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Pimax, a brand known for producing high quality, large field of view VR headsets(opens in a new tab), has just announced one of its most ambitious product launches yet. Pimax usually sticks to VR headsets, but the new Pimax Portal (opens in new tab) looks like a portable machine of sorts, similar to Steam Deck (opens in new tab), capable of supporting AR, VR, and everything in between.
The portal was showcased at the Pimax Frontier 2022 demo and marketed as “the world’s first metaverse entertainment system”. While many of us don’t sell on the Metaverse(opens in a new tab), the Portal looks like an interesting device. If it meets all the recommendations of the company, it will most certainly be a universal console.
It all starts with a switch-like body that has a central screen with magnetic controls on either side. The 5.5-inch HDR screen is no joke, it has 4k resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate.
Pimax is a bit quiet about other specs other than touting an unnamed powerful ARM-based chip in the video. The specification also mentions the Snapdragon XR2, an impressive virtual reality chip. We need to know more about what’s under the hood to draw any conclusions about how well the screen will perform in action and what games it can play, but for now it sounds good.
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If you need some VR action, Portal’s portion of the screen can be plugged into a VR headset and the controller fits in your sleeve. It’s reminiscent of the VR phone solutions we’ve seen in the past, but with a device designed to be used. The kit includes two types of lenses, one for gaming with 27PPD resolution and 100 degree field of view. The other one is better for 40PPD and 60 degree FOV movies.
This allows you to swap options depending on what you’re using VR for. Pimax plans to release specialized variants for various purposes, such as a social headset with face tracking. This will hopefully provide a more accessible VR option for those who want to master the technology.
But that’s not all that Portal can install. Pimax Mini Station is a case that offers more portable screen options or a dedicated living room entertainment dock. The focus has always been on pluggable modules such as batteries or 5G cellular links, low latency and compatibility with game streaming applications.
If Pimax Portal does what it claims to do, it will be a great piece of technology, especially for the price it offers. While it will debut as a pre-sale on Kickstarter on Nov. 15 (opens in a new tab), the portal is listed for $299, with the most expensive version currently available for $599. This machine has obvious potential as a hybrid handheld console and VR system, but with such a big announcement, I need to see it in action first.
Hope has been writing about games for about a decade, starting with the Australian fansite Nintendo Vooks.net. Since then, she has spoken too much about games and technology for publications such as Techlife, Byteside, IGN and GameSpot. Of course, PC Gamer is also here, where she can indulge her inner hardware fanatic with news and reviews. Usually, you will find that Hope is interested in art, tech, or the perfect combination of both, and if appropriate, she will share it with you here. When she’s not writing about other people’s amazing creations, she’s working on what she hopes will one day be her own. You can find her fictional relaxing setting, Far Future sci-fi radio show, Listening Experience album or podcast here (opens in a new tab). No, she’s not joking.
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Post time: Nov-11-2022