TL;DR: I think the Pimax Dream Air is incredible.  
   
**Process:**  
•Reservation order: **20th Feb 2025**  
•Full pay pre order: **29th Mar 2026**  
•Complete production Email: **6th May 2026**  
•Arrived in country Email: **14th May 2026**  
•Received: **28th May 2026**  
(15 months wait from reservation, 2 months wait from full order)

**Cost:**  
•Headset: **£1,542**    
•VAT: **£304.55**  
•Discount (MRTV): **-£19.24**  
•Voucher (instead of Crystal OG 2nd lenses):  **-£37.77** (processed as a partial refund)  
•Total: £**1,789.54**  
   
Already had index\\knuckles controllers.  
Have basestations 2.0 (7 of them, 4 set up in one room and 3 in another)  
This is my 6th headset (in 10yrs) inc PSVR1,Valve index, Quest2, Quest 3, Pimax Crystal (OG)  
currently running a 4090 FE , AMD Ryzen 9 5900x.  
   
**Size\\form factor:**  
So small and light! Headset alone is **174g**.  
Adding the stock face gasket, audio stems and back strap it is still only **314g** (2g lighter that my phone!)  
For comparison my Quest 3 (inc bobo mini strap and bobo battery pack) is **896g**  
and Crystal OG is  **1,265g**!  
   
It is amazing how Pimax have fit such a high spec into such a small light formfactor.  
I also love the modularity of the strap\\audio stems\\face gasket\\top mount holes & USB-C.  
I think it looks cool too.  
   
**Set up:**  
was straight forward, plugged it in and it just worked.  
Quickly registered all Basestations.  
I had updated Pimax play to the latest version in preparation.  
Controllers took about 5sec to pair each and worked perfectly.  
Eye tracking was already working but recalibrated it anyway.  
Set IPD in pimax play (64.6mm) lenses moved straight away. However still didn’t feel quite right I put it up to 69mm and it seems to feel much better.  
(btw – I’m definitely 64.6mm confirmed by my optician 3 week prior).  
Seems Pimax play offers a higher IPD than Dream Air can handle, so if you select IPD that too big then the motor keeps running until you set it lower in pimax play again.  
   
**Comfort:**  
**Stock gasket**  
The face gasket is ok, but as people have said it presses on the forehead a bit.  
I’m sure after some extended use the padding would soften up to help with that.  
Also I Imagine the mod to cut the top supports inside the gasket would help too.  
For me it also let in a bit of light on the side of my head and kept me a bit further from the lenses.  
I’m sure the updated gasket will be much better when it comes.  
   
**Studioform**  
I tried the [Studioform gasket and pads](https://www.studioformcreative.com/product-page/pimax-dream-air-x1-p-interface-elite-kit). It is printed to a high quality and was more Comfortable than the stock one.  
Also allows the option for changing the pad thickness.  
I found it was still not as close to the lenses as I wanted,there is no nose cover and it was a little more difficult to clip on.  
   
**Zeeflyboy!! (+**[**Studioform pads**](https://www.studioformcreative.com/product-page/pimax-dream-air-diy-modders-kit)**)**  
My favourite option by far was [Zeeflyboy’s “Max cushion vented](https://www.printables.com/model/1724122-pimax-dream-air-facial-interface-and-apple-strap-a)” 3D model.  
I easily printed this in 2.5 hrs (in PLA+2.0). and spent 20min sticking on some hook tape.  
Then adding the thickest studioform pad it was perfect for me.  
I transplanted the metal frame, magnet & noes cover across to the 3D print from the stock gasket (8 small screws).  
This makes it really quick and easy to put on the Dream Air and also blocks all the light from the nose area too.  
It is also a fair bit lighted than the studioform one and getsme a lot closer to the lenses.  
Plus it is the most comfortable for me.  
Some extra (free) studioform Velcro spacers cut and placed on the sides made the light seal perfect.  
   
**Strap**  
The stock 2D strap is fine once the head set is in place. However it is a bit of a pain when you are putting it on , taking it off or trying to adjust it.  
When tightening it pulls to one side a bit, a bit fiddly to get right etc. but once in place it’s fine.  
I believe the 3D strap will have a adjustment knob whichshould fix all these “issues”.  
   
**Zeeflyboy (and Apple) to the rescue!**  
I decided I wanted to mod the dream air to use the Apple vision pro dual knit band,  
so I could have a knob to adjust the headset, some top support and a little counter balance weight at the back.  
On the apple store app it said I was a large, however the DA stems are longer than the AVP stems.  
So I went to an Apple store and tried a medium and a small, medium was perfect. Opened enough to get in, closed enough to be tight.   
Cost me £99.  
I 3D printed [Zeeflyboy’s Apple vision pro band adaptors](https://www.printables.com/model/1724122-pimax-dream-air-facial-interface-and-apple-strap-a) (took 18min, PLA+2.0).  
I then transplanted the metal clips from the ends of the stock 2D strap on to the printed adaptors.  
It was just 2 small screws for each.  
The 3D print needed a little bit of filing down to fit nicely in the AVP band and in the 2D clips.  
(all is easily removable and reversable).  
   
The comfort with this strap is amazing!  
Also because of the face gasket you don’t have to tighten it a lot to get close to the lenses comfortably.  
With the low weight, small size and good balance there is no movement when quickly turning my head.  
Feels like perfection!  
   
The Split cable design tugs a bit when turning left\\right, but I think I can adjust the cable to be higher to fix this.  
(i.e. a Velcro cable tie at the back to pull the cable together and up).  
   
   
**Visuals:**  
Wow!...   
The panel resolution, micro Oled, lenses, 90hz  
… just wow.  
Its all been said before and it’s all true.  
**After getting the gasket & strap fit right**, Standard boot into Half-life Alyx, gasps and profanities of amazement from me ensued!  
   
   
**Performance:**  
I like to use Steam VR run time (so I can use FPSVR and easly access the PC desktop in game with the Steam menu).  
I have **mbucchia’s**  [**Quad-View-Foveated**](https://github.com/mbucchia/Quad-Views-Foveated) and [**Pimax-EyeTracker-SteamVR**](https://github.com/mbucchia/Pimax-EyeTracker-SteamVR) installed to allow Quad View and DFR in Steam VR runtime.  
These tools are incredible for the games that support it.  
   
I used similar tools with my Crystal OG. The Dream Air’s panels are much higher res (3840x3552 per eye vs Crystal 2880x2880 per eye) but the performance at 100% is better in the Dream Air!  
I believe this is because:

1. The 100% resolution is perversely less\\similar due to barrel distortion correction on the aspheric lenses of the Crystal.

2. The Dream Air maxes at 90hz vs Crystal 120hz.  However I think the oled 90hz feels as good as the Crystal 120hz  
   
I love playing Pavlov and due to it supporting Quad view quite well the performance is incredible!  
Running at 160% resolution\\ss, all game settings on max (on 4090) I’m getting 90fps locked!  
Looks and plays amazingly.  
Similar performance in HLA.  
So far so good.  
   
I have not tried the [Sboys3 driver](https://github.com/sboys3/CustomHeadsetOpenVR) to make the Dream Air a native SteamVR headset yet.  
Mainly because it does not yet support Eye tracking so DFR\\Quad view won’t work.  
However I believe that is coming in the next release shortly.  
I believe it  may also further improve the visuals with distortion profiles and colour correction etc  
I think mbucchia is also doing something similar too.  
So lots of talented and knowledgeable people doing some great work to make this headset even better!!  
   
**Audio:**  
As you have heard the built in Audio is good\\ok\\fine.  
I love that it has built in audio and I’m happy to use it.  
It is quieter than the Quest 3 and I do wish I could turn it up a bit more, but I will probably forget about that after using for a bit.  
Also depends on the game, in  HLA was absolutely no issue, in Pavlov I normally want it up high to detect footsteps etc so noticed it was quieter.  
There is a DMAS strap coming and I have a 50% off voucher for it so that will probably perfect the audio.  
   
I would say I now love the AVP dual knit strap. So I would be much happier if the future DMAS option was just the audio stems (similar to the current ones but with DMAS on) and removable back strap so I can keep using the AVP one. Please Pimax!  
** **  
**Problem(s):**  
I do not count the face gasket or strap as problems. There are better ones coming (for free) and I like that I can mod it to perfection for me.  
I have modded the gasket and strap on every headset I’ve ever had.  
   
**Audio stem**  
After playing for a bit I noticed that there is something loose\\ moving inside the right speaker stem.  
When I look up it slides back a little and taps, and when I look down it slides forward again, which can be a little distracting if you are doing that in game.  
Some quick searching shows a few [others have found a similar issue](https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/s/owfsVwy2PS).  
I raised a ticket Saturday morning with all the details, first thing Monday morning they responded to apologise and ask if I would be happy for them to send me a replacement audio stem (which I am).  
I assume they will send a new cable + 2 audio stems (as it appears to be all one part).  
Well done Pimax support for picking this up quickly and offering a solution (with no need for me to escalate on reddit etc)  
Not sure yet how long the replacement will take and if it will fully resolve the issue, but I’m hopeful it will.  
Will update here after it’s received.  
   
**SteamVR\\MB**  
I had an Issue since SteamVR 2.0 was released with my crystal OG, where the tracking & controllers would go crazy and the usb connection would power cycle.  
This would only happen when I open the steamVR menu and only on the Steam tab (desktop and game tab were fine).  
The same thing happens with my Dream Air.  
Seems it is not a Pimax issue and turns out to be a motherboard\\BIOS issue.  
[The fix](https://www.reddit.com/r/ValveIndex/s/cux6qdxLQI) was just to go into the BIOS and change the PCIE setting from Auto (or Gen4) to Gen 3 instead, I believe this should have no gaming\\fps performance impact.  
Not a Pimax or Dream Air problem  but thought I would mention this in case it helps any one.  
   
   
I need to play more and try more games but so far I’m really happy with the headset.  
Looking forward to replaying HLA and playing RE9 with VR mod and DFR!  
   
   
**Final rant (hot take):**  
**For that price..**  
I keep seeing people commenting things like “for 2k I expect…” better build quality \\better face gasket\\ better head strap \\ better profiles \\no modding needed \\ etc  
Basically they seem to be saying the headset should be perfect out of the box at this price point.  
I sort of disagree with this view point.  
On [Sony’s web site](https://www.sony-semicon.com/en/news/2023/2023082401.html) you can see the panels for this headset cost **150,000 Yen** each (sample price).   
That is  **$940 \\ £700**, times 2 that is **$1,880 \\£1,400** per headset just in panels!  
Even if Sony was to give Pimax a 50% b2b discount (which they probably don’t ) for buying a few thousand in bulk, that is still **$940 \\ £700** per headset.  
This is even before you factor in custom Lenses, housing, mic, speakers, IR sensors, cameras, tobii licence, strap, face gaskets, R&D, design, marketing, production costs, support costs, logistics costs, Firmware, software,  etc.   
Comparing with something like Apple Vision pro that cost**£3,200-£3,600**. I get that has some stuff Dream Air does not, but it also lacks a few things too. Also people mod that for comfort too!  
Play for Dream - was more expensive and they had to just stop making them because it was too expensive to sell at that price point.  
Galaxy XR – similar price point and people are taking hacksaw to it to mod it to be comfortable.  
   
Also Pimax is a very small company, compared with Apple, Meta, Samsung and Valve who are dropping Billions in just R&D for VR\\AR\\XR, yet Pimax are arguably producing the most ground breaking progressive consumer VR headsets in the world. I think what Pimax is doing is pretty impressive and the are clearly doing their best to keep it at a reasonable price by focusing spend were it matters the most.  
So when people say “for 2k I expect…\[perfection\]” it makes me think they maybe don’t appreciate the cost of creating these things, and the value the consumer is actually receiving.  
   
**Too early?**  
The other complaint I see is Pimax “releases” stuff too early, and then we have to wait along time through missed deadlines.  
I get that people are just excited to get the cool thing they want and get impatient.  
I think there are 2 problems with this view point:

1) what’s the alternative, we hear nothing for years (like Apple, Meta, Valve) not knowing what is coming. Go buy something else and then wish we had waited for what suddenly appears. People almost make a career out of digging through code releases and data leaks to try and find out what is coming (and maybe get it wrong). Also Big companies make more money out of you by not telling you what is coming so they can sell you what they have now too. I think I would rather the company just transparently share what they are working on and when they hope to deliver it.

2) By telling everyone early (while still in the developmental stage) they get loads of feedback on what everyone likes, wants added, etc. Then by keeping people engaged via social media, reviewers, etc. they get ongoing  targeted market research. This allows them to update and improve the product before it is finalised and deliver something better and what people want.  
   
So I think maybe what these people are really saying is they want their expectations manipulated to reduce how impatient they get?  
I don’t think this is what I want.  
   
The quote  “expectation is the root of all heartache” (Shakespeare) comes to mind.  
   
Pimax are not perfect (no company is) and they have some improving to do.  
But I think they have also listened to the community and improved a lot, particularly the last few years.  
Their products are not perfect, but they are pretty amazing.  
I selfishly agree they should focus on the Dream Air line for now, delivering strong QA’d headsets and delivering the promised accessories (DMAS, halo strap, 3D strap, face gasket, SLAM Ringless controllers, etc)  
   
**Thoughts for the future**  
•As mention DMAS stems only (no back strap).  
•Maybe lighter fibre optic cable.  
•A [ZED Mini](https://www.stereolabs.com/en-gb/store/products/zed-mini) or [ELP](https://amzn.eu/d/01Sbvr3i) stereo camera style clip on that used the top USB-C for high quality pass through\\ mixed reality could be cool.  
•Maybe a wider FOV version in a few of years.  
   
   
TL;DR: I think the Pimax Dream Air is incredible.

Dream Air (LH) my week 1 review