Somnium, a dynamic startup from the Czech Republic, initially made its mark with the innovative social VR platform, Somnium Space. However, everything took an exciting turn in late 2021 when the company announced the Somnium VR1 headset. Collaborating with VRgineers—renowned for their cutting-edge XTAL headsets aimed at enterprise-level users—Somnium introduced a device loaded with impressive specifications for its time. Initially conceptualized as a hybrid headset capable of standalone operation thanks to an onboard Snapdragon XR2 chipset, the vision shifted in 2022. The team decided to channel their efforts into creating a headset exclusively designed for PC VR instead.
The VR1 is equipped with the same advanced 2880×2880 QD-LCD panels with Mini-LED technology that you’ll find in the Pimax Crystal. These displays boast a notable 20000:1 contrast ratio facilitated by local dimming, a full NTSC color gamut, and multiple refresh rates including 72Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz. There’s even an “experimental” mode that hits 144Hz. Whether you’re comparing it to the Meta Quest 3 or the Apple Vision Pro, the 210 nits brightness output to your eyes is considerably higher—a testament to its impressive visual clarity.
Paired with these displays are the large dual-element aspheric lenses that Somnium boasts will deliver an expansive viewing experience, claiming a field of view around 130° horizontally and 105° vertically. This is wider than any current VR headset on the market. Previously, the Pimax “5K” and “8K” models offered even wider fields, but they are no longer available and were plagued by noticeable peripheral distortion.
Focusing on an expanded field of view has resulted in the Somnium VR1 being bulkier, especially when slim, pancake-lens headsets are becoming the trend. However, for those seeking immersive, wide-angle VR experiences, this trade-off might just be worth it.
