Bigscreen, the company behind the popular VR app Bigscreen Beta, has launched its own VR headset called Bigscreen Beyond. The headset is designed to be the world’s smallest and lightest PC VR headset, featuring OLED microdisplays with high resolution and custom pancake optics. But what makes Bigscreen Beyond stand out from other VR headsets is that it is custom-built for each customer using a 3D face scan.
How Bigscreen Beyond Works
Bigscreen Beyond is a tethered PC VR headset that uses Valve’s SteamVR tracking standard. This means that users need to have their own controllers and base stations to use the headset. The headset also requires a powerful PC with a DisplayPort 1.4 and two USB 3.0 ports.
The headset has a resolution of 2560 x 2560 pixels per eye, which is higher than most VR headsets on the market. The headset also has a refresh rate of 75Hz or 90Hz, depending on the user’s preference. The field of view is claimed to be 93 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically, which is comparable to other VR headsets.
The headset weighs only 127 grams, which is significantly lighter than other PC VR headsets that typically weigh around 500 grams or more. The headset achieves this by using micro-OLED displays and pancake lenses, which are thinner and lighter than conventional displays and lenses.
But the most unique feature of Bigscreen Beyond is that it is custom-built for each customer using a 3D face scan. The company uses an iPhone app to scan the customer’s face and measure their interpupillary distance (IPD), which is the distance between the eyes. The company then manufactures the headset according to the customer’s IPD and face shape, ensuring a comfortable and optimal fit.
How to Order Bigscreen Beyond
Bigscreen Beyond is available to pre-order now for $999 on the company’s website. The price only includes the headset itself, the cable, and the link box. Users need to buy their own controllers and base stations separately.
The company says that it has started shipping Beyond to customers in the United States, and plans to ship internationally in mid to late Q4 2023. The company also says that it has received more demand than expected, and is ramping up production to meet the orders.
To order Bigscreen Beyond, customers need to have an iPhone XR or newer to perform the 3D face scan. The company will send an email with instructions on how to do the scan after the pre-order is placed. The scan does not require installing any app, as it can be done through the Safari browser on iOS.
Customers can also choose their preferred IPD if they know it already, or let the company determine it based on the scan. The company says that it can manufacture headsets with IPD ranging from 58mm to 72mm.
What Bigscreen Beta Offers
Bigscreen Beta is a VR app that lets users watch movies, TV shows, games, and other content together in virtual environments. Users can create their own private or public rooms, invite friends or strangers, and chat with voice or text.
The app supports streaming content from various sources, such as Netflix, YouTube, Twitch, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and more. Users can also stream their desktop screen or webcam to share their own content.
The app also offers various virtual environments to choose from, such as movie theaters, living rooms, campfires, space stations, cinemascope screens, and more. Users can customize their avatars and interact with objects in the environments.
The app is compatible with most VR headsets, including Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality, Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream, and PlayStation VR. The app is free to download and use.
Why Bigscreen Beyond Matters
Bigscreen Beyond is an ambitious project that aims to create a new standard for VR headsets. By offering a custom-built headset that fits each customer’s face perfectly, the company hopes to improve the comfort and immersion of VR experiences.
The headset also boasts impressive specifications that rival or surpass other high-end VR headsets on the market. The headset’s high resolution, refresh rate, field of view, and weight could make it one of the best VR headsets available.
The headset could also boost the popularity of Bigscreen Beta, the company’s flagship VR app. The app already has a loyal fan base of VR enthusiasts who enjoy watching and sharing content together in VR. The headset could attract more users to the app, as well as enhance the quality and performance of the app.
Bigscreen Beyond is a bold and innovative product that could change the way people experience VR. The headset is not only a device, but also a service that caters to each customer’s individual needs and preferences. The headset could be a game-changer for the VR industry and the VR community.
