Is the Pico G2 4K a good alternative to the Oculus Go?

with the disappearance of the Oculus Go seems to have created a hole in the world of Virtual Reality. Fortunately, there are alternatives that are just as good - or maybe even better! In this Review we therefore explain the Pico G2 4K.

UPDATE January 2021: Inmiddels zijn er na het verdwijnen van de Oculus Go een aantal nieuwe Standalone headsets op de markt gebracht, waardoor de Pico's niet meer de enige en zelfs niet de beste of meest voordelig opties zijn. In a new blog we will put the options side by side, but for now we will list the alternatives for the various Pico glasses:

Pico Neo 2 -> XRSpace Manova 64GB
Pico Neo 2 Eye → XRSpace Manova 64GB
Pico G2 4K → DPVR P1
Pico G2 4K S → DPVR P1 4K Pro
Pico G2 4K Enterprise → DPVR P1 4K Pro

The Pico G2 4K is a Standalone 3 DOF Headset closest to the original Oculus Go. with has a powerful built-in processor, it is not necessary to connect a Computer and/or smartphone to the Headset. Pico G2 4K is the first All-In-One Headset in its category with a 4K screen. Dit zorgt ervoor dat video’s die je op de Headset bekijkt kraakhelder worden weergegeven (zelfs scherper dan op de Oculus Go). But this high image resolution is not the only thing that sets the Pico G2 4K apart. In this Review we take a closer look at the specifications and practical use of this Headset.

The screen

The resolution of the Pico G2 4K is (combined) 3840 x 2160 pixels. When you compare this with to the Oculus Go, this is considerably higher (2560 x 1440). Deze hoge beeldresolutie springt er with name uit wanneer je de Pico G2 4K wil gaan gebruiken om hoge resolutie 360 graden video’s te gaan bekijken. The number of pixels per inch (PPI) is also higher compared to with the Oculus Go (818 vs. 538). What has remained the same is the choice of the screen. Both the Pico G2 4K and the Oculus Go use an LCD screen combined with with a refresh rate of 75 Hz. This results in a good viewing experience without bothering your eyes.

Built-in processor

On the inside of the Pico G2 4K you will find the Snapdragon 835 processor. This processor is the newer version of the Snapdragon 821 found in the original Oculus Go. Deze krachtigere processor zorgt er onder andere voor dat video’s with een hogere resolutie op een vloeiende manier kunnen worden weergegeven. Dit komt with name goed tot zijn recht wanneer je gebruikt maakt van eigen content (bijvoorbeeld voor video’s geschoten with de Insta360 Titan).

Because the Headset is 3 DOF, the Pico G2 4K is less suitable for gaming. with in particular free-roam games where you have to physically walk through a room are not possible on the Pico G2 4K. Fortunately, Pico has thought of this and offers the Pico Neo 2 and Neo 2 Eye as a free-roam alternative. These headsets offer the same useful business features as the Pico G2 4K, but use a different method of tracking and a more powerful processor, making them suitable for free-roam gaming.

Ease of use

Pico G2 4K is designed for commercial use. This translates into a number of useful features that you will not find on other headsets. For example, Pico G2 4K comes out-of-the-box with a silicone facial interface that is easy to wipe clean with a cleaning cloth. This is with particularly useful when you want to use the Headset with with multiple people.

Furthermore, the Pico G2 4K comes standard with with a 3 DOF Controller. This Controller is very similar with to the Controller that comes with the Oculus Go. However, Pico offers the choice to use the Controller or not. The Headset is just as good without using the supplied Controller! On the side of the Pico G2 4K you will find a button that functions as a click button. While you are wearing the Headset you can look at something and when you click on the button, you automatically click on what you are looking at. This feature is especially useful when you use the Headset in an environment with with multiple people (for example at fairs or events), or in an environment where there is little VR experience (e.g. in elderly care). Controlling with a click-button feels much more intuitive than controlling with a 3 DOF Controller, so it is certainly a good addition to this Headset.

Available content

We now know that the better-known VR glasses such as Oculus Go and HTC VIVE run as standard on a platform on which all VR applications are already installed. Unfortunately, this is not the case in the Pico Store. Due to the business Focus of the developers, there is relatively little to be found in the standard Pico store. As a result, few games and / or fun applications can be downloaded out-of-the-box. Fortunately, it is possible to go to the Viveport platform via the Pico Store, where all common applications can be found immediately.

Precisely because Pico focuses on the business market, they have made it very easy to put your own content on the Headset. Zo is er de mogelijkheid om zelf een micro-SD kaartje in de Headset te stoppen waarna je jouw eigen 360 graden video’s kunt bekijken, but it is also relatively easy to convert self-made applications to the Pico Store (such as the case with the VR application Reducept).

Conclusion

The Pico G2 4K is a great Headset for viewing 360 degree videos for the business user. Due to the high ease of use, the smart and hygienic design and the sharp image resolution, the Pico G2 4K is very suitable for training, events, trade shows, experience centers and you name it. with the Pico G2 4K gives you a nice 3 DOF Headset that is well suited for watching videos.

Ben je na het lezen van deze Review enthousiast geworden over de Pico G2 4K? Klik dan hier voor een scherpe offerte voor de Pico G2 4K of bekijk het beste alternatief de DPVR P1.