Bigscreen Beyond vs Bigscreen Beyond 2

The quick answer

Buy Beyond 2 if you are choosing a Beyond today for long PC VR sessions.

Beyond

Buy the Beyond if

A used deal is compelling enough to accept the older optics
You have verified that the personal fit works for you
You already have a strong PC and lighthouse hardware
Your existing original Beyond still meets your needs

Watch out forSuperseded by Beyond 2, which is now the locked ultralight winner

Beyond 2

Buy the Beyond 2 if

You are buying into Beyond for long PC VR sessions
You want the improved lenses and larger usable sweet spot
You accept the face-scan and custom-fit ordering process
You want the newer ultralight choice while accepting some glare

Watch out forPCVR only, with no standalone library or wireless Meta-style use

Category	Beyond	Beyond 2
Overall	68	71
Clarity	87	87
Field of view	70	87
Comfort	96	100
Battery	No battery	No battery
Tracking	33	33
Ease of setup	0	0

What's actually different

Worked out from the spec sheets, in plain words. What they share is left out.

01PriceBeyond 2 typically costs $40 less than Beyond.
02ViewBeyond 2 shows 15° more side to side than Beyond, going by the makers' figures.
03SetupBeyond needs a gaming PC and SteamVR base stations.
04SetupBeyond 2 needs a gaming PC and SteamVR base stations.

Our verdict

The original is out of production, so it belongs in a used-market discussion rather than a current new-retail shortlist. Beyond 2 keeps the micro-OLED approach while improving the lenses and usable sweet spot in owner reports, which matters more here than panel resolution. Both list 2560×2560 per eye, so you are not buying a pixel-count increase. Consider the original only for a strong used deal when its personal fit works for you and you accept the small sweet spot and glare. Both require a strong PC and lighthouse setup, and Beyond 2 still does not promise glare-free viewing. If your existing Beyond is comfortable and its optics do not bother you, there is no need to upgrade just because the successor exists.

Where each one wins

Judged for this matchup. Criteria without a supported judgment are left out.

ClarityBigscreen Beyond 2Owners moving from the original describe a larger sweet spot and easier viewing with eye movement. Both list 2560×2560 per eye, so this is an optics advantage rather than a resolution increase.
Comfort / long sessionsBigscreen Beyond 2Beyond 2 is the established ultralight long-session pick, combining a tiny custom-fitted shell with the more usable optics. The original is also very light, but its narrow sweet spot can make cable-induced movement more disruptive.
PC VRBigscreen Beyond 2A tie in the basic platform: both are wired DisplayPort SteamVR headsets requiring a strong PC and base stations. Beyond 2 is the preferred new purchase for its fit-and-optics package, not a different game library.

Every spec

11 of 17 published specs differ

Only differences

Spec

Display

Resolution per eyePixels driven to each eye. Lenses and rendering settings also change what you see.

PanelThe panel technology behind the lenses.

Refresh rateThe display modes the headset supports. The app and the machine driving it decide the frame rate you get.

Optics & field of view

LensesHow the optics fold light. Pancake lenses make a thinner headset, Fresnel lenses are brighter and glare more.

Manufacturer FoV · horizontalDiffersHow wide the image reaches sideways, as the manufacturer states it.

Measured FoV · horizontalDiffersHow wide the image reaches sideways, from an independent test.

Manufacturer FoV · verticalDiffersHow far the image reaches up and down, as the manufacturer states it.

Measured FoV · verticalDiffersHow far the image reaches up and down, from an independent test.

Fit & power

WeightDiffersPublished weight for the stated configuration. Straps, facial interfaces and separate batteries change it.

IPDDiffersInterpupillary distance, the gap between the centres of your pupils, and how far the lenses move to match it.

Battery lifeManufacturer runtime under the workload they state. A tethered headset has no runtime to give.

Tracking & input

TrackingDiffersHow the headset works out where it is. Cameras on the headset, or base stations mounted in the room.

PassthroughWhat you see of the room through the headset cameras.

Eye trackingDiffersCameras that follow your gaze, used for foveated rendering and for selecting things by looking.

Hand trackingUsing your bare hands in place of a controller.

Silicon & connection

ChipsetThe processor a standalone headset runs on.

DisplayPortDiffersA direct video cable to a PC, rather than streaming over USB or Wi-Fi.

Other published values

Launch MSRP (historical)The asking price at launch, not what it sells for now.

Battery capacityThe size of the cell. It does not convert straight into runtime.

Manufacturer FoV - diagonalDiffersA corner to corner figure. It is not comparable with a horizontal one.

Manufacturer FoV - axis not specifiedDiffersA field of view figure published without saying which axis it measures.

Release dateWhen the headset went on sale.

AnnouncedWhen the headset was first announced.

In productionWhether the manufacturer still makes it.

DiscontinuedWhether the manufacturer has stopped selling it.

Bigscreen Beyond

2560×2560Single source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Dual micro-OLEDSingle source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

75 / 90 HzSingle source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Custom pancake opticsSingle source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

93°Single source

Database · checked 2026-09-10

Bigscreen's official 102° claim does not identify an axis; the catalog's 93° H is not supported by this manufacturer page.

eddie · Database · checked 2026-09-10

97.53°Single source

Database · checked 2026-09-10

No official source for the catalog's measured horizontal value was found.

picker · Database · checked 2026-09-10

Not confirmed

88.55°Single source

Database · checked 2026-09-10

No official source for the catalog's measured vertical value was found.

picker · Database · checked 2026-09-10

127 gSingle source

Headset only. The face cushion, strap, cable and audio accessories add weight.

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Fixed lens spacing: 55–72 mm; fits IPDs of 53–74 mmSingle source

Custom-built in one of 18 fixed sizes. Lens spacing cannot be adjusted after purchase.

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Not confirmed

SteamVR base stations requiredSingle source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

noneCorroborated

Database · checked 2026-09-10 · 1 more

No explicit passthrough specification was found in the checked first-generation sources.

vrcompare · Database · checked 2026-09-10
picker · Database · checked 2026-09-10

NoCorroborated

Database · checked 2026-09-10 · 2 more

No explicit first-generation eye-tracking yes/no specification was found on the checked product page.

vrcompare · Database · checked 2026-09-10
eddie · Database · checked 2026-09-10
picker · Database · checked 2026-09-10

NoCorroborated

Database · checked 2026-09-10 · 1 more

No native hand-tracking statement was found on the checked official pages.

vrcompare · Database · checked 2026-09-10
eddie · Database · checked 2026-09-10

Not confirmed

Wired PC VR connectionSingle source

Check Bigscreen's setup guide for the required ports.

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13 · 1 more

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13
Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Not confirmed

102°Single source

Bigscreen does not specify the direction of this measurement. Sizes with 70–72 mm lens spacing have a smaller field of view.

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Not confirmed

Bigscreen Beyond 2

2560×2560Single source

Panel resolution at both refresh modes; the 90 Hz transport uses DSC and an upscaled 1920×1920 signal.

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Dual micro-OLEDSingle source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

75 / 90 HzSingle source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Custom pancake opticsSingle source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

108°Single source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

108°Single source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

96°Single source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

96°Single source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

107 gSingle source

Headset only. The cable, face cushion and strap add weight.

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

▲ Leads

53–70 mm physical; 48–75 mm accommodatedSingle source

Each lens adjusts independently. The 48–75 mm range describes supported eye spacing, not lens travel.

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Not confirmed

SteamVR 1.0/2.0 base stations requiredSingle source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

noneCorroborated

Database · checked 2026-09-10 · 1 more

The checked official spec does not provide a passthrough field; absence of onboard tracking cameras is not itself a formal passthrough claim.

vrcompare · Database · checked 2026-09-10
picker · Database · checked 2026-09-10

No on Beyond 2; yes on Beyond 2eSingle source

Eye tracking is available on Beyond 2e, not this model.

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

NoCorroborated

Database · checked 2026-09-10 · 1 more

Bigscreen does not state native optical hand tracking; controller requirements are documented separately.

vrcompare · Database · checked 2026-09-10
eddie · Database · checked 2026-09-10

Not confirmed

DisplayPort 1.4 plus two USB 3.0 portsSingle source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Not confirmed

116°Single source

Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Bigscreen · Manufacturer · checked 2026-09-13

Not confirmed

Drawn to scale

Beyond2560×2560

Beyond 22560×2560

Beyond93°

Beyond 2108°

Beyond97.53°

Beyond 2108°

Beyond 296°

Beyond88.55°

Beyond 296°

Beyond 2116°

Beyond102°

▲ Leads marks the best figure in a row, and only where the figures compare like for like: the same measurement conditions, nothing disputed, and one clear leader. Rows where every headset matches get no mark. Panels and fields of view are drawn at one scale for every headset on screen, and each value opens its sources.

What you need to play

The headset, plus anything it cannot run without.

Bigscreen Beyond

You needA gaming PC and SteamVR base stations

Typically$999

Full dossier →

Bigscreen Beyond 2

You needA gaming PC and SteamVR base stations

Typically$959

Full dossier →

Before you buy

Questions worth asking

Should I upgrade my original Beyond to Beyond 2?

Yes if the small sweet spot or difficulty looking around with your eyes is frustrating you. If your original already fits well and its glare is tolerable, the unchanged listed panel resolution gives you a reason to keep using it.

Has Beyond 2 fixed the glare?

Not completely. Some owners report an improvement or little trouble, while others still notice glare; expect better optics rather than a guarantee of clean dark scenes.

Is a used original Beyond a sensible bargain?

Only with a meaningful saving and a verified fit plan. The original is out of production and relies on a custom facial interface and factory-set IPD, so another person's unit should not be assumed to fit you.

Do both need a gaming PC and base stations?

Yes, both are PC VR-only lighthouse headsets. Neither runs standalone games or offers Quest-style wireless freedom.

Does Beyond 2 have higher-resolution screens?

No, both list 2560×2560 per eye. The reason to pay for the successor is the improved lens experience and newer ultralight design, not more panel pixels.

More comparisons

Beyond 2 vs Crystal Super →Beyond 2 vs Index →Beyond 2 vs Dream Air →Build your own →

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Bigscreen Beyond vs Bigscreen Beyond 2

Bigscreen Beyond

Bigscreen Beyond 2

The quick answer

Scores by category

What's actually different

Where each one wins

Every spec

What you need to play

Bigscreen Beyond

Bigscreen Beyond 2

Questions worth asking

More comparisons

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