Bigscreen has introduced its self-produced VR headset, Beyond, which claims the title of the “most compact VR headset in the world.” Weighing less than 6 ounces (including the strap), it is incredibly lightweight. This full-fledged device features a pair of OLED displays with a resolution of 2560 x 2560 and a refresh rate of 90 Hz, a six-degree-of-freedom tracking system, and three-dimensional flat lenses that eliminate the “screen door” effect (gaps between pixels), providing a horizontal field of view of 93 degrees.
Instead of familiar knobs and control elements, the company offers a fitting method that involves scanning the user’s face with an iPhone app for an ideal fit with the Bigscreen. Users who wear glasses will need to obtain special lenses for optimal use of the headset. Position tracking is achieved using SteamVR technology, rather than external cameras, and built-in headphones are available only with the “Audio Strap.” Connection to a PC is made through a port that provides both video output and power simultaneously.
The Beyond headset supports the SteamVR platform and will work only with compatible controllers (including Vive and Valve Index) and full-featured trackers, as Bigscreen does not include controllers in the package. A powerful computer will be required for the headset, at least with a quad-core processor and a graphics card like the GeForce RTX 2070 or Radeon RX 5700 XT.
Beyond is available for pre-order at $999 and will be launched in the U.S. in the third quarter of this year. In Canada and Europe, the device will be available in the fourth quarter, while users in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan will have to wait until the end of the year.
In other countries, the VR headset will only appear in 2024, as reported by Bigscreen. The company explains the long rollout due to the extended manufacturing timelines needed for producing custom headsets.