As a virtual reality developer who has worked with Pico goggles for years, I value these devices as a solid alternative to the Meta Quest goggles. However, in recent years, Pico has failed to keep pace with Meta. While Pico has traditionally been about six months to a year behind the Meta Quest, they still brought devices to market that were actually superior in some aspects. This time, however, the gap seems to be wider.
With the introduction of the Pico 4 Ultra, Pico is mainly catching up on the mixed reality feature that the Meta Quest 3 has already been offering for some time. This means that functions that have been available on the Meta Quest 3 for over a year and a half can now also be used on the Pico 4 Ultra. However, this is not very innovative for a new device and makes the Pico 4 Ultra look like a pure "me-too" product.
In the consumer sector, the Pico 4 Ultra is just as expensive as the Meta Quest 3 (costing €550), but still more expensive than the recently price-reduced Meta Quest 3S, which retails for around €350. Since Pico also has a smaller game library than the Meta Quest models, it loses one of its main advantages: its lower price. If the main reason for buying Pico glasses was to save money, there are now few reasons not to switch to the Meta Quest 3S.S to grab.
However, one area in which the Pico 4 Ultra scores highly is the PICO Motion Tracker. These small, portable devices can be attached to various parts of the body and enable precise tracking of body movements in virtual reality - a feature that is not yet available on the Meta Quest.
These motion trackers offer a new dimension of immersion and could be a decisive reason for some users to opt for the Pico 4 Ultra.
Pico still scores highly in the enterprise sector. The Pico 4 Ultra Enterprise offers functions such as a built-in kiosk mode, which the Meta Quest glasses do not have. This mode and other customization options are specially designed for applications in the corporate environment and offer real added value there.
Interestingly, compared to the previous model, the Pico 4 Enterprise, eye tracking has been omitted. Although the previous glasses had this function, it has been shown that eye tracking increases costs but is rarely used. The omission of this feature in the Pico 4 Ultra Enterprise is therefore an understandable step to reduce costs.
One point that is worth mentioning is the processor performance of the Pico 4 Ultra. It has a significantly better processor than the Pico 4 and is therefore more powerful. The Pico 4 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2, while the Pico 4 Ultra uses the newer Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 - the same chip that is also installed in the Meta Quest 3.
In an industry where technological progress is advancing rapidly, it is disappointing that Pico does not offer any innovation of its own here. The increase in performance merely compensates for what the competition has already been offering for some time and does not create a unique selling point.
The Pico 4 Ultra comes onto the market at a time when the competition is already more advanced. In the consumer sector, it lacks both price and functional competitive advantages over devices such as the Meta Quest 3S. Only the PICO motion trackers represent a unique selling point that could be of interest to certain users.
While Pico remains relevant in the enterprise sector thanks to its specialized functions, the question arises as to whether this is enough to hold its own against strong competitors such as Meta, which dominate the market in the long term. Without further innovations and clear unique selling points, Pico runs the risk of being left behind in a fast-moving market.
For consumers who place particular value on advanced body tracking, the Pico 4 Ultra could still be worth considering. The PICO motion trackers offer a new level of immersion and interaction that can significantly enrich the VR experience. However, it is not clear how many games will actually support this innovative feature.
Are you interested in developing a virtual reality or 360° application? You may still have questions about budget and implementation. Feel free to contact me.
I am looking forward to you
Clarence Dadson CEO Design4real
