PICO 4 Ultra Review | 89 Data compared

The Pico 4 Ultra is a standalone VR headset that struggles to close the gap with its main competitor, the Meta Quest 3, despite receiving hardware upgrades like the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip and 12 GB of RAM. On the positive side, it functions exceptionally well as a PC-VR headset, offering smooth wired or wireless streaming via Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E, and its new controller design without tracking rings delivers solid ergonomics and tracking accuracy. Additionally, its color passthrough for mixed reality handles text readability well and avoids major distortion, allowing users to check their smartphones smoothly. The optional Pico Motion Trackers also stand out as a highly accurate and easy-to-use accessory for body tracking.

The Pico 4 Ultra positions itself as a formidable standalone competitor to the Meta Quest 3, offering slightly superior hardware specifications wrapped in a highly ergonomic design. It stands out with a higher resolution screen (2,160 x 2,160 pixels per eye), 50% more RAM (12 GB LPDDR5), and a cleaner Mixed Reality passthrough thanks to dual 8-megapixel cameras. Furthermore, it includes a rigid, dial-adjustable head strap straight out of the box, saving users the extra expense required for a comfortable Meta setup. It features full standalone functionality, Wi-Fi 7 capabilities, and seamless PC-VR streaming via USB-C or wireless connection to play demanding PC titles like Half-Life: Alyx. A major highlight includes the optional, easy-to-calibrate motion trackers (priced at €89) that attach to the user's legs to vastly improve tracking in fitness games and social apps like VR Chat. Despite these hardware strengths, the headset is severely bottlenecked by Pico's limited software ecosystem compared to Meta's dominant marketplace. Users will miss out on major ecosystem exclusives, such as Beat Saber, Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR, and upcoming high-profile titles from the Batman...

The Pico 4 Ultra is a versatile Virtual and Mixed-Reality headset priced at 599 Euros that functions both as a standalone device and via SteamVR connected to a PC. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip and featuring pancake lenses, it stands out technically by offering 12 GB of RAM and two high-quality 32-megapixel cameras for an exceptionally clean passthrough experience. Its physical design provides great out-of-the-box build quality and a highly comfortable, lightweight fit compared to competitors like the PlayStation VR2. Additionally, it supports spatial video playback from Apple devices, AV1 video decoding, and seamless wireless or USB-C tethering to a PC using the Pico-Connect app, making it excellent for high-end PC VR gaming like Half-Life: Alyx. However, the headset falls short primarily in its standalone ecosystem due to a limited software and game store, meaning major titles found on Meta Quest systems remain unavailable. On the hardware side, it utilizes LC-displays rather than superior OLED screens, and the face cushion lacks a tight seal, causing ambient light to leak in from the bottom during use. Battery...

The Pico 4 Ultra is a high-quality VR and Mixed Reality headset designed to challenge the dominant Meta Quest 3, offering excellent value for money at €600. Hardware-wise, it stands out with 12 GB of RAM (50% more than the Quest 3) and an included, comfortable rigid headband with a rear-mounted battery. A major highlight is its innovative motion tracking system for legs and feet via ankle trackers, which open up new mechanics for fitness, dance, and combat games. It is also the first headset to feature Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. The user interface supports massive multitasking with up to 20 windows, and its passthrough utilizes two 32-megapixel cameras and a depth sensor to provide a slightly less grainy image than Meta's alternative. However, the headset falls short of completely overtaking Meta due to critical lens limitations and a weaker software ecosystem. While the display resolution is sharp, the pancake lenses suffer from poor edge-to-edge clarity, making the image blurry toward the outer edges compared to the Quest 3. The passthrough video also blurs severely during fast head movements, rendering small...

The Heise review frames the Pico 4 Ultra as a hardware-heavy competitor to the Meta Quest 3, featuring a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, 12 GB of RAM, and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. Key advantages include improved mixed reality via dual 32-megapixel cameras and a balanced design with the 5,700 mAh battery placed at the rear. However, the headset retains the older optical stack from the original Pico 4, resulting in noticeable glare and inferior black levels compared to its rival. Additionally, the review notes a limited app library, the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, and a lack of a fast-charging brick in the box.

Pico 4 Ultra Review Summary The Pico 4 Ultra is a standalone VR headset upgrade priced at €599 that matches or exceeds its main competitor, the Meta Quest 3, in several hardware categories. On the positive side, it features an exceptionally comfortable design with an integrated rear battery that distributes weight evenly across the head. Its upgraded controllers lack tracking rings, making them more compact while remaining highly precise, and they boast longer handles suitable for larger hands. Furthermore, the addition of a depth sensor significantly improves spatial mapping and mixed-reality applications, providing a realistic 3D pass-through mode with fewer visual distortions than Meta's alternative. For PC-VR enthusiasts, the headset includes high-bandwidth Wi-Fi 7 capabilities that deliver a stable and seamless wireless data stream. Despite its premium hardware specs, including 12 GB of RAM and a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, software performance remains a massive drawback. The ecosystem lacks Meta's major exclusive franchises (like Beat Saber or Asgard's Wrath 2) and heavily relies on games still optimized for older hardware. The built-in room scanning automation is also flawed, creating...

The NAT-Games review evaluates the PICO 4 Ultra as a highly capable, standalone mixed-reality headset that provides a strong, cost-effective alternative to the Meta Quest 3. A major highlight of the device is its upgraded 12GB of RAM, which powers smooth multitasking by allowing users to efficiently open and pin multiple app windows simultaneously. The review praises its 2160 x 2160 pixels-per-eye resolution, which produces sharp visuals and rich colours, alongside an upgraded camera system that delivers a much crisper, high-quality passthrough image for augmented reality applications. Furthermore, its lightweight 580-gram design distributes weight evenly, and its precise, ring-free controllers offer an intuitive user experience. Gamers can also easily pair the device with a PC via a USB-C cable or wireless software to expand their library through SteamVR, while separate, lightweight motion trackers (€89) provide incredibly accurate full-body movement translation. Despite these technical strengths, the headset has several distinct drawbacks. On a hardware level, the display suffers from a noticeable loss of edge sharpness, meaning the clear resolution does not stretch fully to the margins of the lenses. Long-term comfort...

The Pico 4 Ultra is a highly capable and versatile VR headset designed for standalone mixed reality and PC-VR gaming. It features premium hardware, including the powerful Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, a generous 12 GB of RAM, and advanced pancake lenses that allow for a compact design. The headset is praised for its exceptional weight distribution, since the battery pack sits at the back to balance the device on your head. Its mixed reality capabilities stand out thanks to dual 32-megapixel front cameras and an iTOF depth sensor, which deliver a sharper and clearer real-world passthrough feed than the Meta Quest 3. Furthermore, it supports modern Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and 45-watt fast charging for its 5,700 mAh battery. Despite its strong hardware, the headset has notable software and design drawbacks. The biggest weakness is the limited Pico Store game library, which lacks the exclusive VR blockbusters found on competing platforms. While this issue is minimized if you connect the headset to a gaming PC to play SteamVR titles, standalone users will feel the lack of software options. Physically, the...

The Digitec review highlights the Pico 4 Ultra as a powerful hardware update featuring the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, 12GB of RAM, and significantly improved, brighter, high-resolution displays. Pros include a comfortable, balanced design, superior dual 32-megapixel color passthrough, and optional ankle-cuff motion trackers for enhanced tracking. However, the review finds that limited productivity software prevents the headset from being a true, standalone workspace replacement, despite its high-end specs. Cons include a lack of multi-monitor support, a restricted multi-window experience, and passthrough quality that, while improved, is not yet sufficient for extended work periods.

The PICO 4 Ultra is highlighted as a high-performance, comfortable, and wireless mixed-reality headset featuring exceptional visual clarity, a wide field of view, and precise tracking [game7days]. However, the device is limited by a battery life of roughly three hours, an initially unusual fit, and a smaller selection of native content compared to competitors [game7days].