Pimax 8K VR headset delayed again, refresh rate drops to 80Hz

Several months after delaying “the world’s first 8K VR headset,” developer Pimax has revealed that its Pimax 8K has been postponed again — and apparently downgraded in performance, as well. Not surprisingly, the company’s Kickstarter backers aren’t thrilled by the news, which suggests that the headset will now arrive significantly after its originally promised delivery date.

Pimax made headlines by announcing its atypically wide-bodied VR headset with full “8K” capabilities, the product of allocating full 4K displays for both the left and right eyes. Originally set to be shipped in January 2018, the SteamVR-compatible headset promises a 200-degree field of view, laser tracking, integrated headphones, eye tracking, and a customized prescription lens frame. While the entire collection of features is ambitious for an affordable headset, 8K support is particularly challenging due to the extreme computing and display updating demands of such a high-resolution screen.