Pico 4: The Best Entry Point into the World of VR and XR?
The Pico 4 from ByteDance aims to take down the Meta Quest 2 with its mission to provide high-quality virtual and mixed reality experiences. For those who want to try VR for the first time, or for those who want to get back into it after years away, the Pico 4 is a great entry point. Let’s take a closer look at its features and assess its value.
Configuration & Hardware
The Pico 4 is an all-in-one VR headset that is incredibly easy to install and configure. Users don’t need to plug in any cables, making it a 100% plug-and-play headset. Moreover, its basic controls are highly intuitive, especially if you have played with a game console at least once in your life.
The headset comes with a built-in 5,300 mAh battery within the strap located at the back, a spare frame for the visor, a pair of wireless controllers that run on AA batteries, a charger, and a USB-C cable. Just power on the headset via the right button on the visor, turn on the controllers individually, and you’re ready to go.
The Pico 4 offers excellent adjustment of the interpupillary distance to align the two lenses of the helmet with the center of your eyes. The adjustment ranges from 58mm to 72mm with notches at every 5mm, while the rotating crown used to adjust the strap is rather ergonomic.
Design & Ergonomics
The Pico 4 is a very comfortable helmet to wear, even for long sessions. Its fabric-lined visor might not appeal to everyone, especially if you sweat a lot, but the weight distribution with the battery at the back is quite good. The helmet also provides highly ergonomic joysticks that offer highly accurate and reliable tracking.
In terms of finish, we’re treated to good old plastic without much refinement done, but the two-tone coating is aesthetically pleasing. Its matte side makes the grip of the controllers a rather pleasant experience. Furthermore, the two action buttons and the joystick on each of them are easy to grip.
Pico 4 in a Nutshell
The Pico 4 is priced affordably, making it a strong alternative to the Meta Quest 2, which costs €50 more in Europe. The 128 GB Pico 4 is priced at €429, and the 256 GB version costs €499. Both are equipped with 8 GB of RAM and easily available on Amazon.
While the Pico 4 cannot completely replace your gaming PC’s VR headset, it can work wirelessly and efficiently thanks to its Wi-Fi 6 connection. It is a great VR headset for first-time users and for those who want to experience VR gaming without spending a fortune.
Pros and Cons of Pico 4
Pros:
– Very sharp image quality without the God Rays effect
– Highly adjustable interpupillary distance
– Functional passthrough
– Very easy and fast to install and configure
– Ergonomic joysticks
– Highly accurate and reliable tracking
– Affordable price
Cons:
– Catalog of applications is limited
– Suspect 2.5-hour battery life considering the battery capacity
– The Pico VR application is underutilized
Editor Notes
If you’re looking for a great entry point into the world of VR and XR, the Pico 4 is a great option. While it is not as powerful as other high-end VR headsets, its ease of installation and configuration, as well as its affordable price, make it a worthwhile investment.
For more VR gaming news and reviews, check out VR Game News.
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