With its latest announcement, Pimax is shaking things up in the PC VR headset market. Alongside updates to their existing lineup, they’re introducing a fresh financing plan for their Crystal Super and Crystal Light models. This move aims to make these cutting-edge headsets more accessible, but some potential buyers might raise an eyebrow at the new payment structures and return policies.
Let’s start with the highly anticipated Crystal Super, first unveiled back in April. Expected to become Pimax’s flagship model, this impressive headset is equipped with QLED panels offering a head-turning resolution of 3,840 x 3,840 pixels per eye. It boasts a 120-degree field of view and uses glass aspheric lenses that reportedly offer 99% light transmission.
The features don’t stop there. Crystal Super is packed with modern capabilities such as eye-tracking, dynamic foveated rendering, and inside-out tracking. It even sports swappable optical engines and a more compact design for enhanced comfort. Aimed squarely at VR enthusiasts with high-end GPUs, the 57 PPD version is anticipated to hit the shelves in Q1 2025, ticking many boxes on a tech lover’s wishlist.
Extra accessories are on the way too, with Pimax promising swappable optical engines available at a later date. Options include a micro-OLED engine for $699 and a 50 PPD QLED engine with a 135-degree FOV for $399. Pre-orders for these upgrades are set to begin early next year.
But the news doesn’t end with hardware. Pimax has also announced a modified pricing structure for both Crystal Super and its sibling, Crystal Light. While the new scheme trims down their prices, it’s the revised payment plans and return conditions that could stir the pot.
If you’re not in the mood for their labyrinthine video presentations, we’ve dug into what this means for consumers. As of now, Crystal Super’s base price has been reduced from its original $1,800 to a more manageable $1,695. Meanwhile, Crystal Light’s price has dropped from $899 to $858, with both configurations including controllers. But as is common with Pimax, things are never quite as simple as they seem.
Enter ‘Pimax Prime,’ a new kind of mandatory financing or membership program. Through this, customers can opt to pay $999 upfront for Crystal Super or $599 for Crystal Light. It echoes their Trial Payment scheme introduced in May, offering a trial period to test the waters. Once concluded, buyers must either commit to a payment plan to maintain software access, or return their headset for a full refund.
Specifically for Crystal Super, users can choose between a one-time payment of $696 or a $33 per month plan for two years, totaling $792. Crystal Light’s software access costs either a one-time payment of $259 or $12 per month over two years, totaling $288. Miss a payment and you’ll lose access to the necessary Pimax Play software.
However, once these Prime payments are wrapped up, access to Pimax Play becomes completely free for the headset in question. This could be welcome news if the device suits your needs, and you get your money back if it doesn’t within the trial window.
Adding some sweeteners to the deal, Prime members get perks like early access to software updates, invitations to exclusive events, and priority support. However, the shake-up in refund policies means less flexibility than before, despite the reduced overall price.
Previously, the Crystal Light’s Trial Payment recently had a 15-day free return window, as long as there was no user damage, and a 30-day return if it was damaged in transit. Now, Pimax only offers a 10-day window in either scenario, requiring users to commit to a payment plan post-trial regardless.
This change reflects varied practices globally. While the US lacks federal consumer protection laws, the EU and UK furnish a 14-day return right without reason and a two-year protection against defects not caused by user errors or misuse.
As one Reddit user, ‘TotalWarspammer,’ pointed out, the new Prime plan is largely non-refundable post-10 days unless Pimax decides otherwise (or within those 10 days, as clarified by an update). Essentially, if on day 10 you opt for the one-time payment but reconsider a few days later, getting a refund depends on Pimax’s discretion.
It’s important to note that Pimax’s 12-month limited warranty excludes any software, whether from them or third parties, even if it’s labeled for use with their product.
Whether this risky move overshadows Pimax’s reputation for bringing reasonably priced niche PC VR headsets to the market remains to be seen. For some, paying for essential software access that arguably should be free may not sit well, regardless of the rationale behind it.
Widening its reach, the Prime membership won’t be limited to just Crystal Light and Crystal Super, with plans to include future Pimax VR headsets. So, we’re left to see how the community reacts to this new direction and whether Pimax’s strategy will stand the test of time.
Update (November 26th, 2024): Initial statements suggested Pimax Prime couldn’t be refunded beyond the 10-day period. However, Pimax clarified that if buyers upgrade to Prime and return the headset within the 10-day window (or sometimes at Pimax’s discretion), both the headset’s base cost and the Prime fee would be refunded, as stated by Jaap Grolleman, Director of Overseas Marketing Operations. We’ve included this information in the article, along with the limited 12-month warranty note.
