Somnium Starts US Shipping of VR1 PC VR Headset, Plans Price Increase

Somnium Space, the innovative social platform creator from Prague, Czechia, has started to roll out its PC VR headset, known as the Somnium VR1, in the United States. Along with this launch, the company has decided to simplify their offerings by reducing the number of available configurations to just three different consumer-focused versions. They’ve also announced upcoming price increases for their high-end units.

Previously, Somnium Space offered several variations, including the Striker Edition, Classic Edition, Specter Edition, and Translucent Edition. However, these will no longer be available. For those looking for an entry-level option, the Classic Edition, priced at €1,900 (approximately $1,980 USD), used to be the most accessible choice but didn’t include eye-tracking. Now, the Visionary Edition is the base model, with eye-tracking included, and starts at €2,499 (about $2,600 USD). Remember, these prices are before taxes.

Don’t worry if you purchased one of the discontinued editions; Somnium Space assures that your orders are safe and will be delivered as promised. In fact, owning one of these versions will make your headset even more exclusive and unique. The company explained their decision to phase out these editions, saying it would allow them to focus more efficiently on producing the Visionary, Ultimate, and Titan Editions, while maintaining the high standards of quality that customers expect.

Pricing for the Visionary, Ultimate, and Titan Editions is set to rise, though the specifics haven’t been disclosed yet. Current prices will remain until January 16th, 2025, after which the new pricing will take effect.

Here’s an overview of the available models and the pricing as it stands now (excluding tax):

• Visionary Edition (VR, eye-tracking): €2,499 (~$2,600 USD)
• Titan Edition (VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking): €2,899 (~$3,020 USD)
• Ultimate Edition (VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking, MR passthrough): €3,499 (~$3,659 USD)
• Military Edition (VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking, MR passthrough): ???

While Somnium Space aims to keep the VR1 as accessible as possible, they are committed to not compromising on quality. The production process has proven more complex than initially expected, prompting the company to adjust pricing for these editions.

For anyone ordering now, the estimated delivery window is between February and March 2025, with shipments heading to most of Europe, the UK, and the US. Looking ahead into 2025, Somnium Space plans to offer spare parts for the VR1, including essential components like optical modules, main boards, electronics, cables, screens, and more.

Somnium VR1 Specifications:

• Display: QLED Mini-Led Fast LCD – 2,880 × 2,880 per-eye
• Field of View: 130° horizontal, 105° vertical, with the ability to render up to 140° horizontally, though actual FOV may vary slightly based on face and eye shape.
• Refresh Rate: 72 Hz, 90 Hz, upgradeable to 120 and 144 Hz (experimental)
• Local Dimming Zones: 576 per eye
• Eye Tracking: 120 Hz, comes with an open-sourced algorithm for customization
• Connectivity: USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm audio jack
• IPD Range: 57 to 76 mm

Curious for more details on the Somnium VR1? Check out our July 2024 hands-on review for our comprehensive impressions.