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:

Note: these ceilings belong to the XR2 Gen 2 family, the same chip as the Meta Quest 3, and are not figures published by PICO for this specific model. Treat them as orders of magnitude and validate your file on the target headset before a fleet deployment.
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