Pico has officially launched the Pico 4 Ultra in China, presenting it as a refreshed version of the Pico 4. It features significant upgrades, including two 2160 × 2160 Fast LCD displays with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 105° field of view. The headset is equipped with two 32MP RGB passthrough cameras, offering a 20.6 pixels per degree (PPD) resolution in passthrough mode, and includes a depth sensor. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, the device boasts 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, ensuring robust performance for immersive experiences.
The Pico 4 Ultra supports Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and offers USB-C and Bluetooth options. The ringless controllers, designed for improved ergonomics, feature advanced haptics powered by the Centaur multi-modal algorithm and HyperSense broadband linear motors. Weighing 580g, the headset is balanced with 304g at the front and 276g at the back. The battery, located in the rear padding, has a capacity of 21.9Wh and supports fast charging at 45W, allowing it to charge from 0% to 100% in less than an hour.
The new Pico OS enhances productivity with the ability to position 2D windows in a 360° environment and supports spatial video recording at 2048 × 1536 resolution, 60 FPS, and 50 Mbps. The software also enables multitasking by allowing the mirroring of multiple devices and resizing of virtual windows to suit user preferences. The Pico 4 Ultra is priced at ¥4300 (approximately $600) for the consumer version, with preorders starting on August 20, 2024, and shipping beginning on September 2, 2024. The enterprise version, priced at ¥7499 (around $1,050), will be available from September 3, 2024.
The Pico 4 Ultra introduces several enhancements over its predecessor. The screen brightness has been increased by 25%, providing, and the passthrough feature now offers 8MP color passthrough with MR image frame alignment. The device also includes improved hand tracking using internally developed algorithms and real-time environment tracking capabilities, which allow for environment meshing.
In addition to its improved hardware, the Pico 4 Ultra is compatible with mixed reality versions of popular games like Puzzling Places, Demeo, and others, and it will also support new content such as Three Body and Outer-Space Interactive MR Exhibition.
Pico has also launched a business-oriented variant called the Pico 4 Ultra Enterprise, designed with materials that facilitate cleaning and support enterprise features. This version shares many similarities with the consumer model but is specifically tailored for business use, with a slightly different all-white design. The company has introduced the Pico Motion Tracker, a pair of tracking bracelets that enable full-body VR tracking. These small devices weigh only 27g and can be worn on the ankles to provide 6DoF tracking with a frequency of up to 200Hz. The trackers are priced at ¥399 (around $56) for a pair and are compatible with over 25 applications available in the Pico Store.
It appears that the Pico 4 Ultra positions itself as a strong competitor to the Meta Quest 3. While both devices share the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, the Pico 4 Ultra offers more RAM with 12GB compared to the Quest 3’s 8GB. The display technology in the Pico 4 Ultra uses pixel binning to achieve better quality passthrough, and its 45W charging speed significantly outpaces the 20W charging supported by both the Pico 4 and Quest 3. Although Pico currently focuses on the Chinese market, with the device launching there first, there are indications that it may expand to other regions in the near future. But, China remains a strong, and large market for MR devices, probably the most important market.
| Feature | Pico 4 Ultra | Pico 4 Ultra Enterprise |
| Chipset | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 (4nm) | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 (4nm) |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Display Resolution | 2160 × 2160 per eye | 2160 × 2160 per eye |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 90Hz |
| Field of View (FOV) | 105° × 105° | 105° × 105° |
| Passthrough Camera | Binocular (32MP total) | Binocular (32MP total) |
| Passthrough Resolution | 8MP (with pixel binning) | 8MP (with pixel binning) |
| Depth Sensing | Yes | Yes |
| Hand Tracking | Improved (internally developed algorithm) | Improved (internally developed algorithm) |
| Controllers | Ringless, lighter, ergonomic design | Ringless, lighter, ergonomic design |
| Battery Location | Rear Padding | Rear Padding |
| Battery Capacity | 21.9Wh | 21.9Wh |
| Charging Speed | 45W | 45W |
| Wi-Fi Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Storage Options | 256GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 580g (Front: 304g, Back: 276g) | 580g (Front: 304g, Back: 276g) |
| Software (OS) | Pico OS (with new features) | Pico OS (with enterprise features) |
| Spatial Video Capture | Yes (2048 × 1536, 60 FPS, 50 Mbps) | Yes (2048 × 1536, 60 FPS, 50 Mbps) |
| Device Mirroring | Yes (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android) | Yes (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android) |
| VR Content | Mixed reality versions, new content | Mixed reality versions, new content |
| Enterprise Features | No | Yes (dedicated runtime, cleaning materials) |
| Design | Semi-Rigid Plastic Strap | Semi-Rigid Plastic Strap (all-white design) |
| Price | ¥4300 (~$600) | ¥7499 (~$1,050) |
