Pico 4 Review: A Fresh Look at Affordable VR Headset

Meta Quest 2 challenger? Yeah! More like it. The Pico 4 is an all-in-one VR headset running the same chipset as the Meta Quest 2 – the Snapdragon XR2 – with dual mics and embedded speakers. But the whole “paper” hype about this headset is hardly noticeable in real practice; mainly, the higher resolution and the larger FOV.

But a quick one, the VR works fine, and the controllers are “awesome” – as well as the tracking. The Pico 4 VR headset falls within budget – flaunting a comfortable design that fits very well for the user. Here’s an honest review of the Pico 4 headset, covering the most important details you need to know about the gear.

Pico 4: No Hand Tracking and Eye Tracking Support, But Still a Meta Quest 2 Killer

Pico 4 VR headset is a more affordable alternative to the Meta Quest 2 capable of doing “many” things you would expect from a VR headset. It’s pretty much lightweight, and the design? Looks very attractive. But going for this VR headset will make you lose out on some very exciting Meta-Store-Exclusive VR titles, worth it? That would be a big yes for some users.

This VR headset gives a positive impulsive first impression. You can pair it with your PC and enjoy VR games that play on PCs. The Pico Store might not have a massive library of VR games like the Meta Store, but it sure has some cool titles to keep you going every day. Notable VR games like Fruit Ninja and Superhot are available on the Pico Store, along with other popular titles.

Need more games? You can buy it on Steam. With its pancake lenses, the Pico 4 VR headset offers a combined 4320 x 2160 pixels and can run up to 90Hz (the default is 72Hz). You’re getting a 105-degree field of view, pretty satisfying. Pico 4 surprisingly has the best visuals than any other VR headset in its class.

But of course, it has some “downsides.” Well, you can’t expect a tech gadget/device to be 100% with no flaws. The downsides of the Pico 4 might be forgivable by some users; the battery drains faster on 90Hz mode and the headset does not support hand or eye tracking. Also, if you’re living in the US, you may find it a bit difficult to buy this headset as it is only available in the U.K. and Europe.

Pico 4 VR Headset Price and Availability

Sadly, United States residents can’t purchase this VR headset from US stores. Pico 4 is launched and available only in the United Kingdom and Europe. To get this headset in other parts of the world, you will have to pay for overseas delivery to your locality.

This limited availability might be a “red flag” for some VR enthusiasts. The official price is £379 for the 128GB variant and £449 for the 256GB variant. These prices are quite “cheaper” than what you would buy a Meta Quest 2 with the same storage sizes.

Pico 4 Virtual Desktop

While Pico 4 is basically a standalone VR headset, it still connects to PCs using a USB-C cable or virtual desktop. Pico 4 virtual desktop connection is seamless, but not the best. Also, your laptop or PC needs to meet the following minimum specifications for such connections:

• Operating system: Windows 10
• CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350 or any higher equivalent
• RAM: At least 8GB
• Video card: AMD Radeon R9 290, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970, or higher
• USB ports: 1 USB-A 3.0

You will need to buy the “Virtual Desktop” support on Pico 4 to enable you to connect to a PC or laptop wirelessly. With Virtual Desktop, you can adjust bitrates and resolutions for the best results. This doesn’t give the best “clarity,” but it works just fine for VR enthusiasts who would prefer a wireless connection to enjoy PCVR games.

The Design, Specs, and Features of Pico 4

Talk about a lightweight VR headset with an ergonomic build, and then you have the Pico 4 right in front of you. It is incredibly comfortable to wear for a long them and the aesthetics look just perfect. The specs of this VR headset exceed expectations; it comes with pancake lenses, which are better than Meta’s Fresnel lenses.

To connect to Steam and have access to a wider VR library, you need the Pico Link software, which lets you launch Steam from inside the headset’s UI after you have set up the configurations on your PC. Pico 4 performs very well with good visuals, generally, but has a poor battery, even though it’s rated 5300mAh. You can hardly game up to 3.5 hours with this VR headset before it requires a re-charge.

While hand and eye tracking are not supported, Pico 4 does well in tracking the VR controllers, thanks to the 6DoF sensors. The controllers do not use USB-C charging like the headset, they are powered by AA batteries. Another sad thing about this headset is the lack of a 3.5mm jack for headphone connection.

Tech Specs

• Resolution: 4320 x 2160 (2160p per eye)
• Refresh Rate: 75 (default) | 90Hz (peak)
• Tracking: 6 DoF inside-out
• FOV: 105~ degrees
• Lenses: Pancake
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2
• IPD: 62-72mm
• Inputs: USB Type-C 3.2 Gen-1
• Audio: Dual mics, embedded speakers
• Battery Capacity: 5300mAh
• Runtime: Approx. 3 hours
• Weight: 10.4oz
• Storage: 128GB and 256GB

Pico 4 vs. Meta Quest 2

The Pico 4 and Meta Quest 2 are similar in many ways; hence, both headsets are always being compared to each other. But the thing is, you can get Quest 2 in the US, while the Pico 4 is not available in the US.

Pico 4 Games List

There are lots of VR games to find on the Pico store, but here are our top picks you should check out first:

• AFFECTED: The Manor
• I Expect You To Die
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
• Walkabout: VR Mini Golf
• Fruit Ninja
• In Death: Unchained
• Realms of Eternity
• Contractors
• Red Matter 1 and 2
• Eleven Table Tennis
• A Fisherman’s Tale
• Blade Sorcery Nomad
• End Space
• After The Fall
• Drop Dead: The Cabin
• Chess Club
• Battle Sister
• Winter Fury: The Longest Road
• Hubris
• Arizona Sunshine 2
• Primal Hunt
• Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom

What More?

If you live in the UK or Europe in general, the Pico 4 would be a better buy than the Meta Quest 2 – and it’s cheaper too with a much better display. Both the Pico 4 and Quest run on the same chipset combinations and connect wirelessly to your PC. You will find loads of games and apps for your Pico 4 from the Pico Store, but not to compare to the lots offered in the Meta Store. Overall, the Pico 4 is a decent enough VR headset for anyone who can buy it.