Pimax

Pimax is a technology company specializing in virtual reality hardware products.

Pimax Innovation Inc.
IndustryVirtual reality
Founded2016 (2016) in Shanghai, China
Headquarters
Shanghai
,
China
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Zhibin "Robin" Weng (Founder)
Kevin Henderson (COO)
ProductsPimax 4K
Pimax 8K
Pimax 5K PLUS
Pimax 5K XR
Pimax Vision 8K X
Pimax Vision 8K PLUS
Pimax Artisan
Websitewww.pimax.com

Pimax Technology was established in 2014 and consists of a group of engineers with many years of work experience in the VR/AR field. In 2016 its first product, the Pimax 4K virtual reality headset, was released,[1] becoming the first commercially available 4K headset.[2] That first product was recognized as the best VR product in Asia at CES 2016.[3] In 2017, they ran a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for the Pimax 8K headset, raising approximately $4.2 million,[4] which held the Guinness World Record for the most successful crowdfunded VR project.[5] On the 19th of December 2017, Pimax announced they had closed a $15 million series A funding round.[6] On the 8th of January 2020, Pimax’s flagship headset- world’s first dual native 4K consumer VR headset - VISION 8K X featuring high resolution and ultra-wide field of view, 200°(D)/170°(H)/115°(V), was selected as Top Tech of CES: AR/VR by Digital Trends.[7] On the 18th of October 2020, Pimax received $20M (USD) Series-B funding, announced at World Conference on VR Industry 2020 (WCVRI 2020).[8]

Products

Pimax Technology Portfolio

Pimax Technology LTD portfolio includes 15 patents, 6 trademarks and 9 software work certificates that represent the top level of the global VR industry. In addition to the team's technical precipitation in the field of VIRTUAL reality and augmented reality technology and algorithm research for more than 10 years, it has maintained the leading position of VR headset with the highest resolution in the world for a long time.

Pimax 4K

Released in 2016, the Pimax 4K was Pimax's first foray into the VR scene. It boasts a resolution of 1920×2160 per eye, for a total of 3840×2160 (thus the 4K denomination).[1]

Pimax 4K Headset

Pimax 8K

The Pimax 8K is a virtual reality head-mounted display. It features two 4K displays, one for each eye, with an advertised field of view of 200 degrees. However, the Pimax 8K does not use the most common 8K resolution standard 8K UHD which contains four times as many pixels as 4K UHD. Since the Pimax 8K contains two 4K UHD displays it only has half the number of pixels as that of 8K UHD. In addition, due to bandwidth limitations in the connection cable, the headset's input is limited to 2560×1440 for each of the displays. This is then upscaled in the device to the displays' actual resolution.[9]

Pimax 8K prototype from Kickstarter campaign 2017

The company has announced that they are partnering with third parties to develop expansion modules for the headset. The expansion modules announced include features like inside-out tracking, eye tracking, wireless transmission, and scent.[9] As of February 2019, none of the accessories has been released, despite stating release date of Q2/Q3/Q4 2018 with low risk.


AT CES2019 in January 2019, Pimax disclosed strategic partnerships respectively with LeapMotion and 7INVENSUN on the development of hand motion tracking module and eye tracking module. LeapMotion was acquired by UltraHaptics in May 2019 and a new company called UltraLeap was established.[10] On the 26th of February, Pimax signed an agreement to offer UltraLeap hand tracking for its whole VR headset range with specifications including a stereoscopic IR camera that creates an interaction zone of up to 100cm (40”) range, extending from the device in a 160×160° field of view (approximately 74 cubic feet or 2.1 cubic meters of interactive space).[11]

The headset uses the SteamVR positional tracking system (previously called "Lighthouse") initially developed for the HTC Vive by Valve. This means that existing Vive base stations and controllers are compatible with the Pimax headset, removing the need for existing Vive users to set up an additional tracking system or buy new controllers.

The headset is compatible with SteamVR and Oculus software making it compatible with a wide range of already existing VR content. It is not a native SteamVR headset, and it requires "PiTool" software to be installed along with it.

The headset was initially planned to start shipping in January 2018, but was repeatedly delayed due to design tweaks and manufacturing refinements. As of July 2019 all backers with verified addresses had received their Pimax 8K and 5K+ headsets.

Pimax 5K PLUS

The Pimax 5K PLUS [12] is based on similar hardware to the Pimax 8K, but features a lower resolution, at 2560×1440 displays per eye instead of 4K.[13] Since this resolution is accepted as input, the headset eliminates the need for upscaling. Early previews of the devices noted that the 5K PLUS featured a sharper image, while the 8K had a significantly reduced screen-door effect.[14] Launched alongside the 8K, the 5K PLUS units began shipping in large numbers sooner; as of February 2019, a majority of backers had received their headsets,[15] while leaving hundreds of Kickstarter backers waiting for their 8K unit. [16]

Pimax 5K XR

5K XR is a virtual reality headset that is compatible with most VR software titles for Windows-based PC's. The headset has a resolution of 2560×1440 per eye or a total resolution of 5120x1440. The differentiating factor between the Pimax XR headset and the Pimax 5K PLUS is the XR utilizes OLED screens rather than LCD screens. The term "XR" stands for eXtended Range for the added dynamic color range and the near absolute blacks that are possible for OLED type screens.

Pimax Vision 8K X

The Pimax Vision 8K X [17] is a variant of the Pimax 8K that solves the cable bandwidth limitation by using the highest data transmission mode with HBC with Displayport 1.4a, thus allowing native 4K resolution per eye, without the visual compromise from upscaling a 5K signal. The total native resolution of a Pimax Vision 8K X is 7680×2160, which should help reduce screen door effect.[18] VISION 8KX offers a Dual Engine Mode, which can lower the render resolution to 2,560* 1,440 per display and then upscale that to 4K. [19]

Pimax showcased its VISION 8K X at CES2020 as their flagship model and it was selected as the Top Tech of CES2020: AR/VR

Pimax Vision 8KX selected by Digital Trends as Top Tech CES 2020

[20] by Digital Trends after hands-on review at CES2020 “The Pimax has something most headsets lack; a real sense of peripheral vision.” [21]

Experience with the Pimax Vision 8KX at CES 2020

With Pimax’s newly introduced comfort solutions through implementing comfort kit and modular audio strap to the headset, extra comfort in racer-sharp VR experience is more immersive. citation: [22]

Right after CES2020, Pimax team goes on to meetups in Orlando, Florida [23]

Pimax Roadshow 2020

and New York City.[24] VR enthusiasts across the US were drawn to the venues to have their first glance of VISION 8KX though its giant lenses before its releasing to the market.

Demo session with 8KX

Pimax announced it had shipped all address verified 8KX orders on Sept. 30th 2020. [25]

Pimax Vision 8K PLUS

The Pimax Vision 8K PLUS[26] is a headset similar to the Vision 8K X, but it takes an 1440p input which it upscales to the 4K panels.[27]

Pimax Artisan

On December 16, 2019, Pimax published a teaser image of a yet unannounced headset called Artisan,[28] touting 120 Hz refresh, 140º FOV, and 3200×1440 resolution, with its price only specified as "X49.00".[29] During CES 2020, Pimax announced that the price of the Artisan will start at $449 for the base model.[30]

Pimax 5K SUPER

The 5K SUPER[31] with it’s standard refresh rate hitting 160 Hz and even includes an experimental 180 Hz mode, offers the user multiple selectable refresh rates, fields of view, and 2560x1440 resolution, which set new standards for VR immersion. Furthermore, Pimax headsets now include the new Pimax VR Experience software which automates and dramatically reduces configuration time for VR software. This system automatically applies all VR optimizations required for Pimax headsets and can launch VR software from any platform with just a single click.[32]

References
  1. 何旖旎. "Pimax launches 4K VR device in Beijing – Business". chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  2. "Hands On Review: PIMAX 4K VR Headset". VR World. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  3. "Pimax Launches World's First 8K VR Headset".
  4. "Pimax: The World's First 8K VR Headset". Kickstarter. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  5. "Showing Off VR 2.0 at #CES2019".
  6. Hayden, Scott (21 December 2017). "Pimax Completes $15M Series A Funding Round". roadtovr.com. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  7. "Pimax 8K X hands-on review: Long-awaited 8K VR headset is here, and it's awesome". www.digitaltrends.com. 8 January 2020.
  8. "Pimax Secures $20m in Series B Funding Round". 2020-10-18.
  9. "Chinese startup's '8K' VR headset is surprisingly advanced". engadget.com. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  10. Olson, Parmy (30 May 2019). "Leap Motion, Once a Virtual-Reality High Flier, Sells Itself to U.K. Rival". Wall Street Journal.
  11. https://www.pimax.com/blogs/milestone/pimax-integrates-ultraleap-hand-tracking-in-next-gen-vr-headsets)
  12. https://www.pimax.com/products/5k-plus-headset-only
  13. "Pimax 5K PLUS VR Headset (144Hz)".
  14. "r/Pimax - MRTV: Pimax 8K vs Pimax 5k Plus - NEW SDE & Quality Comparison At Maximum Quality Settings & Supersampling On". reddit. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  15. "Pimax 8K Headset Delayed Again, Quality Issues With 4K Panels". UploadVR. 2019-01-31. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  16. https://www.pimax.com/pages/5k-plus-bundle
  17. https://www.pimax.com/products/vision-8k-x
  18. "Pimax Vision 8K X VR Headset".
  19. https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/pimax-8k-x-vr-headset-ces-2020-hands-on-price-photos-video-release-date/
  20. https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/pimax-8k-x-vr-headset-ces-2020-hands-on-price-photos-video-release-date/
  21. citation: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/pimax-8k-x-vr-headset-ces-2020-hands-on-price-photos-video-release-date/
  22. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/pimax-vision-8k-x-vr-headset
  23. https://www.pimax.com/blogs/milestone/roadshow-impressions-orlando-meetup-1
  24. https://www.realovirtual.com/noticias/7689/nuevos-pimax-vision-impresiones-sus-dos-roadshows-estados-unidos
  25. "Pimax 8KX Logistics Advisory".
  26. https://www.pimax.com/products/vision-8k-plus
  27. "Pimax Vision 8K Plus VR Headset".
  28. https://www.pimax.com/products/pimax-artisan
  29. "New Pimax 'Artisan' Headset Mysteriously Unveiled Ahead of CES". 2019-12-16.
  30. "Pimax CES 2020: Artisan Is A Lower Cost Pimax Headset With 140° Field Of View". 2020-01-08.
  31. https://www.pimax.com/products/vision-5k-super
  32. "Pimax Launches 5K SUPER with Refresh Rate Reaching 180Hz". 2020-12-02.
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