Pimax, a VR headset maker hailing from China, recently addressed how the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China are impacting their business, specifically the Crystal Super VR headset. The trade war has introduced additional costs for US customers, but Pimax’s innovative subscription model is helping to cushion the financial blow.
Back in April 2024, Pimax announced the Crystal Super as their new flagship PC VR headset. It boasts a remarkable base version with a 57 PPD featuring high-quality QLED panels, bringing each eye a resolution of 3,840 x 3,840 pixels and a broad 120-degree field of view (FOV). Currently, it’s still up for pre-order, but shipments are on the horizon.
As we’re aware, the US has imposed a hefty 145% tariff on Chinese-manufactured goods, posing a significant challenge for XR headset manufacturers globally. Given China’s dominance in tech production, many companies are feeling the heat. Pimax is the first to publicly address potential adjustments in its pricing strategy due to these tariffs.
In their latest blog post, Pimax detailed how these tariffs affect US customers, and it’s not as dire as one might expect. Orders placed by US customers before February 4, 2025, won’t have extra tariff charges slapped on them. However, they might face a slight delay—around 20 days—as larger shipments make their way to US warehouses.
Orders from February 4 to April 10 will include a $75 ‘Regional Surcharge.’ This adjustment helps manage the climbing shipping and logistics expenses. Following April 10, any new US orders will come with a $95 surcharge, with dispatches starting in June. In a smart pivot, Pimax is also setting up a facility in Delaware to manage final assembly operations.
What’s intriguing is that Crystal Super’s overall price remains stable. Pimax revamped its pricing, which has gotten somewhat complicated with the introduction of their subscription-based software. However, this model is proving beneficial in balancing out tariff-related costs.
The initial price for the Pimax Crystal Super now stands at $799, with an additional $885 later through Pimax Play with Prime—amounting to $1,684 before the US-only $95 surcharge. For international customers, the price shift is minimal. Previously, the headset’s price was $999, plus $696 for the Prime subscription, taking the total to $1,695. Now, the upfront cost has been lowered globally, making it even more enticing.
A notable mention is Pimax’s 14-day trial period remains unchanged. This aspect might appeal to users outside the US, as initially, it involves less money upfront. Plus, if they decide to return the product within the trial window, it’s refundable, assuming they don’t wish to continue using Prime.
Pimax’s unique position allows them to adjust their costs strategically by using their premium subscription model. This level of flexibility isn’t available to other tech giants like Meta, which often subsidizes hardware to make their software offerings more appealing.
While Meta hasn’t announced any significant price changes lately, they did increase prices in the past. For instance, during the pandemic in 2022, they temporarily hiked the price of the Quest 2 from $300 to $400. So, who knows what the future holds?
Stay tuned as we continue monitoring how the US-China trade tensions evolve and their effect on XR hardware. We’ll keep you updated right here.
