HTC is taking their Vive VR platform to new heights with the new generation Vive Pro 2 headset. Releasing on 4th August, the new headset boast impressive specs, including a 5K screen resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and a 120 degree field of view.
It will cost you, though. The full Vive Pro 2 kit with a headset, Vive controllers and Base Station 2.0 tracking units will cost £1299 / $1399 / €1399. However, it is all interoperable with previous generation of Vive. Those who wish to upgrade and just get the headset can get it for £659 / $749 / €739 (a discount of £60) if they pre-order before the end of May. I mean… that’s still very expensive, but HTC has positioned the Vive as one of the most premium VR options out there.
The HTC Vive Pro 2’s 5K resolution is impressive, dividing the 5120 × 2880 panel into two 2560 x 2880 displays. The panel also support 120Hz refresh rate, with the fast-switching, full RGB sub-pixels meaning the image should be the clearest VR experience possible. The VIVE Pro 2 also has a new bespoke dual stacked-lens design that will give it a 120 degree field of view, minimising the “screen door effect” and reducing image smear.
Given the high resolution, HTC has employed Display Stream Compression, so that the headset is backward compatible with the older DisplayPort 1.2 output, though you’ll ideally have a more modern GPU to power all of those pixels.
The headset builds on the designs of the HTC Vive Pro and Cosmos, with a fine adjustable inter-pupillary distance (IPD) and even weight distribution. There’s also 3D spatial sound with Hi-Res Audio Certified headphones and support for third party headphones.
The Pro 2 will tap into the rest of the Vive and SteamVR system, so you can use Vive Trackers and the new Vive Facial Tracker, pair it with Base Station 1.0 or 2.0 from Steam VR, and combine it with Vive controllers or Valve’s ;knuckles’ controllers.
Alongside the Vive Pro 2, HTC also revealed the standalone VR headset, the Focus 3. This is geared toward business VR, but also has a 5K resolution and 120 degree FOV, though settles from a 90Hz refresh rate. It uses the Snapdragon XR2 platform for its chipset, while a magnesium alloy frame to be lighter and stronger than plastics. That will be available on 24th June for £1060 / $1300 / €1180.
Source: press release
Tuffcub
Oh well I’ll take two.
*rolls eyes*
Dominic L
This is the Ferrari of VR headsets. I think I’ll stick with the Quest 2 or PSVR for now. They’re sort of the Ford Focus of VR right?