Tested Pico 4

Flank space Positional audio from the integrated speakers can be quite convincing, but there’s no 3.5mm port for adding wired headphones.

Trackin’ my arms again

The controllers’ buttons are nice and clicky, respond near-instantly when you press them, and are all within easy reach. Tracking is great, with curved rings that cut down on accidental bumps and bangs, plus haptic vibration. from £379 / go.stuff.tv/Pico4

Save VR’s day

With higher-res displays and a friendlier build, Pico’s sci-fi ski goggles want to end the tyranny of the Meta Quest 2

We’ve come a long way from the neck-straining headsets of early VR. The Pico 4’s battery is placed at the rear for better weight distribution, plus you get ample padding with excellent wicking to stop you turning into a sweaty mess during long sessions of Creed: Rise to Glory.

The pancake optics deliver an impressively wide 105° view, with minimal flaring from any light that manages to sneak past the face mask. The 4K+ resolution and 1200ppi pixel density minimise any screen-door effect, and the 90Hz refresh rate should be high enough to avoid motion sickness.

Pico’s game catalogue has over 150 titles available to buy, but it pales in comparison to Meta’s. The headset’s built-in fitness tracking seems a little generous, with our smartwatch suggesting fewer calories had been burned.

The 16MP pass-through camera lets you see your real surroundings in colour. It’s not quite AR quality, but clear enough to read a text on your phone without having to take off the headset. But it’s just a 2D image so it can’t show depth – be careful when reaching for drinks.

From a full charge, you can expect 2-3hrs of playtime from the Pico 4. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but you’ll definitely want to give your eyes a rest before then. Refuelling takes almost 2hrs.

Wee cells’ sanctuary

They come with disposable AA batteries, but you can swap them for your own rechargeables to cut down on waste. We chalked up over 15hrs of VR time and barely made a dent in either controller’s battery gauge. Techspecs

Resolution 2160x2160 per eye, 90Hz Processor Snapdragon XR2 RAM 8GB Storage 128/256GB OS Pico OS 5.0 Connectivity Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C Battery 5300mAh Dimensions 255-310x163x80mm, 586g

STUFF SAYS A nice-priced headset, but Meta has the edge for big exclusives

This headset’s slimline optics make it a real Quest 2 rival

Tom Morgan-Freelander Thanks to its power, high-quality optics and consistent tracking with no obvious input lag, the Pico 4 delivers a more immersive VR experience than Meta’s Quest 2, while the better weight distribution makes it more comfy despite being heavier. Hardware is only half the battle, though, and Meta offers lots more exclusive games. You can stream PC VR software to the Pico via USB or Wi-Fi, but as a standalone unit it’s limited.