Bigscreen Beyond 2

Our rating : 9.4/10

In sim racing, it’s all about immersion. We have active peripherals that provide force feedback from the car, or from whatever happens when an input is made.

The simplest example is a direct-drive base that lets you feel the car’s movements in your hands, or a pedal set. But there are other devices that take immersion even further, and those are VR headsets.

There are many players in this market, and today we’re going to test the Bigscreen Beyond 2. It’s a VR headset designed for all video games, but it naturally finds its place in sim racing for one reason: it’s a high-end device that has virtually corrected all the flaws of its predecessor. Let’s test it and see what it has to offer.

Key Features and Technical Specifications of the VR Headset

• Dual Micro LED display with a resolution of 2560×2560 pixels
• Native refresh rate of 75 Hz, which can be boosted to 90 Hz
• Individual screen adjustments to ensure a clear image tailored to the player’s eyesight
• Eye tracking available as an option
• Field of view up to 116°
• The helmet weighs nearly 110 grams on its own, without the straps
• Compatible with PCs only, and requires a high-performance system
• Fiber-optic cable for connecting to a PC
• Dimensions: 143 x 52 x 24 mm (W, H, D)

Design

The design of the Beyond 2 really reminds me of Linda’s helmet—058 from the Blue Team in Halo 5: Guardians. You know, the Spartan II who specializes in precision shooting.

The visible part of the headset is made of transparent plastic, which allows you to see the device’s internal components, and I personally think it looks great. It’s become rare to see this in electronic products; it’s a trend that has faded over time.

Size-wise, I have to say it’s not very big. It’s about 15 cm wide, with a height of about 5 cm and a depth of 2.4 cm. It’s almost on the small side, I have to say, which should appeal to many runners.

Comfort and ergonomics

Weighing less than 110 grams (107 to be exact), the Beyond 2 is a lightweight device—very lightweight, in fact. Once strapped to your face, you’ll barely feel it on your head, just like wearing a cap, for example. And I love that, because it’s a nice change from other VR headsets that are heavy and bulky.

In terms of ergonomics, the straps are made of fabric, very easy to adjust, and comfortable to wear around the head. What’s more, the Beyond 2 features a seal that runs all the way around the screens, ensuring total darkness when the headset is on your head. The big advantage of this seal, aside from keeping your eyes in the dark, is that the Micro LED screens deliver maximum contrast. It’s just one small extra feature that significantly enhances immersion during a race.

Image quality

Each eye is equipped with a Micro LED display, with a resolution of 2560 x 2560 pixels. In practice, this resolution can only be achieved at a refresh rate of 75 Hz. If you switch to 90 Hz, the resolution drops to 1980 x 1980 pixels, with upscaling to approximate the original resolution.

In fact, the picture quality is really good. I noticed a slight distortion at the edges of the display, which was one of the biggest drawbacks of the original Beyond. The team at Bigscreen managed to fix this in just two years, which is frankly quite an achievement.

Another interesting aspect regarding image quality is the colors. Since the Beyond 2 uses Micro LED displays, blacks are perfectly black, and other colors are vivid and vibrant. The software lets you adjust the color profiles, and I find them to be very good for sim-racing. However, I should note that I’m not a color expert, unlike graphic designers or video editors.

Settings

The Bigscreen Beyond 2 features two screens, with lenses that can be adjusted individually to ensure a perfect image. Just like a pair of glasses, this VR headset adapts perfectly to your eyes—and to any differences between them. That’s a major advantage over the competition, since many other headsets only allow for simultaneous adjustments for both eyes.

Sensations during play

What does a VR headset bring to sim racing? In a nutshell, it offers a significant boost in immersion, especially if your setup supports this kind of equipment.

The Bigscreen Beyond 2 turned out to be a great VR headset for sim racing, especially with its refresh rate that can go up to 90 Hz, even if that means sacrificing some resolution. Honestly, I didn’t really notice much difference between 2560 pixels at 75 Hz and 1980 pixels at 90 Hz. What’s more, with a VR headset, it’s highly recommended to prioritize a high refresh rate to significantly reduce motion sickness.

In games like AC, the immersion is definitely there, with a wide field of view and sufficient depth for sim-racing. You get used to it quickly, and the 90 Hz refresh rate provides a very immersive experience on the track.

But just like with any other VR headset, your eyes will start to feel strained after a few hours. This is an inherent issue with this technology, just like with 3D glasses. You feel disoriented, and sometimes even dizzy if you spend too much time in it.

I’ve also noticed that heat builds up inside the headset, which is caused by a seal that blocks out light too effectively. This is good for immersion (no light interfering with the screens), but it traps heat inside the headset.

Compatibility

The Beyond 2 is only compatible with PCs, which is to be expected for a VR headset like this. Unless I’m mistaken, only the manufacturers of home consoles (Sony, Xbox, and Nintendo) offer VR headsets for their systems.

You’ll need a fairly powerful computer, as Beyond 2 requires a pretty robust system.

As for sim-racing games, I honestly haven’t had any compatibility issues with the Beyond 2. It works with pretty much every racing simulation game, whether it’s arcade, sim-arcade, or full simulation. VR headsets have become quite mainstream over the years, and they’re supported by many video games.

Value for money

Let’s talk about the price of the Beyond 2. First of all, the headset is available in three versions, with two different face masks (the first is standard, the second is custom-made using 3D printing). If you want to buy the Beyond 2, expect to pay between €1,370 and €1,650 for the headset with the 3D-printed ear pads and eye tracking.

Is it expensive? Well, that depends on how you look at it. If you compare the Beyond 2 to a standard VR headset, then yes, it’s expensive. But on the other hand, the 90 Hz refresh rate and the high image quality make me think the price is justified.

My verdict

When it comes to VR headsets for sim racing—or VR in general—you either love them or you hate them. Many people find the experience too immersive, disorienting, and potentially dizzying.

Personally, I think the Beyond 2 is one of the best VR headsets for sim racing for many reasons, including its refresh rate, total darkness, and ultra-lightweight design. If you’re a driver looking for total immersion in racing, and you don’t do a lot of endurance racing, then I highly recommend this headset.

If you’re a fan of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, I recommend taking off your helmet during pit stops to let the heat build-up escape. Come to think of it, this actually enhances the immersion, since real race car drivers do the same thing to keep a cool head.