Pimax · Reviewed by VR Flight Sim Guy · Published 2026-06-04
Based on a review by VR Flight Sim Guy (accessed 2026-06-04).
Based on this review alone: skip it — smallest measured field of view (80° default, max 92° horizontal), unless excellent tobii eye tracking (first-class, works every time) is your only priority.
The reviewer wholeheartedly recommends the Bigscreen Beyond version 2E over the Pimax Dream Air SE. He concludes that while the Dream Air SE has advantages on paper like a lower price and included accessories, it suffers from too many "teething problems" and was rushed to market, making it an unreliable purchase.
This review compares the Pimax Dream Air SE and Bigscreen Beyond 2E virtual reality headsets, evaluating their display quality, field of view, eye tracking, general performance, build quality, comfort, audio, and software. The reviewer also discusses the respective price points and included accessories for each device.
This VR headset is not recommended in its current state due to numerous issues and teething problems that cause frustration. While it offers excellent Tobii eye tracking and solid inside-out tracking without requiring base stations, its field of view is significantly smaller than competitors. Performance can be less smooth than alternatives, and the build quality feels less premium, notably with a poorly designed cable management system that places a hot splitter box at the back of the neck. Many users, including the reviewer, experience eye strain after about an hour. If you need a VR headset with seamless eye tracking and integrated controllers without the extra cost of base stations, this might appeal, but be aware of its current stability and comfort issues. If you prioritize comfort, a wider field of view, superior performance, and premium build quality, look elsewhere.
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comparisonneutralt=01:00–01:45
Both headsets feature 2560 per eye micro-OLED displays. The reviewer states the lenses are 'pretty much exactly the same,' noting no differences in glare, sweet spot, colors, or persistency.
reviewer_claimpositivet=01:45–02:15
The Bigscreen Beyond utility allows users to overdrive the brightness, trading persistency and motion blur for a much brighter image, a feature not available on the Pimax Dream Air SE.
measurement_testpositivet=03:40–04:10
The Bigscreen Beyond 2E offers a significantly better field of view, measuring an easy 108° horizontal and 103° vertical with a Studioform interface, without being pressed against the skull.
measurement_testnegativet=02:50–03:30
The Pimax Dream Air SE has a very small field of view. The reviewer measured only 80° horizontal with the default face mask, calling it the smallest he's ever measured. With adjustments, it reached 87-88° horizontal.
reviewer_claimnegativet=04:15–04:50
The reviewer experiences eye strain after about an hour of using the Dream Air SE, which he speculates could be due to uncalibrated units or the lower refresh rate (72Hz vs. 75Hz native on Bigscreen Beyond).
comparisonpositivet=04:55–05:20
The Bigscreen Beyond Version 2 performs better overall, providing more frame rate and a smoother experience compared to the Dream Air SE, even when both are upscaled to 90Hz.
comparisonpositivet=05:40–06:15
The Tobii eye tracking on the Pimax Dream Air SE is described as 'absolutely first class,' working seamlessly without needing recalibration for IPD changes or masks. The Bigscreen Beyond 2E's eye tracking is more finicky and doesn't work for everyone.
comparisonpositivet=06:25–06:50
The Pimax Dream Air SE includes excellent inside-out (SLAM) tracking and controllers, eliminating the extra cost and setup of base stations required by the Bigscreen Beyond 2E.
specification_claimneutralt=06:55–07:35
The SLAM Dream Air SE costs approximately £830, while the Beyond 2E is £1249 without base stations. The Dream Air SE also comes with controllers, which are an additional cost for the Beyond 2E.
comparisonpositivet=07:45–08:40
The Bigscreen Beyond 2E feels like a 'premium and solid piece of VR hardware' with a nice finish and an RGB light. The Dream Air SE, while better, is not quite up to the Beyond 2E's standard, with issues like a thin V-shaped sticker for a logo that will likely peel off.
comparisonpositivet=08:45–09:40
The Bigscreen Beyond 2E has a 'huge win' for cable management, featuring a light, long fiber optic cable that never gets in the way. The Dream Air SE's cable is thick, not pliable, and has a poorly placed, hot splitter box at the back of the neck.
comparisonpositivet=09:45–10:55
The Bigscreen Beyond 2E is 'amazingly comfortable,' feeling lighter and well-balanced, allowing for all-day use. In contrast, the Dream Air SE causes eye strain after an hour and requires removal after a couple of hours due to discomfort and pressure marks.
comparisonpositivet=11:00–11:35
The Pimax Dream Air SE wins in audio, as it comes with piped audio through the strap by default, which sounds 'pretty good.' The Bigscreen Beyond 2E has no audio solution by itself, requiring an additional £150 deluxe audio strap.
comparisonpositivet=11:40–12:20
The Dream Air SE is considered to have superior software (Pimax Play with Pimax XR and OpenXR/SteamVR support), offering more options and better eye tracking calibration compared to the simpler Bigscreen Beyond utility.
reviewer_claimnegativet=13:45–15:20
The reviewer warns against buying the Dream Air SE due to 'too many issues, too many teething problems' that will cause headaches, citing problems like breaking stems and cables, lack of eye calibration, incorrect IPD measurements, a 'hilariously tiny' field of view, and an uncomfortable face mask.
The reviewer states that both the Pimax Dream Air SE and Bigscreen Beyond 2E feature 2560 per eye micro-OLED displays and their lenses are "pretty much exactly the same," noting no differences in glare, sweet spot, colors, or persistency. The Dream Air SE does not offer any visual improvement over the Bigscreen Beyond 2E.
The Bigscreen Beyond 2E offers an "easy 108° horizontal" and 103° vertical field of view with the Studioform interface. In contrast, the Pimax Dream Air SE, even with adjustments and accessories, only reaches 80-92° horizontal, which the reviewer calls the "smallest field of view I've ever measured."
The Pimax Dream Air SE features "first class" Tobii eye tracking that works seamlessly and doesn't require constant adjustment. While the Bigscreen Beyond 2E's eye tracking also works well for the reviewer, it is described as more "finicky" and less consistent for other users. However, the Bigscreen Beyond 2E delivers better overall performance and smoother frame rates.
The reviewer finds the Bigscreen Beyond 2E "amazingly comfortable," lighter, and well-balanced, making it suitable for "all day long" use. Conversely, he experiences eye strain with the Pimax Dream Air SE after about an hour and would need to remove it after a couple of hours due to discomfort and red marks, partly attributed to the small field of view forcing closer lens proximity.
The Pimax Dream Air SE costs approximately £830 and comes with inside-out tracking and controllers by default. The Bigscreen Beyond 2E is more expensive at £1249, and this price does not include base stations (necessary for tracking) or an audio solution (which costs an additional £150).
The reviewer identifies significant issues with the Pimax Dream Air SE, including a "hilariously tiny" field of view, eye strain after an hour, incorrect IPD measurements (requiring an adjustment from 65 to 68 to even be usable), an uncomfortable facial interface, breaking stems and cables, and a poorly designed, hot splitter box on the cable that rests on the neck. He concludes the headset was rushed out and is "not ready," leading him to not recommend its purchase at this time.
75/100 source quality
The reviewer conducts a detailed comparison between two high-end PCVR headsets, the Pimax Dream Air SE and Bigscreen Beyond 2E. He notes that both headsets offer similar display resolution and lens quality, but the Bigscreen Beyond 2E provides a significantly wider field of view, better overall performance, and superior comfort and build quality. Conversely, the Pimax Dream Air SE excels in eye tracking, offers a more convenient tracking solution (inside-out vs. base stations), integrated audio, and comes at a lower price point with included controllers. Despite these advantages, the reviewer cannot recommend the Dream Air SE due to numerous issues like eye strain, a tiny field of view, build quality concerns, and incorrect IPD measurements, suggesting it was prematurely released.
Full transcript is not redistributed here to respect the original creator’s rights.
This page converts VR Flight Sim Guy's review of the Pimax Pimax Dream Air SE into structured evidence — timestamped claims, pros & cons, and buyer questions. It is not the original review and does not replace watching or reading the full source.
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