Virtual reality has come a long way since its resurgence in the last decade but two problems remain: image clarity and field of view. There's always the feeling that you're looking through a pair of binoculars, your view limited by the screens placed directly in front of your eyes. This is the problem the Pimax Crystal was designed to solve, with a huge field of view and more raw pixels than any other VR headset, but its $1599 asking price (currently reduced to $1440) and steep system requirements raise questions about its viability.
After testing the Crystal for a few weeks, I have some answers. Though there are a lot of hoops to jump through - and some puzzling design choices - when the Crystal shines, it delivers perhaps the most stunning VR experience you can get today.
After all, VR games are unique in that the headset used to play them can have such a profound impact on your experience. Unlike a typical monitor, the headset controls your input, your movement, what you see and how clearly you see it. All of this must be balanced with weight, size, and price, making the process of choosing a headset even more challenging. That's why I'd like to walk you through my experience with the Crystal, so you can judge whether its obvious strengths can overcome its more subtle limitations.