After shaking up the high-end VR space with the original Beyond VR headset, Bigscreen is back with the Beyond 2 — a refined version of their ultra-lightweight, face-molded VR headset aimed squarely at enthusiasts who want maximum clarity with minimal baggage, and the most immersive VR experience possible.
While the original was something of a niche product — tailored and brilliant, but with some real-world caveats — the Beyond 2 aims to take what worked, address some key limitations, and deliver the most practical high-end VR headset for sim racers, flight simmers, and VR enthusiasts.
If you’re evaluating your next VR headset and looking for a lightweight, OLED-based, ultra-clear alternative to options like the Pimax Crystal Light, this is well worth a look.
Let’s break down the experience.
WHERE TO BUY:Bigscreen Beyond 2
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VALUE 8/10
Premium price for a purpose-built tool — but worth it if you're the right user.
Pricing and Setup Considerations
At the time of writing, the Bigscreen Beyond 2 is priced at $1,019 USD. That base price gets you the headset, a custom 3D-printed face interface molded to your facial scan, and not much else — which is very much by design. But it’s important to understand that this is not an all-in-one or standalone headset. There are additional requirements and accessories you’ll need to factor into the total cost.
Tracking Requirements
The Beyond 2 uses SteamVR external tracking, so at least one base station is required — though we strongly recommend two for sim racing to avoid tracking dropouts during head movement. Each base station typically costs around $200 USD, and you’ll need to mount them securely — either using brackets, monitor mounts, or cheap photography tripods.
Optional Accessories
Audio Strap – $129 USD
We tested the optional lightweight Audio Strap and found that it not only provides convenient, reasonably good audio, but also greatly enhances stability on the head — critical for maintaining the precise optical alignment this headset requires.
Prescription Lens Inserts – $89 USD
If you wear glasses, these magnetic lens inserts are a must. They support a wide range of prescriptions and are a cleaner, more comfortable solution than trying to cram glasses inside the headset.
Custom Face Mould – $120 USD
One is included with your purchase, but replacements (if damaged or switching users) are an additional cost. This is essential, as the headset relies on a tightly sealed, molded fit for optimal optics and immersion.
Halo Strap – $180 USD
A halo-style strap with a flip-up visor design is also available separately. While we haven’t tested this, it could be a compelling alternative for those who dislike the “goggles-on-face” style.
Eye Tracking Version – $1,219 USD
A version of the Beyond 2 with integrated eye tracking exists and supports foveated rendering, but we haven’t had a chance to test this ourselves. On paper, it could offer noticeable performance benefits, particularly in demanding sim titles.
Total Estimated Cost for First-Time Buyers
If you’re coming from a standalone or inside-out tracked headset (like a Quest, Vive Cosmos, or Reverb G2), expect a real-world cost closer to $1,500–$1,700 USD once you factor in tracking, accessories, and potential import duties.
This might sound steep, but for sim racing, where VR is about long-term immersion and image clarity, the Beyond 2 brings some compelling advantages we’ll get into shortly.
Physical Design: 8.5/10
Ultra-light and minimal, with smart improvements — but dependent on a precise fit.
Bigscreen’s focus on weight, form factor, and immersion-first design is fully realised in the Beyond 2. At just 107 grams, it’s by far the lightest headset we’ve ever tested, and that alone has a significant impact on long-session comfort — particularly in motion rigs where bulkier headsets can shift or cause fatigue over time.
The Beyond 2 also brings meaningful refinement over the original, most notably with the addition of mechanical IPD adjustment, which addresses one of the biggest limitations of the V1.
That said, it still relies on a custom-molded face interface for its light-sealed fit, which means it’s not as immediately flexible or shareable as more traditional designs. But for sim racers and flight simmers — especially those chasing comfort, clarity, and minimal headset presence — the tradeoff is absolutely worth it. It is without doubt the most comfortable and least intrusive headset we’ve ever used.
Custom Face Interface
As with the original Beyond, the Beyond 2 uses a custom 3D-printed face shield, built from a facial scan submitted at purchase. It connects magnetically to the headset body and seals tightly around your eyes to block out all external light — a crucial element in achieving full immersion. The material itself is soft and slightly flexible, but not without drawbacks. In our testing, previous units had issues with magnets tearing out over time, and replacements aren’t cheap at $120 USD. Still, if you want to share the headset, additional face shields can be ordered for different users.
A crucial caveat remains: the fit has to be just right. If the headset shifts even a few millimetres during use, image clarity drops off quickly. This makes secure fitment absolutely critical — and it’s why the optional audio strap is highly recommended.
Adjustable IPD at Last
One of the Beyond 1’s biggest drawbacks was the fixed IPD, meaning the displays were physically set at the time of manufacture based on your scan. The Beyond 2 thankfully addresses this with mechanical IPD adjustment. Using a supplied tool, you can now shift the lenses side-to-side within a range of 53mm to 70mm, clearly marked beside each lens.
This allows far greater flexibility if you plan to lend or resell the headset, and provides more forgiveness if your scan isn’t 100% accurate. It’s also a strong step toward broader appeal beyond the hardcore early adopter audience of the original.
Aesthetics and Colour Options
Beyond 2 is now available in three colour variants:
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Crystal Clear (our unit)
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Carbon Black (same as Beyond 1)
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Nuclear Orange
The clear shell in particular offers a striking, techy look — exposing the dense electronics inside — and gives the headset a distinct personality not often seen in this space. It’s purely aesthetic, but I love the attention to detail.
Visual Clarity and Optics: 9/10
Exceptional edge-to-edge clarity and black levels, with minor tradeoffs in raw resolution and FOV.
The Beyond 2 doesn’t reinvent the core display hardware from the original — it still uses 2560×2560 OLED panels per eye, offering excellent contrast and deep black levels. But what it does improve, dramatically, is how well those panels are utilised.
The standout upgrade here is the edge-to-edge clarity. On the original, clarity would fall off noticeably as you moved your eyes off-centre. With the V2, that clarity holds much more consistently across the entire field of view. It’s not a gimmick — you genuinely notice the difference, particularly when glancing down at dash elements or UI without having to shift your head. For sim racing, where quick eye movements are common, this improves immersion and usability in a very tangible way.
Field of View and Sweet Spot
Field of view is up from 93 degrees to 113 degrees diagonal, which is a noticeable step forward. While it still trails something like the Crystal Light (130 degrees diagonal), the usable area is arguably better on the Beyond 2. Clarity remains sharp right out to the edges, whereas the Crystal Light tends to blur at the fringes.
The sweet spot is wide, provided the headset is positioned correctly on your face. If it shifts, clarity degrades — but the audio strap helps hold everything in place reliably. Once you’re locked in, the overall image quality and spatial consistency are genuinely impressive.
OLED Strengths (and Limitations)
The OLED panels bring true black levels and 500,000:1 contrast, which make nighttime driving and dark scenes feel more lifelike than LCD alternatives. Compared to the Crystal Light’s LCD with local dimming, the difference isn’t night-and-day, but it’s still noticeable in the right conditions. If you’re playing bright daytime scenarios exclusively, this may not be a big deal — but if you’re racing at night, it is quite nice.
Brightness improvements over the V1 are claimed, but not particularly dramatic in real-world use. Still, the image never feels dim, and most users will find it more than adequately bright.
Reduced Glare and Lens Improvements
Another big upgrade is reduced internal lens glare. The original headset had noticeable blooming and haloing in high-contrast scenes — something that could break immersion during darker gameplay. That effect has been significantly reduced here. It’s still present in extreme conditions, but to a much lesser extent.
Resolution and Pixel Density
While the resolution remains the same as the original Beyond, it now competes more directly with headsets offering higher pixel counts. The Beyond 2 hits around 32 PPD (pixels per degree), while the Crystal Light edges it out at 35 PPD. That said, thanks to the improved lens design and clarity uniformity, the difference isn’t as obvious as you might expect — especially when you consider the other strengths like contrast and weight.
Sim Racing Experience: 9.5/10
Incredible clarity, near-zero headset presence, and unmatched long-session comfort.
This is where the Beyond 2 truly sets itself apart. For sim racing, the headset’s weight, stability, and edge-to-edge clarity come together to deliver the most immersive and least fatiguing VR experiences we’ve ever had.
Lightness That Makes a Difference
In a motion rig — particularly one as aggressive as what we tested this headset in — even small differences in headset weight can affect how stable the image feels. At just 107 grams, the Beyond 2 is not only more comfortable over long sessions, but also less likely to shift or bounce during sharp movement. That makes a very meaningful difference in maintaining image clarity and locking your gaze on the apex as you turn in and bounce over kerbs.
The sheer lack of pressure on your face makes it far easier to lose yourself in the experience.
Clarity Where It Counts
The edge-to-edge clarity comes into its own in sim environments. Being able to glance at dash readouts or UI elements with your eyes — rather than needing to shift your whole head — adds realism and practicality. Whether it’s checking tyre temps, fuel levels, sector times, or mirrors, it’s easier to stay focused on your driving.
The clarity also holds up when looking into the distance. Trackside details and far-off scenery remain crisp, avoiding the softening or blur you still see in some competing headsets with higher resolution but poorer lens performance.
Software & Setup: 7/10
Minimal software, maximum simplicity — with just enough control.
The Bigscreen Beyond 2 offers a refreshingly streamlined setup experience. Once connected, SteamVR automatically installs a lightweight utility app that enables adjustments to refresh rate, brightness, fan speed, and LED color . This app runs quietly in the background, minimizing to the system tray when not in use.
While some advanced users might miss deeper customization options found in other platforms, the Beyond 2’s approach reduces complexity and potential software conflicts. The utility provides essential controls without overwhelming the user, striking a balance between functionality and simplicity.
Audio System: 7/10
Lightweight, functional, and convenient — but don’t expect full-range fidelity.
The optional Audio Strap brings more than just sound to the Beyond 2. It also solves one of the key usability challenges of the headset by improving stability and helping keep the headset firmly aligned on your face — which, as we’ve covered, is critical for maintaining image clarity.
Fit and Function First
The built-in speakers hover just above your ears in a similar fashion to what we’ve seen on PiMax headsets. They’re lightweight, unobtrusive, and intentionally flexible to keep the total weight of the headset system down. While that means they can feel a bit flimsy when handling, we didn’t encounter any functional issues in our testing — and their flexibility makes them easy to adjust into the right position.
The real benefit here isn’t audio quality — it’s convenience and stability. Being able to grab the headset, pull it on, and have decent audio instantly is a big plus for casual use. And the ratcheting back band on the strap also makes it far easier to get a tight, secure fit — essential for keeping the visuals sharp.
Sound Quality and Isolation
In terms of sound, the performance is decent for what it is. You won’t get the full-bodied punch of headphones or sealed IEMs, but it’s more than good enough for racing, where engine noise and positional audio are typically the priority.
Because the speakers sit off-ear, you’ll hear more of your rig and your real-world environment — whether that’s a motion platform, tactile feedback, ambient room noise, or family members. That can be a benefit if you’re keeping an ear out for kids getting out of bed… or a drawback if you’d rather not know that the kids are out of bed. If you’re in a noisy environment or need isolation, you’re better off using dedicated headphones or IEMs.
Platform Ecosystem and Compatibility: 7.5/10
PC-only, SteamVR tracked, and unapologetically niche — but frictionless once you’re in.
No controllers, no inside-out tracking, and no distractions — just focused, reliable performance for sim racers.
The Beyond 2 is a SteamVR-based headset, meaning it requires at least one (preferably two) base stations for positional tracking. It does not support inside-out tracking, doesn’t include hand controllers, and is not console compatible. If you’re coming from plug-and-play systems like the Quest 2 or Reverb G2, that might seem like a step backward — but for sim racing, it’s actually a strength.
Tracking performance is rock-solid with two base stations, which we’d strongly recommend. With only one, you may encounter drifting, especially if your head rotation exceeds 90 degrees or your cockpit setup includes reflective surfaces or a large monitor directly in front. Mounting is flexible — wall brackets, tripods, or monitor arms all work — and once installed, it’s essentially set-and-forget.
As for controllers, they’re simply not needed for sim racing, and the headset doesn’t include any. If you want to explore other VR content like room-scale games or social platforms, you’ll need to provide your own SteamVR-compatible controllers, such as Index or Vive wands. But in a dedicated cockpit, this stripped-back approach is refreshingly focused.
The Bigscreen Beyond 2 doesn’t try to be everything to everyone — and that’s exactly why it succeeds. For sim racers and flight simmers, it offers unmatched comfort, visual clarity where it matters most, and a setup experience that’s refreshingly simple. While it still comes with caveats — the fit needs to be perfect, and the ecosystem is laser-focused — none of those are deal breakers if you know what you’re getting into.
It’s not the highest resolution headset, nor the widest field of view. But in real-world use, the visual clarity, low weight, and total lack of headset presence make it the most immersive VR experience we’ve ever had.
If you’re building your dream sim rig and want a headset that gets out of the way and lets you drive, this is an excellent choice.
Overall Rating: 9/10
A purpose-built headset that nails its mission — if you’re the right user.
Pros
- Incredibly lightweight (107g) — unmatched comfort for long sim sessions
- Excellent edge-to-edge clarity with reduced lens glare
- True blacks and high contrast thanks to OLED panels
- Mechanical IPD adjustment adds flexibility and resale value
- Audio strap adds practicality and stability
- Plug-and-play setup with minimal software complexity
- Ideal for sim racers — no unnecessary features or fluff
Cons
- Still reliant on a custom face mould for fit and light sealing
- Visual clarity is sensitive to headset alignment
- Lower resolution and field of view than some competitors on paper
- No included controllers or inside-out tracking
- Not ideal for shared or social VR use
