Introduction

Are you a videographer wondering what resolution to use for your 360° videos on the Pico 4 Ultra and easybox360? This guide provides you with the key recommendations to achieve the best possible rendering.

Key takeaway: The Pico 4 Ultra is equipped with the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2. It supports 8K video decoding and the AV1 codec.

Recommended Resolutions

Monoscopic 360° Video

Monoscopic video (2D spherical) is the most common format for 360° experiences. The Pico 4 Ultra supports video decoding up to 8K.

ParameterRecommendedMaximum
Resolution5760 × 28808192 × 4096
Framerate30-60 FPS60 FPS (8K) / 90 FPS (5K)
CodecH.265 or AV1AV1
Bitrate30-50 Mbit/s100 Mbit/s
Tip: A resolution of 5760×2880 at 30 FPS offers an excellent quality-to-performance balance. For maximum smoothness, go with 5K@60FPS.

Stereoscopic 360° Video (3D)

Stereoscopic video provides depth perception through two distinct images (one for each eye). The Pico 4 Ultra handles this format perfectly.

ParameterRecommendedMaximum
Resolution5400 × 27005760 × 5760
Framerate60 FPS60 FPS
CodecH.265 or AV1AV1
FormatTop-Bottom or Side-by-Side-
Bitrate50-80 Mbit/s100 Mbit/s

Pico 4 Ultra Technical Specifications

The Pico 4 Ultra features the following specifications:

  • Processor: Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 - optimized hardware video decoding
  • Display: 2160 × 2160 per eye (4K+, 20.6 PPD)
  • Refresh rate: 90 Hz
  • Memory: 12 GB RAM / 256 GB storage
  • Supported codecs: AV1, H.265/HEVC, MV-HEVC (spatial videos)
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 (latency ~5ms)
  • Tracking: 6DoF with 7 visual sensors including iToF camera
Pico advantage: The Pico ecosystem offers fleet management (Pico Business) that is particularly well-suited for professional deployments and training.

The AV1 Codec on Pico 4 Ultra

Like the Quest 3, the Pico 4 Ultra supports the AV1 codec thanks to the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2:

  • 30% lower bitrate at equivalent quality compared to H.265
  • Hardware decoding: smooth and battery-efficient
  • Ideal for streaming: lighter file sizes
  • Superior quality: fewer compression artifacts
Compatibility: If you are also targeting older headsets (Pico G2, Pico Neo 3), stick with H.265 or prepare two versions of your videos.

Resolution vs Performance

Important: The highest resolution is not always the best choice. A slightly lower resolution can provide:
  • Better battery life: lower power consumption
  • Less overheating: extended comfort for the user
  • Smoother playback: stable framerate without drops
  • Equivalent experience: the visual difference is often imperceptible

For extended sessions (training, exhibitions), prefer 5K@30FPS over 8K.

Recommended Export Settings

Here is a summary of the optimal settings for exporting to Pico 4 Ultra:

ParameterValue
Resolution5760 × 2880 (mono) / 5400 × 2700 (stereo)
Framerate30-60 FPS
Video codecAV1 (ideal) or H.265 (HEVC)
ProfileMain 10
Bitrate30-50 Mbit/s (VBR recommended)
Audio codecAAC, 48 kHz, stereo or ambisonic
ContainerMP4

Pico 4 Ultra Decoding Limits

The XR2 Gen 2 processor has theoretical limits that are useful to know:

FramerateMax resolution
30 FPS8192 × 8192 px
60 FPS8192 × 4096 px
90 FPS6688 × 3344 px
120 FPS5792 × 2896 px

Production Workflow

  1. Shooting: film at the maximum resolution of your 360° camera
  2. Editing: work at your native resolution
  3. Export: apply the recommended settings above
  4. Metadata injection (optional): use the Google Spatial Media Metadata Injector tool so the video is recognized as 360°.Not required for easystory360.
  5. Test on headset: verify the final result on the Pico 4 Ultra
  6. Upload to easystory360: integrate your video into your experience

Additional Resources