Andromeda Smart Glasses Get Free 2160x2160 Boost at $650

Walker Industries has upgraded the Andromeda smart glasses just three days into its Kickstarter campaign, keeping the price at $650 while delivering upgraded hardware to early backers. The standout revision lifts resolution from 1600x1600 to 2160x2160 per eye alongside an 85Wh silicon-based battery, catering to PC VR enthusiasts, though the device remains strictly limited to tethered PC use.

Free Spec Bumps for Kickstarter Backers

The Japanese hardware manufacturer announced that all existing and future backers of the $650 LCD Andromeda tier will receive the upgraded specifications automatically at no extra cost. Alongside the jump to 2160x2160 per-eye visual clarity, Walker Industries replaced the headset's standard 45Wh battery with an 85Wh silicon-based pack, significantly increasing power capacity without altering the pledged retail pricing.

The Broader Walker Industries Headset Lineup

The entry-level Andromeda sits within a three-tier hardware family designed with modularity in mind. Walker Industries engineered the entire product range to support complete disassembly, third-party modding, and straightforward hardware repairs. Above the base $650 PC VR headset, the company offers two higher-tier alternatives:

• Vector Gear ($980): A hybrid standalone and PC VR headset powered by a Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 and Rockchip RK3588S dual-compute platform with dual 8GB configurations, featuring seven tracking cameras and a 105-degree field of view, with final device weight still unannounced.
• OLED Pancake Edition ($1,250): A premium display variant utilizing pancake optics and OLED microdisplays.
• LCD Andromeda ($650): A dedicated tethered PC VR device featuring the newly upgraded 2160x2160 per-eye display and 85Wh silicon-based battery.

Modular Hardware and PC VR Positioning

By enabling full teardowns and user modifications across all models, Walker Industries is targeting an enthusiast niche that values repairability and display performance over closed ecosystem lock-in. For tethered PC VR users, elevating the entry model to 2160x2160 resolution sets a competitive baseline among dedicated headsets in the sub-$700 market.

How much does open hardware modularity and user repairability influence your choice of a VR headset over mainstream standalone devices, and will a 2160x2160 panel keep tethered PC VR relevant against newer standalone optics?