Pimax Crystal Vs Meta Quest 3: The Surprising Reality
Вставка
- Опубліковано 14 чер 2024
- While the Pimax Crystal might be a great choice for dedicated VR flight sim and racing sim enthusiasts, the Meta Quest 3, with its significant improvements over previous standalone VR headsets, presents itself as a surprisingly competent and far more accessible alternative.
For many, the Quest 3’s combination of lower cost, ease of setup, user-friendly software, and comfort could make it “good enough” to be a great PC VR headset, striking a perfect balance between performance and practicality.
I cover the pros and cons of both headsets in this video and explain who I think should choose each headset for PC VR flight and racing simulators, and who definitely should not.
Subscribe for more videos (and click the bell for notifications)
If you're interested in buying a Quest 3, you can consider using my affiliate link to make your purchase. amzn.to/3RWK4yq
If you'd like to find out more about Pimax Crystal or purchase it, please consider using my affiliate link. pimax.com/crystal/?ref=7hkap727
Read the accompanying written article: vrlowdown.com/pimax-crystal-v...
About VR Lowdown: vrlowdown.com/about-us/
Twitter: / vrlowdown
![10 Must-Try Meta Quest 3 Experiences [Non-Games]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2Q-PpuPEqY0/mqdefault.jpg)
I’ve gone from Reverb G2 to Quest 3 and very impressed. I’m mostly in PCVR playing AMS 2 and MSFS. I’ve come to the conclusion that Virtual Desktop with Open XR support and AV1 codec is by far the answer compared to all other options including Link cable. The visual quality combined with ease of use is now at a new level and should bring more folks to this wonderful world of VR we can enjoy today. Well done Meta !!
100% agree. That's the perfect wireless setup to optimize quality and latency.
I was going from Quest 2 to Reverb G2 R2 and now back to Quest 3 for pcvr.
The Reverb had such a small sweetspot, it was unbearable to me, even though it still has a better picture quality.
How is the fov when comparing Quest 3 and G2?
@@okkimakki absolutely fantastic, sharp from edge to edge. You can look around with your eyes and everything is just tack sharp…
The colors and darkness is better on the Reverb, but for me, that‘s a trade I‘m willing to do…
i had a reverb g2 and the blacks were really bad. Quest3 even worse?
I already reacted on your comparison with the Quest3 and Pico4. I was amazed by the fabulous picture I got in the Quest3 and thought it couldn't get any better until I received my prescription lenses.... I'm blown. What a sharp picture. Had I trouble deciding which one was better, now definitely I say that the Quest 3 has a much better picture than the Pico4. About the Pimax... might it be that it gives better graphics, it is too bulky, too expensive and required too much hardware and... I'm tethered to get the most out of it. So no thanks. Quest 3 is a great device, next to the Pico4 for PCVR. Stand alone, the Quest 3 is the best.
The image quality on Quest 3 really is amazing compared to what could be achieved even a few years ago. I'm definitely convinced Quest 3 is better all round than Pico 4, and the more I use it, the more confident I am of this. I totally understand what you mean about Pimax Crystal. Although the visuals are terrific, you need to accept a lot of compromises. They are of course a small cohort of users who need, or really want the very best visuals, and for these people, Pimax Crystal is perfect. I suppose Pimax Crystal was always designed and marketed as a high-end niche headset, but it is amazing to see how mainstream heasets are catching up, and surpassing it it many ways.
LETS NOT FORGET, those are LCD screens, they are going to release a pro version with OLED, watch your mind be blown AGAIN.
@@VRLowdownthe fact LCD screens are doing that well stocked against pancake OLED is insane. Just wait till the pro version comes out
@@ryanpongracz8051 Never had any problems with LCD. I'm not a "blacks" fanatic.
@@ryanpongracz8051
Source?!
Problem with Quest as PCVR is the image compression, while still look alright, it is not as clear as a Headset with direct DP connection. When saying the Crystal is 120 degrees, you should specify what that means. The Crystal does "not" actually provide that FOV either horizontal to vertical, it is diagonal. the H FOV is much lower than 120
so I think Dynamic Foveated Rendering, the local dimming capability and the ability to use lighthouse tracking for accurate room scale VR are worth including in the comparison. Was pleased to see you pointed out the Q3 pricing actually goes up quite steeply to get a good experience a lot of people avoid that the storage, headstrap and cable add quite a bit to the price
Thse would definitely have been good areas to cover. I had actually filmed sections covering these, but I thought the video was running a bit long so I cut them out in editing.
I got a BOBVR headstrap for only $30 and a $25 powered cable (that's actually faster than the official $80 one) so that I don't need to augment the battery. That brings my grand total on the Quest 3 to ~$560. You don't have to buy the overpriced Meta accessories to get a great experience.
@@kondor99999What brand cable did you get?
@@kondor99999What cable do you use? Ive been using a basic USB 3.0 since the quest 1 and its not ideal.
Thanks, these are the 2 ones in my shortlist at the moment 🙂
Always so hard to decide on a new headset. Enjoy whichever you pick!
@@VRLowdown I just picked a barely used Q3 a couple of hours ago 🙂
Thanks for the comparison! You can crank the bitrate up to 960mbps in the Oculus Debug Tool when playing via the link cable, and you will have no artifacts anymore :) Depending on your router, you have to find the maximum bitrate for wireless by testing. With my Wi-Fi 6E router, I can get a stable 650mbps with around 1-2 meters distance to my router.
Have a nice week :)
Thanks, that's really helpful info. Hope you have a great week too.
Excellent review. Very useful. Thanks :)
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the feedback.
Beautiful and realistic review. Meta's made a monster with the Quest 3. I've had an HTC Vive since launch in 2016 and, having skipped a few generations, was blown away by the standalone implementation. It's no longer a gimmick, but a portal to something really inspiring, almost life-changing. Don't underestimate the power of being wireless. On-paper FOV of the Quest 3 doesn't match with how big it feels. I barely get any simming these days, and when I do, I'm probably shoveling coal in Derail Valley. My biggest gripes are:
1. No eye tracking. Real shame, I would've payed double for that. Maybe we can hope for a face interface with eye tracking in the future? That, with foveated rendering would push PC gaming value ten-fold. Still, it's fine. I have a 1070Ti(soon to be replaced) and Wifi 5 (no cable yet). I can play stuff better than I expected on a 7 year old PC.
2. Black color. Worse than on my old fresnel Vive. The contrast is superb in dark colors, there is no banding, but it's just too bright to call it "black". In bright games it actually looks MORE realistic, but I dread flying at night.
3. Pathetic battery life out of the box. Controllers squeak a bit if you squeeze them too tightly. The head strap is fine. I've ordered replacements and accessories but, while they're stuck in customs, I'm still having a blast every day.
iam not sure when it comes to wireless. i mean it may very well depend on what you play but i heard people report: even on wifi 6 with max transmission rate, games with lot a trees, leafs and foliage are a nightmare in compression artefacts. because small and fine moving objects are the worst thing for compression algorythms
@@dharkbizkit Agreed, but by wireless I meant standalone gameplay or watching movies, not Air-linking to the PC. From what I understand, a cable is a must until they solve the software issues.
ah ok i understand. standalone games is not what iam looking for. i mean there might be good games, but when you have a good gaming pc, its just a downgrade to play standalone over pcvr. and as far as ive read, using link cable is not the endall solution, since its usb which still needs compression due to limited speed compared to displayport connection. @@ofiterpunte
Thanks for the feedback. That's a huge upgrade from HTC Vive. Totally agree with all the points you make.
You nailed the review. I like you mentioned the FOV. For flight simming FOV is more immersive thus the Crystal will be the choice.
Not if you modify just a bit the facial interface of the Q3 and put your eyes closer to the lenses. I get 125° FOV and its amazing.
Hello my fellow vr enthusiast from Norn Iron. I just sold my Varjo vr3 after 3 years of solid service , decided to try something new. Kept the crystal for about a month, I mean it’s not bad but when quest 3 arrived and setup with virtual desktop it’s just a lot less faffing around. So really enjoying the quest 3 but missing that extra 10ppd in the sims so might pick up a Bigscreen beyond or somnium this year but wow for £479 the quest is deal of the decade.
Great to meet another local VR enthusiast. Varjo VR3 is a serious piece of kit. Totally agree about Quest 3. The ease of use and wireless connection makes things really easy to enjoy.
I too have a varjo vr3 and in my case switched to quest pro (which is very similar to quest 3 tbh).
Yes the vr3 is sharper but the quest pro/quest 3 just do everything right and look very sharp in their own right
For anybody not familiar with VR , Quest 3 is the headset ! This one start the VR and MR révolution !!!! ❤
Interesting isn't it. I fall outside your use cases, I am an enthusiast flight simmer and money is no option but I still purchased the Quest 3. The Pimax Crystal does offer better visuals, but I'd run into the same situation with the HP Reverb G2, I would only use it for simming. The Quest 3 is so liberating using wirelessly and with the Aubika headstrap, it actually charges the battery while I sim. So I play PCVR and standalone games completely free of any wires. Virtual Desktop @ 2401 Mbps with a AXE router provides true PCVR experience with no encryption artifacts as well.
You make a really good point that I didn't really discuss in the video. Using a wireless headset is such a positive experience compared to being tethered to a PC.
Would love to get thoughts on Varjo Aero vs Meta Quest 3. I run Varjo Aero and sadly they're not continuing a consumer line. Is the MQ3 an upgrade over the Varjo Aero? I run Open XR as well and the visuals are IMO excellent but always looking for a clearer view and wider POV.
No.
thanks, would you say the pimax is close to retina resolution? I have the Quest 3 and use it for simming with the link cable and it's amazing - very happy with it
It's definitely still some way off retinal resolution. 35 pixels per degree peak clarity, vs about 60 PPD to achieve retinal" resolution. It's pretty much the best there is currently, but still a way to go to match human vision.
@@VRLowdown thanks for the reply
I also got a quest 3 and pimax crystal. just got the quest 3 and haven't really had the chance to play with both at the same time to see the difference this helps thanks
Glad to help. Enjoy your headsets!
The choice is a bit more difficult now with the release of the Pimax Crystal Light. Pimax has done an amazing job getting the price down.
I was blown away by the Quest 3, coming from my old Samsung Odyssey Plus. The clarity of the picture is so much better and its ease of use is outstanding.
That's a huge upgrade. Glad you've been impressed.
Can I use my quest 2 battery headset for the three
A lot of reviews mention the Oculus Elite Strap and how much it costs. But none of them talk about the dozens of replacement "straps" available on Amazon. For example, I picked up one that's very comfortable with both top and rear adjustments and two interchangeable batteries for less than the Elite Strap.
I just wish they updated the Pro with the Q3 rez. Just want eye/face tracking with good clarity.
I’m sure they’re gonna do a pro 2 at some point.
Eye/face tracking and a small resolution bump compared to Quest 3 and it would be totally awesome. Might not be in 2024, but it will come.
The low resolution is why it failed. I really don't know what Meta were thinking with that.
I was thinking the same when I got my Q3. Those lenses are too good for those panels. For the next pro model, the dream would be higher res OLED panels, but even just higher res QLED would be a step up. Bring back eye tracking, and increase the passthrough resolution.
Great review mate! Love how honest and informative your videos are - I just ordered my Quest 3 yesterday looking forward to getting it.
Are you going to get a BigScreen Beyond when it releases?? Would love to see your take on that
Thanks for the feedback. It really means a lot. I'm not 100% sure what my next headset is going to be. I've heard a lot of good reports about BigScreen Beyond, but I probably won't get it as my budget only stretches so far. I'm holding my breath in anticipation of Valve maybe releasing a new headset next year. It will also be very interesting to see if the rumours about Pico 5 turn out to be accurate.
@@VRLowdown The Somnium VR1 will be preordering next month.
What happened to the refresh rate bud? Quite important that ain’t it?
Wait... you notice more visual artifacts in Virtual Desktop than with a wired link for Quest 3? I had the opposite experience. Virtual Desktop with AV1 10-bit, using a solid 2400 mbps Wifi 6e connection seems to give the best visual experience.
watched this on quest3 first day of ownership. first ever vr headset and but i am really happy with it.
Delighted that you're enjoying it.
Thx for review . Recently i played half life alyx on first gen htc vive and it was so imersive and enjoyable . Even I didnt feel any screen door effect ,The only problem i had was distance was alittle bit blurry . Can you please tell me How much quest 3 is better than htc vive in sharpness and fov
The resolution is a huge jump up, but the FOV isn't any better. Quest 3 is better in most ways, but not all.
Have they stopped trying for large FOV?
Brilliant review, Ive subscribed. thanks for your time.
Awesome, glad you enjoyed the video, and thank you for subscribing.
Great to see an objective comparison of these headsets that seem so different on paper. I'm happy with my Q3 but I've always been tempted by the Crystal.
Thanks for the feedback. If you've already got the Quest 3, I'd stick with it. Hopefully there'll be a big upgrade in the next 2-3 years that will make changing headset an easy decision.
Crystal not worth it.
@@fsxspen What about Crystal Light?
Really happy with my Quest 3, now I cranked up the bandwidth in the dev settings , fitting my old Rift S halo to my Q3 finished it perfectly because comfort was a big issue before. Crystal clear very happy for the money. (Mostly DCS here )
Sounds like a perfect setup!
You described where I am perfectly man! I’m a rift s user mainly dcs and il2 so hearing you enjoy the quest 3 helps a lot! How’s it with the debug tool an open xr, did most of the way we use them stay the same?
@@AdamWellman The only change I made was to up the bandwidth to 925, then in oculus settings I am running 80hz at x1.4 , DCS pixel set to 1.0 , using a 4090 and a meaty system but that equals near max details in DCS at a smooth frame rate. The trick was to buy a cheap Halo style part online and then disassemble that and use that to both the arms / mounts to the Rift Halo.....honestly works perfect and transforms it. HTH
@@PhantomMark that’s super helpful thank you! I’m running a 3080ti but the platform is getting old so I probably wouldn’t be able to max out setting but this gives me an idea of what to expect! Thank you again for the reply!
Explained well to us noobs
Keep up the good work 👏
I think you're spot on. The Crystal is for the people who spend thousands on racing wheels, pedals, cockpits, tripple monitor setups, motion simulators, etc. For people with a more down-to-earth budget the Quest 3 is the way to go.
Agreed. Both good headsets, but important to pick the right one for you.
I tried Oculus, Windows Mixed Reality, HTC Vive before buying the Index. Sold the index after few months in 2020. bought the quest 3 and it's amazing. No wires, streaming quality on steam link awesome, comfortable out of the box, the sweet spot stays focused. Massive improvement compared to all the head sets i owned and tried. Pimax is designed for Simulators and being seated
Couldn't agree more. Quest 3 is an awesome headset.
Great video thanks. I have original Vive and just missed a good offer on a Vive pro 2 (250$ headset only but I already got controls and 2 stations) but this close buy made me really longing for a new headset and part of me is glad I didnt get the pro 2 because from what I hear it seems quest 3 blows it out of the water.. Anyway, Im used to the good station tracking in the vive system but sometimes even the station tracking gets blocked and that is such a mood killer for me, completely ruins the immersion so thats really the biggest question mark about quest 3, I never tried quest or inside out tracking at all. I heard its less exact as station tracking so Im worried I would think its too inaccurate. Anyone have a good comparison between the tracking feeling between q3 and station tracking? Like is it likely I would notice any big difference? Movement lag? does it lose trracking alot? and so on.. I would really appreciate any advice regarding this.. Oh and yeah, if I win some money I would definately check the Pimax.. Heard alot of good stuff regarding the visuals... Oh yeah speaking about visuals.. I guess there will be a big step between Vive original and Q3. I notice the screendoor effect very well in the vive and when I bought it I thought I skip a gen or so and wait until I can get a headset with no screendoor effect (I thought development would be faster than it actually been).. but with quest 3.. are we there yet? I guess Pimax have no noticable screendoor but it cost way too much..but what about q3? Thanks.
I think Quest 3 would be a great upgrade for you. No noticeable screen door at all. Inside out tracking is good enough for the vast majority of people. It does introduce a small amount of lag, and you can lose tracking behind your back, but it is surprisingly good. Personally, I would never go back to base station tracking as the convenience of inside out tracking is worth any compromises. However, if you already have base stations, the BigScreen Beyond springs to mind as one with considering, although a big jump in price. Pimax Crystal has incredible visual clarity, and if you're only interested in flight and racing sims, it is a fantastic option. If you want a better all-rounder, then Quest 3 is a better choice.
Can you read the control panels in msfs with Quest 3?
Yes, pretty easily. Maybe have to lean forward a little to read smaller dials, but the level of clarity is impressive.
They way I am looking at it, if you get the Quest 3, 512 GB version, elite head strap, it brings the Quest three up to about half of the Crystal. Is the Crystal worth twice as much as a quest 3?
no
I ordered a Quest 3 i should have it soon.
You've made an awesome choice. I've used mine every single day since launch.
metaquest3 for the win. waiting on my battery strap coming on Monday from Amazon 😀
Battery strap is totally essential in my opinion. Enjoy.
Thank You for this clear analysis.
Making the assumption that only very few have a pc with 4090 and a Common User has Maybe a 3070 GPU, would there be any optical difference? Maybe not.
Thanks for the feedback. I think a 3070 would really struggle to maintain a big enough frame rate to do Pimax crystal justice. My computer definitely has to work hard.
I own both and I will say take Quest 3..... It's simply the true next gen VR headset, no headset comes close... Don't underestimate the power of MR tech, it's at infant stage but growing rapidly!!??
This is the right choice for 99% of people. I've been so impressed by Quest 3, and encouraging to think how much better headsets are going to get over the next few years. MR has been a really pleasant surprise for me on Quest 3. Lot's of great use cases already, and the potential is huge.
very good video. I have the Q3 and you need wifi 6e with virtual desktop for it to be clear.
Thanks for sharing. Having direct line of sight to your router helps a lot.
with 6e router with direct line of sight i'm getting 2400mbps@@VRLowdown
The main thing I'm always curious about as flight simmer interested pretty much only in combat flight sims is always how the latency of the Quest 3 or other standalone headsets is.
It does def seem like the Q3 an Pico 4 offer a lot of value for the vast majority of users.
Motion-to-photon latency (total system latency from input to display output) is about 35-40ms on Q3 in PCVR mode, if your GPU is strong enough to handle 90+fps.
However: The Q3 does a thing called "asynchronous space warp" where it actually fine-tunes every rendered frame from the GPU to compensate for the very latest motion input. And this actually works quite well. It compensates for both latency and low frame rate.
You'd have to be superhuman I think to actually notice the latency running on a decent PC rig. Aside from numbers themselves, as someone whos played PCVR on both a Rift S and Quest 1 (I havent gotten a Quest 2 because I've been waiting for the Quest 3), the actual latency isn't noticeable at all. The visuals on the other hand are when using both for PCVR but thats also the Quest 1 we're talking about.
For most VR racing sim and flight simmers, the latency is largely irrelevant. 30-40ms doesn't make any difference to the experience. I actually did a section on this for my video, but removed it in editing as it is such a non-issue. In contrast, if you were playing Beat Saber or a VR FPS semi-competitively then the latency would be a big deal, and probably a deal breaker.
@@VRLowdown thanks!
The latency is very noticeable. I own Quest 3, Crystal, Quest 2, Pimax 8KX, and Index. The latency of Quest compressed video is obvious to me and to most other people I've talked to who also have both Quest and Displayport PCVR headsets. Even in stuff where it doesn't matter much like VRChat. On UA-cam everyone only talks about the video artifacting which I agree isn't much of a big deal, but they downplay or never even mention the significant latency which I feel is the more meaningful drawback.
I think what happens is people on Quest platform just get used to the high latency, and it feels normal to them after a while. This makes no difference on flight sims, but as mentioned it's a significant issue for action games and especially any kind of competitive action game. I very much notice my Pimax headsets giving me a significant reaction time edge over Quest players. Regarding simracing, I disagree that the latency won't matter there. Especially if you also participate in RL motorsport events like I do. I don't want to train with and get used to latency in VR that won't be there in RL.
That said, I agree that the Quest 3 is a good platform especially for its price. Its lenses are so good, and as you say it should be "good enough" for most people compared to the Crystal. But I get concerned about people downplaying the weaknesses of the Quest platform especially because I think they often want to justify not paying a higher price. High end gear like the Crystal is not cost competitive. It's what you choose when you care more about having the best performance available.
My Quest 1 stopped working last night. It was making some weird notification sounds every 10 seconds, and when I tried to return it to factory default it seems to have bricked. Now nothing lights up. Trying to decide between the quest 2 and 3.
It depends on your budget, but Quest 3 is a huge jump up from Quest 2. With that said, there's still more people buying Quest 2 as it's such good value.
@@VRLowdown Yeah I saw the sales figures and was taken aback given the rave reviews that Quest 3 is getting. Maybe it's parents buying their kids their first VR for xmas. I did go with the 3 (It's coming tomorrow). I used my Q1 so much, mainly for movies, and I read that Meta has spent $47 billion (!) on VR research, much of which went into the Q3.
I have a Rift S now and not getting a lot of feedback of people who upgraded to a Quest 3. It’s mostly upgrading from Q2 to Q3. Curious if the Q3 gives a « wow » factor coming from the rift S.
I have rift s and got the quest 3. The picture is noticeably better on the quest but not out of this world better, there is still screen door effect. I ended up taking the quest 3 back for 2 main reasons. The first was that no matter what I did, I could not get the quest 3 to be powered in use. Nothing worked despite a lot of products and people saying they got this to work. I Tried multiple cables and power bricks etc. The second reason I returned it was that unlike the rift s, I had problems with blurry picture. I had to position the quest 3 a particular way to ensure a sharp central picture, but inevitably the quest 3 shifted down and this was quite uncomfortable. I had no problems with this on the rift s. This was a surprise for me as this was not really mentioned in most reviews. I did see some comments from people who stated this being an issue with Q2 but not Q3. Well, it was a huge issue for me. So bad that I went back to the rift S and no issues at all regarding blurriness.
I''ve never owned a Rift S, but tried it plenty of times and I'd say there is a pretty huge improvement. Interesting to hear the comment from @simonpawlin163 as it goes to show that everyone's situation and experience will be different.
For games that implement foveated rendering.. eye tracking can actually mean lower hardware specs can be used for Pimax.
You don't need those features, you'll probably get better performance out of the Pimax Crystal out of the box because it's using a DP cable. I've noticed comparing the G2 with the Q3 and I definately lose porformance with the Q3, however the edged to edge clarity and wireless play more than makes up for it and I don't get any (hardly noticable anyway) artifacting with a 6E router.
I wish this was my experience.
Biggest issues with Pimax Crystal is the size and cost. They sort of went the no compromize, everything in one device route and ended up with a huge expensive beast.
On the opposite end of the spectrum you have devices like the bigscreen beyond that removed as much as possible and made their device super-light.
I wish to see something in the middleground, perhaps a bigscreen beyond that has eye-tracking and dynamic foveated rendering added with perhaps a better lens/display that doesnt trade off so much for the smaller size.
Or a smaller Pimax crystal, without standalone capabilities, cameras (use lighthouse instead), without automatic IPD adjustment, without battery etc. to bring down cost and size, but keep the optics and eyetracking.
Exellent impression sir,
i have had the pimax crystal(but because off some certain tragedy things happing in my life,i needed to sell it otherwise i would still have it)
I have the quest 3 also,For its price its a no brainer!
Yes the crystal had a better picture... But the quest 3 does it very very well.. Also the tracking is miles ahead off the crystal and also the wireless.. And the formfactor is great.. Yes its still a lcd screen but its a very good one.. Also the pimax crystal suffers from blooming in dark scenes.. And indeed for pcvr the quest 3 realy suprised me in a good way!
Sorry to hear you had to sell your Pimax Crystal due to life circumstances. Hope things are looking brighter for you. I've also been pleasantly surprised by Quest 3 and how well it compares to the competition.
The crystal's local dimming can be turned off or on, so you can disable the blooming entirely if it bothers you ij certain games. Thats a win no matter what.
I routinely play Steam PCVR games on my Quest 3 with my RTX 4090. Some of the games are indistinguishable from reality. Cyberpunk with the Luke Ross VR mod is a feast for the eyes. I'd highly recommend going with the Quest. It's light, you barely feel it on your head. And the lenses are superb.
I haven't tried the Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod yet. Is the performance/experience playable?
@@VRLowdown The shooting mechanism is a little difficult. The crosshair is controlled by your head. So you have to look directly at the target to fire. Sounds simple, but it feels unnatural. That is my only gripe.
I own both and if I had to do it over again I’d probably only buy the Quest 3. Its lenses are objectively better than the crystals, and really are the central reason the Q3 is so good. That said, the Crystal does have a few more advantages you don’t mention. 1. Interchangeable lenses. 2. It also is capable of standalone. 3. 60GHz wireless video is coming. 4. While mentioned I think Eye tracking is a big deal. It allows dynamic foveated rendering which will allow the crystal and your GPU to have considerable long term staying power as graphic demands increase. 5. The extra 10ppd does make a difference in glass cockpits in MSFS and seeing bandits from distance in DCS. Overall it’s certainly not a twice the price advantage but it’s not quite so heavily in favor of the Q3.
Totally agree with everything you say here. Good points.
i love playing VR and have considered moving to a better-quality headset than the quest 3. however, what has consistently held me back from making that leap is the price of base stations. i don't see it as being the future of VR. also, the fact that the higher end headsets also come tethered is a big drawback. with the games that i play, i move around a lot. the two headsets that i have been considering are the vajero aero or the bigscreen beyond. if either would go wireless, it would be a game changer. I'd love to see a comparison with these two headsets. thanks for the video.
Crystal doesn't need base stations, it is optional
@@diebygaming8015 i didn't know that. makes it more appealing.
Varjo Aero is amazing. I haven't ried the Bigscreen Beyond, but I've heard plenty of great feedback. Personally, I'm not going back to headsets that need base stations in a hurry, as inside out tracking is good enough for me.
I have to start my racing games via simhub. Is there a way to use virtual desktop to get the best vision quality in VR?
Virtual Desktop has a number of settings to adjust bitrate and visual quality.
@@VRLowdown So VD is working, even If i start the Games from the Desktop or in another applikation?
I returned my Crystal as it started playing up at the end of my 30 day return window. Probably an easy fix but I didn't want to deal with Pimax support. Amazing image, spoilt by every single other aspect of the headset
At least you got to try it for a few weeks. The visuals are amazing, but Pimax really need to work hard on other aspects of their headsets.
@@VRLowdown Yeah, shame that there's no real alternative without losing either FOV or refresh rate.
Im interested in the PC specs required. You mentioned the Crystal needs a beast because of the high resolution.
However the Crystal has eye tracking, foveated rendering and a display port. Whereas the Quest3 has to encode the signal. The Pico4 also needs encoding and most reviews suggested it also needed a beast to use for PCVR.
Of course, in both cases, you can turn down visual quality.
As to your question, is thus a legit comparison, absolutely but only for a small % who can afford a Crystal. For thise people its worth considering if the extra cost is worth it. One asoect you didn't mention is how long the battery lasts in PCVR mode (for both headsets). Some flight and online race sessions can last many hours. Its that factor that keeps me with my G2 for now.
I also own a Reverb G2 and I love that headset. There's no "need" to upgrade just yet, but both Crystal and Quest 3 are better headsets overall. My computer has a Ryzen 7 5800X and RTX 3090, so not absolutely top end, but not far off. Even with foveated rendering and DisplayPort, my specs are just about good enough to use Pimax Crystal to its full potnetial. In contrast, my computer handles both Pico 4 and Quest 3 with ease, even without eye tracking. The encoding adds a little latency, but for PC VR racing and flight sims, it makes little or no impact on performance.
Battery life could potentially be an issue. I get about four hours with my Quest 3 when using the Elite Battery Strap, or about 2 hours with just the headset. I also have some other external batteries that can be plugged into the headset while in use if needed. Pimax Crystal does require a battery, but the powered USB hub that comes with the headset will keep it fully charged when using it as a PC VR headset. I filmed a section on battery life for the video, but cut it in editing as I didn't think it was a big enough issue, and the video was running a little long.
Really appreciate the comment and feedback.
@@VRLowdown thanks, that's a really helpful reply.
good review
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.
I can’t connect the Quest 3 using a cable. Any suggestions???
To your computer? You need to put your headset on when connecting the cable to click "OK" to let your headset connect to your computer.
I've dabbled with a few VR headsets and personally think that the MQ3 is untouchable when compared to other VR offerings. Whilst it's isn't absolutely exceptional by any particular measure, nor does it compromise in any way either and is't probably above average in evey regard.
Totally agree. For me, the Quest 3 is easily the best all-round headset right now. There are plenty of other headsets that excel in individual areas, but none that do everything so well as Quest 3.
So for complete beginner I don’t need a screen if I have a VR headset ? I figured it’ll save me money if I have just the computer without the screen.
I think you'd definitely need a screen of some sort, but it could potentially be a really budget screen.
I couldnt decide and ordered both because both were for sale. Got Pimax Crystal with Lighthhouse for 1500 (1600 US-Dollar)€ and Quest 3 for 470€ (500 USD). I'm coming from Valve Index.
Both are great but for very different reasons.
Was one of the original KS pledgers of Pimax 5K Plus. Sold it a year ago, and that was one of my best decision. I would never consider any Pimax products. Oculus 3 is a good product, but currently continuing with Quest 2 and Valve Index in PC.
I think there are many people like you who have had a previous bad experience. However, my experience with Pimax Crystal has been really very positive. It's definitely not for everyone, but for the right user, it's a great choice.
@@VRLowdown I believe I was the right person as a VR enthousiast as well as a tech guy. On the other hand, the communication, the build quality and the most importantly the business menthality of this company is not for me. I wouldn't recomend anyone, as after all those years of experience their latest ofring is behind the competition. If they had kept the promise of large FOV, witth afordable price and acceptable quality, I had nothing against them. But for me, enough is enough!
All I've heard is that the Quest 3 is the new goto VR set instead of G2 for DCS using the link cable and Open XR. The pimax Crystal is just absolutely eye wateringly expensive and out of the range of most people.
Great review however i am sad to see thar very few reviewers have pointed on a real issue with the quest 3, which is the lower binocular overlap and huge rivalry that is really disturbing and disappointing :/.
I'll be honest and say that I only really became aware of this fact after my review. I think this is something that affects some more than others. Personally, the reduced binocular overlap doesn't negatively impact my experience at all.
I still use a Rift S and I don't want a Battery-Powered or Standalone VR Headset. I only need PC VR with DisplayPort Cable.
Still waiting for the Valve Index 2.🤔
Aren't we all!!
Thanks for the video mate, I was gonna' go mental and splash out on a pimax crystal for sim racing, I'm not so sure now after this. I've never used VR ever I've been holding off as I use a triple 27 inch monitor setup, I used to sim race a lot more than I do these days due to work commitments.
Seriously considering the Quest 3 as my first plunge into VR sim racing now.
Whilst the Pimax Crystal is totally awesome for so many reasons, I do think that Quest 3 gives you 95% of the benefit, while avoiding a lot of the downsides of the Crystal. I'd get a Quest 3 now, and if you really love VR sim racing and use it a lot, you could upgrade to the next gen of headsets over the next few years.
@@VRLowdown Thank for your input buddy, I've got my class 2 lorry training to get out the way which will take a few weeks, then I'm good to go!! 👍
Similar boat with no VR experience and I actually did splash out on the Pimax Crystal. Unless you have a 4090 or better (yes better), forget about enjoying the Crystal at its max today. Graphics cards may be ready to run this thing at its max comfortably (90fps constant) in perhaps a couple of years. I don't think I would want to wait and live with this cumbersome thing just so I can tell myself (I have potential for the future).
It really is not worth the amount Pimax is asking for it. The build quality is cheap. Cables are dust magnet and sticky industrial material. Without aftermarket or comfort strap, it's extremely uncomfortable. Software glitches all over the place. Connectivity issues. Overall incomplete product. The only thing you are paying for is the screen and lens. The end user experience is non existent. Basically meant for VR beta testers.
Not recommended for a first time user.
Took a good time to figure out how to consistently connect it to the computer and run flight and racing sims.
@@rkjg94 Thanks mate appreciate that advice, I'm reading up on the Pimax Crystal all the time and yes you are right about needing a 4090 (I have a 3090) and all the other issues that comes with it makes it a big no for me.
I'm actually still loving my triple monitor setup when I do get a chance to play so may even hold off on the Quest 3 for now and see what the near future of VR has to offer 👍
@@deannelson1388 That would be a good decision. I have never used a 3 screen setup and probably can't due to space restrictions but using the Pimax (VR in general) gives a massive boost in depth perception, which I doubt screens can achieve. Braking points become easier to feel and overall a more immersive experience. I think a good driver can be equally fast in VR or screen but after feeling the immersion of VR, it'd be hard to go back to screens for me 😭
So, can this thing do wide FOV like some of the original models? The lenses definitely don't look like it. 120 isn't that bad, but didn't the first models get close to 200? They're lenses also looked a LOT different. I thought that was to take into account the panels that had to use up all that space. So, why the hell is this thing still so freaking huge?!?
FOV is officially 120 degrees, but feels smaller. The design makes a lot of compromises in pursuit of great visuals.
Nice review man. I'm a PCVR user most of times and I've been in VR for a long time. I've experienced Acer headset (Windows mixed reality), Samsung Odyssey+ (windows mixed too), Rift S, Quest 2, Pico 4 and now Quest 3. I was wondering just how comparable would it be with the top notch VR that Pimax Crystal is. I use it for sim racing and for shooters (Pavlov mainly, but others too) so tracking is a important thing to me (that's where unfortunately Reverb G2 was out of question). For my needs Quest 3 is being an excelent headset, if it had DP it would be near as perfect. That being said I wouldnt agree more with your review, even though I havent tested the PX Crystal, If you are an hardcore sim enthusiast, so cables and tracking isnt an issue, and have an beefy PC to see all the potential, that would be the perfect rig. Otherwise Q3 is an excelent wireless PCVR headset, it does have video compression but with an good router we can say it's minimal (but it will be there) and it does have an really nice camera tracking for controllers and hands. I use it for sim racing also and I can read all the instruments without an issue, also I can see the end of the track with clarity so for average user it will be just fine.
Couldn't agree more. That's a great list of VR headsets you've tried. Quest 3 definitely isn't too far behind high end PCVR headsets. It's amazing how fast the technology is improving, meaning its less and less of a barrier to enjoying the experience.
I bought the Crystal last year and essentially stopped playing VR games because of it (sim racing and flying mostly). I find the headset far, far too uncomfortable (I'm used to wearing helmets etc). When wearing it, even tightened down, it feels like I'm balancing a dish on my head (the strap - the headset does not fit my face) - it wobbles on my head. Perhaps if you're lucky enough to have a face shape identical to how they molded the headset and foam. I'd never thought I'd say this, but I don't use it due to the fit. This is why I'm looking at the Quest 3. Even considering Varjo at this point. I do agree though, the clarity and resolution of the Crystal is indeed amazing.
Which the best VR quest or Pimax ? I know FOV 200 better. Quest 106 ?
Pimax Crystal only has an FOV of about 120 degrees, so only a little better than Quest 3. There's only the best headset for you, rather than the best headset for everyone.
I’ve returned a Varjo Aero because it’s so much easier to connect the Quest 3 and I don’t think the Varjo is that much better quality TBH.
Ease of use is hugely underestimated. Even as a VR enthusiast, I don't want to have to deal with complicated setup or troubleshooting.
I know you’re a bit biased, but this helped out a lot! We are still trying to find a VR headset that we could use
I try to be as objective as possible, but inevitably, my own preferences come out. Hope the video was helpful though.
It did!
For everyone Please don’t get the quest 3 elite strap meta didn’t update it after the quest 2 it has problems with cracking isnt able to hold the charge of the quest. Your better off paying half for a third party one!
I can't argue with this. Official strap is way overpriced and we're going to see more and more good third party options over the next few months.
What about the quest 3 vs pimax 8k x?
I've never tried the 8k x unfortunately.
It is a bit ironic that you talked about the "limited" FOV of the Quest 3, even though it is a bigger FOV than the Crystal.
I'm not sure that the Crystal has as big an FOV as it advertises, but it does feel a little bigger than Quest 3 to me. As I mentioned in another comment, I'm going to properly test this to see how they compare in reality.
@@VRLowdown It would be interesting to see your findings. Other testers were getting only 103 hfov with the Crystal, despite their claim of 120 hfov.
Quest 3 is fantastic for PCVR. Heck the Quest 2 still is great for PCVR and at the $249 price point the 2 is still easy to recommend.
lol no
They're both great, affordable headsets for PCVR if you're looking for a great all-rounder. Depends what you plan to spend most of your time playing.
I love my Pimax Crystal, the price is ridiculous but you get much better clarity, no wireless video compression, bigger fov, and better audio, i had a quest 2 and barely touched standalone apps since i use it mostly for PC.Add 60G Airlink wireless module when it releases and i'll have better wireless experience too. But i have to agree, Quest 3 should do fine for 99% of people that don't want to break the bank for the ultimate experience.
heard that the controller tracking of the pimax is really subpar to what the quest 3 has to offer, which for the price, is almost a crime
@@dharkbizkit It has improved a lot, it was really bad at first, now it's slightly worse than Meta, but still perfectly usable. You can always go for steamvr controllers for also better hand tracking than Meta if you're still unconvinced with the included controllers, but that will come for a price of course.
@@dharkbizkit you can get the controllerless crystal, and use valve index controllers
i have the vive pro eye with the wireless 60G. it's not that easy to get it working well, the signal is very sensitive to line of sight. also the signal is compressed and there is a difference in visual quality compared to the DP cable. pimax may be dealing with similar difficulties.
The visuals on Pimax Crystal really are incredible, but definitely only for enthusiasts with deep pockets.
I own both and they are two totally different headsets. There is no do it all perfect headset and which one is better depends on your use. The Crystal is amazing at what it does and the Quest is awesome at what it does.
This is a perfect summary. I love them both.
There's no way I'm paying 1600 for an VR headset plus the additional massive cost of a new PC. As it is, the Quest 3 runs very nicely in PCVR on my 980ti intel PC from 2016. Onward, VTOL VR, Automobalista 2 all look great. Plus the standalone games like Golf+ are just amazing. NB, I'm coming from the CV1.
That's a big upgrade coming from the CV1. Enjoy!
I pulled out my Oculus Rift a couple weeks ago after being in the closet for years. I was so disappointed with the video quality that I decided to see what's available these days. I ended up with the Pimax Crystal. After watching a bunch of scary and angry UA-cam videos, I was afraid I would send the headset right back. I installed the needed software and tweeked my game settings for the Crystal before it was even delivered. When I got the headset, it worked as advertised and I'm thrilled with it. The Crystal is the best accessory I ever bought for my flight sim hobby. It's got a huge wow factor, especially with IL-2 Sturmovik Flying Circus. Warning! Dogfighting in the WWI planes is not for those with a weak stomach. I'm using a 4070ti GPU and i7-13700 CPU with 32 Gigs of memory and I've got smooth gameplay in IL-2, MSFS and DCS 2.8 MT.
The visual quality of Pimax Crystal really is amazing for flight sims. For the right user, it's an awesome headset.
Need a rtx4090 to play dcs anyway decent with the Q3.
So the Q3 looks cheap, bit for pc it’s still expensive if you gotta invest heavy in a gpu.
Even with foveated rendering, I haven't found the hardware requirements of the Pimax Crystal to be any less than Quest 3.
Amazing videos, very high quality. I think I’ll stick with the quest 3… I do t have 2k bucks to spare
Thanks for the positive feedback. Quest 3 is an awesome all-round headset. Enjoy!
Right now I am looking at the Quest 3 and what it can do - watching allot of videos on it. I am a SIM racer and have several games on STEAM - so I would be using the link cable if I got the Quest 3. Reviewers say the Quest 3 has a nice wide sweet spot for clarity. The Resolution of the Quest 3 also seems adequate
Right now I havean older Oculus Rift S and connected to a RTX-3080TI GFX card. The Pimaax headset is just way too pricey and out of my budget to think about. Plus other reviews say this is a very finicky VR device to get working properly.
So right now, still investigating and seeing what more reviewers say about the Quest 3. 500-600 dollars is also expensive plus need to buy a better strap, but it is better than 1600 dollars.
Thanks for the video.
I would definitely recommend Quest 3. It offers great value for the hardware. Whilst the Pimax Crystal is awesome and I totally love it for the exceptional clarity, Quest 3 is also a really good headset. The lack of displayport does introduce a little latency, and the clarity obviously isn't as good, but it is great value for an excellent all round headset.
I've had two elite straps, both were faulty. I would be careful prior to buying Meta's solution.
I have actually had to return two Elite Battery straps too. I'm on my third and it's working well. Meta have actually paused sale of the battery strap until they sort out the problem. Thankfully, they'll replace any that stop working without too much bother.
I a bit sick of the FOV issues with vr headsets. tired of spending 1000's on a binocular.
The Crystal is twice as big as it needs to be. The FOV of the Crystal is no wider than a Reverb G2 yet the headset is twice the size of the G2. Required battery of the Crystal is nearly impossible to get out of the power pack or charger. Crystal is too demanding for my i9 13900k and RTX 4090 without turning settings to lowest.
You make a lot of good points. I can't disagree.
The thing about the Pimax that you pointed out is that it’s almost a kilogram. I know my Quest3 isn’t that heavy. Yes the Pimax is the top of the line. But the Quest3 gives better bang for the buck imo
The weight and comfort are definitely big negatives, but the visuals of the Pimax Crystal really are incredible. Big performance improvements too with eye tracking and foveated rendering. Most people are best going for Quest 3 as it offers incredible value for money, but if you want the best visual clarity, the Pimax Crystalnis way ahead.
Pimax crystal light will change the game 🎉
Hell I trashed the quest 2 and 3 when they came out for their cheap design and cost but I own both now because of the versatility quest has and even $500 Usa and another $150 for a elite strap and face cover, battery is still a lot better value than Pimax.
Pimax are basically still stuck in beta releases after a year now!
People still have software issues with it , it's bulky, isn't as customisable, lacks the library quest has.
Almost every time a game is demoed its a sim racer or flight Sim.😂
Try playing a Rpg like Asgards wrath for 2 plus hrs on it or beat saber even. Your helmet will be bouncing around like a concrete brick.😂
Understand your reasoning, the latest release of the Pimax software is very nice and stable. i've personally not had any more issues since June's release. the Crystal has not been out for a year, officially it's been what , about 6 months, I do agree, Pimax needs to release finished software before releasing a product though. but even the Q3 has had software issues so this is not limited to just Pimax.
as a Flight Sim person (DCS mainly, some MSFS for GA) visually clarity is everything to us. I can still spot a plane in my crystal that is not even a spec yet on the Q3 due to the resolution, DFR and other features the Crystal has that the Q3 does not.
for Beat Saber, The Climb and other stand alone apps , I use my Q3, hands down. I don't need the visual clarity in those and the Q3 is just easier there.
I've been so impressed by Quest 3 for exactly this reason. It's really solid in all departments and such a well-rounded headset. The ease of use and versatility are terrific. The visuals of the Pimax Crystal are incredible, but you have to put up with a lot of compromises/issues to enjoy it.
@@smgvbestI call BS on being able to spot things with a crystal that can’t be seen with a quest 3. I’ve been playing DCS pretty non-stop since I got my quest 3 (from a rift S) and I’m able to spot planes further and easier than even my buddies on monitors can.
@@DonziFreak it is a fact in VR you can see things not visible in a monitor. so a Q3 sure can see things that will not show on a monitor. the Q3 is 25PPD , a Crystal is 38PPD. so the crystal can resolve finer details than the Q3 can. that is why it is not BS. I own a Q2, Q3, VIVE XR, Varjo Aero, Pimax Crystal, and a Varjo XR-3. I can tell you each is a step above (except maybe the VIVE XR its a let down to me) each other, the XR-3 is 72PPD (human eye resolution) it by far is the best. you don't mention you have a Crystal, so i'm not sure your claim on BS would even be valid. if you do that's one thing, if not you would have no frame of reference to say my post is BS
I have the quest 3 and a rtx4090 it‘s definitely really good. But you will never have s really good picture over oculus link. Not at 120Hz and full quality. The compression is just not really good in comparison. And the graphics card has to work a lot harder than with just a normal dp cable.
It's a shame the Quest 3 doesn't have a 2nd usb port that would allow the PC to power the headset so you wouldn't need to use the battery when using PCVR.
You can get a powered USB-C cable that will keep your headset charged while playing PCVR via link cable.
Quest 3 with wifi 6e is replacing my valve index 🤷
Excellent choice
Bought the Quest 3 coming from the G2. I was really impressed by the optics but I found the screen door effect to be noticable and I just felt like I was looking at a screen more than in the G2. Edge to edge clarity was really nice but the center of the G2 was noticably clearer to me, and text on MFDs was less clear. The final issue was the latency from using Virtual Desktop. Even at 45ms latency, I could notice the slight delay in movement and the controls did feel less responsive. It made creating a markpoint with the JHMCS or air to air refueling more difficult. Ended up returning the headset, but unfortunately something like the crystal looks too cumbersome. Hopefully there are some more options in 2024.
Really interesting points and I can certainly see why you returned it. It's interesting how everyone has a very individual experience with these headsets. I can't see the screen door effect at all on quest 3, and I'm convinced the Quest 3 is clearer than my G2 in the center of my vision. I wonder are there differences in individual headsets that could account for these variations.
Imo, vr wil get really big 2035. Now, its still finding it strides and get improved.
Just wanted to add my experience.
Coming from the Rift S, i own now the Quest 3 since a week after launch.
The upgrade was worth it for me. Higher Res, wireless, battery i solved simply by using a powerbank. And it's an amazing improvement for Sims (again, comparing to my rift S) reading dials is not a problem. Even being wireless for Simulation games is an improvement, you don't have a wire pulling on your head. Audio compared to the Rift S is also an improvement.. It has a more 3D quality to it. The sweetspot, you can pretty much use your eyes to look around. That was not the case with my rift S. Yeah, it becomes less sharp at the edges, but it's big improvement.
For wireless gameplay i use Virtual Desktop and it's great. I barely notice the compression, i guess because of the Rift S, i just dont have experience with a high res headset, so i don't even know what to look for. I don't see artifacts, the only thing i think i can see is when i look in the distance it seems more blurry (textures and sharp lines seems blurry, like a gaussian blur), which is weird.. because i know it can be sharp, it's not a resolution issue, maybe a game optimisation trick? But i am guessing that it has to do with the compression.
But this is me nitpicking over an affordable VR headset. I don't know any that comes with the same price and features. I think it's the best bang for your buck headset you can buy, especially for PC VR. I use it mainly for PCVR.
Also the features are great, it's a standalone, passthrough is good, it does hand tracking (foreseeing a lot of future features for it, like switching a switch in an airplane for example, I fly with a hotas, so to lean forward and flip a switch with your hand instead of using a mouse or controller would be amazing, its technically possible with this device, it's a matter of software updates)
Anyway, despite me not liking meta, the headset is great.
You know what my problem with hand tracking is? No haptic feedback. I like to feel *something* when I interact stuff in the VR environment, at least from a gaming standpoint.
Glad to hear you're enjoying the Quest 3. I'm also far from being a fan of Meta as a company, but the Quest 3 is a really well rounded, great value headset that does a lot of things right. Naturally, at this price point there are other headsets that do a better job in individual areas, but as an all-rounder, I don't think it can be beaten right now.
This is the EXACT dude i trust for this
Really appreciate the kind feedback.
If it were up to me, I'd buy the best of the best to compare with the others.
Sadly, my bank account always says no.
I have the Quest 2, and my next purchase will be the Quest 3, because it is cheaper than the Pro, and according to meta and UA-cam comparisons, it looks like a better choice.
Well said! Quest 3 is incredibly good value for the specs.
What would be a decent gpu requirement to enjoy the quest 3?
Quest 3 is standalone, you don't need a GPU. If you do want to run it on SteamVR as well, then a 1080, or 2070, or 3060, or 4060 would all be good enough to run most VR games to an acceptable level. But better graphics cards can provide big benefits for VR performance.
Damn, the Crystal looks massive! 🤣 I'm sure it's great, but I imagine putting it on and then falling on my face! Lol!
It is pretty huge. Totally fine for seated VR, but a bit too bulky for more energetic roomscale games.
8:27 why this huuuuuuhe is sound so weird and fun XD
Yes, that does sound really weird, lol.
Oh nah that’s just wayyyy too damn big. I like how sleek the quest 3 is in comparison
I can't disagree!
QUEST 3 all day for me it's an excellent headset for the money.
Totally agree!
Have you tested the Pimax ???
How did you decide to compare a $1600 headset to $500 headset. I hate comparisons that show things that aren't close to the same price.
I know it's a bad comparison in some ways, but I wanted to highlight that, for most users, you can get 90% of the function from Quest 3, and that it's good enough for most people. But I also wanted to highlight that if you want the best visual clarity, then it really is worth paying 3 times the price for Pimax Crystal.
900grams +?! I would stick to my amazing Quest 3!
It's a chunky one.
$1600??? Here in Norway it cost $2800. The Quest 3 cost $680 and $870 for the 128/512GB versions in comparison...
That's a hell of a price difference.
bobo vr m3 i go for 10 hours in vr on quest 3 hotswappable 10 bit avi
BOBO VRs hotswappable batteries are a great idea.