Somnium Space, a prominent player in the social platform scene based out of Czechia, has announced a price increase for its high-end PC VR headset, the Somnium VR1. This move, they say, is necessary to "maintain the highest quality standards."
Just last month, Somnium Space shook things up by reducing the number of available configurations of their VR1 and hinted at an impending price rise for the remaining three versions post-January 16, 2025—though they kept the new rates under wraps until now. Fast forward to the present, and we’re finally getting a look at those updated figures, sans local taxes. The new prices represent a jump of €500 to €700 compared to what customers used to pay:
Here’s the breakdown:
- Visionary Edition: This version offers VR and eye-tracking capabilities. Previously, it was available for €2,499 (~$2,600 USD), but now it’s marked at €2,999 (~$3,090 USD).
- Titan Edition: Incorporating VR, eye-tracking, and hand-tracking, this edition has gone up from €2,899 (~$3,020 USD) to €3,399 (~$3,500 USD).
- Ultimate Edition: Featuring VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking, and MR passthrough, the price has moved from €3,499 (~$3,659 USD) to €4,299 (~$4,425 USD).
The company attributes these price adjustments to increased production costs. In their blog post, they explain:
"These changes reflect the complex production processes and our unwavering commitment to delivering the best PCVR experience possible. High-quality materials, intricate designs, and rigorous quality control result in additional production costs, including the inevitable scrap of some expensive components to meet our standards. Our dedication to uncompromising quality ensures that each VR1 headset is a masterpiece, designed to exceed your expectations."
Originally, Somnium Space offered a variety of seven consumer variants; however, they’ve since streamlined their lineup by discontinuing versions like the Classic Edition, Striker Edition, Specter Edition, and Translucent Edition—a move likely aimed at cutting down production costs. The Classic Edition, as the entry-level option lacking eye-tracking, was sold for €1,900 (~$1,980 USD), again not including local taxes.
Furthermore, the company is tweaking its delivery timeline for new orders of the Somnium VR1. Customers can now expect their headsets to arrive between March and April 2025. Somnium Space is optimistic about shortening this delivery window to "just two weeks from order to shipment by mid-2025," covering most of Europe, the UK, and the US.
Eager to discover more about the Somnium VR1? Be sure to check out our hands-on insights from the Somnium Connect event held last July.
Somnium VR1 Specs:
- Display: QLED Mini-Led Fast LCD – 2,880 × 2,880 per-eye
- Field of View: 130° horizontal, 105° vertical, with potential rendering up to 140° horizontally, though actual FOV may vary slightly depending 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, utilizing an open-sourced algorithm customizable for any use-case
- Connectivity: USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm audio jack
- IPD Range: 57 to 76 mm
