Somnium Space Announces Launch of Highly-Anticipated VR1 Headset

by Arthur Herring
in News, PC, Release, VR, xEL
on 18 June 2024

Czechia-based company, Somnium Space, has finally revealed the long-awaited release date for its Somnium VR1 headset. The PC VR headset will be available for orders starting from June 20th, and will initially be open to reservation holders.

Earlier, at CES 2023, Somnium Space provided a glimpse of the headset through a dev kit version. However, due to supply chain constraints, the company decided to focus solely on the Lighthouse-tracked PC VR headset and sidelined the standalone version.

The company has now introduced a comprehensive line-up of eight different variants of the VR1 headset. These include the Classic Edition, Visionary Edition (Eye-tracking), Striker Edition (Hand-tracking), Titan Edition (Eye/Hand-tracking), Specter Edition (Mixed Reality + Hand-tracking), Ultimate Edition (Mixed Reality + Eye/Hand-tracking), Translucent Limited Edition (Mixed Reality + Eye/Hand-tracking), and Military Edition – TAA Compliant (Mixed Reality + Eye/Hand-tracking).

The VR1 headset is designed with modularity in mind, allowing users to customize their experience by choosing the factory-installed modules they prefer. The Classic Edition starts at €1,900 (~$2,060 USD).

The VR1 specifications are impressive. The display features QLED Mini-LED Fast LCD technology, with a resolution of 2 x 2800 x 2880 pixels and a peak brightness of 210 nits. The wide field of view (FOV) offers horizontal angles of 130° and vertical angles of 105°. Additional optional add-ons include eye tracking, hand tracking, diopter lenses, pass-through cameras, and more.

Somnium Space will begin sending out emails to reservation holders in chronological order based on their reservation date, allowing them to make their purchase. Reservation holders are eligible for one purchase, accommodating multiple VR1 units.

New reservations will be accepted until July 10th, and orders will be open to the public on July 12th, coinciding with the Somnium Connect event in Prague, Czechia. The event will feature presentations, demos of the Somnium VR1, and a keynote speech by Artur Sychov, Founder & CEO of Somnium Space.

Don’t miss the chance to explore the immersive world of the Somnium VR1 headset. Pre-order yours now and step into a new dimension of virtual reality.

The VR1 headset from Somnium Space offers a modular design, allowing users to customize their experience by choosing different factory-installed modules. This includes options for eye tracking, hand tracking, diopter lenses, and pass-through cameras, among others.

The VR1 headset comes in eight different variants, including the Classic Edition, Visionary Edition (with eye-tracking), Striker Edition (with hand-tracking), and more. There is also a Translucent Limited Edition and a Military Edition that is TAA compliant.

The display of the VR1 headset features QLED Mini-LED Fast LCD technology with a resolution of 2 x 2800 x 2880 pixels and a peak brightness of 210 nits. It offers a wide field of view (FOV) with horizontal angles of 130° and vertical angles of 105°.

Reservation holders for the VR1 headset will be sent emails in chronological order based on their reservation date, allowing them to make their purchase. Multiple units can be accommodated in a single purchase for reservation holders.

New reservations for the VR1 headset will be accepted until July 10th, and orders will be open to the public on July 12th, coinciding with the Somnium Connect event in Prague, Czechia. The event will feature presentations, demos of the VR1 headset, and a keynote speech by Artur Sychov, the Founder & CEO of Somnium Space.

Advantages of the VR1 headset include its modular design, allowing users to customize their experience, and its impressive specifications, such as QLED Mini-LED Fast LCD technology and a wide field of view. These features enhance the immersive virtual reality experience.

However, a key challenge for Somnium Space may be supply chain constraints, as seen with the delayed release of the standalone version of the VR1 headset. It is important for Somnium Space to ensure a smooth supply chain to meet the demand for the VR1 headset.

One potential controversy associated with the VR1 headset could be its pricing. The starting price of the Classic Edition is €1,900 (~$2,060 USD), which may be considered expensive for some potential buyers.