So far, if you want a great VR experience, you need more than just a headset. You need a high-end PC to run it/play games (or in the case of PS VR, a PlayStation 4), and the resulting cables that have to connect to the headset can, potentially, get in the way. The goal of Pico’s new VR device is to eliminate all the extras and give gamers a “pure” VR experience. That’s where Pico Neo comes in:
At a press conference held in their global headquarters in Beijing, Pico officially revealed the Pico Neo as the world’s first mass-produced standalone VR device with six degrees of freedom (6DoF) for both head and controllers.
The Pico Neo is Pico’s latest generation of standalone VR headset. It features the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835 Mobile VR Platform, adopts all-in-one ID design, uses lighter and more breathable cloth material, and is equipped with 3K high definition display, high-speed 4GB RAM, 64GB UFS2.0 ROM, supporting 256 GB expanded storage.
Thanks to the excellent performance of Snapdragon 835 Mobile VR Platform and new ultrasonic remote controller solution, the Pico Neo enables 6DoF head-and-controller tracking and positioning functions. Without any external sensors, the Pico Neo can track both head and hand (controller) movements. It is the world’s first VR standalone device that actualizes 6DoF head-and-controller tracking at a mass production scale.
Pico CEO, Mr. Hongwei Zhou, outlined how the Pico Neo uses Qualcomm Technologies’ Inside-Out 6DoF technology, optimizing the spatial positioning ability from the lower level of Snapdragon 835 Mobile VR Platform. Even using the positioning function for a long time will not affect Pico Neo’s gaming performance. The Pico Neo matches users’ actions perfectly, bringing the super immersive VR interactive experience to life.
The process of using the Pico Neo and controllers is very easy. Once the user powers on the headset, puts it on, and enters Pico UI launcher, the 6DoF function will start to scan the surrounding area and the controllers will be connected. The calibration will be completed after adjusting the position and posture to the correct direction. The user can easily move or dodge attacks in the virtual world, and operate complex game reactions such as bimanual operation. The Pico Neo rarely gets choppy or loses frames as it has been optimized for refresh rate and anti-interference.
It’s currently available for pre-order, but like just about all VR products at this point, it comes with a hefty price tag at $749. Still, it looks like a great option for those looking to get into VR without needing all the extras.
-Jordan
