Pico 4 evaluate: The very best headset to (re)begin VR with out complications on a budget

The Pico 4 in a nutshell

The Pico 4 is a standalone or all-in-one VR headset. Principally, you need to use it with out having to attach it to a PC. The headset, like its controllers, will work wirelessly (though connection to a PC by way of USB-C or Wi-Fi 6 is feasible and typically obligatory, particularly for giant video games).

The 128 GB Pico 4 is priced at €429 and €499 for the 256 GB model. It’s unavailable within the US, therefore the € costs. Each are geared up with 8 GB of RAM, and you will discover it simply on Amazon. It’s a direct competitor of the Meta Quest 2, which is €50 costlier in Europe.

Nevertheless, that is the final time I’ll make a comparability with the Meta headset on this evaluate. I want to invite you to learn our Meta Quest 2 evaluate by my colleague Matt Zellmer who is aware of much more in regards to the topic than I do.

Sure, I am a complete noob in the case of something VR. I have never reviewed another latest fashions in the marketplace, and I am not a VR gamer in any respect. Nevertheless, that is okay. It is players like me that the Pico 4 is focusing on.

Its value is comparatively inexpensive in comparison with the Meta Quest Professional and HTC XR Elite which break the €1,500 mark. Nevertheless, its technical specs make it very aggressive, along with its pancake lenses, the great battery life in its built-in nature, and the reliability of its controller monitoring.

It is actually entry level if you wish to (re)begin your VR journey with out having to interrupt the financial institution and with out taking an excessive amount of bother.

Configuration & {hardware}

The Pico 4 is an all-in-one headset, making its first benefit being the benefit of set up and configuration. There are not any cables so that you can plug in, making the expertise 100% plug-and-play.

What I appreciated:

• Very simple set up course of.
• Extremely intuitive dealing with and primary controls, particularly when you have performed with a sport console no less than as soon as in your life.
• Exact interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment.

What I disliked:

• Obliged at hand over our information to ByteDance.

Within the big Pico 4 field, we clearly discover the headset with the built-in 5,300 mAh battery throughout the strap positioned on the again. We additionally get a spare body for the visor, a pair of wi-fi controllers (that are powered by AA batteries), a charger, and a USB-C cable. That is it.

Simply placed on the headset, activate the facility by way of the fitting button on the visor, energy up the controllers individually, and also you’re good to go.

The very first thing to do is to outline the play space. It is quite simple, actually. Simply observe the directions and ‘draw’ a line on the bottom with the joysticks. The helmet is then in “passthrough” mode, which helps you to see your setting and means that you can simply discover your approach round.

It’s essential to then hook up with the Web by way of the settings. To take action, go to the Pico Lab settings to activate the 90 Hz refresh fee (the default 72 Hz refresh fee could improve the feeling of dizziness or kinetosis), and hook up with both your TikTok account (ByteDance) or your Pico account.

The helmet additionally presents glorious adjustment of the interpupillary distance to align the 2 “glasses” of the helmet to the middle of your eyes. The adjustment ranges from 58mm to 72mm with notches at each 5mm, whereas the rotating crown used to regulate the strap is reasonably ergonomic.

Briefly, it is simple to arrange, simple to configure, and there’s no want for tutorials or guides to start out the expertise as quickly as you unbox the Pico 4.

Design & ergonomics

The Pico 4 is a really snug helmet to put on, even for lengthy classes. The material-lined visor will not enchantment to everybody, particularly in the event you sweat lots. The helmet lets just a little an excessive amount of gentle by by way of the perimeters as effectively, however such grievances are rapidly forgotten as soon as it’s worn across the head.

What I appreciated:

• Good weight distribution with the battery at the again.
• Snug to put on.
• Ergonomic controllers.

What I disliked:

• No 3.5 mm jack plug.
• The material lining of the visor absorbs sweat simply.

All in all, the Pico 4 ideas the scales at 586g, however I discovered it to be very gentle when worn. Pico selected to maneuver the battery to the again, putting it instantly on the strap to make the load distribution extra balanced.

I’ll have a cranial morphology near that of a Giger Xenomorph, however the adjustable strap acquainted itself effectively with my dome. I typically have an issue the place VR headsets transfer up my head by itself, making the picture completely blurry. With the Pico 4, it remained steadfastly in place.

I’ve seen a number of reviewers complain in regards to the mesh lining of the visor. Positive, silicone is best when it comes to hygiene because it does not take in sweat. Personally, I are likely to sweat lots.

And I might reasonably have an absorbent materials than plastic or leatherette with sweat dripping down from my brow. In any case, you may simply discover silicone liners on Amazon for round €20 or €30.

Verify supply

By way of end, we’re handled to good previous plastic with out a lot refinement achieved. Nevertheless, the two-tone coating is visually good to have a look at. Its matte aspect makes the grip of the controllers a reasonably nice expertise, providing sufficient “grip”.

The controllers themselves are very ergonomic. There are two triggers, two motion buttons, and a joystick on every of them. The buttons are simple to grip, and the hoops are compact sufficient to forestall the controllers from clashing while you transfer your arms in the midst of a sport.

Picture & audio high quality

One of many major promoting factors of the Pico 4 is its well-known pancake lenses. They provide a decision of 2160 x 2160 pixels per eye. I discovered the picture high quality to be superb when it comes to sharpness. The LCD panels, nonetheless, are usually just a little too darkish for my liking at occasions, I’d have appreciated to have just a little bit extra distinction and brightness.

What I appreciated:

• Very sharp picture and simply the fitting smoothness at 90 Hz.
• No God Rays impact.
• Passthrough is first rate sufficient.
• The huge 105° area of view.

What I disliked:

• Lacks a little bit of brightness and distinction.
• Grid results seem at typically.
• 90 Hz refresh fee shouldn’t be activated by default.

Pancake lenses

The Pico 4 has pancake lenses versus the Fresnel lenses within the Meta Quest 2. Every know-how has its benefits and downsides.

Fresnel lenses do not darken the display screen as pancake lenses do. Pancake lenses do not endure from the “God Rays” impact, which is unpleasant rays of sunshine that seem when gentle hits the round ridges of Fresnel lenses.

Pancake lenses are additionally extra compact and require much less house from the display screen, which implies there may be much less want for software program correction to restrict “pincushion” distortion (just like stretching the corners of a sq.).

Briefly, pancake lenses are a more sensible choice for many customers typically.

Very sharp picture with none God Rays impact

As for the Pico 4, I discovered the picture to be very sharp. The sector of view can be fairly beneficiant, with an FOV of 105° that has minimal distortions on the sides of the picture.

I did not discover any God Rays impact throughout my use, which is nice. Nevertheless, I did discover the display screen to be a wee bit too darkish in chosen situations. In some video games, I used to be just a little quick on distinction and brightness, the picture felt just a little washed out.

Typically, I might discover a grid impact or “display screen door impact”. On monochrome surfaces or within the menu system, it appeared as thought you may see a skinny grid separating the pixels. This was just like wanting on the picture by a display screen. It isn’t apparent in any respect, however it’s noticeable infrequently.

Passthrough appropriate, however not optimum

The colour passthrough, which lets you see your bodily setting with out eradicating the helmet by way of a 16 MP digicam, works effectively. Nevertheless, I discovered that the dimensions of seen parts doesn’t correlate itself with actuality 100%, along with a distorted depth. Principally, there’s a sort of visible shift while you need to maintain one thing round you or while you stroll.

For a quiet stroll, it’s not an issue in any respect. You possibly can learn the display screen of your smartphone fairly simply even when I discovered the picture to be a bit too noisy at occasions.

Audio high quality is surprisingly good

The Pico 4 integrates two microphones within the decrease a part of the headset, putting it as shut as doable to your mouth. I used to be capable of bask in multiplayer video games and ask folks in the event that they had been utilizing the mics by default. Those who answered positively sounded intelligible and fairly clear. The standard shouldn’t be superb although, however it’s on par with what you get while you discuss on the cellphone.

The audio system positioned within the arms of the headset are of excellent high quality. Stereo sound is binaural and it reinforces the sensation of immersion, particularly while you transfer your head. The audio rendering sounded clear to me with spatialization.

Sadly, the Pico 4 doesn’t have a 3.5 mm jack to attach it to a wired headset. Nevertheless, you may join a headset or wi-fi headphones, though this impacts the battery lifetime of the headset.

Efficiency & monitoring

The Pico 4 incorporates a Snapdragon XR2 SoC and 8GB of RAM. The headset helps Bluetooth 5.1 and WiFi 6 connectivity. For monitoring, it integrates 4 cameras and a 6DOF system with head, eye, and even hand monitoring (the latter is ineffective in the meanwhile).

What I appreciated:

• Wonderful hand monitoring
• Head monitoring is simply as efficient
• Simply adjustable and adaptable enjoying space

What I disliked:

• Hand monitoring shouldn’t be mature sufficient and underutilized.

The monitoring efficiency of the Pico 4 is superb. You possibly can manually outline the enjoying space with a free hint. We are able to additionally go for dynamic monitoring that adapts to our actions. The helmet uncannily ‘is aware of’ whether or not you’re standing or sitting. You can too deactivate the monitoring to easily sit in your mattress and use the Pico 4 as an enormous distant display screen.

Even probably the most sudden actions are reproduced in a fluid and exact method. Immersion is whole while you launch a sport, and you may stroll and gesticulate freely within the sport space with none jerks. In some video games, the gameplay mechanics require numerous precision, and the Pico 4’s controllers by no means failed me.

I primarily performed an FPS known as Breachers, which is a sort of Rainbow Six Siege-fashion sport for many who know. I had no drawback aligning my weapon with my aiming angle. Reloading my weapons was additionally clean and the controllers did not stumble upon one another.

I additionally used the Digital Desktop utility lots, which lets you “caster” your PC to the Pico 4. It is good for watching YouTube movies, films, and TV collection on Netflix and… effectively, that is about it. This app presents a head monitoring mode in order that the display screen content material aligns together with your head actions. The pinnacle monitoring labored very effectively there too.

Sadly, I didn’t take a look at out the Pico 4 by enjoying Steam video games and connecting it to a PC. My laptop computer shouldn’t be highly effective sufficient to run Half Life: Alyx easily, however I can vouch that the wi-fi hyperlink by way of Wi-Fi 6 labored very effectively.

I discovered its hand monitoring to be iffy at occasions. Pico talked about that it’s nonetheless experimental and you’ll have to unlock the developer choices to allow it (Settings > Common > About > Software program model > click on 8 occasions on the final merchandise).

I have never discovered any appropriate utility with hand monitoring, so I feel we now have to attend for Pico/ByteDance to develop this know-how additional.

Interface

The Pico 4 runs on Pico OS 5, which is predicated on Android 10. The interface may very well be described as rudimentary if we wished to be unforgiving or minimalist if we had been extra beneficiant. The settings are fairly restricted however is greater than sufficient to cowl the naked necessities. It is usually a plus level that navigation is reasonably intuitive.

What I appreciated:

• Clear and easy-to-navigate interface
• Good free and paid video games within the native catalog

What I disliked:

• Not sufficient exclusives in comparison with Meta
• Can’t modify the headset by way of the Pico VR app

On the house display screen, we now have a toolbar consisting of seven widgets. Your Pico account, Discovery tab (sport suggestions, information, and many others.), retailer, pals checklist, file supervisor, app, sport catalog, and settings could be accessed right here.

The Pico 4 additionally works with the Pico VR app, which is obtainable without cost on Android and iOS. It should largely (truly, solely) function a portal to make your sport and app purchases. In any case, for the primary buy, you’ll have to undergo the app so as to add a cost methodology. Afterward, you should buy video games instantly by the headset.

I feel it is a disgrace you can’t entry the Pico 4’s settings by way of the Pico VR app. You possibly can handle a number of issues, like information, wi-fi hyperlink with the PC, and display screen broadcast. However that is about all, which is a little bit of a disgrace.

Aside from that, the Pico 4 has some cool options. I am referring to double-tapping on the fitting aspect of the headset, the place doing so means that you can swap to passthrough mode on-the-fly. The automated “get up” operate can be very cool and means that you can launch the headset and resume what you had been doing as quickly as you put on it.

As for the Pico retailer, I feel it is fairly well-stocked for now. Sure, there are a number of Meta exclusives lacking, however there’s a lot to select from as effectively when it comes to free video games.

I discovered its paid video games to be a tad costly, retailing for round €30 on common. Do not get me incorrect, there are some attention-grabbing titles there as effectively.

Navigation was fairly a nice affair. The truth that the entrance set off is the all-purpose button is a bit counter-intuitive, particularly if you end up used to enjoying on a console. It took me some time to cease urgent the A or B buttons to validate one thing.

Briefly, the one flaw of the Pico 4, for now, is its catalog of unique video games. The producer promised that it’s going to achieve extra titles over time. In any case, you may all the time entry your Steam sport library if the native catalog is inadequate on your gaming wants.

Battery life & charging velocity

The Pico 4 has a 5,300 mAh battery that permits the headset for use repeatedly for two.5 hours. The controllers run on two AA batteries and the battery life appears prolonged.

What I appreciated:

• Wonderful controller battery life
• Can be utilized whereas charging
• USB-C cable and charger included

What I disliked:

• Gradual charging velocity
• The two.5-hour battery life appears a bit quick contemplating the battery capability

In precise use, I’ve all the time been capable of obtain greater than two hours of use. I feel by linking it to a PC, the battery life can be diminished due to streaming.

One can say that 2.5 hours shouldn’t be very lengthy. Keep in mind that it’s not that for much longer lasting than the Meta Quest 2 both, which has a considerably smaller battery, but it surely’s greater than sufficient for a protracted sport session that may make you dizzy or sweat.

I additionally appreciated the truth that you may nonetheless use the headset whereas it is charging by way of USB-C. Effectively, head motion will then be a little bit of a problem but it surely’s nonetheless factor.

As for the 20-watt wired charging velocity, it’s reasonably sluggish. It takes two hours for an entire recharge. The headset has a small LED on the fitting aspect that signifies the present battery degree. You can too examine the charging standing by way of the headset or the Pico VR app.

As for the controllers, they’ve a for much longer battery life. The AA batteries that energy them can final a really very long time. I have been utilizing the headset for 2 weeks now and nonetheless have not needed to change the controllers’ batteries.

Technical information

	Technical information
System
Picture
Display and optics	2160 x 2160 pixels per eye 72/90 Hz refresh fee 105° area of view Pancake lenses 58 – 72 mm (IPD)
Dimensions	195 x 106 x 255-310 mm (W x H x D)
Weight	295 g (with out battery) 586 g (with battery)
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 1 7 nm construction width Octa-Core Max. 3.2 GHz Adreno 650 GPU
Reminiscence	8 GB RAM 128/256 GB storage
Expandable reminiscence	None
Digital camera/monitoring	4x 6DoF cameras 1x 16 MP RGB digicam Eye monitoring Head monitoring Hand monitoring
Battery/Battery life	5,300 mAh 2.5 hours of battery life 20W recharge
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.1
Sound	Stereo audio system Binaural audio 4 microphones
Different	USB Kind-C connector No jack Air Hyperlink connection to PC Hyperlink cable connection to PC (USB-C to USB-A) RGB Passthrough
Interface/OS	Pico OS 5 primarily based on Android 10
Value	€429

Conclusion