Crystal Super

Pimax Crystal Super VR HeadsetPrice, FOV & Specs

Last updated

Pimax Crystal Super separates the display module from the rest of the headset, so you can swap between three QLED optical engines, or a Micro-OLED one on a separate SKU, without replacing the headset. Each QLED engine trades resolution for field of view: up to 3840 x 3840 per eye and 57 pixels per degree, or up to 140 degrees wide. Built-in Tobii eye tracking runs dynamic foveated rendering, and you can track it inside-out or add optional SteamVR base stations.
Price
$1,599
RESOLUTION
3840x3840/eye
FIELD OF VIEW
Up to 140°
NEEDS
A Windows PC
SEP 9 · LATEST IN SPATIAL COMPUTING
ByteDance is building spatial video for Pico headsets

Bloomberg puts founder Zhang Yiming personally on the project, built on ByteDance's Seedance model, with a launch window as early as next month.

Read the story →

Best for

Gaming.
Flight and racing sim enthusiasts prioritizing clarityOur own judgement — no single source states this.
Creation.
PCVR users with high-end graphics hardwareOur own judgement — no single source states this.
Everyday use.
Buyers who value replaceable optical modulesOur own judgement — no single source states this.

Comparison

Compare headsets

How it compares

Price

$1,599

The maker's list price to buy it.

Weight

Not published

Grams on your head. Lower is lighter.

Battery life

None: powered by the PC tether

How long it lasts on its own, away from a charger.

Cost over 3 years

Pimax Crystal Super
$1,599
Meta Quest 3
$599.99
Meta VR Glasses
$1,299.99
Galaxy XR
$1,799.99

Battery life

Pimax Crystal Super
None: powered by the PC tether
Meta VR Glasses
~3 hrs
Vision Pro M5
~2.5 hrs
Meta Quest 3
~2 hrs

Current list prices.

The headset as worn, without a battery pack.

Battery life can vary based on usage, settings and firmware version.

Most paired with

Everything it works with

What the Crystal Super works with

Does the Crystal Super work with a Windows PC?

Needs an adapter

And it needs real graphics horsepower. Pimax lists a minimum GPU from the RTX 2070/RX 5700XT family and Windows 10 (x64) or Windows 11.

What you need
A Windows 10 (x64) or Windows 11 PC with at least an RTX 2070 or RX 5700XT class GPU.
What works
Runs the full Pimax Play, SteamVR and OpenXR software stack.
See details and sources (1)
  • Pimax: Pimax Crystal Super, official Pimax store page (PC requirements, FAQ)From the maker or platform · checked 2026-09-26
    RTX 2070, RTX 2070S, RTX 2080, RTX 2080S, RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3060, RTX 3060Ti, RTX 3070, RTX 3070Ti, RTX 4060, RTX 4060Ti, RX 5700XT, RX 6700XT
    No. The Crystal Super is a PCVR-only VR headset without batteries. It always needs to be connected by its DP cable, so it does not support wifi streaming or the 60G Airlink.
    Pimax Crystal Super + Free VR Prescription Lenses Bundle

Last checked 2026-09-26.

Quick answers

All FAQs

Quick answers

How much does Crystal Super cost?
$1,599.00, down from $1,799.00. The Ultrawide and 57 PPD optical engines are in stock; the 50 PPD engine is currently sold out.
Is Crystal Super standalone?
No. It is a tethered PCVR headset that runs on Pimax Play, SteamVR and OpenXR, connected over DisplayPort 1.4 and USB.
Can the optical engine really be swapped?
Yes. Pimax built Crystal Super so the display module can be upgraded, repaired or expanded without replacing the whole headset.

Get Crystal Super updates

Email me when there's news.

Available nowApple Vision Pro M5$3,699Guide News
Available nowMeta Quest 3$599.99Guide News
Available nowSamsung Galaxy XR$1,799Guide News

Works with

With a limit

Pimax says the Crystal Super works with laptops only if the laptop's dedicated GPU has a direct MiniDP or USB-C output, with an adapter that supports DP 1.4a at 8K/60Hz.

What you need
A laptop GPU wired directly to a MiniDP or USB-C port, plus a DP 1.4a-capable adapter.
What works
Full VR on a laptop when the graphics card is wired the right way.
Good to know
Many laptops route their dedicated GPU through integrated graphics instead, which will not work.
See details and sources (1)
  • Pimax: Pimax Crystal Super, official Pimax store page (PC requirements, FAQ)From the maker or platform · checked 2026-09-26
    The Crystal Light/Super works with laptops, as long as the laptop has a direct GPU output to MiniDP or USB-C port. You will need an adapter that supports DP 1.4a specification at 8K resolution at 60 Hz.
    Pimax Crystal Super + Free VR Prescription Lenses Bundle

Last checked 2026-09-26.

Needs an adapter

And it needs real graphics horsepower. Pimax lists a minimum GPU from the RTX 2070/RX 5700XT family and Windows 10 (x64) or Windows 11.

What you need
A Windows 10 (x64) or Windows 11 PC with at least an RTX 2070 or RX 5700XT class GPU.
What works
Runs the full Pimax Play, SteamVR and OpenXR software stack.
See details and sources (1)
  • Pimax: Pimax Crystal Super, official Pimax store page (PC requirements, FAQ)From the maker or platform · checked 2026-09-26
    RTX 2070, RTX 2070S, RTX 2080, RTX 2080S, RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3060, RTX 3060Ti, RTX 3070, RTX 3070Ti, RTX 4060, RTX 4060Ti, RX 5700XT, RX 6700XT
    No. The Crystal Super is a PCVR-only VR headset without batteries. It always needs to be connected by its DP cable, so it does not support wifi streaming or the 60G Airlink.
    Pimax Crystal Super + Free VR Prescription Lenses Bundle

Last checked 2026-09-26.

Works

It's required. Pimax says the headset is powered by Pimax Play, its own software for display calibration and per-game profiles.

What you need
The free Pimax Play software installed on the connected PC.
What works
Display calibration and per-game profiles on top of the base SteamVR/OpenXR experience.
See details and sources (1)

Last checked 2026-09-26.

Works

Pimax's own spec sheet lists the software stack as Pimax Play, SteamVR and OpenXR together, so existing titles from either storefront run on Crystal Super.

What works
Runs SteamVR and OpenXR titles through Pimax Play.
See details and sources (1)

Last checked 2026-09-26.

Most paired with

Does the Crystal Super work with a Windows PC?

Needs an adapter

And it needs real graphics horsepower. Pimax lists a minimum GPU from the RTX 2070/RX 5700XT family and Windows 10 (x64) or Windows 11.

What you need
A Windows 10 (x64) or Windows 11 PC with at least an RTX 2070 or RX 5700XT class GPU.
What works
Runs the full Pimax Play, SteamVR and OpenXR software stack.
See details and sources (1)
  • Pimax: Pimax Crystal Super, official Pimax store page (PC requirements, FAQ)From the maker or platform · checked 2026-09-26
    RTX 2070, RTX 2070S, RTX 2080, RTX 2080S, RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3060, RTX 3060Ti, RTX 3070, RTX 3070Ti, RTX 4060, RTX 4060Ti, RX 5700XT, RX 6700XT
    No. The Crystal Super is a PCVR-only VR headset without batteries. It always needs to be connected by its DP cable, so it does not support wifi streaming or the 60G Airlink.
    Pimax Crystal Super + Free VR Prescription Lenses Bundle

Last checked 2026-09-26.

What you need

Does the Crystal Super work with a Windows PC?

Needs an adapter

And it needs real graphics horsepower. Pimax lists a minimum GPU from the RTX 2070/RX 5700XT family and Windows 10 (x64) or Windows 11.

What you need
A Windows 10 (x64) or Windows 11 PC with at least an RTX 2070 or RX 5700XT class GPU.
What works
Runs the full Pimax Play, SteamVR and OpenXR software stack.
See details and sources (1)
  • Pimax: Pimax Crystal Super, official Pimax store page (PC requirements, FAQ)From the maker or platform · checked 2026-09-26
    RTX 2070, RTX 2070S, RTX 2080, RTX 2080S, RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3060, RTX 3060Ti, RTX 3070, RTX 3070Ti, RTX 4060, RTX 4060Ti, RX 5700XT, RX 6700XT
    No. The Crystal Super is a PCVR-only VR headset without batteries. It always needs to be connected by its DP cable, so it does not support wifi streaming or the 60G Airlink.
    Pimax Crystal Super + Free VR Prescription Lenses Bundle

Last checked 2026-09-26.

How it works

Works

Pimax's own spec sheet lists an interchangeable 3.5mm audio jack alongside the built-in microphones.

What works
Plug in your own wired headphones or earphones instead of relying on a bundled pair.
See details and sources (1)

Last checked 2026-09-26.

Works

Pimax says Crystal Super supports fully cable-free inside-out SLAM tracking, with no base stations required, as one of two tracking choices.

What works
Room-scale tracking with nothing to mount on the walls.
See details and sources (1)

Last checked 2026-09-26.

Works

Pimax sells the Crystal Super with a free VR Prescription Lenses bundle option.

What you need
Choose the Prescription Lenses bundle when ordering.
See details and sources (1)

Last checked 2026-09-26.

Works

As the higher-precision option. Pimax says adding Lighthouse base stations is supported alongside inside-out tracking, for competition-grade precision.

What you need
One or more SteamVR Lighthouse base stations, sold separately.
What works
Maximum tracking precision for competitive or exacting use.
See details and sources (1)

Last checked 2026-09-26.

Doesn't work

Pimax says the Crystal Super is a PCVR-only headset without batteries that always needs its DP cable connected, so it does not support WiFi streaming or the 60G Airlink.

Good to know
Every session is wired to the PC over DisplayPort; there is no cable-free streaming mode.
See details and sources (1)

Last checked 2026-09-26.

May 13, 2024
Pimax announced Crystal Super at its Frontier keynote.
Apr 15, 2025
Pimax reported that Crystal Super was shipping and Pimax Play supported it.
May 23, 2025
Pimax introduced the Ultrawide optical engine and said the 50 PPD version had begun shipping in April.

At a glance

THIS PRODUCTPimax Crystal SuperGalaxy XRCOMPARE WITHGalaxy XR
Display
Replaceable QLED optical engine, up to 3840 x 3840 per eye, 90/120 HzConfirmed: Pimax (official) · Sep 26, 2026
Dual micro-OLED 3,552×3,840 / 90HzRumored: Samsung Newsroom · Jul 11, 2026
Battery
None: powered by the PC tetherConfirmed: Pimax (official) · Sep 26, 2026
~2 hrs general use2.5 hrs video · usable while charging (tethered pack)
Works with
Windows PC (RTX 2070/RX 5700 XT minimum, RTX 4080 recommended)Confirmed: Pimax (official) · Sep 26, 2026optional SteamVR Lighthouse base stations
Android only
Price
From $1599
From $1799.99
Fov
Up to 140° (engine dependent: 140°/127°/106°)Confirmed: Pimax (official) · Sep 26, 2026
109° H / 100° VConfirmed: Samsung Newsroom · Jul 11, 2026
Controls
Built-in, Tobii, 120Hz, dynamic foveated renderingConfirmed: Pimax (official) · Sep 26, 2026
Yes + motorized IPDConfirmed: Samsung Newsroom · Jul 11, 2026
Hand tracking
No
YesConfirmed: Samsung Newsroom · Jul 11, 2026
Passthrough
No
Full-colorConfirmed: Samsung Newsroom · Jul 11, 2026
Storage
None
256GBConfirmed: Samsung Newsroom · Jul 11, 2026
More specs
Processor
None: driven by a Windows PCConfirmed: Pimax (official) · Sep 26, 2026
Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2Confirmed: Samsung Newsroom · Jul 11, 2026
Software
Pimax Play, SteamVR, OpenXR on Windows 10 or 11Confirmed: Pimax (official) · Sep 26, 2026
Android XRRumored: Virtual Reality News · Jul 11, 2026
Connectivity
DisplayPort 1.4 + USBConfirmed: Pimax (official) · Sep 26, 2026
WiFi 7Confirmed: Samsung Newsroom · Jul 11, 2026Bluetooth 5.4 · USB-C
AI
No
Gemini embedded at the system levelConfirmed: Virtual Reality News · Jul 11, 2026
Battery device
Unknown
~2 hrs general useConfirmed: Samsung Newsroom · Jul 11, 20262.5 hrs video · usable while charging (tethered pack)

Where to buy

We may earn a commission when you buy through these links.

Price compared to others

Where Crystal Super sits against the others in its category.

Price compared to others

Pimax Crystal Super
$1,599
Meta Quest 3
$599.99
Meta VR Glasses
$1,299.99
Galaxy XR
$1,799.99
Available nowApple Vision Pro M5$3,699Guide News
Available nowMeta Quest 3$599.99Guide News
Available nowSamsung Galaxy XR$1,799Guide News

Frequently asked questions

Questions about Crystal Super

Top questions

How much does Crystal Super cost?
$1,599.00, down from $1,799.00. The Ultrawide and 57 PPD optical engines are in stock; the 50 PPD engine is currently sold out.
Is Crystal Super standalone?
No. It is a tethered PCVR headset that runs on Pimax Play, SteamVR and OpenXR, connected over DisplayPort 1.4 and USB.
Can the optical engine really be swapped?
Yes. Pimax built Crystal Super so the display module can be upgraded, repaired or expanded without replacing the whole headset.
What is the minimum PC requirement?
An Nvidia RTX 2070 or AMD RX 5700 XT, a 12th-gen Intel i7 or 14th-gen i5 or an AMD Ryzen 7700X, and 16GB of RAM, per Pimax's own FAQ.
Does it have eye tracking?
Yes, built in. Pimax uses Tobii hardware at 120Hz with 10 IR sensors for dynamic foveated rendering, which renders detail only where you are looking.
How is it tracked?
Either way: inside-out SLAM with no base stations, or Lighthouse tracking with SteamVR base stations for more precision.
Does it support wireless streaming?
No. Pimax says Crystal Super is a PCVR-only headset without batteries, always connected by its DisplayPort cable, with no Wi-Fi streaming or 60G Airlink.
Is there an ongoing subscription fee?
No recurring fee once you have paid it. Pimax says after the Prime fee is paid, the headset is yours with no further subscription, and that stays true even if you sell it.
What if the headset has a problem?
Pimax says it will replace the headset at no cost for any technical issue through no fault of the user within the warranty, and covers the shipping too.
What's the return and warranty policy?
14-day returns and a 1-year warranty (12 months) on every headset, plus an optional Pimax Extended Warranty at checkout.

Using it

What does it cost?
It costs $1599. That is the list price. Source: Crystal
Does it have a 120Hz screen?
Yes, the screen runs at 120Hz. Source: Crystal

Price and models

Is there a newer one?
No. The Crystal Super is the current model. Source: iDevice

Works with

How does the Crystal Super handle steamVR Lighthouse base stations?
Yes, as the higher-precision option. Pimax says adding Lighthouse base stations is supported alongside inside-out tracking, for competition-grade precision. Works Source: Pimax
Does the Crystal Super work with the Pimax Play app?
Yes, it's required. Pimax says the headset is powered by Pimax Play, its own software for display calibration and per-game profiles. Works Source: Pimax
How does the Crystal Super handle wireless streaming (WiGig / Airlink)?
No. Pimax says the Crystal Super is a PCVR-only headset without batteries that always needs its DP cable connected, so it does not support WiFi streaming or the 60G Airlink. Doesn't work Source: Pimax
Does the Crystal Super work with your SteamVR or OpenXR game library?
Yes. Pimax's own spec sheet lists the software stack as Pimax Play, SteamVR and OpenXR together, so existing titles from either storefront run on Crystal Super. Works Source: Pimax

September 2026

ByteDance is building spatial video for Pico headsets

Bloomberg puts founder Zhang Yiming personally on the project, built on ByteDance's Seedance model, with a launch window as early as next month.

Pico's Vision Pro rival cleared the FCC a week after its reveal was called off

Pico Space Pro has cleared the FCC, one of the last steps before a US launch, six days after ByteDance cancelled the Beijing event where it was due to be introduced. There is still no price, no release date and no new reveal date. Pico's only stated window is the fourth quarter of 2026.

August 2026

Pico cancels its September event and delays Space Pro

Pico pulled a dated launch and moved its Vision Pro rival to the fourth quarter, with price and availability still unanswered.