The Pimax Portal is a portable game system that tries to be a little bit of everything. At its most basic level, it’s an Android tablet with detachable game controllers. But thanks to a series of optional accessories, you can also use it as a virtual reality headset or a console that connects to a TV.

First unveiled earlier this month, the Pimax Portal is now up for pre-order through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, with prices starting at $299 for an early bird, entry-level model. The Pimax Portal is expected to begin shipping to backers in January, 2023.

The Pimax Portal itself features a 5.5 inch, 3840 x 2160 pixel 144 Hz display, a Qualcomm XR2 octa-core processor with Adreno 650 graphics, and 8GB of RAM.

Pimax offers two different display options. Models with an LCD display come with a choice of 128GB or 256GB of storage, while the Pimax Portal QLED has a QLED + mini LED display and ships standard with 256GB of storage, but carriers a higher price tag.

Both versions come with detachable magnetic controllers, and both models feature WiFI 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, USB Type-C ports, 4,000 mAh batteries, proximity and gyroscopic sensors, and four cameras for position tracking (these come into play with the optional VR headset, but also work if you set up the Pimax Portal in a desktop dock across the room, since they let you use gesture-based controls).

If you opt for a Portal View or Portal QLED View bundle, you also get a headset designed to let you strap the Pimax Portal to your face, with support for 60 degree, 100 degree, and 140 degree lenses, which allow you to choose between a wider field of view or sharper pixel density, depending on which you need more for a given application.

The headset also has an additional 6,000 mAh battery for additional run time (and to help balance the headset by placing weight on the back. And you can use the detachable controllers wirelessly in VR mode by placing them in a pair of circular controllers that look a bit the controllers for Meta’s Quest VR headsets.

There’s also mention of a Pimax Portal XL dock that basically lets you use the Portal in a larger case with an 8.8 inch display, but there doesn’t seem to be an option to purchase that add-on yet.

Here are crowdfunding prices for the Pimax Portal lineup:

  • Portal w/128GB storage + LCD display for $299 (early bird)
  • Portal w/256GB + LCD for $399
  • Portal QLED w/256GB + QLED/mini LED for $549
  • Portal View w/128GB + LCD + VR headset & controller for $449
  • Portal View w/256GB + LCD + VR for $499
  • Portal QLED View w/256GB + QLED/mini LED for $599

And here’s a short hands-on video showing the Pimax Portal running Genshen Impact in handheld mode:

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5 replies on “Pimax Portal crowfunding campaign begins (handheld game system with detachable controllers and VR headset mount)”

  1. Unfortunately as a VR Android device, the selection of apps is almost more important than the hardware.

    If this thing doesn’t have access to the Oculus/GearVR store, then it’s not worth my time.

    1. They have their own store that they’re trying to shore up support for. The problem is that they’re not a megacorporation that can easily attract such support like Facebook or Bytedance, so this (and their Crystal headset) unfortunately likely will never mature as a serious standalone VR platform. At least there’s still support for Steam VR.

  2. Meh, if the MSRP is only $100 more for every sku I’ll just wait ’till it’s available on retail and I can read some actual reviews of what it’s really like and what you can actually do with it. Putting all the marketing material they’ve made so far on one page made for a long, repetitive, and downright sketchy mess.

    1. Raising MSRP at retail for this will be a death sentence if they actually do that. This thing only competes with the Quest 2 and Pico 4 since it uses the same, old SoC, yet they’re releasing it next year. Their competitors might end up releasing new, upgraded headsets next year which will likely wipe away any reason for most people to consider this for their casual VR headset.

      1. Hey I bought the apara through Kickstarter. Have you heard if it’s a scam supposed to deliver in March 2022 but still have not got it

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