Somnium, a Czech startup known for its social VR platform Somnium Space, stirred the industry in late 2021 by announcing the Somnium VR1 headset. At the time, its specs were nothing short of impressive, crafted in collaboration with VRgineers, a company already respected for their high-end XTAL headsets designed for enterprise use. Initially, the VR1 was promoted as a hybrid device, set to feature standalone functionality through a Snapdragon XR2 chip. However, in 2022, the team decided to pivot, transforming it into a dedicated PC VR headset.
The VR1 boasts the same 2880×2880 QD-LCD with Mini-LED panels seen in the Pimax Crystal. These displays, featuring a contrast ratio of 20000:1 thanks to local dimming, deliver a full NTSC color gamut. The headset supports refresh rates of 72Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz, with an “experimental” 144Hz mode for those wanting to push the boundaries. With an output brightness of 210 nits, this is roughly twice that of the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro.
Paired with these impressive displays are dual-element aspheric lenses that Somnium claims provide a field of view of approximately 130° horizontally and 105° vertically. This is the widest on the market, surpassing other VR headsets. Although previous Pimax models like the “5K” and “8K” featured even broader views, they are no longer in production due to notable peripheral distortion issues.
The emphasis on a wide field of view explains the VR1’s bulkier design in an age where sleek pancake lens headsets are becoming the norm. This choice highlights Somnium’s commitment to an immersive VR experience, even if it means standing out from the crowd visually—in more ways than one.
