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PancakeXR announces the 'Pancake 1' VR headset. Launches at MWC 2023 for $444. Flippable lens, wireless, 5K resolution, standalone and PC compat.

Announced previously, but now they have the site set up with the final specs, and are marketing it's appearance at MWC in a few days for the Pancake1 VR headset.
https://pancakexr.com/pancakexr-is-launching-its-revolutionary-vr-device-at-mwc-2023/
MWC Barcelona is the largest and most influential connectivity event. It will kick off on February 27 and last to March 2,2023 in Barcelona, Spain. PANCAKEXR will unveil the revolutionary 6 DoF All-in-one VR Headset at MWC. We can’t wait to show our amazing thin and light devices to the global visitors and media.
a600065a3456c1e648d1af1c116faf2.jpg

pancakexr1flip.gif

Flip-up Lenses​

cushion.gif

Magnetic Cushion​

pancakexr1_004.jpg

Product-3.png


https://pancakexr.com/pancake-1/
2-1024x569.png

5K Breathtaking Visual Feast​

Brighter brights, deeper darks, sharper details and more vivid colors, achieved by 2 independent 2.1-inch Fast LCD displays, deliver an astonishing immersive IMAX cinemic experience. Low latency & fast fresh rate prevents any door effort & dizziness. Able to play 2D, 3D, 360-degree videos, and 8K movies as well as original 8K footage captured by your DJI, Insta360 or Kandao without extra software.

4560x2280​

Resolution​

1512​

PPI​

105°​

FOV​

90Hz​

Refresh Rate​

S-IMG-10.png

Mind-blowing Cooling System​

The system uses a dedicated fan that actively pump in the fresh air from the nose position, and push out the air on the top. The solid headband avoids the output air touch the forehead hair or skins. Feel so cool even after hours of game or movie.
%E5%A3%B0%E9%9F%B3.gif

Panoramic 3D Stereo Audio​

With 2 built-in speakers, the sound field is wide and the audio is clear and layered. Thanks to the of intelligent power amplifier chips, the dynamic range of music output is greatly improved, the bass is stronger, and the sound quality is directional and spacial. External headphones are also supported via bluetooth or a Type-C jack.
streaming-1-1024x512.png

PC streaming, Wired or Wireless​

Besides the all-in-one mode, if you want to play more demanding VR games, Pancake 1 can also work as a PC VR headsets connected to the SteamVR wirelessly by the fast WiFi 6 connection. Of course, it can also support a direct cable connection via a DP protocol.
Skyworth VR revealed a new brand called PANCAKEXR and the new PANCAKE 1 series which will be priced from 2999 yuan ($444.55).

Specifications​

General
Model NamePancake 1
Host Dimension153.5 x 67.8 x 32.5mm
Host Weight189
Degree of Freedom6 DoF
Battery5,500 mAh
CushionMagnetic snap-on detachable cushion
Lenses Flip-up Range0~90°
ColorWhite, Blue, Red, etc
Optical Design
DisplayDual 2.1 inch 2,280*2,280 Fast-LCD
PPI1,512
Refresh Rate90 Hz
Field of View95~105°
Diopter Adjustment0-500° each eye
Interpupillary Distance (IPD) Adjustment59-68mm
Hardware
Processor
Qualcomm XR2, 7nm
CPU Kryo 585 max 3.1GHz
GPU Adreno 650 max 587MHz
Storage(ROM)128GB or 256GB UFS
Memory(RAM)6GB or 8GB LPDDR5
Wi-Fi
2.4G:802.11 b/g/n/ax,2×2 MIMO
5G:802.11 a/n/ac/ax,2×2 MIMO
Wi-Fi5/Wi-Fi6
Bluetooth5.0
Camera4 global shutter cameras
Controller
Dual 6DoF controller
Positioning accuracy < 10mm
ultra-low latency < 20ms, 240*195°
Sensor
3-axis Gyro + 3-axis ACCL sensor
Supports 1KHZ sampling
Proximity sensor
Audio
Built-in dual stereo speaker
Built-in dual microphone
Type-C earphone
Bluetooth earphone
DP outputSupport
ChargeQualcomm Quick charge 3.0

OS & Software
SystemAndroid 10.0
UIPancake UI 5.0
PC streamingWireless and wired
Tracking & Safe ZoneInside-out 6DoF
Maximum 10X10m
See-throughSupport
AudioAAC, PCM
Video formatMP4, MOV, MKV, TS, FLV
Stream formatHTTP-FLV, HLS, RTMP, RTSP
Image formatPNG, JPG, maximum resolution 16K*16K


Now to be fair it's probably going to be rounded to $450 as $444 is a weird number, but the device is expected to be launch global reportedly and will be at MWC in a few days (as they advertise in the first image) where PancakeXR will show what the headset can do in action, and people will get to try it so we can hear impressions. We will probably get more info on the controllers and the software there.

It's marketed as a slim, light 5K all-in-one headset with panoramic audio, flip-up lens, and an non-intrusive cooling system.

The headset can be used standalone, or you can hook it up to a PC either wirelessly or through direct connection so 3 ways of use. Although I find it funny no mobile support since it's about to be revealed at MWC, but I guess that event is becoming more and more like a general tech event over the years.

It seems to have the features and specs so far (more to be announced at MWC) to be a suitable option. Especially when it runs over the Quest 2, which is only ~$50 less. It seems to run on Android 10 with Pancake's custom UI on top looking at the specs.

If they have some good features when they show off the controllers, and do a good job showing off software at MWC, this will be something people may attention to, especially given the form factor.

What we do know about the controllers so far is that they have 6DOF and are six-axis. That's already looking promising but we'll have to see what other features they and the headset has at MWC on the 27th.

We are not even 2 full months into 2023 and we are already seeing two great VR headsets two weeks apart from each other launching in the same month. This is going to be the most important year for VR yet, and there's even more to come. This is going to be a packed year that's for sure.

Id say the only real weakness to note here is Fast LCD and no OLED. Although that may be why the price is as low as it is. Of course, we will see if there are more weak points or not when people get to try it at MWC in a few days.
 
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Crayon

Member
I love it!!

If psvr2 doesn't get cracked and we don't see deckard in a year from now I'm going to be taking a good look at this.
 
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Reallink

Member
Nah, I wouldn't even use that headstrap for 5 minutes before noping the fuck out. The amount of vice grip pressure required to keep that thing stable would be like putting your head in a bear trap.

You should have just bought an HP G2 over 2 years ago if you wanted a 2.2K LCD PCVR headset. It's strap and audio are vastly superior to this, and the tracking/controllers probably are as well, which is really saying something considering its WMR.
 
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Nah, I wouldn't even use that headstrap for 5 minutes before noping the fuck out. The amount of vice grip pressure required to keep that thing stable would be like putting your head in a bear trap.

The actual company addresses that directly and indicates the headset is made so that can't happen.

Ultimate Comfortability

Zero pressure on the nose & cheek, relaxed forehead, counterweight shared evenly around headband, protect your pretty face from red markings. No headache, just fun. Feel enjoyable & comfortable all the way.
 
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I like this. I just ordered my PSVR2 today but I’ll be keeping my eye on this for my PC. If it turns out to be good and PSVR2 doesn’t get cracked by hackers then I may end up buying this too in the future.
 
Not bad but 90 degrees FOV, LCD screens and 90hz max refresh? Those are rookie numbers. On the flip side, it's good that more headsets are launching, it means more people will make more vr games.
 

nemiroff

Gold Member
Nah, I wouldn't even use that headstrap for 5 minutes before noping the fuck out. The amount of vice grip pressure required to keep that thing stable would be like putting your head in a bear trap.

You should have just bought an HP G2 over 2 years ago if you wanted a 2.2K LCD PCVR headset. It's strap and audio are vastly superior to this, and the tracking/controllers probably are as well, which is really saying something considering its WMR.

I have a G2, and I don't find the pancake headset appealing. But this is a standalone headset, so it's not really comparable to the G2, the user stories are different, and it seems lightweight AF.

..What does "host weight" mean btw
 

Minsc

Gold Member
Does it seem like this design for the rigid attachment around the lens would be terrible at conforming to your face and blocking out all the light? It certainly has some interesting aspects, but maybe someone more familiar would be able to tell if it looks like that would have a lot of light leakage, only used the very pliable PSVR2 one and having it block 100% of the light in a well lit room was sweet, but I guess ultimately at that price and those features even if it has some light coming in maybe it's not terrible.
 
It did. It was called Half Life Alyx. But it just wasn’t enough. I say that as someone that would easily put Slyx in my top 10 of all time games.
I don’t see it happening, because if Alyx couldn’t shake up the medium, I doubt something else can. Maybe if someone (Nintendo) built their next gaming platform 100% with VR in mind.

I think your disconnected from the people who need to buy the headsets.

Alyx outside being available on ever VR headset which it's not and chained to an inaccessible Index, when HL traditionally sold well through accessibility, was never going to shake up the medium. That's unrealistic.

Even if it was on all headsets like This, Quest 2, Pico, PSVR2 etc, it still wouldn't be a PubG moment but at least it could have moved more headsets doing so but Valve isn't interesting in that.

But a PubG VR could attract the casual and softer gamers who buy Fortnite, COD, and Beat Saber all the time, especially when it's on accessible hardware that's not hard to use, set-up, and is at an affordable price.

I'm sure Zucker has been looking into what will be the next Beat Saber for VR, or if he should make a Beat Saber 2.

Problem is, Beat Sabers ~5 million sales helped Quest 2 and even helped other headsets to an extent but that's still not enough and still too low.

A headset needs an exclusive that has to do better than Beat Saber to make a VR headset(s) more viable.
 
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Paperboy

Member
I don’t see it happening, because if Alyx couldn’t shake up the medium, I doubt something else can. Maybe if someone (Nintendo) built their next gaming platform 100% with VR in mind.
The thing is: you have to experience VR to understand the praise. I can't see any VR game being so incredible people would go out and buy a $400+ peripheral after watching a video of said game. If you don't already have a competent gaming PC that would be another $1500 - at least.
 

FoxMcChief

Gold Member
The thing is: you have to experience VR to understand the praise. I can't see any VR game being so incredible people would go out and buy a $400+ peripheral after watching a video of said game. If you don't already have a competent gaming PC that would be another $1500 - at least.
Alyx is THAT good though. But sadly, it’s only one game surrounded by meh.
 
I thinks harder than asking Sony to put game pass on the PS5.

Come now, surely it's not to hard to put out an appealing product (on a sub $700 headset) that can bring in more than this,

beat_saber.gif


This is basically some glow sticks hitting on some random shapes in an audio tunnel. This was entry VR the bare minimum. Now we have better controllers, better tech, and better software tools.
 

FoxMcChief

Gold Member
Come now, surely it's not to hard to put out an appealing product (on a sub $700 headset) that can bring in more than this,

beat_saber.gif


This is basically some glow sticks hitting on some random shapes in an audio tunnel. This was entry VR the bare minimum. Now we have better controllers, better tech, and better software tools.

fetchimage
 

Buggy Loop

Member
Chinese headsets are getting insane honestly. This and the Pico 4, which is cheaper than a Quest 2, is setting the bare minimum as requiring pancake lenses from now on.

Small form factor headsets.. yesss please
 
The thing is: you have to experience VR to understand the praise. I can't see any VR game being so incredible people would go out and buy a $400+ peripheral after watching a video of said game.

The Quest 2 is $400 now and some people apparently are still buying it to play Beat Saber or Among US VR, which recently solve over 1 million which is rare for a VR game.
 

Catphish

Member
I am so ready for a wireless PC VR headset that performs as well as tethered. I'm not buying another headset until that happens.

I'll be keeping an eye on this.
 
I don’t see it happening, because if Alyx couldn’t shake up the medium, I doubt something else can. Maybe if someone (Nintendo) built their next gaming platform 100% with VR in mind.
Sony built the PS5 with VR in mind. If Alyx didn't create the PubG buzz, then Alyx wasn't PubG was it?

You're saying HALF LIFE: Alyx couldn't shake up the medium so nothing could? how about, oh i don't know HALF LIFE 3? If you're going to troll at least try and be a bit clever.
 

Paperboy

Member
The Quest 2 is $400 now and some people apparently are still buying it to play Beat Saber or Among US VR, which recently solve over 1 million which is rare for a VR game.
Yeah, and that's great! But they probably tried it out for themselves before they bought it or at least hade a friend raving about it. They are quite simple games but with an incredible addictive formula. The appeal with Alyx is in it's excellent immersion and you can't really see that if you haven't played it yourself. Hopefully, PSVR2 will lure some new members into the VR community. Maybe not with the price like the Quest 2, but with the ease of use and familiarity - people want to play games in VR they have played previously in flat mode, just like how people went out and bought a VR headset to be transferred to the spaceship in Among Us.
 
people want to play games in VR they have played previously in flat mode

No they generally don't some due, and it is a good way to compliment original releases getting people to buy headsets, but it's not going to actually sell headsets on its own.

People want the novelty, and/or unique experience in VR to justify the headset and whether they will keep using it after a few weeks. An industry with a bunch of hybrid games were you play the flat game in a VR headset doesn't give that justification, gives devs less reason to push for VR unique experiences with bigger investment, and removes the uniqueness and novelty from the equation outside in some cases, possibly the controls.

We've seen that strategy fail with 3D, and to keep the Move and Kinect alive. When a new platform launches with something that attracts consumers, you aren't going to attract them back by abandoning it.
 

RoadHazard

Gold Member
Ok, but what is the tracking system? If there's no full 6DOF inside-out tracking it might as well not exist (for gaming at least).
 

Paperboy

Member
People want the novelty, and/or unique experience in VR to justify the headset and whether they will keep using it after a few weeks. An industry with a bunch of hybrid games were you play the flat game in a VR headset doesn't give that justification, gives devs less reason to push for VR unique experiences with bigger investment, and removes the uniqueness and novelty from the equation outside in some cases, possibly the controls.
I didn't literally mean the same game, I was thinking about games like Half-life Alyx and Horizon: Call of the Mountain. People should be more likely fork out the money for a VR headset if they have some familiar names and worlds attached to it. Of course, games need to be creative with the VR medium to conceive memorable experiences, but it's not ideal if it's too novel. The Wii was fun and novel when it came out, but it didn't change the way how most games work. It's quite taxing to be truly involved in the game and move about all the time, many people want to play games to wind down.
 
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VR gaming still strikes me as a niche market and for a long time to come still, that VR headset sales chart is supporting as much...for now. Most casual people have already experienced VR through a friend or a phone add-on device such as Switch VR or Samsung Gear or a friend's VR headset or at the arcades/theme parks etc. It feels like the gimmick is mostly short lived and when looking at a purchase of $500-$750 minimum (when you buy games for that hardware too) and very limited games/experiences it's a pretty hard no for the masses.

What may drive VR gaming is the non-gaming applications growing an install base large enough to foster VR games/devs/studios e.g. movies, medical, educational, metaverse, chat, porn etc. In terms of games there is a simplicity to say motion controls such as Wii/U or Kinect or PS Eye etc. Things like the Wii spread from gamers to non-gamers, kids to friends and families to grandma etc. VR doesn't have that ease of use when you're wearing a headset, holding 2 controllers and physically distorted in a VR environment. It's all a 1 or 2 trick pony so far and wears off quick, especially against the price points being asked. That's without even going into comfort, adjustments, config, nausea etc.

Then again Apple might just have that seamless hardware/features/experience and a killer title or two in the bag...It will be a very telling time in the VR marketplace. If Meta and Apple both fail to really make strides it's a pretty stark picture being painted, irrespective of how many headset manufacturers or features get into the game.
 
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SF Kosmo

Al Jazeera Special Reporter
None of these third party VR headsets at that price point ever materialize as something worthwhile. Looks cool but I'll believe it when I see it.
 

Buggy Loop

Member
None of these third party VR headsets at that price point ever materialize as something worthwhile. Looks cool but I'll believe it when I see it.

I think Pico 4 managed to find an adoption within the community for example. The quality of the image is apparently real good.

Chinese headsets, like I said, will set the minimum feature set from all headsets onwards. They lack the software side and their OS are janky for now, but it pressures the likes of Quest/HTC/Valve to be competitive on hardware side.
 
PUBG didn't move hardware, it landed on well established platforms, and VR will likely never be a fully mainstream platform.

VR needs it's Wii Sports moment...if that's even possible.
PUBG is also pretty notorious for poor performance and lack of quality optimisation, not exactly VR poster child material.
 

coffinbirth

Member
PUBG is also pretty notorious for poor performance and lack of quality optimisation, not exactly VR poster child material.
Yeah, not really a solid example, haha. Though, I think he meant in terms of kicking off an entire genre and reshaping a scene, not so much PUBG, the game in and of itself...but hard to say with that guy.
 
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