I Bought a Pico Neo 3 VR Headset: Is Watching Movies Worth It?

In September 2021, I purchased the Pico Neo 3 VR all-in-one headset. After using it for over half a year, I'd like to share my personal experience.

About Pico Neo 3

Pico is a brand under Beijing Xiaoniao Kankan Technology Co., Ltd. Founded in March 2015, it is a technology company focused on mobile virtual reality technology and product R&D, dedicated to building a global leading mobile VR hardware and content platform.

On August 29, 2021, Pico was acquired by ByteDance and will be merged into ByteDance's VR business line. The Neo 3 is Pico's latest VR product, and currently, the relatively complete VR products in China are mainly from Pico.

Choosing a VR All-in-One Headset

Before purchasing, I learned about another very popular VR all-in-one headset, the Oculus Quest 2 made by Facebook (now Meta). There are many comparisons online between the Pico Neo 3 and the Oculus Quest 2, each with their own pros and cons. Based on the information I gathered, I created a simple comparison table:

Parameter/Product Name	Oculus Quest 2	Pico Neo 3
Cost-performance ratio	High	Very High
Game quantity	Very many	Average
Software ecosystem	Mature	Average
Network conditions	Strict (requires own proxy)	Easy
After-sales service	None in China	Good
Steam VR streaming	Supported	Supported
Refresh rate	Said to support 120Hz	90Hz
Resolution	4K	4K
Processor	Qualcomm XR2	Qualcomm XR2
Battery capacity	5300 mAh	3640 mAh

The hardware difference between the Oculus Quest 2 and Pico Neo 3 is not significant, but the Pico Neo 3's ecosystem is far behind the Oculus Quest 2. Fortunately, the official team is constantly improving and introducing games, and you can clearly feel the game library becoming richer. I chose the Pico Neo 3 for the following reasons:

• Extremely high cost-performance ratio (50% refund after 180-day check-in)
• Convenient purchase and after-sales service (Oculus Quest 2 is not sold in mainland China, requiring overseas purchase with no domestic after-sales support)
• Smooth network (as a domestic product, Pico Neo 3 generally has no network issues in China)

Personal buying advice: Choose Oculus Quest 2 for a better ecosystem and gameplay; choose Pico Neo 3 if you don't want to deal with hassles and want higher cost-performance.

My Purchase Price

I purchased the 128GB Pioneer Edition on September 29, 2021. The "Pioneer Edition" comes with free games (I recommend this edition, as buying games separately is less cost-effective). The price was ¥2589.00. I have already completed the 180-day check-in activity for a 50% refund, effectively making the cost over 1000 yuan. At the time, I also received a券 for hairy crabs and a foam cushion for the headset. Here is the order screenshot:

JD.com often runs promotions, and the price seems even lower now. Those interested can consider purchasing.

Purchase link: https://u.jd.com/WI9e4jN

Unboxing

Here are a few photos I took earlier:

This is the storage bag sent by the official team after 120 days of check-in, which makes it much more convenient to bring the Pico back to my hometown.

About Check-in

Each check-in requires playing games for more than 30 minutes. When checking in, pay attention to the timer. Once, I had already checked in for over 30 minutes, but the timer didn't record it, resulting in a missed check-in (if you miss a check-in, you have 3 chances to make up for it, but it will deduct some of the refund amount).

Friends who chose the Pioneer package can receive one game per month for continuous check-ins (total of 6 months; I'm not sure if the rules have changed). I still have 3 games left to claim.

There is also a 180-day check-in activity for a 50% refund. Different stages offer different rewards, including P Coins and peripheral gift packs (you can choose USB drives, T-shirts, and various accessories). So far, I have checked in for over 180 days, and I have claimed all previous rewards. Now I am just waiting for the official team to send the 50% refund reward.

Note: Different activities require separate check-ins. You need to click the check-in button twice for two activities. Make sure the timer is running when you open it, otherwise, the check-in will be invalid.

Is Watching Movies Satisfying?

If you haven't truly experienced VR before, I can tell you that when you first encounter a VR all-in-one headset, you will be shocked by the visual effects. I haven't watched many serious movies, but I have watched a few unconventional ones. You can imagine the feeling of a pair of big breasts right in your face. However, after watching a few times, the feeling isn't as obvious.

Additionally, movies must be selected with 4K resolution and high bitrate; otherwise, there will be noticeable graininess. Many 4K-level resources can be found on PT forums. Those interested can search for them.

How is Gaming?

Although the quantity and quality of games on the Pico Neo 3 are not as good as the Oculus Quest 2, there are currently quite a few games, and the library is constantly growing. However, there are fewer high-quality, highly playable AAA titles.

Some games are quite fun. They can help relax and provide some exercise, but don't expect the Pico to achieve fitness goals. Also, some games can cause dizziness, especially those requiring fast movement or FPS games, perhaps because I'm not used to it yet.

If playing Steam VR streaming games, the minimum GPU requirement is a GTX 970. I used my RTX 3050 to play The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim via wireless streaming, and it runs smoothly. I have also played other streaming games like VR Girl (unfortunately, it's the censored version; the uncensored version would be even better, hehe).

What Disappoints Me About the Pico Neo 3

1. Real-name verification is required to play games.
2. Activity redemption codes must be entered on the headset, which is a very poor strategy. Typing on the headset is extremely inconvenient; activation should be possible via the app.
3. Claiming peripheral gift packs and the 180-day 50% refund requires filling out forms on third-party sites instead of completing the process within the app, making the workflow less convenient.
4. Sometimes the timer doesn't run.

Summary

1. For those wanting to experience a VR all-in-one headset, I recommend either the Oculus Quest 2 or the Pico Neo 3.
2. Different activities require separate check-ins; pay attention to whether the timer is running during check-in.
3. When watching movies, always look for resources with 4K resolution or higher.
4. For Steam VR streaming games, the minimum GPU requirement is a GTX 970 or higher.
5. Overall, the Pico Neo 3 is not perfect, but I am generally satisfied with it.

If you have any other information you'd like to know, feel free to leave a comment and discuss.

Pico Neo 3 purchase link: https://u.jd.com/WI9e4jN