Pimax Introduces Software Subscription to Mitigate Costs Amidst US-China Trade Tensions

Pimax, the innovative VR headset manufacturer based in China, recently addressed the effects of the ongoing US-China trade tensions on its operations, particularly concerning the Crystal Super VR headset. For US customers, this means a slight increase in cost. However, Pimax’s new subscription payment model is helping to balance out these additional expenses.

Introduced in April 2024, the Crystal Super is poised to be Pimax’s flagship in the PC VR market. It boasts a base model with 57 PPD using QLED displays, offering an impressive resolution of 3,840 x 3,840 pixels per eye and a 120-degree field of view. Currently, it is available for pre-orders, with shipping set to commence shortly.

Recently, the US imposed a hefty 145% tariff on products made in China, which spells trouble for XR headset manufacturers worldwide, with China being the predominant manufacturing hub. Pimax, based in Shanghai, is among the first to announce pricing adjustments in response to this tariff hike.

In a detailed blog post, Pimax outlined how these tariffs impact their US customers, and surprisingly, it’s not as dire as one might expect. Orders for the Crystal Super made in the US before February 4, 2025, won’t incur extra tariff charges. However, they might experience a shipping delay of around 20 days due to the logistics of transporting bulk shipments to US warehouses.

For orders placed from February 4th to April 10th, there’s a $75 “Regional Surcharge” to help manage boosted shipping and logistics costs. From April 10th onwards, the surcharge increases to $95, with products slated to ship in June. Additionally, Pimax is setting up a facility in Delaware to handle the final assembly of these headsets.

Despite these changes, the headline price of the Crystal Super remains roughly the same. Pimax has restructured its pricing, and although it may seem more complex now with their subscription-based software pricing, this approach is effectively counteracting tariff-related costs.

The upfront price of the Pimax Crystal Super has been adjusted to $799, while the remaining $885 will be payable through their Pimax Play with Prime service—bringing the total to $1,684, excluding the $95 surcharge specific to the US.

Global customers will notice nominal changes. Previously priced at $999 plus a $696 Prime subscription, totaling $1,695, the pricing now reflects a lower initial cost. Noteworthy is the continuation of Pimax’s 14-day trial period, making the headset potentially more appealing to non-US buyers, as the reduced initial payment is refundable if returned within the trial period and before the necessity of a Prime subscription for continued use.

Pimax finds itself in a favorable position to balance costs, thanks to its subscription model, a luxury not shared by companies like Meta, which have historically subsidized hardware to promote software sales. Although Meta hasn’t announced any recent price hikes, they did previously increase the price of the Quest 2 during the COVID-19 pandemic from $300 to $400 in 2022. It remains to be seen how they will respond to the current trade challenges.

We’re closely monitoring how these US-China trade tariffs will play out in the XR industry, so stay tuned for more updates.