I've tried a friends Index, and it is good. Was it 3 times as good as the money I'd spent my Q2 and modest pcvr setup? Nope. Not even close. Compression artifacts. Fidelity was better, but honestly, ppl make it sound like the Q2 looks like a worn vhs tape, and the Index blueray 4k lol. Course the Index was better, but the difference in immersion (imho) was negligible. I was all set to buy an Index a few months after I'd upgraded to the Q2. When I finally was able to try it....as above, nice, FOV was lovely, but given I'd played HL:a on max at 90htz, and was trying the same game? Not intended to invalidate your opinion or purchasing decision, but I put away the additional £1,200 id have spent on the Index (never mind upgrading pc to get the best out of it) into a next gen upgrade war chest. Whilst I have annoyances Meta, why beyond the lockout concerns I'd want to drop another £400 on a beta headset with much more limited library is beyond me. Then to be tethered to a pc again all just to dispel the compression artifacts lol. Your milage obviously varies.
Some good points there and as someone who owned a Valve Index, I actually used my Q2 more for PC VR because I liked the convenience of wireless gameplay via Virtual Desktop. However, I have started to get back into sim-racing recently and the wire doesn't bother me BUT the screen on the Pico N3L is better than the Index so I can justify my purchase 😀 What are you planning on buying with your "War Chest?"
@@MacInVR Lol, that's the rub it doesn't really exist yet, beyond some Cambria / psvr2 features - eye tracking and fovated rendering (preferably with somekind of dlss pcvr integration) Will 'the next gen' be enough for me to part with the £2000 I've got put away? Don't honestly know Mac. It's kind of back to my Q2 expenditure vs Index for relative immersion. The key to the chest? 1. INDEX-esq FOV (certainly better than the Quest 2) 2. F-rendering and eye tracking 3. I'm not married to wireless, but I have a family, 2 kids and we have 2 x Q2's. I really don't want them directly connecting to it. So preference for standalone and pcvr capability. So it sort of rules out the PS5. Beyond the fact I don't own one, it will represent a good bundled solution for millions I'm sure. I'll never say never, but the influx of pcvr mods, coupled with the generally much cheaper steam games (generally headset agnostic) will likely remain a better fit. I'm 48 bud. Whilst I recognise that impact vests, fancy guns n treadmill gadgets add value to the immersion, for me that sort of stuff is for the ultra niche 1% of vr gamers. For me, immersion is with the fidelity and ultimately will be the increasing realism of graphics. Then, it's down to developers to capitalise on the extra power. Most ppl will agree that between HL:a, Saints and Sinners and Boneworks, the immersion (quite rightly) goes beyond the graphics, it extends to what you can DO and INTERACT with whilst playing. Too often I find it immersion breaking when I see an object on a table and I can't touch it, knock it down, move it etc. Like you I'm 'all in' when it comes to advocating for VR. Hoping the PSVR2 also invigorates the market and raises the bar. Sorry for the length 🥴
@@MacInVR Another thing which you raised. It can be important to understand a person's potential use case. A pcvr dedicated sim player quite rightly shouldn't worry about a cable, and their headset options are as varied as their willingness to spend. Somebody who just wants and can only utilise standalone? Q2 or Pico. Based on the library, Meta discounts and criss buy, I'd advise the Q2 in general. Then you get the hybrid(?) Vr user demographic. I guess this is me. I enjoy many Q2 standalone titles, own a decent(ish) pc, but also enjoy the odd sim like starwars Squadrons, ED etc. Thus for me the Q2 is akin to a Swiss army knife. Utilitarian but not best of breed in most categories (except perhaps standalone) Kr, Stuart
@@stuartburns8657 Good points, but I do also stand by my original statement. If I were to pick 1 all around headset I'd prefer the Quest 2 for the wireless ability, game library, and the low "friction" of use. The Reverb G2 is my daily driver because I play more PCVR than standalone, I mostly play seated in a swivel chair so the tracking is fine, and the compression artifacts on the Quest 2 are very apparent to me after using the G2. The audio is also superior on the G2, but Quest 2 audio is good. Despite having higher resolution, I get smoother frame rates on the G2 in demanding games because of not having the extra overhead of compression and decompression. I would think that the Neo 3 Link with the same resolution as the Quest 2 would also look better visually for PCVR when using the Displayport, but that would not matter to someone who values wireless play over visual fidelity. The visual artifacts on the Quest 2 while playing PCVR aren't very noticeable without a true PCVR headset with comparable resolution to compare it to. (Index resolution is significantly lower, and spread over a wider fov.) I do wish Meta would add a Displayport. I read somewhere that it would be very inexpensive to add it, so they would still have a great price point, but I think they are going all in on wireless, which will be a good bet in the long run as bandwidth keeps increasing.
I have two Quest 2 headsets both 64gb, an elite battery strap, hard case, a halo style strap, various VR cover interfaces, unused foams, controller protectors, a 5 meter PC cable and more and I’d trade the lot for one Pico Neo 3 Link in a heartbeat. I can’t stand Meta or their Quest 2 headset any longer.
Thanks for this video. I ordered mine a few days ago and only after the fact realized the head strap might be in the way of battery extensions. But it looks like there's enough space beneath the built in battery to put an external one. As long as the charging wire is long enough to reach around toward the top usb charging port at the top front.
Hey Mac or other commenters. Can anyone explain his comment at 4:15? How could “virtual desktop” make the wireless pcvr performance better? Great video! I use rift S so I’m not very familiar with these newer headsets. I was excited that people were saying the neo 3 pcvr performance is better than the quest 2s, and hopefully the neo 4 is announced tomorrow (sep 22, 2022) and also has no compromises pcvr. Loved the overview!
The Pico wireless software is a bit rubbish tbh, virtual desktop is a slick and seamless way of playing PC VR wirelessly. It also includes SSW and various performance tweaks plus its been out for over 2 years and has been continually honed by the dev.
Great video! Just found these (Pico Neo 3) on the web and wanted a closer look! Defo one to consider now. Much appreciated for sharing your honest thoughts! 👌
I can't get the display port to connect, wireless works fine but with display port I get steamvr error 422, tried everything including uninstalling and re-installing steamvr and making sure they are on the same drive.
Sticking with my quest 2 for now, I want to wait a few years until something truly groundbreaking comes out then I will upgrade my entire rig as well as the headset
So far sticking with my Quest 2(Though I really dislike the Meta login crap). Maybe I'll get something with the next generation. Personally looking for better FOV and IPD adjustment, but not really a resolution bump. I think the Quests 2 PPI is decent enough as is, in comparison to how much more GPU performance a higher resolution would require. That, and I'm never going back to a cable.
Nice vid, somes up my experience. My first impression was quite negative. But i grow on it: My next video will feature the positive sides of the Pico. :) I hope the patch that pico announced for 15. june will be a big improvement.
Love your vids Mac keep em coming! I am interested in this headset, but at the moment I don't think their are enough advantages with it that I would want to buy in already owning the Q2. If I didn't already on an Oculus.... This probably would be my choice. Can't wait to see how this headset shakes out and what the stand alone lib. looks like down the road.
Great vid Mac. Really pleased that things are starting to get ironed out. I would certainly think about one in the fulture, (especially if meta don't sort out my payment problem soon🤬).
Helpful hint re virtual desktop. If you are on the PTC for the Oculus PC software turn it off as it interferes with the sound for the next few releases.
I'm glad you found some peace with the headset. Personally it's still not for me especially with Cambria/PSVR 2 around the corner. I'll save my dealings with a wire and pulley system for the PSVR 2. 😁👊🍺
I find it funny that this thing was advertised as a Quest competitor. But most youtubers and probably others too end up replacing their Index with it instead. I was on the edge of getting the index just as this one became available to buy. And thought that this thing may work well as my first headset. With the addition of standalone stuff on top of PCVR. Got it four days ago and not a second of my time has been spent in regret. The upcoming stuff seems good too, nice to have something to hope from the future. The Pico browser seems bat at video playback. The 360vr videos on youtube simply just don't work. Not sure if the problem is my ancient router or what. And even though there are plenty of titles available already, there is not too much free ones. I lke to just open a game i haven't touched ever and have fun with it for a few moments before switching to another one, so committing to paid ones seems harder. Need to research the game before buying. I do a little gamedevelopment as a hobby, and the package seems better than Quest so i wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of indie projects popping up soon. Right now not too much of those though. If all goes as it seems to be going this thing is going to be an indie heaven soon. If not, there already is pc stuff.
The Pico shows pretty good, that a good edge to edge clarity is more important than a high FoV or a more sharp image in the middle (Reverb G2). I'm close to say that the Pico is even better than the G2, even when it have a bit lower resolution.
I'm sticking with my quest 2 as I've just upgraded my PC so I can seamlessly play PC VR games on it. so I'm more than happy. I'm just waiting for the PSVR 2 to come out and that will be my new baby
Mac, just to let you know. How appreciative I am of your channel . You have been so informative and funny . I trust your judgement on topics on hardware and software .and the fact you come from an emergency service background to boot testament to your dedication in whatever you do. Now as your future agent 😀 I have a suggestion. Other tube channels promote G FUEL ENERGY DRINK. Fuck that bruv. We need to introduce the MEGA MAC IN VR JUICE.
I would be interested in the successor to the 3 link especially in comparison to the next meta quest. I hope there will be a version of virtual desktop for it soon.
They are aiming to beat Meta to release and they give you 35% off the price if you purchased Neo 3 link which sealed the deal for me. This has been my best HMD purchase so far but there are some teething troubles, more especially the User experience/UI that could be ironed out.
@Dan Brown After my initial problems (thanks for helping btw) I now love my Pico N3L. Great for PC VR, fantastic screen and when we get VD, good wireless gaming too 👍
@@MacInVR did you have windows 11 for airlink? With mine windows 11 was terrible. That tpm issue, anyway went to 10 and my link software with big screen was amazing. It even was better than the quest 2 with oculus software with big screen. So maybe it was the tpm issue with 11. Open vr is also developing link software too. I asked the group about xr support for Pico the dev said yes but couldn't really go into it since he really didn't own a Pico to test. And he was just one dev of many on that project. So ya developers are going to Pico neo 3. And I'm actually excited especially since Pico just launched the streaming app on steam for the link headset
Glad you got past the Beta user experience. did you figure out the 90hz mode as well? As previously I recommend OpenXR which can give a nice little performance boost once you have everything configured which does take a little time. You can adjust the included foveated rendering as well FOV, colour, brightness, saturation etc etc as well as upscale, it really is an amazing tool for free.. It is a great little HMD for the price and once they get the teething troubles and UI sorted, it really is an obstacle course finding what you want, then it will be incredible. Also don't for get that 35% off the Cambria beater later this year!
sticking with the q2 link looks pretty good. Performance is good and audio isn't bad. 400 for a new headset that while an upgrade d who knows how worth it is
The FOV on the pico is comparable to the Index?? At this point with my wifi 6 router and air link...I still use the Quest 2 over my Rift S but the FOV on the Quest 2 leaves more to be desired..
Warning: If you keep the battery 100% charged its lifespan will drasticly decrease. Optimal way is to keep battery at 50-70% of capacity. (knowledge based on experience of laptop service personel and electric vehicles owners). Solution: plug Your charger to power extension cord with splitter and switch, use for 1-2 hours on battery with charger off, then turn on to charge fpr 2 hours then repeat. Should works like a charm.
I've been looking at VR mainly from the point of view of a film enthusiast, (looking for a big screen experience). The Quest 2 works quite well, but I tend to use only streaming services that are available via the browser; BBC, All4, Disney+, Amazon Prime etc. Do you have any thoughts about using the DisplayPort as an input for a blu-ray player?
@@MacInVR Thank you very much for the heads up. I think that I'll have to upgrade my computer first before I can access Neos on the Quest 2. The Neo 3 Link does look promising though, especially with its ease of sideloading.
How much clearer is the Pico image to the Quest2 and is the 3D depth better? Is it worth getting the Pico if i only use the Quest for PC gaming - mainly racing sims and flight sims. Thanks. New sub here and love your content :)
Ahhh...good question 🤔 So difficult, with the DP cable you can do 4k UHD at 90hz and it looks incredible but is it £399 better? If you're flush then yes BUT if you're on a budget, maybe no?
@@MacInVR Mm. ok. I can afford to get one, but maybe i'll wait and see what else appears on the market in the near future. If the Pico has only that extra bit of clarity then its not £399 worth it. Thanks for replying :)
Hi and thanks for this great explanation video. I'm really interested in the Pico 3 because of the Display port and I'm glad the width / scaling issue has been fixed. But i was wondering if the Neo 3 can play Oculus PC exclusives through Revive. have you tried titles like Lone echo, Stormland, or Wilson's heart? Does it work with those?
@@MacInVR ok thanks anyway, I'm about to receive It and I'll try myself. Regarding the width issue, I understand i have to set Steam VR as default openxr client, but what about the boundaries? You mean those of the Pico, or the ones you set up in Steam VR too? To be clear I also use the Reverb G2 and I think it's amazing, but I'd like to have another headset with display port and a resolution higher than Index and Rift s, at a reasonable price.
I have an Rift CV1 and a Quest 2, I still use my Rift most of the time because of the inside-out tracking sucks for FPS games. How is the tracking for FPS games? Does it lose tracking when your hand gets close to the side of your head?
As a Quest 2 owner, as encouraging as the Neo fixes are, I can't justify buying one. I'm about 70/30 standalone/PCVR at the moment, so it makes more sense for me to let the Pico ecosystem develop and see where we are come Q3 and PN4 time. It's quite possible that despite my game/app library, I'll be tempted by Pico next time. Either way, the rivalry is good for consumers.
@@MacInVR This is what I'm hoping will happen over the next year. Even aside from the official store, Quest has Sidequest and AppLab, which adds a lot of value, to what is still nascent technology, through tech demos and pre-release, but there's plenty of opportunity for Pico to match, or better Meta's offerings. With their lead on PCVR performance, an enhanced standalone experience could easily make them a Meta Quest killer, as well as arguably having a less toxic brand.
Nah while I think it's clearly a better choice than the Quest2 I don't want an LCD screened headset. I'll hopefully get my Arpara AIO before too long? I still have my original Quest and a Pimax 5K XR headset.
@@MacInVR Yeh they do sound pretty awesome but who knows when they will be available to us? No one is indicating an intention to use them any time soon.
Thanks for the videos. Would you recommend this as an affordable headset for someone interested in trying VR? Besides one (unimpressive) session with PSVR in the past I have basically no experience with VR. I am not interested in the wireless or the standalone features but using it for VR games on Steam. Seeing as the Pico comes with a DP cable for direct connection and a better strap out of the box, it seems like a better choice over the Quest2 (also pricewise after upgrading the strap and getting a link cable for the Quest2). Thoughts? Also, did you get rid of the motion sickness issues from the initial video?
I did get rid of the scaling problem, was a simple fix (turn the boundary back on and make sure openXR is set to steamVR). If you are just wanting to play PC VR then I can recommend the Pico Neo 3 Link BUT currently, the Quest 2 is a more rounded and polished product (but you'd have to buy an elite strap + USB C cable or Virtual Desktop for good PC VR).
@@MacInVR Thanks a lot for your response! After reading a bunch of comments, looks like there's an update coming in a few days for the Pico, will keep an eye on the improvements they make
Hi Mac , and people in da house :) im still running on my old rift ....which i love , probably more than i should ...haha....but i have no other experience with any other pc vr hmd....im a sim head so being tethered isnt a major problem for me ....i was all set on getting a q2 then the pico popped up... i presume in my position , would people advise the pico to be my first choice ? thanks in advance to any responses :)
got my Pico Neo 3 recently and it's a very mixed bag for me. Although i can see the benefits of the DP image quality there are some major issues i have with the headset. First and foremost for me personally the FOV is much lower than on my Quest 2. On The Pico i have about 106v and 80h and on my Quest 2 it's 118v and 84h (widest lense distance on both headsets). The Quest 2 image also does feels better and more natural, whereas in the Pico i get headcaches after a while. There is something off with the scaling and i also see chromatic aberation at the edges of the screen. For anything standalone related, whether it's native headset games or PCVR i cannot recommend the Pico and while the DP mode looks cleaner and sharper and also does seem to work better with GPU heavy STEAM VR games on mid or lower end systems (RTX 2070S) i still would prefer the Quest 2 using Virtual Desktop. Also the speakers of the Pico are just terrible. I do not use headphones and the Quest 2 sound is actually pretty decent, so that is a major downside for me too.
As someone who almost exclusively plays pcvr quest 2 with a cable. Would you recommend me to replace my quest 2 with the pico neo 3? I was curious about the tracking. Is it on par or better than the quest 2? Also, i use a laptop for vr which doesn't have a display port adapter. I could use a converter but I'm afraid that that would introduce noticable latency. What are your thoughts?
At this moment, I cannot recommend anyone changes from Q2 to Pico. DP is nice BUT there are too many other issues that Q2 does much better and also has virtual desktop. The Pico is uncomfortable for long game sessions too. On the plus side, the FoV is better and that screen is nice but NOT $399 better. Save your money and wait for Quest Pro or Pico 4/Pico 4 Pro
i sure hope it looks as good on pc as he says as i have just moved from cv1 to this,i dont care for face book meta crap, recently aqquired a rtx 2080ti i hope that will push it along ok.
If pico neo 3 headset internal battery is damaged permanently will I be able to run this headset using power adapter without replacing the headset's battery?
So far it's a great headset for me but I have an issue in certain games where the hand shows above where the controllers are and its really difficult to play. Did you experience this ? This is the only thing stopping me from using this headset which is a shame
@@MacInVR nice one cheers mate considering swapping my Reverb G2 for one of these because of all the software issues with WMR will wait a little and see though I think.
Have my one since yesterday. The first impressions was not so well, light leakage on the sides, not very comfy and still some distortions in the standalone mode. They today beta Link software (DP mode) looks promising, no distortions on the 63,5mm IPD position (other are still need to be fixed) and the image is in the middle maybe not as sharp than my Reverb G2, but man is that edge to edge clarity good! I guess the Pico spoiled my G2. And the performance of the Pico over DP is impressively good, also much much better than the G2 (WMR - go to hell!). I also like that you can easily use Android apps on this device, the most works without a problem. Only video streaming apps like Prime, Netflix, Crunchyroll etc. didn't work yet (black video image because of video DRM issues). But you can do a lot with Android apps.
I love my Pico neo 3 it's not a link but ya after going to windows 10 is amazing now. It uses a different link software than the link. Airlink is great. Do not use windows 11 with the Pico it just doesn't perform well
Hey fwiw "TH-camr" refers to people who make videos not the people who watch them. I'm sure some of your audience are fellow TH-camrs but it's not a very inclusive welcome 😅
If you're getting chromatic aberration, then the headset hasn't been seated on your head properly. For example, raise the headstrap to 90 degrees, place the headset on your face and move around till the image is pin sharp, then fasten the headset at that point. I've mentioned how to overcome this as has GamertagVR on his channel 😀
@@MacInVR The fov on quest 2 seems to be a lil wider...don't know maybe because of the facial interface...and the tracking is more accurate...and when I use DP on the pico link there's horizontal lines on the screen...
I'm not interested beyond my curiosity to watch someone thoughts. Rather just stick to my quest which is better in lots of ways. I'm not interested in pcvr. Mainly cos I have some amazing headset's. Pretty much all of them under £1400 lol. My most expensive being pimax 8kx. One stand alone that is peaking my interest and wallet is that new pimax stand alone. If they deliver what's promised, that's a tasty stand alone. Costs it too.
Thanks but no thanks, I am happy with my Quest 2 and Reverb G2. But like you said its certanly an alternative for the Quest 2 without the Facebook thingi 🫠
I'm glad you got it sorted. Displayport PCVR is superior for performance and visuals because every Quest 2 solution uses compression.
I've tried a friends Index, and it is good. Was it 3 times as good as the money I'd spent my Q2 and modest pcvr setup?
Nope. Not even close.
Compression artifacts. Fidelity was better, but honestly, ppl make it sound like the Q2 looks like a worn vhs tape, and the Index blueray 4k lol.
Course the Index was better, but the difference in immersion (imho) was negligible.
I was all set to buy an Index a few months after I'd upgraded to the Q2.
When I finally was able to try it....as above, nice, FOV was lovely, but given I'd played HL:a on max at 90htz, and was trying the same game?
Not intended to invalidate your opinion or purchasing decision, but I put away the additional £1,200 id have spent on the Index (never mind upgrading pc to get the best out of it) into a next gen upgrade war chest.
Whilst I have annoyances Meta, why beyond the lockout concerns I'd want to drop another £400 on a beta headset with much more limited library is beyond me.
Then to be tethered to a pc again all just to dispel the compression artifacts lol.
Your milage obviously varies.
Some good points there and as someone who owned a Valve Index, I actually used my Q2 more for PC VR because I liked the convenience of wireless gameplay via Virtual Desktop.
However, I have started to get back into sim-racing recently and the wire doesn't bother me BUT the screen on the Pico N3L is better than the Index so I can justify my purchase 😀
What are you planning on buying with your "War Chest?"
@@MacInVR Lol, that's the rub it doesn't really exist yet, beyond some Cambria / psvr2 features - eye tracking and fovated rendering (preferably with somekind of dlss pcvr integration)
Will 'the next gen' be enough for me to part with the £2000 I've got put away?
Don't honestly know Mac. It's kind of back to my Q2 expenditure vs Index for relative immersion.
The key to the chest?
1. INDEX-esq FOV (certainly better than the Quest 2)
2. F-rendering and eye tracking
3. I'm not married to wireless, but I have a family, 2 kids and we have 2 x Q2's. I really don't want them directly connecting to it.
So preference for standalone and pcvr capability.
So it sort of rules out the PS5. Beyond the fact I don't own one, it will represent a good bundled solution for millions I'm sure.
I'll never say never, but the influx of pcvr mods, coupled with the generally much cheaper steam games (generally headset agnostic) will likely remain a better fit.
I'm 48 bud. Whilst I recognise that impact vests, fancy guns n treadmill gadgets add value to the immersion, for me that sort of stuff is for the ultra niche 1% of vr gamers.
For me, immersion is with the fidelity and ultimately will be the increasing realism of graphics.
Then, it's down to developers to capitalise on the extra power.
Most ppl will agree that between HL:a, Saints and Sinners and Boneworks, the immersion (quite rightly) goes beyond the graphics, it extends to what you can DO and INTERACT with whilst playing.
Too often I find it immersion breaking when I see an object on a table and I can't touch it, knock it down, move it etc.
Like you I'm 'all in' when it comes to advocating for VR.
Hoping the PSVR2 also invigorates the market and raises the bar.
Sorry for the length 🥴
@@MacInVR Another thing which you raised.
It can be important to understand a person's potential use case.
A pcvr dedicated sim player quite rightly shouldn't worry about a cable, and their headset options are as varied as their willingness to spend.
Somebody who just wants and can only utilise standalone?
Q2 or Pico. Based on the library, Meta discounts and criss buy, I'd advise the Q2 in general.
Then you get the hybrid(?) Vr user demographic.
I guess this is me.
I enjoy many Q2 standalone titles, own a decent(ish) pc, but also enjoy the odd sim like starwars Squadrons, ED etc.
Thus for me the Q2 is akin to a Swiss army knife. Utilitarian but not best of breed in most categories (except perhaps standalone)
Kr, Stuart
@@stuartburns8657 Good points, but I do also stand by my original statement. If I were to pick 1 all around headset I'd prefer the Quest 2 for the wireless ability, game library, and the low "friction" of use. The Reverb G2 is my daily driver because I play more PCVR than standalone, I mostly play seated in a swivel chair so the tracking is fine, and the compression artifacts on the Quest 2 are very apparent to me after using the G2. The audio is also superior on the G2, but Quest 2 audio is good. Despite having higher resolution, I get smoother frame rates on the G2 in demanding games because of not having the extra overhead of compression and decompression. I would think that the Neo 3 Link with the same resolution as the Quest 2 would also look better visually for PCVR when using the Displayport, but that would not matter to someone who values wireless play over visual fidelity. The visual artifacts on the Quest 2 while playing PCVR aren't very noticeable without a true PCVR headset with comparable resolution to compare it to. (Index resolution is significantly lower, and spread over a wider fov.) I do wish Meta would add a Displayport. I read somewhere that it would be very inexpensive to add it, so they would still have a great price point, but I think they are going all in on wireless, which will be a good bet in the long run as bandwidth keeps increasing.
I have two Quest 2 headsets both 64gb, an elite battery strap, hard case, a halo style strap, various VR cover interfaces, unused foams, controller protectors, a 5 meter PC cable and more and I’d trade the lot for one Pico Neo 3 Link in a heartbeat. I can’t stand Meta or their Quest 2 headset any longer.
i am not sure if giving money and data to a chinese company which is in the end controlled by the CCP covernment is much better here.
Just wanted to say thanks. I wanted the Pico Neo 3 Link but I wasn't sure until I watched your review.
Thanks for this video. I ordered mine a few days ago and only after the fact realized the head strap might be in the way of battery extensions.
But it looks like there's enough space beneath the built in battery to put an external one. As long as the charging wire is long enough to reach around toward the top usb charging port at the top front.
Hey Mac or other commenters. Can anyone explain his comment at 4:15? How could “virtual desktop” make the wireless pcvr performance better?
Great video! I use rift S so I’m not very familiar with these newer headsets. I was excited that people were saying the neo 3 pcvr performance is better than the quest 2s, and hopefully the neo 4 is announced tomorrow (sep 22, 2022) and also has no compromises pcvr. Loved the overview!
The Pico wireless software is a bit rubbish tbh, virtual desktop is a slick and seamless way of playing PC VR wirelessly. It also includes SSW and various performance tweaks plus its been out for over 2 years and has been continually honed by the dev.
@@MacInVR Thanks! Loved the video
I'll stick with my quest 2. Big FoV would be a game changer for me to get something new, but I don't want to wear a fridge on my face, like the Pimax.
@Rob Perin
Funnily enough Boz, the head of FRL says FoV isn't something they're particularly bothered about 🙄
@@MacInVR FRL?
@@MacInVR oh, Facebook, Should have Googled 1st.
Shame, as that was the only really benefit I felt the index offered over my Q2.
Great video! Just found these (Pico Neo 3) on the web and wanted a closer look! Defo one to consider now. Much appreciated for sharing your honest thoughts! 👌
Thanks mate, appreciate that 👍
@@MacInVR No probs! Excited for the Meta Quest Pro!
11th October for Meta Connect, will get spec, price and release date 😉
@@MacInVR Most excellent! Looking forward to it!
I can't get the display port to connect, wireless works fine but with display port I get steamvr error 422, tried everything including uninstalling and re-installing steamvr and making sure they are on the same drive.
Thanks for the vid Mac. I wish this headset was around last year. I wouldn’t have purchased a quest 2
I know, Quest 2 is still a great headset so hopefully the FB login debacle will go away this year 😉
...but at least now you can't get locked out of your Quest 2 if you get a Facebook ban (like happened to me)
😥😥😥
Sticking with my quest 2 for now, I want to wait a few years until something truly groundbreaking comes out then I will upgrade my entire rig as well as the headset
I think eye tracking and foveated rendering will be the big, game changing innovations for any new headset coming out from now.
@@MacInVR ....especially when it comes to advertising :(
So far sticking with my Quest 2(Though I really dislike the Meta login crap). Maybe I'll get something with the next generation. Personally looking for better FOV and IPD adjustment, but not really a resolution bump. I think the Quests 2 PPI is decent enough as is, in comparison to how much more GPU performance a higher resolution would require. That, and I'm never going back to a cable.
I'll update you when Guy Godin brings Virtual Desktop to Pico headsets 😉
pico 4 announcement is coming in just a couple of days, also has a pro model. i am considering getting it myself
I'll be live streaming the announcement, keep an eye out for that 😉
Nice vid, somes up my experience. My first impression was quite negative. But i grow on it: My next video will feature the positive sides of the Pico. :) I hope the patch that pico announced for 15. june will be a big improvement.
My headset updated to PUI 4.7.1.3 this morning
@@MacInVR Yea that is a small patch but some people already say it improved Stability. Pico will releSe detailed patchnotes for their "big patch"
Love the video. Had been waiting on it. just bought the neo 3 link after it to replace my rift S
Love your vids Mac keep em coming! I am interested in this headset, but at the moment I don't think their are enough advantages with it that I would want to buy in already owning the Q2. If I didn't already on an Oculus.... This probably would be my choice. Can't wait to see how this headset shakes out and what the stand alone lib. looks like down the road.
Great vid Mac. Really pleased that things are starting to get ironed out. I would certainly think about one in the fulture, (especially if meta don't sort out my payment problem soon🤬).
I know, that was so annoying, eventually had to add PayPal via the phone app 😳
Helpful hint re virtual desktop. If you are on the PTC for the Oculus PC software turn it off as it interferes with the sound for the next few releases.
I'm glad you found some peace with the headset. Personally it's still not for me especially with Cambria/PSVR 2 around the corner. I'll save my dealings with a wire and pulley system for the PSVR 2. 😁👊🍺
I use the Kiwi Design Pro V2 silent cable system. It's very good 👍
@@MacInVR sweet, I'll check that out! Mine currently is some cheapy off of Amazon.🤣
I find it funny that this thing was advertised as a Quest competitor. But most youtubers and probably others too end up replacing their Index with it instead.
I was on the edge of getting the index just as this one became available to buy. And thought that this thing may work well as my first headset. With the addition of standalone stuff on top of PCVR. Got it four days ago and not a second of my time has been spent in regret. The upcoming stuff seems good too, nice to have something to hope from the future.
The Pico browser seems bat at video playback. The 360vr videos on youtube simply just don't work. Not sure if the problem is my ancient router or what. And even though there are plenty of titles available already, there is not too much free ones. I lke to just open a game i haven't touched ever and have fun with it for a few moments before switching to another one, so committing to paid ones seems harder. Need to research the game before buying.
I do a little gamedevelopment as a hobby, and the package seems better than Quest so i wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of indie projects popping up soon. Right now not too much of those though. If all goes as it seems to be going this thing is going to be an indie heaven soon. If not, there already is pc stuff.
The Pico shows pretty good, that a good edge to edge clarity is more important than a high FoV or a more sharp image in the middle (Reverb G2). I'm close to say that the Pico is even better than the G2, even when it have a bit lower resolution.
I'm sticking with my quest 2 as I've just upgraded my PC so I can seamlessly play PC VR games on it. so I'm more than happy. I'm just waiting for the PSVR 2 to come out and that will be my new baby
Mac, just to let you know. How appreciative I am of your channel . You have been so informative and funny . I trust your judgement on topics on hardware and software .and the fact you come from an emergency service background to boot testament to your dedication in whatever you do.
Now as your future agent 😀
I have a suggestion.
Other tube channels promote G FUEL ENERGY DRINK. Fuck that bruv. We need to introduce the MEGA MAC IN VR JUICE.
Energy drinks are poison, mac-juice is made with grapes and is therefore one of your 5 a day 😍
I would be interested in the successor to the 3 link especially in comparison to the next meta quest. I hope there will be a version of virtual desktop for it soon.
Guy Godin has said VD is in development for Pico headsets
They are aiming to beat Meta to release and they give you 35% off the price if you purchased Neo 3 link which sealed the deal for me.
This has been my best HMD purchase so far but there are some teething troubles, more especially the User experience/UI that could be ironed out.
@Dan Brown
After my initial problems (thanks for helping btw) I now love my Pico N3L. Great for PC VR, fantastic screen and when we get VD, good wireless gaming too 👍
@@MacInVR did you have windows 11 for airlink? With mine windows 11 was terrible. That tpm issue, anyway went to 10 and my link software with big screen was amazing. It even was better than the quest 2 with oculus software with big screen. So maybe it was the tpm issue with 11. Open vr is also developing link software too. I asked the group about xr support for Pico the dev said yes but couldn't really go into it since he really didn't own a Pico to test. And he was just one dev of many on that project. So ya developers are going to Pico neo 3. And I'm actually excited especially since Pico just launched the streaming app on steam for the link headset
Glad you got past the Beta user experience.
did you figure out the 90hz mode as well?
As previously I recommend OpenXR which can give a nice little performance boost once you have everything configured which does take a little time.
You can adjust the included foveated rendering as well FOV, colour, brightness, saturation etc etc as well as upscale, it really is an amazing tool for free..
It is a great little HMD for the price and once they get the teething troubles and UI sorted, it really is an obstacle course finding what you want, then it will be incredible.
Also don't for get that 35% off the Cambria beater later this year!
So excited 😊
You prefer this headset over the Valve index? I would like to know why! Great video, loved it
sticking with the q2 link looks pretty good. Performance is good and audio isn't bad. 400 for a new headset that while an upgrade d
who knows how worth it is
All good points, like I said in the video, if you have a Q2 then Pico isn't for you 😉
The quest for a Quest competitor!?
Nice 😉
The FOV on the pico is comparable to the Index?? At this point with my wifi 6 router and air link...I still use the Quest 2 over my Rift S but the FOV on the Quest 2 leaves more to be desired..
FoV on Index is a perceived 110' and the Pico N3L is 98'
Warning: If you keep the battery 100% charged its lifespan will drasticly decrease. Optimal way is to keep battery at 50-70% of capacity. (knowledge based on experience of laptop service personel and electric vehicles owners). Solution: plug Your charger to power extension cord with splitter and switch, use for 1-2 hours on battery with charger off, then turn on to charge fpr 2 hours then repeat. Should works like a charm.
Thanks for the tip, my Pico is chucked in a soft bag with the DP cable plugged in and hung from the ceiling 😊
I've been looking at VR mainly from the point of view of a film enthusiast, (looking for a big screen experience). The Quest 2 works quite well, but I tend to use only streaming services that are available via the browser; BBC, All4, Disney+, Amazon Prime etc. Do you have any thoughts about using the DisplayPort as an input for a blu-ray player?
I have no experience with this BUT try @Neos and find the dragon cinema world. You can watch iMax films with Dolby atmos, its incredible 😳
@@MacInVR Thank you very much for the heads up. I think that I'll have to upgrade my computer first before I can access Neos on the Quest 2. The Neo 3 Link does look promising though, especially with its ease of sideloading.
How much clearer is the Pico image to the Quest2 and is the 3D depth better? Is it worth getting the Pico if i only use the Quest for PC gaming - mainly racing sims and flight sims. Thanks. New sub here and love your content :)
Ahhh...good question 🤔
So difficult, with the DP cable you can do 4k UHD at 90hz and it looks incredible but is it £399 better?
If you're flush then yes BUT if you're on a budget, maybe no?
@@MacInVR Mm. ok. I can afford to get one, but maybe i'll wait and see what else appears on the market in the near future. If the Pico has only that extra bit of clarity then its not £399 worth it. Thanks for replying :)
Thanks Mac. Cheers.
Cheers Ron 😉
Hi and thanks for this great explanation video. I'm really interested in the Pico 3 because of the Display port and I'm glad the width / scaling issue has been fixed. But i was wondering if the Neo 3 can play Oculus PC exclusives through Revive. have you tried titles like Lone echo, Stormland, or Wilson's heart? Does it work with those?
I haven't tried using the Pico 3 with Oculus PC VR sorry. Can someone else advise Marco 🤔
@@MacInVR ok thanks anyway, I'm about to receive It and I'll try myself. Regarding the width issue, I understand i have to set Steam VR as default openxr client, but what about the boundaries? You mean those of the Pico, or the ones you set up in Steam VR too? To be clear I also use the Reverb G2 and I think it's amazing, but I'd like to have another headset with display port and a resolution higher than Index and Rift s, at a reasonable price.
I have an Rift CV1 and a Quest 2, I still use my Rift most of the time because of the inside-out tracking sucks for FPS games. How is the tracking for FPS games? Does it lose tracking when your hand gets close to the side of your head?
I haven't had any problems so far, I think the tracking is as good as Quest 2
As a Quest 2 owner, as encouraging as the Neo fixes are, I can't justify buying one. I'm about 70/30 standalone/PCVR at the moment, so it makes more sense for me to let the Pico ecosystem develop and see where we are come Q3 and PN4 time. It's quite possible that despite my game/app library, I'll be tempted by Pico next time. Either way, the rivalry is good for consumers.
It is very good but they need to work on the UI to make it as slick as the Quest 😀
@@MacInVR This is what I'm hoping will happen over the next year. Even aside from the official store, Quest has Sidequest and AppLab, which adds a lot of value, to what is still nascent technology, through tech demos and pre-release, but there's plenty of opportunity for Pico to match, or better Meta's offerings. With their lead on PCVR performance, an enhanced standalone experience could easily make them a Meta Quest killer, as well as arguably having a less toxic brand.
Nah while I think it's clearly a better choice than the Quest2 I don't want an LCD screened headset.
I'll hopefully get my Arpara AIO before too long?
I still have my original Quest and a Pimax 5K XR headset.
I'm looking forward to these micro OLED displays that SadlyItsBradly keeps banging on about 🙂
@@MacInVR Yeh they do sound pretty awesome but who knows when they will be available to us? No one is indicating an intention to use them any time soon.
Hi, quick question. Would you say this is better quality than the Hp Reverb G2 V2? Looking to but my first PCVR headset and stuck between the both?
I have no experience of the G2 V2 so I really can't advise you, sorry 😐
Cheers mac, ordered
1st pn3l unit yesterday had a dead pixel, but the difference was night and day with the cable, 2nd unit was delivered today and no dead pixels :)
Nice 😀
Thanks for the videos. Would you recommend this as an affordable headset for someone interested in trying VR? Besides one (unimpressive) session with PSVR in the past I have basically no experience with VR. I am not interested in the wireless or the standalone features but using it for VR games on Steam. Seeing as the Pico comes with a DP cable for direct connection and a better strap out of the box, it seems like a better choice over the Quest2 (also pricewise after upgrading the strap and getting a link cable for the Quest2). Thoughts?
Also, did you get rid of the motion sickness issues from the initial video?
I did get rid of the scaling problem, was a simple fix (turn the boundary back on and make sure openXR is set to steamVR).
If you are just wanting to play PC VR then I can recommend the Pico Neo 3 Link BUT currently, the Quest 2 is a more rounded and polished product (but you'd have to buy an elite strap + USB C cable or Virtual Desktop for good PC VR).
@@MacInVR Thanks a lot for your response! After reading a bunch of comments, looks like there's an update coming in a few days for the Pico, will keep an eye on the improvements they make
15th June I think 🤔
Im in the U.S. Just waiting for it to happen here. Got the money saved up for it.
They've announced they're doing it, just got to wait for a release date
📅 🤔
Hi Mac , and people in da house :)
im still running on my old rift ....which i love , probably more than i should ...haha....but i have no other experience with any other pc vr hmd....im a sim head so being tethered isnt a major problem for me ....i was all set on getting a q2 then the pico popped up... i presume in my position , would people advise the pico to be my first choice ?
thanks in advance to any responses :)
Quest 2 is a great headset and is a great buy BUT the Pico N3L has no FB login and the screen is better if you have a PC that can do VR via DP
Cheers for the reply 👍
I've messaged to ask if they have any in stock....
got my Pico Neo 3 recently and it's a very mixed bag for me. Although i can see the benefits of the DP image quality there are some major issues i have with the headset. First and foremost for me personally the FOV is much lower than on my Quest 2. On The Pico i have about 106v and 80h and on my Quest 2 it's 118v and 84h (widest lense distance on both headsets). The Quest 2 image also does feels better and more natural, whereas in the Pico i get headcaches after a while. There is something off with the scaling and i also see chromatic aberation at the edges of the screen.
For anything standalone related, whether it's native headset games or PCVR i cannot recommend the Pico and while the DP mode looks cleaner and sharper and also does seem to work better with GPU heavy STEAM VR games on mid or lower end systems (RTX 2070S) i still would prefer the Quest 2 using Virtual Desktop.
Also the speakers of the Pico are just terrible. I do not use headphones and the Quest 2 sound is actually pretty decent, so that is a major downside for me too.
As someone who almost exclusively plays pcvr quest 2 with a cable. Would you recommend me to replace my quest 2 with the pico neo 3? I was curious about the tracking. Is it on par or better than the quest 2? Also, i use a laptop for vr which doesn't have a display port adapter. I could use a converter but I'm afraid that that would introduce noticable latency. What are your thoughts?
At this moment, I cannot recommend anyone changes from Q2 to Pico.
DP is nice BUT there are too many other issues that Q2 does much better and also has virtual desktop. The Pico is uncomfortable for long game sessions too.
On the plus side, the FoV is better and that screen is nice but NOT $399 better.
Save your money and wait for Quest Pro or Pico 4/Pico 4 Pro
@@MacInVR yes thank you. This is the answer i needed. You're of amazing help as always. Thank you!
i sure hope it looks as good on pc as he says as i have just moved from cv1 to this,i dont care for face book meta crap, recently aqquired a rtx 2080ti i hope that will push it along ok.
That's the GPU I have, you'll be fine 🙂
I think the pico is best for my use case. I basically only sim race with it. The quest 2 has horrible artifacting at medium to long distance.
can i donwload games form app lab on the pico neo 3 link cuz i want to know if i can befor buying it
If pico neo 3 headset internal battery is damaged permanently will I be able to run this headset using power adapter without replacing the headset's battery?
I can't imagine a scenario where that could happen?
@@MacInVR after 3-4 years I just want to know if it is possible to use power adapter to bypass internal battery to run this vr headset?
Can you compare it to the HP Reverb G2?
for PCVR cable gaming
I don't have a G2 (unfortunately).
How about do you recommend Neo 3 Link when Meta get rid off Facebook from Quest 2 in about 2 months ?
When that happens, I'll have another look at Quest 2 vs Pico Neo but they did originally say this would be done Q1 2022
So far it's a great headset for me but I have an issue in certain games where the hand shows above where the controllers are and its really difficult to play.
Did you experience this ?
This is the only thing stopping me from using this headset which is a shame
when its plugged into DP does it just function as Steam VR headset or do you have to run pico software in the background?
Functions as a Steam headset, you need the Pico software to connect but you can then just close it down when Steam VR is running
@@MacInVR nice one cheers mate considering swapping my Reverb G2 for one of these because of all the software issues with WMR will wait a little and see though I think.
Have my one since yesterday. The first impressions was not so well, light leakage on the sides, not very comfy and still some distortions in the standalone mode. They today beta Link software (DP mode) looks promising, no distortions on the 63,5mm IPD position (other are still need to be fixed) and the image is in the middle maybe not as sharp than my Reverb G2, but man is that edge to edge clarity good! I guess the Pico spoiled my G2. And the performance of the Pico over DP is impressively good, also much much better than the G2 (WMR - go to hell!).
I also like that you can easily use Android apps on this device, the most works without a problem. Only video streaming apps like Prime, Netflix, Crunchyroll etc. didn't work yet (black video image because of video DRM issues). But you can do a lot with Android apps.
I am sticking with both. Lets see where this goes huh?!
How was your experience with them?
I'll wait for Arpara 😋
Have you heard anything about if this thing is going to be offered in the US?
Not yet, sorry 😐
They're at 350€ at the moment. How's the store going? Does the chromatic aberration still happens?
I sold my Pico Neo 3 Link to get the Pico 4. Can anybody answer @ymd
@@MacInVR was the upgrade worth it for PCVR? What are the biggest differences?
I love my Pico neo 3 it's not a link but ya after going to windows 10 is amazing now. It uses a different link software than the link. Airlink is great. Do not use windows 11 with the Pico it just doesn't perform well
Where did you buy it? Nvm, asked too fast. Doesn't look like I can order it in Belgium.
It was only available in a limited number of European countries, sorry 😞
im interested my quest link sucks maybe it will be better with pico neo 3 link
The Display Port gives you uncompressed PC VR and makes that screen pop on the Pico
I hate anything Facebook! Can I get the pico neo 3 link in the US?
Not yet, sorry 😐
@@MacInVR aww man:/
How do you get the pico neo 3 link?
It's only available in some countries in Europe, Google if it's available in your country
Hey fwiw "TH-camr" refers to people who make videos not the people who watch them. I'm sure some of your audience are fellow TH-camrs but it's not a very inclusive welcome 😅
I didn't know that...hello fellow TH-cam peeps?
@@MacInVR that works!
You haven't mentioned the terrible chromatic aberration.
If you're getting chromatic aberration, then the headset hasn't been seated on your head properly.
For example, raise the headstrap to 90 degrees, place the headset on your face and move around till the image is pin sharp, then fasten the headset at that point.
I've mentioned how to overcome this as has GamertagVR on his channel 😀
@@MacInVR Just like th-cam.com/video/FsfQgL1_9Lc/w-d-xo.html
6:49 Pico Neo 3 Link color bleeding in the vr home environment;
I got the pico link today...and I think the tracking and the FOV are better on the quest 2
FoV on Pico is 98 degrees and 90 on Q2. I haven't had any problems with tracking though, seems similar to Q2 to me. Anything specific?
@@MacInVR The fov on quest 2 seems to be a lil wider...don't know maybe because of the facial interface...and the tracking is more accurate...and when I use DP on the pico link there's horizontal lines on the screen...
Finally... no more Facebook vr
can i buy you index cheap if you no longer need it? :)
Already sold 🙂
I'm not interested beyond my curiosity to watch someone thoughts. Rather just stick to my quest which is better in lots of ways. I'm not interested in pcvr. Mainly cos I have some amazing headset's. Pretty much all of them under £1400 lol. My most expensive being pimax 8kx. One stand alone that is peaking my interest and wallet is that new pimax stand alone. If they deliver what's promised, that's a tasty stand alone. Costs it too.
Crystal looks good or are you talking about the 12K? 🤔
But it's £100 more expensive than Occ...... eh Meta (!!!!!) Quest 2
It is now cheaper than the 256gb Meta Quest 2 due to the crazy price increase of $100
Thanks but no thanks, I am happy with my Quest 2 and Reverb G2. But like you said its certanly an alternative for the Quest 2 without the Facebook thingi 🫠