The CubeVi P1 is a glasses-free 3D monitor that positions itself squarely at gamers and creators who want real stereoscopic depth without wearing glasses. According to the campaign, it is a 15.6″ 4K panel (3840 × 2160) that switches into a 3D mode (side-by-side stereoscopic) of 1920 × 1080 per eye, with a quoted brightness of 500 nits and a “viewing distance” of roughly 40-60 cm.
The manufacturer claims support for “100+ Steam games” in 3D-mode and also for SBS (Side-By-Side) video content.
In terms of pricing, the campaign lists an early-bird offer of USD $399 (for the first 100 preorders) and $419 for the next tranche (versus a MSRP of about $665).
3D gaming getting a second wind
For those of us who follow stereoscopic displays, the last decade has been rather lean. The rise of active-shutter 3D TVs fizzled, console game support all but vanished, and glasses-free 3D displays remained niche and expensive.
Recently, major players started re-dipping into the space — it started more than 2 years ago with the first LeiaSR(tm) devices: the Acer SpatialLabs lineup (which includes various monitors, notebooks and even a 3D camera), Acer has increased their ecosystem by adding lots of games playable in glasses-free 3D. This year, another LeiaSR device came to the table: the Samsung Odyssey 3D gaming monitor, with less supported games than Acer -almost all games supported by Samsung are included in the bigger Acer’s compatibility list-.
This year, Lenovo also joined the Stereoscopic 3D Gaming & Creative race, offering greater compatibility and versatility than Samsung — but within an even more expensive, premium ecosystem. As a result, only gamers investing in the latest cutting-edge hardware are likely to adopt it. Still, this niche group of enthusiasts can play a crucial role in driving 3D gaming forward, helping ensure the technology stays aligned with the most advanced innovations in the gaming industry.
In that context, the CubeVi P1 represents a more affordable door-into 3D gaming. If it delivers on its specs and usability, it will revive real stereoscopic gaming (without VR headsets) and broaden adoption. And it does by supporting 10x more games than the Odyssey 3D supported at launch, now that number has increased, but the CubeVi and the Acer supports much more.
Technical highlights
Since you already understand how glasses-free 3D works (lenticular or parallax barrier screens, head/eye-tracking, delivering separate images to each eye, resolution/brightness trade-offs etc.), let’s dive into what the P1 claims and what that means in practice:
- 15.6″ screen size: This is on the smaller side for a primary gaming monitor, but ideal for a dedicated 3D display or secondary screen. According to CubeVi there will be a 27″ model in the future, if this model success.
- 4K native resolution (3840×2160): in 3D mode each eye gets 1920×1080. So you lose half the horizontal resolution per eye when in stereoscopic mode — a familiar trade-off in 3D displays.
- Brightness 500 nits: That is relatively high and helpful for 3D mode, since the stereoscopic effect on some other displays often suffers in low-brightness.
- Optimised for 100+ Steam games + SBS videos: This suggests that CubeVi has pre-tested or curated a list of games compatible with their 3D engine, which is a good sign for gamers (rather than being purely a display hardware play).
- Price: Early-bird at ~$399 is remarkably competitive. By comparison, many early glasses-free 3D monitors from big brands started at ~$1,500+.
- Targeting both gaming and creative workflows: The campaign emphasizes use not only for shooting games in 3D, but also for creators who preview their digital content with depth. That dual-purpose approach broadens its appeal, this makes it more similar to Acer SpatialLabs rather than Samsung Odyssey, which is good news.
Comparison with the Acer SpatialLabs family
It’s useful to compare the P1 with a more established glasses-free 3D product — for example the Acer SpatialLabs line (e.g., the 15.6″ portable SpatialLabs View and the 27″ SpatialLabs View and View Pro).
Here are some key specs:
- The Acer SpatialLabs View 15.6″ portable: 3840×2160 in 2d, 1920×1080 per eye in 3D, refresh rate 60 Hz, brightness ~323 nits.
- The Acer SpatialLabs View Pro 27″: 4K (3840×2160) in 2d, and 1920×2160 in 3D (effectively ~2K per eye, double vertical resolution than 27″ Odyssey 3D), refresh rate up to 160 Hz, brightness ~400 nits, eye-tracking, lenticular lens sheet.
- The supported game list is very large from the beginning, in both SpatialLabs TrueGame and in the CubeVi. The CubeVi supports top-tier and widely played games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Terminator Resistance, Robocop, Returnal, Avowed, Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, Hellblade II, Wukong…
So, in effect:
- The CubeVi P1 is same size to the Acer 15.6″ SpatialLabs model.
- Its claimed brightness (500 nits) even slightly out-paces the Acer’s quoted ~323 nits for the smaller model.
- Same resolution (4K native → ~2K per eye in 3D).
- The big differentiator will be software/ecosystem and, of course, price. Acer’s SpatialLabs gear is premium priced (the 27″ monitor is ~$2,000 MSRP) and geared at high-end gaming/creator workflows. But the CubeVi also aims to creative workflows.
Thus the CubeVi P1 can be thought of as a “lower-cost sibling” in the glasses-free 3D monitor space: similar form-factor, similar core spec trade-offs, but at a far friendlier price. For gamers who don’t need ultra-premium refresh rates or massive screen size, this is exciting.
In summary
- Affordability: At ~$399 early-bird the CubeVi P1 brings glasses-free 3D into a price band that many more gamers might consider.
- Growing software support: The mention of “100+ Steam games” suggests the company is building a library or at least ensuring compatibility rather than relying on niche support.
- Revival of a unique experience: Genuine stereoscopic 3D monitors have been expensive; this product is really affordable if you purchase from the Kickstarter campaign.
- Dual-purpose use: If you also create or edit 3D content (SBS videos, 3D modelling, etc.), the P1 could serve double duty as both gaming and creative tool.
The CubeVi P1 is a very promising glasses-free stereoscopic 3D monitor aimed at gamers and creators. The size is smaller than a regular desktop monitor, but the same size than most notebook monitors, and presents them in a package that is much more affordable than prior premium offerings. A must for gamers that play on a notebook system.