Today, PICO debuted its latest mixed-reality headset. This follows a long legacy of providing incremental improvements to the firm’s XR product portfolio, notably after a rocky term of operations. A release window is yet to be confirmed.
After a hype period, the firm debuted its latest PICO 4 Ultra on social media platforms this week. The Bytedance-owned XR leader is proudly debuting the MR headset just ahead of significant headset launches and industry events from other AR/VR/MR groups.
Don’t miss out on the chance to own this cutting-edge device that’s shaping the future of entertainment and interaction. Get your hands on the PICO4 Ultra and embark on a journey like never before! pic.twitter.com/IZcJUjYa2L
— PICO XR (@PICOXR) August 20, 2024
PICO’s new MR headset will continue the firm’s product portfolio legacy. The device notably leverages full-colour passthrough to provide an MR computing environment similar to Apple Vision Pro’s spatial computing goals. To secure its MR passthrough, the PICO 4 Ultra leverages four environment tracking cameras, two 32MP colour passthrough cameras, and an iToF depth-sensing camera.
According to PICO, collecting passthrough cameras allows for high resolution and low distortion, allowing the device to secure 8MP, 20.6 PPD, and 72 Hz display quality.
Users can leverage immersive computing elements via an entirely virtual or partially virtual MR space. Moreover, PICO includes AI integrations that allow users to create custom immersive environments to work.
PICO is working to sell its MR headset as a workplace device. The product has a PanoScreen Workspace solution that allows users to complete tasks using various XR external monitors.
Additionally, the PICO Connect application allows workers to mirror Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android SmartPhone screens to the MR headset, allowing up to three desktops to be streamed to a headset at a time. Interestingly, the PICO device supports spatial video and photo playback on the new device, a touted Vision Pro feature that is losing its brief Apple exclusivity.
In a social media post, PICO showed its compatible Motion Tracker solution, a controller alternative that allows users to interact with a range of immersive applications using full-body inputs. The lightweight motion tracker, weighing just 27g, enables a seamless input method, with the firm noting that device pairing takes just five seconds.
PICO Motion Tracker and @VRChat have joined forces! On the launch day of PICO Motion Tracker, get ready to immerse yourself in the VRChat universe with full-body motion capture. Unleash your creativity, express yourself like never before. #PICOMotionTracker #VRChat #VRRevolution pic.twitter.com/prdXKhdYUj
— PICO XR (@PICOXR) August 20, 2024
Some other features of the device include a 2160 × 2160 pixel resolution, 60 FPS, WiFi 7, spatial audio recording, Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, and 12 GB RAM.
New Device Follows Operational Hurdles
Last year, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok and PICO, reportedly cancelled plans for a new VR headset. The initial decision not to release the PICO 5 headset came after the disappointing sales performance of the Pico 4.
Following layoffs and restructuring in 2023, ByteDance has significantly reduced its workforce from 1800 to 800 employees, marking a 60 percent reduction. Initial plans to reduce the workforce by 20 to 30 percent by 2023 were surpassed, with a much higher reduction.
