Somnium Space, based in Prague, Czechia, has kicked off the launch of its PC VR headset, Somnium VR1, in the United States. They’ve also announced a simplification in their product lineup, narrowing it down to three consumer-friendly versions. However, it’s important to note that prices for their top-tier models will soon see an increase.
The company is discontinuing several previous configurations of the Somnium VR1, namely the Striker Edition, Classic Edition, Specter Edition, and Translucent Edition. Previously, the Classic Edition served as the entry-level option at a price of €1,900, roughly $1,980 USD, and notably, it didn’t feature eye-tracking. Now, the most affordable model is the Visionary Edition, which includes eye-tracking and is priced at €2,499, or approximately $2,600 USD. It’s worth mentioning that these figures are pre-tax.
“For those who’ve already placed orders for the discontinued editions, there’s no need to worry,” reassures the company in their latest announcement. “Your purchases will be honored, and you’ll receive your headsets as expected. In fact, owning these versions will make your headset more exclusive and unique.”
The rationale behind discontinuing these versions is straightforward. By concentrating resources on the Visionary, Ultimate, and Titan Editions, Somnium Space aims to enhance production speed and efficiency, all while maintaining the high standards of quality that customers have come to expect.
Additionally, Somnium Space plans to hike the prices of its Visionary, Ultimate, and Titan Editions. While they haven’t disclosed the new pricing yet, they’ve confirmed that current prices will remain in effect until January 16, 2025. After this date, the new pricing will take effect.
Currently, the pricing and features are as follows, excluding local tax:
- Visionary Edition: VR and eye-tracking at €2,499 (~$2,600 USD)
- Titan Edition: VR with eye and hand-tracking at €2,899 (~$3,020 USD)
- Ultimate Edition: VR with eye-tracking, hand-tracking, and MR passthrough at €3,499 (~$3,659 USD)
- Military Edition: Price currently unspecified
Despite efforts to keep the Somnium VR1 as affordable as possible, Somnium Space stresses that they will not compromise on quality. The production of these headsets has proven to be more intricate than initially anticipated, hence the forthcoming price rises.
Orders placed today are predicted to ship between February and March 2025, encompassing areas throughout most of Europe, the UK, and the US.
Looking forward into 2025, Somnium Space intends to sell spare parts for the VR1, such as optical modules, main boards, electronics, cables, screens, and more.
For those eager to dive deeper, here are the Somnium VR1 specs:
- Display: QLED Mini-Led Fast LCD with a resolution of 2,880 × 2,880 per eye
- Field of view: 130° horizontally and 105° vertically, though actual FOV might vary slightly with face and eye shape
- Refresh rate: 72 Hz, 90 Hz, and upgradeable to 120 and 144 Hz (experimental)
- Local dimming zones: 576 per eye
- Eye tracking: 120 Hz, supported by an open-sourced algorithm
- Connectivity: USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio jack
- IPD Range: 57 to 76 mm
For a comprehensive review of the Somnium VR1, you might want to check out our detailed hands-on impressions from July 2024.
