Somnium Space, the innovative company from Czechia known for its immersive social platform, has made headlines by increasing the price of its high-end PC VR headset, the Somnium VR1. The company justifies this decision by citing the need to uphold their "highest quality standards."
Just last month, Somnium Space let the public know they were streamlining their offerings, cutting down the available configurations of the VR1 headset. They also announced that starting January 16th, 2025, prices for the three remaining models would see a hike, though they initially didn’t specify by how much.
Today, they’ve rolled out the new pricing details, excluding local taxes. The increase ranges from €500 to €700 above previous pricing:
- Visionary Edition: Includes VR and eye-tracking. Previous Price: €2,499 ($2,600). New Price: €2,999 ($3,090).
- Titan Edition: Offers VR, eye-tracking, and hand-tracking. Previous Price: €2,899 ($3,020). New Price: €3,399 ($3,500).
- Ultimate Edition: Packed with VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking, and mixed reality passthrough. Previous Price: €3,499 ($3,659). New Price: €4,299 ($4,425).
According to a blog post by the company, the increase comes down to the complexity of their production processes and their unwavering dedication to quality. They emphasize using top-tier materials and intricate designs that undergo rigorous checks. This process often involves discarding expensive components if they don’t meet the company’s lofty standards. Somnium Space wants each VR1 headset to exceed all expectations, presenting it as a masterpiece of technology.
Initially, the company had seven different consumer versions of the VR1 available. However, they’ve since retired the Classic, Striker, Specter, and Translucent Editions, which not only streamlines their product line but also curtails production costs. The now discontinued Classic Edition, which was essentially the basic model without eye-tracking, used to cost €1,900 ($1,980).
On another note, Somnium Space has now adjusted its delivery estimates for new orders of the VR1 headset. They are now targeting a delivery window from March to April 2025. By getting its logistics right, Somnium Space aims to cut this down to just two weeks from the time of order placement to shipment by the middle of 2025. This speedy fulfillment will cover most European countries, along with the UK and US.
For those interested, there’s hands-on coverage of the Somnium VR1 from their annual Somnium Connect event held last July, which might offer deeper insights into what makes this headset stand out.
Somnium VR1 Specifications:
- Display: QLED Mini-Led Fast LCD with a resolution of 2,880 × 2,880 per eye.
- Field of View (FOV): 130° horizontal, 105° vertical, expandable to 140° horizontally. Actual FOV may vary based on individual face and eye shapes.
- Refresh Rate: 72 Hz, 90 Hz, with experimental upgrades up to 120 and 144 Hz.
- Local Dimming Zones: 576 per eye.
- Eye Tracking: 120 Hz, using an open-sourced algorithm that can be tailored for various applications.
- Connectivity: USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm audio jack.
- IPD Range: 57 to 76 mm.
