Somnium Space, the innovative VR platform based in the Czech Republic, has just made a major move in the virtual reality arena by upping the prices on their high-end PC VR headset, the Somnium VR1. The company has made it clear this decision was driven by their goal to preserve top-notch quality across the board.
Last month, the company unveiled plans to streamline the available configurations of the Somnium VR1, leaving only three options on the table. Simultaneously, they hinted at an impending price hike for these remaining options, set to take effect after January 16, 2025, but they didn’t reveal just how steep these hikes would be until now.
With the new pricing officially released, here’s a breakdown of the increase, excluding local taxes. The prices have jumped by €500 to €700 compared to earlier pricing:
- Visionary Edition: Features VR and eye-tracking. Previously, it was priced at €2,499 (~$2,600). The new price is €2,999 (~$3,090).
- Titan Edition: Offers VR, eye-tracking, and hand-tracking. It saw an increase from €2,899 (~$3,020) to €3,399 (~$3,500).
- Ultimate Edition: This edition includes VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking, and MR passthrough, rising from €3,499 (~$3,659) to €4,299 (~$4,425).
The company explained via a blog post that these changes stem from higher production costs. They emphasized that, "These changes reflect the complex production processes and our unwavering commitment to delivering the best PCVR experience possible. High-quality materials, intricate designs, and rigorous quality control result in additional production costs, including the inevitable scrap of some expensive components to meet our standards. Our dedication to uncompromising quality ensures that each VR1 headset is a masterpiece, designed to exceed your expectations."
In the past, Somnium Space offered seven different consumer variants, but they have since cut down to focus production and possibly manage costs, discontinuing the Classic Edition, Striker Edition, Specter Edition, and Translucent Edition. Their entry-level Classic Edition, which was a simpler headset without eye-tracking, was once priced at €1,900 (~$1,980), also excluding local taxes.
On top of the pricing news, Somnium Space shared updates on delivery timelines for the Somnium VR1 units. Customers can now expect their orders to ship out between March and April 2025. The company is actively working to narrow down the wait time to just two weeks from order to shipment by the middle of 2025, covering most of Europe, along with the UK and the US as supported regions.
For those eager to dive deeper into the Somnium VR1, you might want to catch our hands-on review from the Somnium Connect event last July.
As for the specs, here’s what the Somnium VR1 boasts:
- Display: QLED Mini-Led Fast LCD with a resolution of 2,880 × 2,880 per eye.
- Field of View: A sweeping 130° horizontal and 105° vertical, capable of rendering up to 140° horizontally depending on individual face and eye shape.
- Refresh Rate: Options include 72 Hz, 90 Hz, with potential upgrades to 120 and 144 Hz (note: experimental).
- Local Dimming Zones: Boasting 576 per eye.
- Eye Tracking: Running at 120 Hz, with an open-sourced algorithm tailored for versatile use cases.
- Connectivity: Offering USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
- IPD Range: Adjustable from 57 to 76 mm.
