Compare Pimax Headsets

Crystal Light VS. Crystal Super, Which is right for you?

Pimax Crystal Light

High-End PCVR for All

Best for PCVR gamers, sim racers, and flight sim fans seeking beautiful visuals on a budget.

$599 USD

plus $11.99/mo. for 24 months or one-off $258.98.
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Pimax Crystal Super

The World's First Retina-Level VR Headset

Best for hardcore VR players, VR developers, and professional users needing ultra-clear visuals and wider FOV.

$799 USD

plus $40.99/mo. for 24 months or one-off $696.75.
Add to cart

Specification differences

Crystal Light vs Crystal Super
Crystal Light Crystal Super
Mode PCVR PCVR
PPD 35 PPD 57PPD / 50PPD Optical Engine available
Resolution 2880 x 2880 x 2 3840 x 3840 x 2
Max Refresh 120Hz 100Hz
FOV 120HFOV 120HFOV / 135HFOV available
Eye-tracking Not available Available
Foveated Rendering Fixed 2.0 Dynamic
IPD Manually adjustable IPD (58-72mm) Automatically adjustable IPD (58-72mm)
Tracking 6DOF inside-out (Lighthouse compatible) 6DOF inside-out (Lighthouse compatible)
Screen QLED+MiniLED QLED+MiniLED / OLED Optical Engine available
Local Dimming 576 zones per eye 1000 zones per eye
Lenses Glass aspheric lenses Glass aspheric lenses
Battery No battery needed No battery needed
Audio Interchangeable 3.5mm jack, 2x microphone Interchangeable 3.5mm jack, 2x microphone
Cable 5m display port cable 5m display port cable
GPU Requirements Minimum: RTX 2060 and above Minimum: RTX 2060 and above
Price Start from $858 Start from $1684
Availability Available in local stock, delivering in 2 weeks (in US, EU, UK and Canada) Shipping starts in Q1 2025

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Key Considerations

Through-the-lens picture of crystal light

Performance and Compatibility

When it comes to visual performance, the Pimax Crystal Light, with its 16.5 million pixels and 35 PPD, stands out as one of the best clarity consumer VR headsets on the market today. Whether you're flying complex aircraft, racing at high speeds, or engaging in precision combat, the Crystal Light enhances the experience by delivering smooth, detailed visuals without overburdening your system. This means you don’t need the latest GPU to enjoy top-tier VR.

In contrast, the Pimax Crystal Super, with its 29.5 million pixels and 57 PPD, offers unprecedented retinal-level clarity. This level of resolution makes the line between the real world and the virtual world almost indistinguishable. The upgraded panel and lenses improve clarity, brightness, and contrast while providing more headroom for advanced GPUs and CPUs. To fully unlock the potential of this next-gen headset, you might need the latest GPU models. For users who prioritize ultimate VR performance and don't mind investing heavily, the Crystal Super is the ideal choice.

Eye-Tracking and Foveated Rendering

A key difference between the Crystal Light and Crystal Super is the presence of eye-tracking. Eye-tracking in VR is primarily used for Dynamic Foveated Rendering (DFR) or capturing facial expressions. For flight and racing simulation enthusiasts, the presence of foveated rendering is particularly important.

The Crystal Light does not include eye-tracking, but it uses an advanced Fixed Foveated Rendering 2.0. This technique reduces the resolution in the peripheral vision, aligning with how the human eye naturally perceives the world. FFR allows for improved performance without sacrificing clarity in your central screen. Many players who haven't experienced DFR report little to no issue with the reduced resolution at the edges of the screen.

The Crystal Super, on the other hand, utilizes eye-tracking to enable DFR. This dynamically adjusts image quality based on where the user is looking, ensuring the center of where you look is rendered with full detail. In fast-paced scenarios like combat flight, DFR helps you spot enemies or cockpit instruments quickly while maintaining immersion without inconsistencies in clarity. This is particularly beneficial in high-dynamics scenes, where rapid visual adjustments are crucial.

For games that typically focus on the central area of the screen or don't require rapid visual switching, eye-tracking may not be an essential feature. However, for players engaging in dynamic, high-speed simulations, DFR offers a noticeable improvement in both immersion and visual responsiveness.

Color Contrast and Blacks

Both the Crystal Light and Crystal Super feature QLED displays. QLED panels generally outperform micro-OLED in several areas, including screen size options, color range, brightness, lifespan, and cost-effectiveness. However, traditional QLED panels rely on a backlight and can't turn individual pixels off like OLED, which results in less true black levels. This is noticeable in dark scenes, like flying at night, where black areas may appear more grey, breaking immersion.

This issue is addressed in both the Crystal and Crystal Light through Local Dimming. The Crystal Light includes 576 independent dimming zones per eye, which significantly enhances color contrast and realism by controlling the lighting in different screen areas.

The Crystal Super improves upon this with Local Dimming 2.0, featuring 1,000 zones per eye. The driver for controlling these zones has also been upgraded, with separate drivers for each zone, allowing for faster and more accurate adjustments. These improvements further elevate the viewing experience, especially in dark, high-contrast scenarios.

Affordability and Availability

The Crystal Light offers excellent value for its clarity and performance, making it difficult to find a comparable product in the VR market at this price point. If you're looking for a native 4K, wide FOV PCVR headset, the Crystal Light is the best choice at a starting price of $858. The Crystal Light has been tested and refined over the past year, and thanks to Pimax's ongoing efforts, it now benefits from optimized software and improved quality control. With local warehouses in the US, Europe, the UK, and Canada, customers can expect to receive their units within two weeks of ordering.

On the other hand, the Crystal Super is priced higher, starting at $1,684, due to its next-gen specs that push the boundaries of VR technology. The mass production of the Crystal Super begins in Q1 2025. Due to high demand and the complexity of the manufacturing process, the wait time is expected to be relatively long. If you're willing to wait for the latest advancements in VR, the Crystal Super promises to deliver an unparalleled visual experience.

Crystal Light: Highend PCVR for Everyone

Total price of the Crystal Light: $887 USD

• Ultra-sharp 2880 x 2880 resolution per eye.
• Glass aspheric lenses with a large sweet spot.
• 35 PPD for super clear vision.
• Variable refresh rate. Manually adjustable IPD (58-72mm).
• Foveated Rendering: Fixed 2.0.
• Easy setup with inside-out tracking.
• Audio: interchangeable 3.5mm jack, 2x microphone.

Lower Entry Barrier, Enhanced VR Experience

Total price of the Crystal Super QLED 57 PPD: $1,783 USD

  • Ultra-sharp 3840 x 3840 resolution per eye.
  • Glass aspheric lenses with a large sweet spot.
  • Ultra-clear, optional optical engine. (57 PPD with 120HFOV/50 PPD with 135HFOV)
  • Variable refresh rate (72Hz, 90Hz) provides smooth gameplay.
  • Automatically adjustable IPD (58-72mm).
  • Local dimming delivers vibrant, true-to-life colors.
  • Foveated Rendering: Dynamic 2.0.
  • Headset with two controllers.
  • Easy setup with inside-out tracking or expand with Lighthouse tracking.
  • Audio: interchangeable 3.5mm jack, 2x microphone.
  • 57 PPD QLED, the first limited batch starts shipping from Q1 2025
  • 50 PPD QLED, starts shipping from Q1 2025