Somnium, a promising startup from the Czech Republic, first carved out its niche with the social VR platform known as Somnium Space. However, in late 2021, a significant pivot occurred when they revealed plans for the Somnium VR1 headset, boasting a cutting-edge spec sheet for that period. Partnering with VRgineers, renowned for their high-end XTAL headsets geared towards enterprise use, Somnium initially envisioned the VR1 as a hybrid device. It was supposed to feature standalone capabilities thanks to an onboard Snapdragon XR2 chipset. Come 2022, that idea was set aside, shifting its focus entirely to function as a PC VR headset.
The VR1 incorporates the same impressive 2880×2880 QD-LCD panels with Mini-LED technology found in the Pimax Crystal. These displays offer a striking 20000:1 contrast thanks to local dimming, cover 100% of the NTSC color spectrum, and support refresh rates of 72Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz. Additionally, there’s an “experimental” 144Hz mode for those willing to push the boundaries. It also provides an output brightness of 210 nits, which is about twice the brightness you’d find in Meta Quest 3 or Apple Vision Pro.
These fantastic displays are complemented by large dual-element aspheric lenses. Somnium claims these deliver a field of view that stretches around 130° horizontally and 105° vertically, surpassing the field of view offered by any other VR headset currently available. While the Pimax “5K” and “8K” models once exceeded this width, they are no longer manufactured and were plagued by periphery distortion.
So, why is the Somnium VR1 heftier than most? It’s all about that wider field of view—a design choice that prioritizes immersive experience over the sleek design trend of slimmer pancake-lensed headsets currently in vogue.
