Pimax Crystal Light Review:
I’m new to Pimax with the Crystal Light, having tried VR since the DK1, and experienced most WMR headsets, all the Quests, Vive, and Vive Pro1.
TL/DR
- Excellent visuals are worth it if you can tolerate it’s many issues.
- Support is making a strong effort, at least for me!
- However, Pimax has no excuses for many ongoing problems: no stock, too many products, and unfulfilled promises! The comfort level is subpar heavy, and the sound is poor, and the SLAM tracking is unacceptable.
BAD STUFF
- Cheap-looking build quality compared to all other headsets owned (looks homemade KIT printed)
- Uncomfortable to wear
- Heavy and unbalanced, causing pressure on the front of the head.
- The top strap didn’t improve much; I didn’t try aftermarket options. I use the 15mm face pad and lens covers.
- The sound quality is lacking. I have the DMAS on order. Let’s see if I actually receive it.
- The inside-out SLAM tracking is terrible. It should match the WMR G2 by now, and the Meta Quest performance is superior. Despite spending much time with support to troubleshoot tracking issues, I remain concerned about the upcoming super model lacking Lighthouse tracking. The initial setup improved after significant effort, but it still feels like beta at best and isn’t ready for public use. SLAM may work better on faster CPUs but I’ve had no issues with all my other inside-out HMDs.
- Supply chain issues abound! I was lucky to snag a 15mm face pad, top strap, and Lighthouse, but the lighthouse faceplates quickly sold out, and DMAS is still unavailable.
- Chromatic aberration is noticeable when off-center.
- Software design is just average.
GOOD STUFF
- Customer service was outstanding for me. Despite being on holiday, they provided responsive support in attempting to fix my tracking experience.
- Resolution and clarity are impressive, with good brightness and color.
- The Lighthouse works excellently, as anticipated.
I’m keeping this headset since I already have a Lighthouse. Even if I didn’t, I’d be purchasing Lighthouse for it because the visuals are far superior to the G2. I’m accustomed to uncomfortable headsets and can manage. I’ll upgrade the sound with the DMAS or other options if necessary.
My PC is older and has a 11900K and RTX 3090. I can only achieve 2900-3100 resolution in MSFS 2020 at 32-40 fps on high to ultra settings. It looks great, but a 5090 would make this headset truly shine.
I’m on the list for the super model but hesitant about the SLAM tracking. I’m debating whether to try it at launch or wait until May when Lighthouse tracking becomes available, assuming it does. I’ll definitely need to upgrade my computer for the super.