Bigscreen Beyond enters the scene as a uniquely compact and lightweight SteamVR headset, meticulously crafted to offer an unprecedented level of comfort for those lengthy VR adventures on your PC.
With a price tag of $1,000 or a more budget-friendly $32 a month, the Beyond keeps things minimalist by excluding positional tracking and controllers from the package. To get up and running, you’ll need the SteamVR Tracking system, which means at least one base station—though two is preferable—and your own set of input devices, like the Valve Index controllers.
When you first unbox the headset, you’ll find it comes with a straightforward cloth strap and lacks integrated audio. There isn’t even a headphone jack; instead, it provides a USB-C port for connecting audio devices. If you’re looking to enhance both sound and comfort, Bigscreen offers an optional Audio Strap accessory at $130.
Our exploration of the Beyond highlighted its remarkable portability and comfort—attributes that make extended VR sessions a pleasant reality rather than a facial endurance test. Despite its achievements in compactness, the headset does present some challenges with its lenses, which may produce distracting reflections and blur. These issues arise in the pursuit of minimizing its physical footprint. Nevertheless, Beyond embarks on a path toward a new generation of VR headsets oriented around comfort, and it’s no secret that others are keen to follow suit.
