Somnium Starts US Shipping of VR1 PC Headset, Plans Price Increase

Somnium Space, based in Prague, Czechia, has taken a significant step by introducing its PC VR headset, Somnium VR1, to the US market. In addition, the company is simplifying its product lineup to focus on three consumer-friendly versions and has plans to raise the cost of its top-tier models soon.

In a recent update, Somnium Space revealed it will no longer offer several of its previous Somnium VR1 configurations, namely the Striker Edition, Classic Edition, Specter Edition, and Translucent Edition. The Classic Edition, which was the budget-friendly choice without eye tracking, was priced at €1,900 (roughly $1,980 USD). Now, the least expensive option available is the Visionary Edition, which boasts eye-tracking and comes with a price tag of €2,499 (about $2,600 USD), not including local taxes.

"For those of you who pre-ordered the now-discontinued models, rest assured that your orders remain intact and will be fulfilled as expected," Somnium mentioned in a statement. "Owning one of these editions will make your headset even more exclusive and distinctive."

The company also elaborated on the reasoning for discontinuing these versions: "This strategic decision allows us to focus on delivering the Visionary, Ultimate, and Titan Editions more swiftly and efficiently while ensuring they meet our high-quality standards."

In the near future, prices for the Visionary, Ultimate, and Titan Editions are set to increase, although Somnium Space hasn’t disclosed the new pricing just yet. Current prices will hold until January 16, 2025, after which they will be updated.

Here’s a breakdown of the current offerings and their prices (excluding tax):

• Visionary Edition (includes VR and eye-tracking): €2,499 (~$2,600 USD)
• Titan Edition (adds hand-tracking, beside VR and eye-tracking): €2,899 (~$3,020 USD)
• Ultimate Edition (includes MR passthrough, VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking): €3,499 (~$3,659 USD)
• Military Edition (specs not fully detailed yet)

"We aim to keep the Somnium VR1 as accessible as possible, but quality remains a top priority. The manufacturing process has been more intricate than we initially thought, which is why we’re adjusting prices for the Visionary, Ultimate, and Titan Editions," according to the company.

Orders placed today are expected to be shipped between February and March 2025, covering Europe, the UK, and the US.

Looking past 2025, Somnium Space plans to make spare parts available for the VR1, including optical modules, main boards, electronics, cables, screens, and more.

Here’s a quick look at the Somnium VR1 specifications:

• Display: QLED Mini-Led Fast LCD – 2,880 × 2,880 per eye
• Field of View: 130° horizontal, 105° vertical, with a potential rendering of up to 140° horizontally (actual FOV may vary slightly based on individual face and eye shapes)
• Refresh Rate: 72 Hz, 90 Hz, with possibilities for upgrades to 120 and 144 Hz (experimental)
• Local Dimming Zones: 576 per eye
• Eye Tracking: 120 Hz, featuring an open-source algorithm that can be tailored for various applications
• Connectivity: USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio jack
• IPD Range: 57 to 76 mm

For those interested in a more comprehensive insight into the Somnium VR1, we suggest checking out our hands-on review from July 2024, where we share our detailed impressions.