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HTC Vive Pro 2 Review

June 15, 2021 by GenVR

HTC’s latest high-end PC VR headset features an incredible display, fantastic tracking, and a hefty price tag.

The HTC Vive Pro 2 is officially out in the wild, and wow is this one powerful VR headset. Despite featuring a near-identical design to its predecessor, the HTC Vive Pro, the Vive Pro 2 is loaded with new improvements aimed at delivering a next-gen PC VR experience that’s as beautiful as it is expensive.

HTC claims that the Vive Pro 2 features the best-in-class display of any PC VR headset, and after going hands-on with the hardware these past few weeks it’s hard to disagree. Games such as Half-Life: Alyx and Maskmaker look absolutely fantastic running on the device thanks in large part to the massive 120-degree FOV and 5K resolution.

That being said, it’s not all roses for HTC’s latest professional-grade PC VR device. While the improved resolution and refresh rate offer truly incredible visuals, the bulky design and heating issues are tough to look past, especially when you factor in the hefty price. But enough beating around the bush, let’s dive into some specifics.

Here is our full review of the HTC Vive Pro 2.

THE DESIGN

As previously mentioned, the HTC Vive Pro 2 features very few physical differences from its predecessor. The Vive Pro 2 ditches the dark blue color of its front plate in favor of a black design similar to that of the original HTC Vive.

In terms of ergonomics, the headset feels very similar to that of the original Vive Pro. While I found wearing the headset comfortable overall, its somewhat bulky design and considerable weight were fairly noticeable throughout some of my playthroughs. That being said, this by no means a poorly designed headset. I was able to spend a considerable amount of time wearing the device with little to no discomfort. In addition to the manual IPD adjuster (57mm-72mm), the Vive Pro 2 lets you adjust the distance of the lenses from your eyes, allowing for maximum visual comfort. This is further enhanced by the rubber nose shields which—while intrusive at times— do a commendable job at preventing light leakage, further immersing you in your VR adventures.

Another interesting choice by the company was the decision to alter the shape of the lenses, opting for a more box-like design over the original rounded shape featured on the Vive Pro. While this may sound like a relatively minor adjustment, I am now able to see the edges of the lenses while in-headset, which did prove to be somewhat of a disturbance.

It’s also important to note that you will need a display port in order to connect the headset to a VR-ready PC or a mini display port if connecting to a laptop.

THE VISUALS

The HTC Vive Pro 2’s biggest selling point, however, is its impressive display. The Vive Pro 2 features 2448 × 2448 pixels per eye, resulting in a combined resolution of 4896 x 2448. This is a significant step up from the original Vive Pro’s 2880 x 1600. Combine that with an improved 120-degree FOV and a 120Hz refresh rate, and you have one of the most impressive displays currently featured on a consumer VR headset. The Vive Pro 2 is also the first headset to feature display stream compression, a form of visually lossless compression designed to reduce bandwidth demand. This allows the headset to automatically lower its resolution in order to run on lower-end PCs.

Combined, this technology does away with the dreaded screen door effect plaguing many VR headsets at the moment. The result is some of the most visually impressive PC VR experiences available at the moment. As previously mentioned, visually demanding games such as Half-Life: Alyx, Maskmaker, and Stormland look fantastic on the Vive Pro 2. That being said, the changes to the lenses and somewhat awkward shape of the headset made it difficult to find that ever-elusive “sweet spot.” Visuals can get somewhat blurry fairly easily unless the headset is worn in a very particular way; there’s very little room for error.

HTC also replaced the Dual AMOLED screen featured on Vive Pro with a dual-stack RGB low persistence LCD. While this switch does allow for a wider field-of-view and a significantly improved resolution, it also means less vibrant colors when compared to the Dual AMOLED screen. All this power comes at another cost as well—put simply, this headset can get fairly hot fairly quickly.

THE AUDIO

Like most VR headsets the Vive Pro 2 features a built-in microphone. While it’s tough to say for sure, this might be the same microphone used for the original Vive Pro, which would explain the somewhat “meh” sound. The mic featured on the Vive Pro 2 is slightly underwhelming in terms of quality, especially when compared to competing devices like the Oculus Quest 2. Placement right in front of your mouth also results in additional mic popping, so you’ll want to avoid any hard “p” words when at all possible.

Then there are the onboard headphones. Like the Vive Pro, the Vive Pro 2 features two adjustable on-ear earphones. While I usually prefer to use over-the-ear third-party headphones for maximum audio immersion, I was pleasantly surprised by these integrated high-fidelity earphones. While you have the option of removing the earphones and replacing them with a third-party solution, I’d actually recommend sticking with them. Thanks to 3D spatial audio technology, every sound—from dialogue to music to sound effects—comes in crystal clear. In fact, the only thing more impressive than the audio is the visuals.

THE TRACKING AND CONTROLLERS

Like the Vive Pro, the Vive Pro 2 utilizes outside-in tracking powered by SteamVR Base Station 2.0. While this tethered solution is less convenient than the inside-out tracking featured on standalone devices such as the Oculus Quest, it does mean significantly better tracking as well as compatibility with other SteamVR devices, such as the HTC Vive Tracker. The SteamVR ecosystem is one of the most robust in all of VR, so trust me, taking the time to properly set up those 2.0 Base Stations is entirely worth it.

You can even pair the headset with the Valve Index controllers, which is good considering the controllers that come with the Vive Pro 2 are the exact same ones designed for the original Vive Pro. That’s not to say these are bad controllers. The Vive Wands feature an excellent ergonomic design and remain one of my favorite controllers to this day. But anyone who’s handled the Valve Index’s knuckle controllers will tell you how much of a step up they are in terms of interacting with the virtual world.

Similar to the Oculus Quest, the Vive Pro 2 also features a passthrough mode allowing you to view your real-world surroundings while in the headset. However, whereas the Oculus Quest features black-and-white visuals, the two RGB cameras mounted to the front of the Vive Pro 2 are capable of delivering stereoscopic color imagery. Unfortunately, due to the quality of these two cameras, visuals can appear blurry at times; not enough to ruin the feature entirely, but noticeable nonetheless.

THE VERDICT

At $1,400 for the full kit (headset, v2 Wand controllers, 2.0 base stations), the HTC Vive Pro is one of the most expensive VR products currently on the market, and for good reason. HTC packed a ton of improvements into this next-gen headset. That being said, does the price tag match the product?

While the HTC Vive Pro 2 offers some truly jaw-dropping visuals thanks to its impressive 5k resolution and ultra-wide 120-degree field of view, its bulky design and complex setup process feel somewhat dated compared to other PC VR headsets. All in all, this feels more like a Vive Pro 1.5 than a full-fledged sequel. That being said, if you’re in the market for a high-end PC VR headset, you can’t go wrong with the Vive Pro 2. This is especially true if you already own the controllers and base stations. In addition to the $1,400 kit, you can pick up the headset itself for $800. For reference, the Valve Index costs $500 for the headset and $1,000 for the full kit, while the HP Reverb G2 costs $600 for the full kit.

Put simply, the HTC Vive Pro 2 is a great option for those looking for the absolute best in terms of VR visuals. If you do plan on picking one up, I’d recommend purchasing the headset and base stations individually and pairing the system with the Valve Index Knuckle controllers for maximum enjoyment.

For more information on recommended specs, visit here.

Feature Image Credit: VRScout

*Review unit provide by HTC*

Vive Focus 3 Launches Pre-Orders In Europe This Week

June 8, 2021 by GenVR

HTC’s new enterprise-focused standalone headset, the HTC Vive Focus 3, launches pre-orders this week.

The headset will be up on HTC’s official site on June 10 for and £1,272/€1,404 in Europe. We’ve asked HTC if this is the same date for the US, where the kit costs $1,300. HTC previously told us that it will sell the headset via some commercial channels so that smaller businesses can pick up the headset too, but no details on that today.

The Focus 3 is impressive on paper – it boasts Qualcomm’s XR2 platform just like the Oculus Quest 2 but also delivers 2.5K per-eye resolution and a 120-degree field of view. There’s also four-camera inside-out tracking and built-in audio. You can get a full spec rundown right here. But, while these specs may indeed be impressive, the headset is strictly aimed at business use – it will launch with an app store of generalized apps including Vive’s own B2B software, but don’t expect any games or entertainment experiences.

When we asked earlier this year, HTC declined to confirm if there will ever be a consumer version of the Vive Focus 3.

The news comes as the first shipments of the HTC Vive Pro 2 started arriving. The PC VR headset is aimed at both enterprise and high-end consumers. We’re hoping to have impressions of the device with you as soon as we can.

HTC Reveals Vive Pro 2 & Vive Focus 3 At Vivecon 2021

May 11, 2021 by GenVR

New hardware and business-focused software announced during the first-ever Vivecon 2021 event.

During today’s inaugural Vivecon 2021 event, HTC announced not one, but two new VR headsets alongside a new suite of professional tools that promise to change the way we work, create, and play in VR.

The HTC VIVE Pro 2 and the VIVE Focus 3 are designed to appeal to professionals such as architects and designers, as well as gamers who expect top-tier VR experiences.

There’s a lot to cover so let’s just dive right into it.

HTC VIVE Pro 2

The first thing you’ll notice about the HTC VIVE Pro 2—besides the new black and blue color—is that it features a similar design to the original HTC VIVE Pro. After all, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Those who’ve had the pleasure of using a VIVE Pro headset are already familiar with the well-balanced 45-degree arm design, allowing you to wear the headset comfortably for extended periods of time. Outside of looks, the VIVE Pro 2 features several impressive spec upgrades.

One big improvement is that HTC VIVE worked closely with NVIDIA and AMD to take advantage of Display Stream Compression, a first for any VR headset. Display Stream Compression ensures maximum visual quality and is also backward compatible with DisplayPort 1.2, so even graphics cards that support VIVE Pro will see a benefit with VIVE Pro 2.

The VIVE Pro 2 offers a larger 120-degree FOV thanks to a new bespoke dual stacked-lens design, a noticeable upgrade from the 110-degree FOV featured on the first VIVE pro. Not only will you have a better view of the virtual landscape, but your head and eye movements will feel more natural. This also eliminates that pesky “screen door effect” while simultaneously reducing motion blur.

The VIVE Pro 2 gets a big boost in graphics with an awesome 120Hz refresh rate at 5K fidelity. You’ll be able to put on your VIVE Pro 2 step into fantastic worlds brought to life with vibrant colors, or enter a training experience where you can see small details like words on an instrument panel. Altogether, the VIVE Pro 2 should deliver an ultra-sharp resolution.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=spwB5cLaFbM&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Audio-wise, HTC’s VIVE Pro 2 headset will use 3D spatial sound with Hi-Res Audio Certified headphones and supports third-party headphones.

All VIVE SteamVR ecosystem accessories are compatible with the VIVE Pro 2, including the new VIVE Facial Tracker, Base Station 1.0 and 2.0, the VIVE Wireless Adapter, VIVE controllers, and even controllers and gloves like Valve’s Index ‘knuckle’ controllers.

If you already own Base Stations and controllers, you can pre-order the Pro 2 headset-only version right now on the HTC website. VIVE is also running a special promotion during the pre-order period, offering a discount for those who want to upgrade—making the VIVE Pro 2 headset available for $749. The full-kit VIVE Pro 2 (includes Base Station 2.0 and VIVE Controllers) will be available in August for $1399.

HTC VIVE FOCUS 3

HTC’s VIVE Focus 3 all-in-one VR headset is designed specifically for business use-cases. Like the HTC VIVE Pro 2, the VIVE Focus uses the same 45-degree arm for maximum comfort. The headset itself uses a 50/50 weight distribution with the guts of the headset built into the front, and a quick charge swappable battery pack in the back. Each battery can deliver up to 2 hours of heavy VR use and take only an hour to recharge. The headset will come with one battery. You can purchase additional batteries directly from HTC; that way you’ll be able to work longer in VR without having to wait for your battery to charge.

The VIVE Focus 3 features a larger FOV than competing standalone headsts such as the Oculus Quest 2. The VIVE Focus 3 has an ultra-wide 120-degree FOV and boasts the largest IPD range available at 57mm to 72mm which can be changed on the fly.

The Focus 3 uses 3 sub-pixels vs 2 sub-pixels, making pixel density much cleaner. The headset also offers a 90Hz refresh rate thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 and has 8GB of RAM with an SD card slot built into the front, which can generate some serious heat. To help keep things cool, HTC created a venting system – thanks to a copper heat pipe and cooling fan that pulls air from the bottom of the headset and blows it out through the top.

The VIVE Focus 3 is lightweight. As a matter of fact, it’s 20% lighter than the previous VIVE Focus. That’s because the chassis is made from magnesium alloy, which also makes the headset 500% stronger.

There is also a quick release so you can easily get in and out of VR. The Focus 3 fits anyone wearing 150mm glasses, which is good news for all your spectacle-wearers out there.

The dual-driver speakers built into the headset lets you maintain “environmental awareness”. So if you’re on a factory floor using the VR headset, you’ll still be able to hear your real-world surroundings. On the flip side, the Focus 3 has a privacy mode to prevent sound leakage. So, if you’re using VR during a work meeting, you won’t have to worry about people next to you listening in on any confidential information. Of course, you can always plug in your own headphones thanks to a built-in audio jack.

The controllers that come with the VIVE Focus 3 resemble the controllers that come with the Oculus Quest. The Focus 3 controllers, however, are much lighter in comparison. They’re actually the lightest 6dof controllers available for any VR headset. You’ll get precision tracking thanks to an AI-powered inside-out tracking algorithm with privacy at the forefront as all tracking data is stored in an encrypted format on the headset. A fully charged controller can last for 15 hours on a single charge. Hand tracking support will be released in the future.

If you need to run a PCVR experience, the Focus 3 can easily connect to any VR-ready PC thanks to HTC’s VIVE Streaming Cable.

Cleaning your VIVE Focus 3 should be easy thanks to washable cushions that can easily pop off thanks to magnets that hold them into place when they’re in the headset.

The VIVE Focus 3 will be on sale starting June 24 for $1300, which also includes 24 months of VIVE Business Warranty and Services.

For more information check out the HTC website.

Feature Image Credit: HTC

Report: HTC To Announce Vive Focus 3, Vive Pro 2 At ViveCon

May 5, 2021 by GenVR

According to a report from Protocol, HTC will unveil two new headsets at ViveCon next week – the Vive Focus 3 Business Edition and Vive Pro 2.

Protocol found mentions of both devices in company documents, and reports that both were also briefly listed on Alzashop, a European ecommerce site.

The Vive Focus 3 Business Edition will be a standalone enterprise headset following up the Vive Focus Plus, while the Vive Pro 2 will be a high-end PC VR successor to the original Vive Pro.

According to the Alzashop pages, the Vive Focus 3 Business Edition will retail for €1,474 (approximately $1770) and the Vive Pro 2 for €842 (approximately $1012). Protocol reports that both devices will be available to purchase by the end of the month.

HTC has been teasing hardware announcements for the last few weeks and confirmed it would unveil “game-changing” VR headsets at ViveCon next week, which runs from May 11-12.

Most recently, promotional GIFs gave a look at some of the upcoming hardware, including a view of the front of a headset and its tracking cameras, embedded above.

HTC’s previous comments suggested its standalone headset would not be a Quest competitor. This lines up with the Protocol report, which indicates that the Vive Focus 3 is aimed at an enterprise market and, priced somewhere around $1700, comes nowhere close to the Quest 2’s $299 starting price, and still more than double the $799 starting price of the Quest 2 business edition.

The Vive Pro 2 looks to be a successor to the original Vive Pro, which was mostly discontinued in March 2020, spare for a few Vive Pro Eye models.

Keep an eye out for more information next week at ViveCon – or more leaks before then.

HTC Teases Standalone VR Headset With New Visuals

May 3, 2021 by GenVR

New images of HTC’s “game-changing VR headset” reveal four onboard cameras and a vent to prevent overheating.

Following the companies initial tease last month, HTC this week released three new GIFs of its mysterious VR headset, revealing several potential features in the process.

This latest imagery shows four onboard cameras placed on the front of the headset, similar to that of the Oculus Quest. Combine that with images of what appears to be a dedicated vent or grill (possibly designed to prevent overheating), and one could make the logical leap that the upcoming hardware is a standalone VR device, though it’s too early to say for sure.

Despite the above-mentioned features, however, Alvin Wang Graylin, President of Vive in China, does not believe the device will serve as a direct competitor to the Oculus Quest.

During an interview this past March, Graylin stated, “I think we’ve said in the past that we will release a new AIO [all-in-one] this year. I don’t think I would position it as a Quest competitor. I think it’s our next-generation standalone, we will have one this year, it is going to be a great product.”

So, who exactly is this mysterious hardware for? Based on Graylin’s comments, it’s possible we’re looking at yet another enterprise-focused headset designed for use by industry professionals and businesses. Then again, we could be looking at multiple headset announcements during the inaugural Vivecon 2021 event later this month.

“We debut what’s new. Take a front-row seat at the VR event of the year as HTC VIVE unveils game-changing VR headsets, software, and platforms to take your experience to another level,” states the official website.

It looks like we’ll just have to wait until Vivecon 2021 to find out more. You can watch the event live from May 11th to the 12th.

Feature Image Credit: HTC

HTC Shows New Angles Of Upcoming VR Headset Ahead of ViveCon

May 3, 2021 by GenVR

HTC is giving even more teases of a new VR headset with some more GIFs giving a look at the headset’s form factor.

Three new GIFs are circulating that give different views of the unannounced headset. The first, from a promotional email sent by HTC, seems to show the bottom and underside of the front panel of the headset.

The next two GIFs show a corner of the headset featuring what looks to be a tracking camera, and an unidentifiable grill, perhaps from the underside of the headset.

The first proper tease for a new headset came from HTC around a month ago, which showed what looks to be the corner of a headset and a tracking camera, The teaser image was paired with a tweet that said it was time to “get down to business”, perhaps implying the headset will be enterprise-focused and not a general consumer device.

Earlier this year, President of Vive in China Alvin Wang Graylin said that HTC would “release a new AIO [all-in-one] this year” but that he didn’t think it would be positioned as a Quest competitor. If the new headset that HTC has been teasing is in fact a standalone headset aimed at enterprise, this would line up with Graylin’s comments — while the Quest does have a business variant, it is primarily a consumer-focused standalone.

We’re set to learn more about this unannounced headset — and perhaps more — very soon at ViveCon on May 11 and 12. Stay tuned for the news when it drops and perhaps more teasers before then.

Facebook Headsets Now Make Up 60% Of SteamVR Use

May 3, 2021 by GenVR

3 in 5 SteamVR gamers in April used Oculus headsets, according to Valve’s monthly hardware survey data.

Companies like Facebook, Valve, & HTC don’t reveal sales figures. The Steam Hardware Survey remains the most reliable indicator of PC VR’s adoption.

The survey is offered to a random sample of Steam’s userbase each month. If you choose to accept, it uploads your PC specifications along with SteamVR’s log of any headsets connected in the past month.

Four consumer Oculus headsets are listed in the data: Rift, Rift S, Quest, and Quest 2. Together they now make up 60% of SteamVR use, Facebook’s largest share since March 2016, when the 2014 Development Kit 2 (lacking support for tracked controllers) was still in wide use.

The two standalone Quest headsets together make up 33% of SteamVR. Quest didn’t officially support PC VR until six months after launch, but third party WiFi streaming apps like Virtual Desktop filled the gap. Quest 2 is marketed as a hybrid headset, last week getting an official WiFi streaming mode.

Facebook’s other 27% comes from its now-discontinued PC-only headsets, Oculus Rift and Rift S. Meanwhile Valve’s Index HMD is holding steady at just over 16%, impressive given its $1000 all-in price.

HTC headsets once made up 2 in 3 of SteamVR at its peak in 2016. Facebook & Valve have almost entirely eaten HTC’s lunch in recent years, with its share now just 15%. HTC is expected to announce new headsets at ViveCon this month.

The share of Microsoft-backed Windows MR headsets slowly contracted throughout 2020. That trend was briefly reversed after the November launch of HP’s Reverb G2, but has now resumed again.

The overall percentage of Steam users with a VR headset dropped slightly, from 2.3% to 2.22%. Since we don’t know the exact userbase growth rate of Steam overall, this could still represent VR growing – just not at the same speed as PC gaming in general.

Vive And Bandai Partner To Bring More Anime To VR

May 1, 2021 by GenVR

Hang out with Sergeant Keroro, Gintama, and other popular anime characters in VR.

HTC VIVE is revving up its engines for a big year. In addition to launching a new facial tracking peripheral and improved sensors, the company this week announced a partnership with iFixit to offer easier repair options for their VR headsets. Then of course there’s the upcoming Vivecon 2021 event as well as those cryptic tweets alluding to a new HTC Vive headset(s). As if that weren’t enough, the company this week unveiled yet another exciting partnership, this time with a legendary Japanese animation studio and production company.

In a recent press announcement conducted via Engage, HTC VIVE and Bandai Namco Pictures (BN Pictures) announced plans to expand the VIVEPORT platform using new services designed to elevate your social VR interactions.

In an official HTC VIVE press release, Joseph Lin, President of VIVEPORT, said, “The future of virtual reality is about delivering experiences and exploring infinite possibilities to be realized. We are honored to become BN Pictures’ first VR partner. Through this collaboration, we can bring animation content to a higher level and push the frontiers to unlock the full potential of virtual reality,” Lin adds, “In the next few months, anime content will be available on Viveport and more virtual experiences will be delivered to our audience. Please stay tuned – more exciting things are on the way!”

The two companies will begin by distributing exclusive animation content in VR for the first time. The goal, according to HTC and Bandai, is to expand your overall VR experience through mobile and social platforms. BN Pictures is best known for producing popular animated series such as Aikatsu!, Battle Spirits, Tiger & Bunny, as well as animations based on hit comic titles such as Gintama and Sergeant Keroro. This partnership with BN Pictures enables HTC to expand its intellectual property (IP) portfolio using well-known anime content, opening up access to new fanbases in the process.

In the same press release, OZAKI Masayuki, President and CEO of BANDAI NAMCO Pictures, said, “By combining the original animation planning and production know-how that we have cultivated over the years with HTC’s advanced technological capabilities and strength as a communications platform, we will be able to create an environment where fans can enjoy experiences together, transcending physical limitations, as if they were diving directly into the world of our creations from anywhere in the world. We are very much looking forward to evolving this newly born space together with our fans.”

In addition to expanding the Viveport platform, this partnership will allow fans of Bandai to access their favorite content in new and exciting ways, opening the doors for future collaborations between the two companies.

Feature Image Credit: HTC, Bandai

HTC Partners With IFixit To Offer Easier Vive Repairs

April 27, 2021 by GenVR

Fix your headset, even if it’s out of warranty, by purchasing replacement parts, toolkits, and repair guides.

Thanks to a new partnership with HTC, iFixit—one of the leading suppliers of consumer electronic repair supplies in North America—now offers an extensive lineup of replacement parts, toolkits, and repair guides for the HTC Vive, HTC Vive Pro, Vive Wireless Adapter, Vive Tracker, and various other peripherals. And when I say extensive I mean extensive.

Browsing the iFixit website you’ll find everything from extra wall-mounts and additional Vive Wireless Battery Holders to headphone screw caps, replacement battery adapters, and fresh controller lanyards just to name a few. There are so many replacement parts to choose from you could almost build a new Vive headset from scratch. IFixit also offers a generous selection of repair guides for your headset as well as the Vive controllers. It’s sort of like having an iFixit repair technician standing over your shoulder, only less uncomfortable.

Prior to this, fixing a damaged Vive device meant mailing it back to HTC for repair, and that’s only if you were still within the warranty period. There was always the option of scrounging for replacement parts from various online marketplaces, but the results varied greatly. This new partnership offers even those outside the warranty window a simple and pain-free way to extend the life of their Vive products.

“We hear from many customers who love their original HTC Vive headsets after years of use, but occasionally still need a specific part,” said Daniel O’Brien, General Manager at HTC America, in an official blog post. “By partnering with iFixit, we’re taking an unprecedented approach to meeting the demands of our long-time customers who want to repair and continue to use their beloved headsets that may be out of warranty or no longer available through us.”

“This is groundbreaking. HTC is the first VR manufacturer to support their customers with the parts they need to keep their headsets functional,” added Kyle Weins, CEO and Co-founder of iFixit. “iFixit is thrilled to help gamers fix their meatspace hardware so they can get back to their important cyberspace business.”

Vive replacement parts and repair guides are available now to North American customers. Check out the full list of parts over at ifixit.com/HTC-Vive/HTC-Vive.

For more information check out HTC’s official blog post here.

Feature Image Credit: iFixit