PICO Announces Project Swan and PICO OS 6 Software
PICO held a developer conference on 2nd March to show a preview of its upcoming top-end extended reality headset, now called Project Swan. The company also announced a big update to its operating system, PICO OS 6, and a new user test program called the Pioneer Experience Programme. Project Swan is planned for release in 2026 and is almost finished, with major changes to how it works and looks compared to the PICO 4 Ultra from 2024.
Project Swan used two main chips working together: a top system chip and a PICO chip. This setup reportedly doubled the main processor and graphics performance, enabling it to handle two 4K screens. The extra chip, in development since 2022, combines special parts to quickly process sensor data and map spaces in real time. These systems allowed for sharp graphics and accurate hand and eye tracking, with a delay as low as 12 milliseconds.
Project Swan used new Micro-OLED screens with almost 4,000 pixels per inch. With PICO’s own lens designs, the headset showed about 40 pixels in every degree of view, and over 45 pixels in the centre. This is much higher than the roughly 20 pixels per degree in older PICO models. For comparison, the Apple Vision Pro has a 3,386 pixels per inch screen with about 35 pixels per degree.
Reports say Project Swan uses a split design: the computer and battery are in a small, round module outside the headset and connected by a cable. This makes the headset lighter, with early numbers showing about 100 grams. Unlike all-in-one VR headsets, this design separates parts for a better balance of performance, weight, and battery life.
PICO OS 6 was introduced as a new version of its operating system, designed to support more apps. The Uninterrupted Flow setup lets regular Android apps run directly in 3D spaces, making it easier to use both flat and virtual apps together. The PICO Spatial Engine, built over two years, changed how graphics are handled, enabling several apps to run at once by sharing resources. With this system, users can place multiple windows around their real space to create a workspace that does not need physical monitors.
PICO did not launch any new hardware in 2025, focusing instead on its app store and developer tools. This coincided with job cuts at Meta’s Reality Labs in 2026. Project Swan is meant to be a high-end device, not just an update to the PICO 4. Its special chips and advanced screens will mean a higher price than the PICO 4 Enterprise, putting it in competition with other top spatial devices.
