Where Is The $699 Pimax Crystal Light? - My Love/Hate Relationship With Pimax... 

Did you preorder the $699 version? What are your feelings about it being gone suddenly?

Thank you for making this video because Pimax does need to be called out on this stuff. I have used Pimax for years until recently, and like you, I have a love/hate relationship with them. They come so close to being great, but there are things they do over and over which demonstrate that it's not just an accident but rather company policy. And this is one of them. The other big one has to do with stability issues and critical bugs in their products. Other companies will release new products before they're completely stable, too, but Pimax takes this to a new level releasing products in incomplete and even non-functioning states and then never fixing critical bugs. The only way you can get fixes for those bugs is to buy their next product where they have fixed it... but then also added new critical bugs that won't be fixed until the next next product, and so on and so on. It is shocking the level of bugs that Pimax will just decide is acceptable to leave in their already released products. Bugs happen. They're unavoidable. But what is under the company's control is how they respond to those bugs. Pimax is always prioritizing working on new products instead. Bugs in their existing products will typically only be fixed if that fix will also apply to new products in development, too. Even if that leaves their customers facing serious problems with the product they already bought. I recently moved to Bigscreen Beyond, and it's such a difference to use a headset by a company with a different philosophy where they are focused on supporting their current product. My Beyond has not put a foot wrong even once since I received it over a month ago. And the company has great customer support. It's such a different experience from any headset I have owned from Pimax. I love how powerful Pimax headsets are when you can get them working, but this always comes along with periods of extreme frustration. I had hoped to get away from Pimax forever, but then they announced the Crystal Light, and I feel like I'm being tempted back to an abusive lover. Maybe it won't be full of bugs and frustrations this time. But I know it won't actually be trouble free because Pimax doesn't target that. If enough of their customers are able to work around their bugs somehow, that's good enough for Pimax. They are always focused on the next product to sell you, not the one you have.

Pimax 12k was announced in October of 2021 -- with trade in! VR-tubers go nuts! This is a game changer! Pimax interview with Sebastian March of 2022 -- confirmed we'll launch by 4th quarter 2022 Instead... Two months later they announce Pimax Crystal Pimax Crystal Light announced for only $700... VR-tubers go nuts! This is game changer! Only... $700 not available. Nevertheless Pimax sends a unit around to VR-tubers to review with the DMAS so... Announce $700 headset to make a splash, but send a $1000 unit for VR-tubers to review (local dimming with controllers and DMAS). Anyway we are super excited about the $700 headset but you SHOULD BUY the $1000 one. Or you can wait for the Crystal Super (without trade-in) Are we at VR 3.0 yet??

Moral of the story: don't be a svcker, and stop preordering sh*t. If it's not available at the moment, don't buy it.

Couldn't agree more Sebastian. These fake promises certainly damage consumer trust. Another thing that Pimax, and other high end manufacturers do like Varjo is announce their prices without VAT and certain core pieces of hardware that you will need, to make them sound cheaper. If Meta announce a £499 HMD that means it will be delivered to your door, everything included for £499. Contrast that with Pimax. Crystal Light with local dimming and controllers, just £729. Awesome. Oh, wait it comes with no audio. Okay, I'll add the DMAS speakers for £80, that's still just £809, not bad. Ok let's order, oh now we add VAT? So it's £970, not really the £729 I was expecting. But wait, now I have to pay shipping too? So it's actually over £1000? Yeah, I'll pass, thanks. They rival our governments in manipulating figures.

The 699 is a virtual reality

Thank you for making this video. Pimax will never get another dollar from me as long as I live. My 8KX was only good for instant headaches with all of the distortion when I could get it to work. Thanks a lot for the 12K trade-in program, what a sandbag con job that was. Instead, they release the Crystal in the ridiculously oversized 12K housing because they are too cheap to put in an appropriately sized housing. Why is their scamming not talked about more with you tubers? There will be no 12K headset for the 8K buyers to trade in for. I am holding out for the Somnium VR1.

I’m one of the mugs that bought an 8KX, thinking I would get the purchase price off a 12KX. Not happy with Pimax.

Don't forget 699, 799 or 899 is even a lie, you must add VAT and shipping, I bought the local dimming version without controllers nor faceplate and at the end I paid around 1000€

I pre-ordered a Light with local dimming and DMAS. The communications from the company have been very erratic and undermine my confidence in them as a business. This feels like the company is trying to pump its revenue to fund the production, a little bit like a Ponzi scheme where they take my money on a pre-order to fund the production of a device for a person who ordered ahead of me. I almost expect to hear soon that the company is insolvent and my order will not be fulfilled. I hope I'm wrong.

Puh. I'm still waiting for the paid-for wide-FOV lenses. Two delivery-date promises so far, both promises broken. I won't ever be dealing with Pimax again.

Yeah i had two failed crystals and at the end they only refunded me partial purchase price...Done with Pimax

I am glad that I waited for actual reviews. I was really thinking of picking up a Pimax Crystal Light. The deal breaker for me was that the headset was heavier than expected. Before it was released people speculated that it would be about the same weight as the G2 and early access reviews said that it is lighter than it looks, but that turned out to be false. It kind of baffles me that Pimax doesn't have an official weight value listed on their website about the Crystal Light. They just state that it is X amount of grams lighter than the normal Crystal. So you have to speculate because you don't know how they got that value. Is it only the headset? Is it the headset + strap?? Well it turns out that the headset + strap is around 925g which is pretty close to the Index. My friends who own an Index told me that it's like having a brick attached to your head. So it is by no means a light headset. Additionally it was also really hard for me to see if normal over ear headsets will fit with the Crystal Light. It looks like the strap is really bulky and no reviewer tested for such a scenario (I am a bit if an audiophile and will not give up my headset). So it looked like I would have to figure that out on my own, which added a layer of uncertainty. Because of all of these issues I ended up ordering the Bigscreen Beyond to replace my G2. Although I do recognize the Crystal Light as a good headset, just not for me.

I heard all the hype about the 8kx and bought one, The in-cockpit distortion while playing DCS was so bad I had to send it back, They then charged me nearly £200 for the "postage and replacement" packaging. Absolute rip off and it's very frustrating to see respected youtubers pushing Pimax like they're amazing and flawless. Clearly they're playing you all.

This is how Chinese do business. Not only they switch the offering. They are constantly searching for cheap component to be switched as well.

I have preordered the Crystal Light with local dimming and with the controllers on May 6th, Paid full price on May 14th and to this day - nothing in my hands 😂. Pimax at its best 🤣.

@Pimax MRTV is absolutely right. You have to push harder. You have such a good product.

Well, it certainly sounds as if the Pimax Crew is paying attention to this video, with the release of their new Crystal Light video this morning.

I've been going back and forth on getting a crystal rather than wait to see whats in the pipeline. I just made up my mind to wait.. Thx.

Shite happens, I wouldn't be too worried about it. Like the 12K headset, instead we have the Crystal, when you think about it what PC could run a 12K headset? I had to upgrade to a RTX4080 to run my 8KX. I didn't have fall for the bait and switch, I already had the 8KX, and reading the fine print, you had to return the 8KX to get the discount. I will still upgrade to a better Pimax at some stage in the future.

It's Pimax. They overpromised and lied about the Pimax Crystal, too. I don't expect them to change. They are a scummy company. Just offer a quality product at a fair price, without all the gimmicks and lying.

This is so true and actually, I might as well forget about that Reality 12K they teased back in Fall of 2021. GTA 7 might will release before that one does. Guess Meta can't be beaten by any company. Manipulation is insane now a days.

I have been concerned about all yhis for months. I ordered the light version with dimming without controllers on the 3rd June. I have a generic email confirmation, but thats it. I am kinda feeling a little nervous about the purchase now. Will they go bust? Are they shipping units with controllers first? Ive heard some pre orderers from April still havnt recived their units yet? I might have to ring the bank tomorrow. I dont like the lack of comms and the uncertainty. There is a page on pimax website where it estimates shipping dates based on your date of order. Its cuts off dead after the 30th of May? Why..... is that the last batch until when? Also they still adverise 60hz and 80hz modes, but as we know they arnt working even on the light versions. And smart smoothing still not working! Its all very ropey. They need to make a statement for me to stay on board now. I am uneasy.

I think it is like this on a Pimax Meeting: CEO "I have a cunning plan" - Everybody else: "Facepalm"...

I love pimax for its MASSIVE FOV. I don't want the headsets with the smaller fov...

I've said all along that the 12k was bait to get people to buy the 8kx. It would've bankrupted the company if they did that deal.

I didn't like their comunication method at the presentation, and i'm already hesitant to buy or even consider their products for other reasons too. Also i agree with what you presented in this video. You call it correctly bait and switch, but it feels more close to a legal scam to be honest (especially the 12k thing).

Waiting 8 Monts 😢for wide fov lenzen

I was going to sell my Q3 to get a 699 crystal light. After watching this, not only i am keeping my Q3, but i will never put my attention again on any pimax product. Constantly fooling people is the best way to ruin yourself, either you re selling tobacco in a street shop, or are a multinational industry. Amazingly stupid marketing strategy.

There's actually one more thing you forgot to talk about: the earphones. For "some reason", all the earphones we can see on RU-vid, attached to Pimax Crystal Light headsets are the (high quality) DMAS ones. But the earphones that are shipped to consumers are the SMAS earphones which nobody was really able to review (and you talked about this shady move in your own review, actually). And if a consumer is interested in a DMAS upgrade, it costs an additional $100 (and they're out of stock anyway!). I'm really tempted to go with the Crystal Light in replacement of my "soon to be obsolete" Reverb G2, but I don't know. Should I really give money to a company with such bad methods?

I am glad I am holding out. I never pre-order anything, I always advise people to wait at least a year for products especially from Pimax to mature and logistically be available before forking out the cash. As an early adopter, you're not only testing out their products but are also being tested on patience.

I have a love/hate relationship with them too. The Crystal is among the best right now, but it took three tries to get a decent one (that still has issues). But they’re one of our only pcvr choices!

Thank you. It is intentional. Here we go again. They don't even have a working prototype for the Super but they say they are shipping in 3 months. You know that is a lie. Pimax knows it's a lie. Don't they?

Any idea how long will it take for the Crystal Light to ship? I can't find any time frame. Anyone else having this experience?

Was going to go for the non local dimming version. Then briefly thought about stepping up to the dimming version. Now I’m mad and will get my 30 back and will find a different company to support.

Sebastian, great job on this…..are you going to the Flight Sim Expo next week?

yes this is scandalous, this is like false advertising, lies, scam.

this is the reason why i dont really care so much about them the fact that they act like a whole new company every time they release something new

It’s their trend, you nailed it.

Great video, thank you, MRTV for addressing this! Looks like we shouldn't trust any word from Pimax and only look at what's already available. And wait for reviews before ordering a headset. And assume that the company won't exist tomorrow since it looks like it's run by teenagers. My take, I'd rather wait for some good product from Valve or etc than buying from Pimax.

Wow! Im staying far far away from Pimax!!... Im just gonna wait and see what Valve are up too and other reliable and honest companies, but in the meantime i'll stick with my Quest3 which is an awesome all rounder - Meta rocks! 🙂

Is that what a Taipei room looks like? good video Seb

Basic rule of VR hardware: Don't buy anything before seeing hands-on reviews from people you trust. The specs don't tell the full picture (optics etc.). The device might not even exist.

The best thing to do, is to wait and see. They can talk a lot, but what’s matter is the final result. At the moment I’ll buy a new flat oled for gaming. And i’ll keep my hpr2 till it works 😊

Did @pimax sad something about canceling The LITE 699 version did anyone get this headset?

Yeah, when they bait and switch like that, I feel like I have dementia because I go for the original price and what not. This is a good video you made thanks.

And how about where is the 60 hz refresh rate please ?

Totally agree with you. I feel for sweeviver needing to try to work around their flip flopping nonsense. I'm glad you pressured them to return the 699 unit. Honestly though they need to have a consistent track record for afew years before I will trust anything they say.

How’s that 12K OLED working out?

And as today the better audio option (100£ more) it's out of stock!? I am happy I decided to wait for the reviews of it. Also as people point out it's never been the price they promise. The headset with controllers and local dimming with the better audio placed to my house it turns out to be 1.000£. Very far from the initial 699$ AND with Pimax guarantees that we all know are inexistence.

Another fantastic video, really looking after your subscribers interest 😀

I think you are 💯 correct! Thank you for making this video it needed to be made!

I have G2 and I didn't buy Crystal Light because they promised to launch super version in q4 2024. I totally agree with Sebastian. Trustfulness is very important. You have to respect your customers if you want your company to thrive. There're already gossips about Pimax on Reddit that they don't keep their promise.

I have the 8KX do you remember that the were going to give you the consumer a trade in on the 12 kx that disappeared

That's why I like Meta more: they continually develop products, a "leak" gets out and a while later the product comes at the market and you can pay through normal channels.

It is a pity they do not communicate appropiately. I think people will be disapointed. Expectations need to be managed correcly or you losw credibility. Thank you for the video. Your credibility however has gone up for me.❤

Honestly, most complaints about Pimax business practices can be applied to just about any smaller Chinese tech company - marketing materials and even product images on retailer sites that look nothing like the actual product, promised features that are always "coming" but never do, lots of cut corners when it comes to cutting costs, and horrible, terrible, no good, awful customer support.

I am among those who hoped to exchange their pimax5k for the 12k version as foreseen by the promotion, adding the price difference, but I am still here waiting and I have not lost hope that pimax can respect that promise.

I am not privy to the insides of the business world but is it possible that they make these big announcement also to lure in investors ?

Thank you

Pimax $699 hmd has no screens. They made a deal to buy X number of mini led 2880 screens for crystal and LG probably doesn't ship a none local dimming version that is $699 eligible. So yet another promise that's not reality. Supply chain scam

i order on may 15th and paid first day the 899.99 cause they told me to update ... they are terrible at communicating znd now i have to wait till july for my shipment. MRTV told me to buy it and now... NOW you tell me not too???

Agree, they need to mature and act like a professional business

This is very disappointing to hear. I could tell that Pimax is trying to keep relations strong through email and customer support with my own current experience. So this sleazy marketing tactic is going to hurt them in the long run if they don't change course ASAP. Good on you MRTV for trying to keep them honest by highlighting this.

I heard about one week ago that the non-local dimming version was canceled. Can’t remember where exactly. Maybe supply issues with the non local dimming version? Maybe the local dimming version sold so much better than the 699$ version that they don’t bother to start aan assembly line? Maybe it sold too good and they want to push the local dimming version (higher profit). Just speculation...

Sebastian, you have been more than fair with Pimax over the years. Bending over backwards to support them but at some point you have to call BS. "We are not stupid!"

Pimax marketing just throws poop to see what kind of poop sticks and then see if it's even possible to keep the promise if not just take the poop back pretending it never flew at you. I still remember original commercial for crystal it was supposto be ultra wide 12k like you mentioned that never came to be so can probably assume their promising bs with that m-oled version in future too.

Thanks Seb, you and we know why they do it, you said it without saying it. 😊

It's so shitty, there are still some links to the Light without local dimming on the OFFICAL WEBSITE, now leading to "page not found". They didn't even bother wiping clean every evidence. I'm so torn, my Rift S from 2019 is way to low resolution for me now and while the Quest 3 looks like a nice upgrade, compression, battery life, all accessories like straps seems too much for a PCVR experience only. So the Crystal Light seems perfect but with all the history of Pimax and now this, hard not to feel conflicted. Also showing a lower price that's actully a payment in two steps is yet another scummy trick

This is one of the main reasons why I follow your channel, I feel great confidence in your complete honesty and independence when evaluating a product. Another reason that shows that Pimax is not ethical when it comes to selling and promoting its products is that, deliberately, they send their products to reviewers with Dmax speakers, knowing that the standard ones, those that we are going to receive with our purchase, They are not of good quality.

Good video. Honesty is important outside of china 👍🏻

Totally agree I think the people at Pimax are HDHD they almost finnish something and drop it and move on to something else before they finnish the first one, everything is incomplete. And i fell into thet buy now and get the 12 k thing ...what a lie.

....and what about the 42ppi lenses that where suppose to be included with the purchase of the Crystal!? Did anybody receives these lenses? I for one did not. And with that failure they offered to suppliment an increased FOV lenses in its place but not without charging you for them. Ordered thoses months ago, still waiting. My next headset won't be a Pimax!

oh. you are right !

Yeah what happened to the 699 version you are correct this bait and switch they get you hooked on the idea and then they never give it

I know the company need to do what's best for them to keep pushing forward but they have screwed the pooch on this one. How hard would it to have been to admit they have over reached and had to refocus on their product line up to meet underestimated demand/costs? It would have sucked but at least you could understand it's business! Pimax should offer those with a preorder code for the non-dimming version a voucher for a huge discount on DMAS earphones to go towards an upgrade or something. They have a great product but without the trust in a company, how would any invest in them? I mean...now I have questions on how long they'll be supporting certain headsets or if they do a Meta Quest and start adding advertisements, all things that go against (or change the essence of) what we originally purchased.

Can't agree more with you. I would even add that they continually launch new products all the time when the previous ones have still issues to solve. like they don't launch really finalized optimazed products.. so the consumers continually are feeling like abandoned or something.

I did pre-order the $699 version early on, even before the options for no controller and faceplate pre-orders were a thing. Never received an email saying it was time for me to complete the full purchase. Found out from you and other RU-vidrs that pre-orders were over and you could straight up buy now... but still no news of $699 version. And when you click on their website for the $699 version, the page no longer exists. I saw the delivery schedule and panicked so I just went in and bought the $899 version. It put me way behind in the queue due to my full purchase date so very frustrating. Felt screwed over a bit, but there's evidence all over the Pimax Reddit so I knew nothing would get done.

Yeah, I noticed also today that the 699$ version was gone. If you go over their menu there is it listed but with a "coming soon" notice and if you click on the link you come to a 404 error site.

I am not dare anymore to buy anything from Pimax. 5k super and 8kx were enough experience.

I've always avoided Pimax due to their lenses, how are they compared to Quest 3 these days?

I tried to order one when it finally got available on the pimax store. but my order was canceled as soon as I enter my address. seems like they don't ship to Norway for now. Nothing I could find when I look at the store page. I can order a hotas joystick system from China and get it at my door less then a week, Guess I will have to buy something else. Fear its yet another Valve Index history. Never came to Norway.

Told Pimax that there discount system they have to stop with. They can do small discounts but not things like the 12k and Super price.

“Become a normal company” 😂😂😂😂😂 lol

This is why I haven’t bought the pimax crystal light yet. The $700 version is not there just the $900 one and it’s expensive. Kinda glad I already have the bigscreen beyond so I may just stick with that for a while. People on Reddit sure were right about Pimax being over promising. This really is a problem

Thanks for roasting them Seb. But will they change? Pimax presale stuff has to be taken with a grain of salt. Pimax reviewed AND is shipping = Then make your choice.

That's not right, especially if your business is well established. I would look for another company.

They really should be more transparent. Maybe there was barely any interest in that version or something was more difficult or expensive than expected which made them ditch or postpone it.

Pimax is like the Circus: they promise to show you Live! Actual! Elephants! But when you pay your money and get inside the tent, you find a dog in an elephant suit. It really is bait and switch, and at this stage, it's very likely intentional. I mean, once is an accident, twice is an incident... but three or more times of doing this sort of, "We're offering this awsome thing--oops! Changed our minds, sucks to be you!" is, at best, incompetence, and, at worst, fraud (which is why, in many jurisdictions, engaging in "bait and switch" tactics is illegal). . I was looking seriously at buying the Crystal light, and even considering the local dimming model... but I don't buy products from companies that consistently lie, even "accidentally". Good video, Sebastian, keep calling companies out! ❤

OK, so I think I'll wait for the Reverb G2 replacement to have OLED screens, pancake lenses, Display Port cable and not be made by Pimax.

This is the difference between large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises. The characteristics of the country of origin are also important.

That's awesome which u mentioned about it

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

I think companies that don't keep their release date promises have a lot of internal problems. Consumers should keep this in mind.

Looks like reverb g2 still king lol 😂

I dont imagine play in MSFS without VR.

Agree completely with you. It's a very stupid and short-sided move on their part to do this. The Crystal Light with local dimming is still a pretty good deal for what you get considering the Crystal sells for $1599. It's completely unnecessary. They're obviously scared about the new competition and trying to scoop up market share before they enter. They will probably now make a small batch of them to fulfill the pre-orders they got and then not reopen orders claiming they don't have enough demand for that version. I remember somebody mentioning Pimax doing something like this in the past, I forget which product it was. They can only get away with it so many times before people will either settle for a lesser headset or actually pay more just to avoid them. The support horror stories aren't helping them much either. After the Asus debacle, they should really read the room so to speak. Pimax needs to sort themselves out and give the boot to whoever is making these terrible decisions. I'm still holding out hope that the Crystal Super can be decent but I try to make it a point whenever I bring it up to caution people that the claimed Q4 2024 release is almost certainly not going to happen. Pimax has had delays on almost every headset they've ever put out. If Valve or somebody else comes along with something notably higher res than the Crystal/VR1 and more reasonably priced than the XR-4 then Pimax could be in trouble. Somnium could probably do with a little better communication as well. The CEO claimed in the "final" end of April update that they would be opening orders in 2-3 weeks. Now here we are in Mid-June. In a recent video he claims they'll be making an announcement about orders this week as well as Somnium Connect. And this week is when he was planning on holding Somnium Connect. I didn't see any announcement explaining the delay. I really hope they deliver on their claims of taking QA seriously as both Pimax and Varjo have had problematic releases. It'd be nice to have more competition in the high-end VR segment. But not being more open about issues doesn't help inspire much confidence. Oh and yes the full price trade in for the 12K is not looking good. If they do actually go through with it I wouldn't be surprised if they lowball people's trade-in value for regular wear and tear or charge near XR-4 level prices and eventually drop it down after many have done the trade-in.

I ordered the $899 version.. it said 6/8 weeks... I live in Argentina and used a USA address since I'm visiting the States in 9 weeks.. hopefully I'm lucky enough to see my Crystal Lol..

100%. I requested a refund on the Crystal Light because I just don't trust Pimax. I told them I was holding out for the Super but I'm really waiting for Somnium VR1 or a Valve announcement.

Every business makes the biggest mistake by not listening to the user. They all want maximum profit, and forget why they made the product in the first place.