Somnium, a vibrant startup from the Czech Republic, originally garnered attention for its social VR platform called Somnium Space. However, in late 2021, they took a bold step by unveiling the Somnium VR1 headset. This device boasted an impressive spec sheet, developed in partnership with VRgineers, a company celebrated for its high-end XTAL headsets designed for enterprise use. Initially, the Somnium VR1 was envisioned as a hybrid headset, featuring standalone capabilities thanks to its onboard Snapdragon XR2 chipset. But come 2022, the team decided to pivot, emphasizing its role as a PC VR headset.
The VR1 features the same advanced 2880×2880 QD-LCD panels with Mini-LED technology as seen in the Pimax Crystal. These displays are a powerhouse with a 20000:1 contrast ratio via local dimming, a full 100% NTSC color gamut, and refresh rates of 72Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz. An “experimental” 144Hz mode even makes an appearance. With an output brightness of 210 nits, it effectively doubles what’s seen in the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro.
Complementing these stellar displays are large, dual-element aspheric lenses, which Somnium claims offer an astounding field of view—around 130° horizontally and 105° vertically. This is wider than any other VR headset currently available. Though the Pimax “5K” and “8K” models once boasted wider views, they are no longer in production and were marred by peripheral distortion.
This ambition to broaden the field of view is precisely why the Somnium VR1 comes with a heftier design, standing out in today’s market filled with sleek pancake lens headsets.
