1 Apr. (EDITIONS/Portaltic) –
the chinese company PicoXR is ready for compete at the highest level with its autonomous virtual reality glasses (RSV). At least at the technology level. Its PICO 4 has a superlight body, ‘pancake’ lenses, a 4K+ resolution screen and an intuitive user experience that result in some of the most complete glasses on the market. His Achilles heel: the catalogue. Saving this pitfall, PICO has a lot to say in this category.
We have been able to test the latest model of the company, the new generation PICO 4 VR headset, launched in October 2022, and the experience has been very good. It is undoubtedly the real alternative to Quest glasses from Meta -which lead the market- and an expansion of their catalog (something the company is working on) can make them take the definitive leap.
The first thing we look at in VR glasses is their design and comfort. The PICO 4 are designed to fully autonomous use and they are really comfortable thanks to their weight (295 grams without the strap), the pads used around the entire case, and the rear wheel, which allows adjust the pressure so you can easily move around the ‘play area’ without the device moving.
In addition, PICO 4 is equipped with a very long lasting battery offering up to three hours of gameplay and outstanding fast charging capability. It also has a TÜV Rheinland low blue light certification and a counterbalanced design that ensures comfort during long gaming sessions. The ergonomic design of the headset also supports the use of a goggle spacer, included in the box, allowing glasses-wearing users to fully immerse themselves in their VR worlds without compromising comfort or clarity.
TURN ON, PLACE AND PLAY
Sometimes, one of the barriers to accessing these new technologies is their complexity when activating them. We are increasingly impatient and a delay of several minutes to get something up and running can stop us from using it. Not the case with these glasses. Simply put them on and you will directly access your virtual space and the initial menu.
It is very easy to delimit the playing area in a matter of seconds and the ‘tracking’ system of the controls and glasses makes all movements quick and intuitive. Another thing is that the gaming experience is suitable for all audiences. The feeling when using VR glasses for the first time is incredible and there is already quality content to have a good time in that virtual world. However, there are experiences that can still make many users dizzy. The brain has to adapt and that leap is not always easy.
That being said, there is no doubt that the technology is ready and PICO 4 is the best example. These glasses have a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 and Adreno 650 chipset, which offers a delicate balance between performance and energy consumption. Similarly, it boasts great visual quality thanks to its 90 Hz refresh rate, its 4K+ screen and its 1,200 PPI.
As we said at the beginning, in the variety of content is where Meta and its Quest mark a certain distance from PICO, although this is something the company is working on. At the moment, it includes popular titles such as Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom, Ultimechs or The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution, and it has just announced the launch of the FitXR fitness application, one of the most demanded categories by users of this type of device.
If it achieves a leap in quality in this regard, PicoXR is going to give a lot to talk about, since its price -429 euros- is very competitive if we take into account its benefits at a technological level, which makes it a very interesting option within the most ‘premium’ segment of virtual reality glasses.
