Pimax announced two new PC VR headsets today—both said to be launching this year—but it’s more than a year behind schedule on other products.

“Pimax has never been short on ambition, but its execution hasn’t always kept up.”

That’s a line from my article published on October 26th, 2021, in which Pimax announced three major products:

  • The Pimax Reality “12K” headset with a monstrous resolution estimated at 18.6MP (5,760 x 3,240) per-eye and a massive 240° diagonal field-of-view
  • A 60GHz wireless add-on for streaming PC VR
  • A console-like ‘Pimax VR Station’ for streaming PC VR content to its headsets

Pimax had said at the time that it planned to launch the $2,400 headset in Q4 of 2022. Presumably the 60Ghz wireless add-on and Pimax VR Station would launch roughly around the same time.

Image courtesy Pimax

Today during its announcement of the new Crystal Light and Crystal Super headsets, there was but a brief mention of the Reality “12K” headset in the 38 minute presentation:”

The Reality 12K is also still under development, and we’ll release an update on the blog soon.”

But hey, the company did at least give an update on the 60GHz wireless add-on. It’s now priced at $300 and the company is taking reservations with plans to launch in Q3 of 2024.

As for the Pimax VR Station? It went entirely unmentioned. At this point we’re unsure if the company still plans to make the device, though we’ve reached out for more info.

Image courtesy Pimax

Our original article about the “12K” announcement concluded, “this new headset, and all that’s planned to come with it, is a chance for the company to show it has left its growing pains behind.”

Two and a half years later, it’s clear to see that the growing pains remain.

Note: We put the “12K” part of the headset’s name in quotes because Pimax isn’t referring to the same 12K that is often used to describe TVs and monitors. The headset’s total horizontal resolution is near 12K, but this is split across each eye. Additionally, the resolution height is just half the height of what one would expect from a 12K TV. When referring to the headset’s name, we put “12K” in quotes to help our readers understand that it’s being used differently than they might expect.

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Ben Lang
Ben is the world's most senior professional analyst solely dedicated to the XR industry, having founded Road to VR in 2011—a year before the Oculus Kickstarter sparked a resurgence that led to the modern XR landscape. He has authored more than 3,000 articles chronicling the evolution of the XR industry over more than a decade. With that unique perspective, Ben has been consistently recognized as one of the most influential voices in XR, giving keynotes and joining panel and podcast discussions at key industry events. He is a self-described "journalist and analyst, not evangelist."
  • ViRGiN

    chinesium

  • Korgen

    Is there anyone who still believes in their promises?

    • Arno van Wingerde

      Not here… however leaving the marketing hype and announcements aside, the actual products are beginning to look pretty convincing, especially the Crystal series.

      • You must not read non-“brand ambassador” reviews ….

      • Korgen

        Maybe they enhanced their products quality but it’s a bit late. Also their after sales service is still crap and they still not keep their promises.

      • Markis

        The Crystal series that is famous for its botched firmware updates, requiring constant replacements of accessories that are defective, or numerous other software/problem complaints where a very vocal number of Crystal consumers actually simply abandon their Crystal (or sell it) because of its issues despite the quality? That series?

    • Um, no.
      Never did.

  • polysix

    There’s a reason ‘Pimax’ rhymes with anti-climax.

  • Nevets

    These are mere prototypes not product launches. For all their faults, when Meta talks about new products they are very clear when they are talking about prototypes and very clear when they are talking about launches. And I believe they do keep their promises.

  • They are THE WORST ….
    But still you suckers– …. I – I mean “early adopters”
    keep giving these charlatans yer hard-earned dough.
    Unfathomable ….
    Plus, my understanding is that the hardware itself
    isn’t exactly lighting the World on fire, either.
    []^ (

    • Andrew Jakobs

      Well, problem is, they are about the only ones that still create headsets with much larger FOV’s. The rest is still mocking about with ‘crappy’ FOV’s.

      • XRC

        The 8K series has been out of production some time now but can still be bought.

        Crystal using a more regular field of view (95 vertical and 104 horizontal for me) as maximum angular resolution (35ppd) was the design brief.

        Index I get 109 vertical and 110 horizontal in comparison with round shape whilst Crystal has rounded square which looks larger than specs suggest. Both have similar stereo overlap.

        There is a “wide fov” lens coming for Crystal which adds some horizontal at expense of overlap, whilst they are advertising the new crystal super with a wider fov but not 8K wide.

        Wider FOV with good geometric stability very difficult problem to solve, Index dual compound lens suffered glare but had excellent geometric stability so optically comfortable for longer sessions.

  • Just Pimax being Pimax

  • NL_VR

    its like hit or miss with Pimax, never tryed my self.

    Know some people who actually got their headsets even the new Crystal.
    its like some really likes them and the others hate them, its no in between.

    • ViRGiN

      And if you look into those who “like them”, are some of the most unstable and elitist people overlooking everything cause XYZ feature, and all criticism is deflected by them saying “i never had any issues”, despite bazillion of proven issues and even pimax own statements months/years later.