We have a lot of choices when it comes to selecting virtual reality headsets but we will narrow that down by looking at this Pimax 8K Vs Valve Index comparison post.
Entertainment is evolving and it is evolving fast. There are many contents that have improved their graphics so their substance can be watched while users are in virtual reality.
Valve is a very popular gaming industry but it was only known for developing games and helping other companies make their headsets. However, they have released their own recently.
The Valve Index headset is an amazing headset that can play all of your favorite games. It is powered by the revolutionary technology that Valve helped put in other headsets as well.
Since Valve owns the popular game store Steam, you can be sure that you will find all the games that you want in there and that they can be played via the Index VR headset.
Pimax is not a very popular company but since the initial release of their one-of-a-kind headset, they have skyrocketed to the top of VR headsets that most people are looking forward to.
The development of their unique headset all started with a campaign to make the first-ever 8K VR headset in 2017. This became successful and now we have the Pimax 8K.
A very powerful headset that has the best display on the market. It also has an immediate upgrade in the form of the Pimax 8KX but we will talk about the original here.
So in case you are looking for a VR headset that can bring to another world, these two are the best options that you have so stick around to know more about them.
Table of Contents
Type Of Headset
The type of headset that you choose should properly match with how much you are willing to spend. Along with that, you should consider what you already have before buying a VR headset.
Both of these VR headsets are labeled as tethered headsets. That means that they need to be connected to a PC setup that is powerful enough to run the systems of the headsets.
That is why you need to consider which one you should buy. If you purchase either one of these headsets and you do not have a PC setup, then they will be virtually useless.
Tethered VR headsets are usually more powerful than standalone headsets. They get their power from the PC setup and the display and speed are improved because of that.
While that seems impressive, tethered VR headsets have their disadvantages. For example, your movement is limited so you cannot use them in games that require a lot of moving.
The Pimax 8K also requires a lot of power because of its amazing display and resolution. So if your PC setup does not have at least the NVIDIA RTX 2080, then it would not work.
So before anything else, you need to research the kind of headset that you want and then match that with your budget and PC setup if you choose a tethered headset.
Display
While these two headsets use different kinds of screens for their display, they are still functioning the same as they both have the most powerful displays in terms of the screen.
The Valve Index headset uses LCD on both lenses. This is a common material used for almost any kind of display so it has been proven to produce crisp images and detailed display.
The LCD on the Valve Index is able to produce detailed objects while having a small screen door effect. This is great and it does not make you nauseous but it can be improved.
The Pimax 8K, on the other hand, has an LED screen on its lenses. This is also a common screen for almost any type of display whether virtual reality or standard display.
What makes the Pimax 8K’s display different is the extra layer of LED at the back of the initial display. This gives a backup coloring system when the initial LED does not work.
It is also used for making a smoother display because the two layers of LED combine colors unlike any other. It is an advantage for the Pimax 8K so it wins this category.
Resolution
Resolution is all about the ability of the display to make the images more realistic by having a more detailed output. This is determined by the number of pixels within the lenses.
The Valve Index headset has a resolution of 1440 by 1600 pixels on each eye. This is a bit above the average resolution of most VR headsets that are available on the market.
The combination of the two amazing resolutions on each eye gives a realistic result. The details on the objects and although there is a slight screen door effect, it can hardly be noticed.
An even more impressive feat for the resolution of VR headsets is the Pimax 8K’s 2560 by 1440 resolution on each eye. Which is the closest to a native 4K display.
The term 8K was meant for marketing. The more advanced and latest release from Pimax, the 8KX, has a more native 4K display so if you want that, you can order it as well.
The resolution of the Pimax 8K has an impressively detailed display. It combines the high pixel number with layered LED to produce the smoothest of images and transitions.
Refresh rate
There are times where even if the display and resolution are great, the headset can sometimes lag or the display itself is unable to put up smoothly developed images.
This may be caused by the refresh rate of the VR headset. The refresh rate lets you know about the speed of the headset when it comes to creating images and displaying videos.
Movement is an important part of virtual reality. You need to turn your head around to get a clear view of your surroundings so if the refresh rate is not high enough, there will be lags.
The Valve Index headset has a refresh rate of 120Hz. This is one of the most impressive refresh rates on any VR headset which simply means that the screen refreshes 120 times a second.
It is made by one of the best gaming industries in the world, Valve, so you should expect that it does well in high-speed games such as racing and first-person shooting games.
The Pimax 8K uses up a lot of the energy it receives in powering the display and high resolution. This means that other features are powered less, which includes the refresh rates.
The refresh rate of the Pimax 8K is only 90Hz. This is a low refresh rate but it is not the worst as the more powerful 8KX only has a 75Hz refresh rate when put in 4K display.
So while the Pimax 8K powers its display, it gets some of the energy that is supposed to be powering other features that is why it has a lower refresh rate.
This, however, hardly affects the performance of the Pimax 8K. It can still put up images and videos with precise timing and it hardly lags at all so it is still good for video games.
Field of View
Valve Index is a truly impressive VR headset. It has a great display and resolution plus an exceptional refresh rate making the display even better and faster.
The Field of View is also important when it comes to the display because the wider the FoV is, the better the display as it gives you a wider perspective of the game that you are playing.
The Field of View of the Valve Index is at 130 degrees. It is one of the highest FoV of any VR headset on the market right now.
Yes, it is not the perfect FoV as there were still some black areas on the side of your view but nonetheless, it still gives an amazing display wide enough for most games and videos.
The Pimax 8K has its best feature on its FoV. The human limit for Field of View is at 210 degrees and the Pimax 8K has a near-perfect FoV of 200 degrees.
This makes it great for making videos and games appear wider than most screens. This in turn gives you more attention to details on the side of the object that you are focusing on.
This headset’s FoV is perfect for games that involve jump scares and games that include the importance of peripheral vision as it gives a wide view of the display.
Comfort
These VR headsets are undeniably meant for gaming. While short games will do, most of us have games that can last up to hours so it is important to consider their comfortability.
The Pimax 8K headset is a pretty large headset. There is the head-mounted display that wraps the entirety of your face from ear to ear so it does have a bit of weight in it.
Pimax made sure that even if you move and bob your head, the headset will be secured. This is where the halo strap and over-the-head strap comes into play.
The halo strap of the Pimax 8K not only holds the headset in place but also offers a lot of comforts. Pimax added extra paddings on the back to keep you comfortable when wearing it.
The Valve Index has the same orientation of head straps as the Pimax 8K. The difference is with the halo strap of the Index where there is extra support that goes down the back of the head.
When used for hours, the headsets did not feel too uncomfortable. The Pimax 8K did have some weight after about 2 hours of using but it was still bearable.
Controllers and Trackers
Now, this is also an important part of knowing about the headsets. The controllers and trackers are responsible for combining your actions on the outside world with the virtual reality display.
Both of these VR headsets require mounted trackers. So when setting them up, you will need a wide-open room to install the trackers and so they can have a clear view of the controllers.
The advantage of the Valve Index is that it is compatible with the common tracker Lighthouse. It is a mounted tracking system that was introduced by HTC and Valve helped in developing it.
The controllers are also pretty basic but are extremely useful. They have buttons and touchpads that allow you to perform different tasks and functions in the virtual reality world.
The Pimax 8K controllers also have a special five-finger tracking system which is very accurate. The head-mounted display also has a contribution to the tracking system.
It has the new Pimax Eye-tracking system which follows the gaze of the user. This makes the display even better as you do not lose track of the object you are focusing on.
Conclusion
The Pimax 8K, being one of the newest VR headsets on the market, is a very impressive headset. It produces unmatched display and resolution which brings a lot of details.
It is able to produce images that can be focused on even if the object is far away. This, however, requires a lot of power so you need a PC setup that can match the requirements of the headset.
The Valve Index is a proven headset that can put up amazing displays with precision and speed. The perfect combination of attributes that makes the headset perfect for gaming.
Both of these headsets are able to connect with SteamVR so you have a lot of options to choose from. That way, your gaming experience with the headsets is endless.
Just make sure you have the right system to run these tethered headsets. No matter which one you choose, you are guaranteed to have fun in the Pimax 8K and the Valve Index.
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