Today, Bigscreen unveiled its cutting-edge Beyond PC VR headset, promising significant enhancements in field-of-view (FOV) and visual clarity, thanks to innovative pancake lenses. This sleek, lightweight headset is also designed to appeal to both home and professional users, featuring an adjustable interpupillary distance (IPD) and a versatile Lightseal facial interface.
Bigscreen is offering two models of its latest headset: Beyond 2 and Beyond 2e. Diverging from Apple’s approach with its iPhone 16e, the ‘e’ in Beyond 2e highlights the inclusion of eye-tracking technology.
The Beyond 2e has all the features of the Beyond 2 but adds a compact eye-tracking suite. This setup uses AI-driven computer vision to provide low-latency, privacy-centric tracking, seamlessly integrated with SteamVR, OpenXR, and applications like VRChat, with a beta program set for release in the summer of 2025.
Both headsets are priced at $1,019 for the Beyond 2 and $1,219 for the Beyond 2e. However, Bigscreen is offering a discount for previous owners of the original Beyond, bringing the prices down to $849 and $1,049 respectively.
The initial units are scheduled for release in April, with an optional halo-style strap mount expected in the third quarter of 2025. People can choose from three different colors: Carbon Black, Crystal Clear, and Nuclear Orange.
Like its predecessor, the Beyond 1, this new slim and lightweight PC VR headset employs the SteamVR tracking system. This includes compatibility with SteamVR 1.0 and 2.0 base stations and various SteamVR accessories, like body trackers and Valve’s Index controllers (‘Knuckles’).
Naturally, a VR-compatible PC is necessary for using the Bigscreen Beyond 2, alongside the needed base stations. Verify your PC compatibility by clicking here.
While the display resolution remains the same as the original Beyond (2023) at dual 1-inch 2,560 × 2,560 micro-OLED screens, the standout improvement in the Beyond 2 is undoubtedly the addition of new pancake lenses. These lenses reportedly enhance the FOV from the original’s 102-degree diagonal to a 116-degree diagonal.
Not only is it more optically advanced, but the headset is also significantly lighter—now weighing in at just 107 grams. This is quite a feat when compared to standalone headsets like the Meta Quest 3 (515g) or the Apple Vision Pro (650g), and even other similar lightweight PC VR headsets, such as the upcoming MaganeX superlight 8K (179g).
Despite no changes in resolution, Bigscreen has enhanced the headset’s brightness and significantly reduced glare. The new lens system is a step up from the Beyond 1, boasting improved edge-to-edge clarity and a notably larger sweet spot.
For the first time, Beyond 2 introduces an adjustable IPD mechanism, which requires a special tool that comes with the headset. Visible indicators inside the headset allow users to adjust each lens independently in millimeters for optimal clarity.
According to the company, this new IPD adjustment system is a substantial upgrade over the original Beyond 1, which required selecting from 18 different sizes and necessitated scanning faces with an iPhone for a custom fit.
In terms of accessories, although Beyond 2 supports the same custom-fit cushions as Beyond 1, it ships with a universal-fit Lightseal interface. This addition is likely to appeal to home users seeking better sharability, as well as to enterprise clients.
Moreover, many of the original Beyond’s accessories, like the five-meter fiber optic cable, link box, Audio Strap, and soft strap, remain compatible with Beyond 2. Notably, prescription lens inserts produced before 2025 will fit the Beyond 2 but won’t be compatible with the Beyond 2e. Inserts made in 2025 onwards will fit all versions—Beyond 1, 2, and 2e.
Alongside the included soft strap, Bigscreen will introduce a halo-style mount later in 2025, inspired by night vision goggles, the company notes.
This halo mount allows for refined adjustments to tilt and eye relief and can be used with various strap setups, including the provided soft strap, Bigscreen’s Audio Strap, or third-party solutions. Pricing details are yet to be revealed, although more information is anticipated closer to its Q3 2025 release.
Bigscreen Beyond 2 is available for order on their website and will ship from their Los Angeles factory to customers in the US, Canada, Japan, the UK, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. Plans for expansion into countries like South Korea, Mexico, Israel, and the UAE are on the horizon for later this year.
Specifications
- Field of View: 116° diagonal
- Weight: 107 grams
- IPD: Adjustable, 48mm to 75mm (55mm to 70mm physically)
- Resolution: 2,560 × 2,560 per eye
- Refresh Rate: 90Hz, 75Hz
- 6DOF Tracking: SteamVR tracking
- Tracking Requirements: SteamVR 1.0 and 2.0 Base Stations (not included)
- Eye Tracking: Yes, on Beyond 2e
- Full-body Tracking: Compatible with SteamVR trackers like HTC Vive Trackers, Tundra Trackers (not included)
- Controllers: Compatible with SteamVR controllers such as Valve Index Controllers (not included)
PC Requirements
- Audio Input: Dual microphone array
- Audio Output: Built-in on-ear speakers with the Audio Strap (not included)
- Accessory Ports: 1 × USB-C
- Cable: 5-meter fiber optic cable
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 2070 or AMD RX 5700 XT or newer (DisplayPort 1.4 and DSC required)
- CPU: Quad-core Intel or AMD
- Ports: 1 × DisplayPort 1.4, 2 × USB 3.0 ports
- OS: Windows 10 or Windows 11
