Pico 4 Ultra: A Chinese VR Headset Aiming to Outperform Quest 3
ByteDance, the company behind the popular video-sharing app TikTok, has unveiled its latest virtual reality (VR) headset, the Pico 4 Ultra, in China. The new headset is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Pico 4, boasting improvements across the board, including a more powerful chipset, enhanced passthrough cameras, and a revamped software experience.
The Pico 4 Ultra maintains the same core design as its predecessor, featuring a 105° x 105° field of view and a 2160 x 2160 resolution per eye, but now boasts a 25% brighter display. However, the most notable upgrade lies under the hood. The new headset is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, the same processor found in Meta's Quest 3. However, unlike the Quest 3 which features 8GB of RAM, the Pico 4 Ultra packs in 12GB, potentially allowing for enhanced multitasking capabilities and smoother performance in demanding VR experiences.
A key point of differentiation from the Quest 3 is the passthrough camera system. The Pico 4 Ultra boasts two 32-megapixel cameras, offering a binocular passthrough experience with a claimed resolution of 20.6 pixels per degree (PPD), surpassing the 18 PPD offered by the Quest 3. This binocular passthrough allows for a more immersive and realistic view of the real world, enhancing the mixed reality experience.
Beyond the passthrough cameras, the Pico 4 Ultra also features a dedicated time-of-flight sensor for 3D environment meshing, similar to the depth projector found on the Quest 3. This sensor enables more accurate and detailed virtual environments, further immersing users in the virtual world.
The headset also benefits from a larger battery, offering a 21.9Wh capacity, compared to the 20.4Wh of the Pico 4. Furthermore, the Pico 4 Ultra supports 45W charging, a significant improvement over the 20W charging capabilities of its predecessor, allowing for a quicker recharge time.
Moving onto the controllers, the Pico 4 Ultra ditches the distinctive arc controllers of its predecessor in favour of ringless controllers that resemble the Quest 3's Touch Plus controllers. These new controllers are significantly lighter, weighing only half as much as the previous generation, and boast a more comfortable grip.
The software experience has also received a major upgrade. Pico OS now boasts a more versatile and intuitive user interface, allowing users to freely arrange and position virtual windows for various applications, including web browsing, system panels, and even Android apps.
A new 2D Android app store, catering specifically to the Chinese market, has also been introduced, offering a selection of popular apps, including Douyin (TikTok) and iQIYI, China's equivalent of Netflix. The Pico 4 Ultra also boasts a unique feature allowing wireless mirroring of PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices to virtual windows within Pico OS.
The Pico 4 Ultra is available for pre-order in China for ¥4300, which equates to approximately $600, with shipping scheduled to begin on September 2nd. While ByteDance has yet to confirm its availability in other markets, recent certification by a South Korean regulatory body suggests a potential expansion beyond China.
The Pico 4 Ultra represents a compelling contender in the VR landscape, particularly for those seeking a powerful headset with advanced passthrough capabilities, a robust software experience, and a compelling price point. While the headset's availability outside China remains uncertain, its impressive features and technological advancements have certainly caught the attention of VR enthusiasts worldwide.
