 kg.[1] The outlet version ships with a cloth strap.[10] When pre-orders opened, Pimax said its headsets could be extended with modules including a deluxe headstrap with integrated audio, although these modules were not yet available to order.[2]
Tracking
The Pimax 5K XR supports 6DoF tracking through SteamVR:
- SteamVR Lighthouse 1.0 compatible
- SteamVR Lighthouse 2.0 compatible
Besides the SteamVR tracking sensors, the specification lists a G-sensor and a gyroscope.[3] Pimax did not include base stations or controllers with the headset. UploadVR noted that existing HTC Vive owners could use their base stations and controllers with it, while other buyers had to buy them separately.[4][11] At room scale the headset needs at least one SteamVR Lighthouse tracking device.[1]
Compatibility
Content platforms
Thanks to Pimax Compatibility Technology, the 5K XR supports:
- All SteamVR games
- Oculus Home content (through compatibility layer)
Pimax's listing states that the headset supports "most of the thousands of games" on both Steam and Oculus Home, rather than all of them.[1] Pimax recommends installing SteamVR before its PiTool driver software.[1]
Controllers
Compatible with:
- Steam VR controllers
- Various third-party SteamVR-compatible controllers
The listing describes the headset as compatible with other brands' Steam controllers.[1] In September 2019 Pimax offered pre-order customers waiting for its delayed Pimax Sword Controllers the option of receiving Valve Index Controllers instead.[8]
System requirements
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 8 or Windows 10 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1070 or better |
| CPU | Intel i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350 or better |
| RAM | 8 GB or more |
| Video Output | DisplayPort 1.4 |
| USB | 1x USB 2.0/3.0 |
These are Pimax's recommended PC specifications; the company recommends a desktop PC.[1] Heise online noted that each 5K headset has to render 2560 x 1440 pixels per eye, compared with 1080 x 1200 for the Oculus Rift and 1440 x 1600 for the Vive Pro, and advised a graphics card in the class of a GTX 1080 Ti.[11]
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display Type | 2 x Samsung OLED |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 per eye (5120 x 1440 total) |
| Refresh Rate | 82 Hz (store listing); 85 Hz or 85±3 Hz in 2018-2019 specifications[10][3] |
| Field of View | Up to 200° (selectable) |
| Lenses | Fresnel[10] |
| Motion-to-photon latency | Less than 15 ms[3] |
| Tracking | 6DoF (SteamVR 1.0/2.0) |
| Sensors | SteamVR tracking, G-sensor, gyroscope[3] |
| IPD Adjustment | Hardware + software |
| Audio | 3.5 mm audio jack, integrated microphone[3] |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort 1.4, USB 2.0/3.0 |
| Weight | 470g |
| Platform Compatibility | Steam VR, Oculus Home |
| Launch price | US$1,000 (headset only)[2] |
Reception
Jan-Keno Janssen of heise online tried both the "5K" BE and the "5K" Plus at CES 2019, after earlier Pimax prototypes had disappointed the publication at the 2017 and 2018 shows. He had no complaints about the tracking, felt no lag or stutter, and found that the smearing seen on older prototypes was gone. Both models showed good image quality with a very small screen door effect, even during fast head movements. According to the report, the OLED model showed strong colors and deep black, while the LCD version looked somewhat less saturated with grayer blacks. Neither headset showed the "god rays" the reviewer associated with the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Janssen called the wide field of view the headsets' main distinguishing feature. He noted that it now impressed in practice, although some peripheral distortion remained.[11]
Kevin Carbotte of Tom's Hardware, reviewing the LCD-based 5K Plus in March 2019, noted that buyers wanting OLED-level color reproduction could turn to the 5K BE, which uses OLED panels in the same ultrawide configuration.[12]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Pimax 5K XR VR Headsets with Wide 200 Degrees Field of View". Amazon.com (listing by Pimax). Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Virtual-Reality-2560x1440p-Tracking-Warranty/dp/B07R8VMF3N. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 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 Scott Hayden (2018-10-24). "Pimax Launches Pre-orders for "8K" & "5K" VR Headsets, Pricing & Specs Here". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/pimax-launches-pre-orders-today-8k-5k-vr-headsets-pricing-specs/. 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 Scott Hayden (2019-03-17). "Pimax to Launch Ruggedized "8K" VR Headsets for Business This Year". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/pimax-ruggedized-re-8k-2019/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Pimax Headset Preorders Now Open: 5K Plus is $699 / 8K is $899". UploadVR. 2018-10-24. https://www.uploadvr.com/pimax-headset-preorders-5k-8k/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Scott Hayden (2018-11-30). "Pimax Announces General Sale of "8K" & "5K" Headsets with 80+ Day Waiting Period". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/pimax-announces-official-sale-8k-5k-headsets-80-day-waiting-period/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Pimax 5K XR Review". The VR Realm. 2020-01-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20240424223222/https://thevrrealm.com/reviews/pimax-5k-xr-review/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sam Sprigg (2019-03-21). "Pimax announces three new 'ruggedized' VR headset models at GTC 2019". Auganix.org. https://www.auganix.org/pimax-announces-three-new-ruggedized-vr-headset-models-at-gtc-2019/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Scott Hayden (2019-09-26). "Pimax Details Upcoming Accessories - Price, Launch Date & More". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/pimax-accessories-launch-upgrade-program/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "VR Comfort Kit for Pimax 8K/5K". Pimax Store. Pimax. https://store.pimax.com/products/vr-comfort-kit. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 "Outlet 5K XR, Headset Only". Pimax Store. Pimax. https://store.pimax.com/products/outlet-5k-xr-headset-only. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Jan-Keno Janssen (2019-01-10). "VR-Headsets Pimax 5K+ und BE ausprobiert: Deutlich besser als die Prototypen". heise online. https://www.heise.de/news/VR-Headsets-Pimax-5K-und-BE-ausprobiert-Deutlich-besser-als-Prototypen-4268923.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Kevin Carbotte (2019-03-02). "Pimax 5K Plus Review: Another Look at the Ultrawide VR Headset". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pimax-5k-plus-vr-headset,5990.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.