With its latest announcements, Pimax has shaken up the VR world. The company not only introduced updates to its PC VR headsets but also unveiled a new financing plan for their Crystal Super and Crystal Light models. This move is aimed at making these high-tech headsets more accessible, but the revised payment structure and refund policies might leave some potential buyers with questions.
Back in April, Pimax made waves with the announcement of the Crystal Super headset, their upcoming flagship for PC VR. The headset is expected to launch in Q1 2025, delivering a jaw-dropping 57 pixels per degree (PPD) resolution, courtesy of its QLED panels. This tech provides a whopping 3,840 x 3,840 pixels per eye and a 120-degree field of view, perfectly complemented by glass aspheric lenses boasting 99% light transmission.
Moreover, Crystal Super supports innovative features such as eye-tracking and dynamic foveated rendering. It even includes inside-out tracking and the ability to swap out its optical engines. Designed with VR enthusiasts in mind—particularly those with top-tier GPUs—it checks almost every box on a VR gamer’s wishlist.
And that’s not all. Pimax is promising future releases of optical engines, including a micro-OLED engine priced at $699 and a 50 PPD QLED engine with a 135-degree FOV for $399. Pre-orders for these add-ons are expected early next year.
Alongside these technical updates, Pimax is also rolling out a new pricing model for both the Crystal Super and the existing Crystal Light. While prices are being cut, the new payment terms might not please everyone.
If you’re in the market for a Crystal Super, you’ll discover it’s reduced from $1,800 to $1,695, and the Crystal Light sees a cut from $899 to $858—both include controllers. However, Pimax has added a twist to its pricing strategy with what it’s calling ‘Pimax Prime’. Through this mandatory membership program, you can now snag a Crystal Super for just $999 upfront, or a Crystal Light for $599, although the details get more complex from there.
Much like the Trial Payment plan that debuted in May for the Crystal Light, Pimax is offering a trial window to ensure the product meets your expectations. Post-trial, you’ll need to opt for a payment plan to continue using the headset, or you can return it for a full refund.
Choices for Crystal Super buyers include a one-time $696 payment or a $33 monthly payment over two years, totaling $792. Crystal Light customers can pay $259 upfront or $12 monthly over two years, totaling $288. Falling behind on those payments means losing access to the essential Pimax Play software.
Once you’ve finished the Prime payments, Pimax Play remains free for your headset. This could be a downright win, provided you’re satisfied with the product before the trial ends, allowing for a risk-free return.
Though Prime sweetens the deal with perks like early access to new software, exclusive events, and priority support, the new refund terms might ruffle some feathers. Previously, users had a 15-day trial period for Crystal Light, with a free return policy for undamaged products and a 30-day window for transit damage. Now, both aspects see a reduced 10-day return window, post which a payment plan is unavoidable.
For those in regions like the US, without federal consumer protection laws, or in places like the EU and UK, which offer more robust returns and warranty rights, this change might be concerning. A keen Reddit user, TotalWarspammer, noted this all but eliminates refundable options post-trial. However, Pimax is clear that returns are possible within those 10 days or at their discretion after.
Interestingly, their 12-month warranty won’t cover any software, whether it’s from Pimax or third-party vendors. This has sparked debate over whether this policy might overshadow the excellent hardware and its enticing pricing.
As the Crystal Light and Super are introduced, Prime isn’t stopping there. Pimax plans to extend the program to future headsets, suggesting this strategy could become standard practice. It remains to be seen how consumers will react, but it undeniably adds an extra layer to the decision-making process for potential buyers.
(Update: On November 26th, 2024, Pimax clarified that Prime is refundable within the trial or at company discretion, as noted by Jaap Grolleman, Director of Overseas Marketing Operations.)
