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Pico Neo is a stand-alone VR headset that runs on Marshmallow
July 22, 2025
Beijing-centered startupPicohas announced that they are unleashing a stand-alone VR headset. The company takes its name from a small, spritely bird festooned with colorful plumage, and they want to bring the same kind of lively aesthetic and simplicity to theVR market. Their headset, the Pico Neo, requires no smartphone or computer and targets a middle market between low-end devices likeGoogle CardboardorSamsung Gear VRand higher-end products like theHTC ViveorOculus Rift.
What’s interesting about the Pico Neo is that it houses most of its computing power in the SNES-like controller instead of in the headset. This lets the headset stay lightweight and agile, which is important for maintaining comfort when using VR for longer periods of time. This controller sports the kind of components you would expect to see in upscale smartphones, including the popular Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. This System on a Chip is powered by 4 gigs of RAM and has 32GB of internal storage expandable via microSD. The device runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow as its operating system.
Inside the headset are two screens, each rocking a 1,200 x 1,080 resolution. This puts the Pico Neo at the same resolution as both the HTCVive and the Oculus Rift. With a 5000mAh battery, you may snag up to 3 hours of unfettered virtual reality without the hassle of any wires, and when you do need to recharge, you won’t have to wait long because the Pico Neo supports QC 3.0.
This device will launch later this summer with a price tag of 3,399 Yuan, which comes out to about $525. If you want to forego the controller and just hook the headset up to your computer, then you can get just the headset for 1,899 Yuan or $295. What are your thoughts regarding this piece of commercial grade stand-alone VR tech? Too high a price for what you’re getting, or a solid middle option for those who don’t have the computing power to run higher end VR? Let us know your opinion and whether or not you’d be interested in picking up the Pico Neo in the comments below!
Next:Google Daydream platform is Cardboard’s much more advanced successor
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