HTC releases a stand-alone VR headset

The HTC Vive XR Elite, an all-in-one virtual reality headset designed to compete with the Meta Quest 2, has finally been unveiled by HTC. At Amazon, you can pre-order it right now.

Because it is so small, the HTC Vive XR Elite appears to be unlike the majority of gaming VR headsets. Only a few inches separate the front of the headset from your face. Additionally, the battery has been incorporated into the back headrest, making it heavier behind you than on your face. Sadly, at 625g, the Vive XR Elite weighs more than the Meta Quest 2, which weighs 503g.

HTC Vive XR Elite

In fact, the Vive XR Elite resembles the company’s previous VR headset, the HTC Vive Flow, in that it is more casual and minimalistic. Despite this, its 110-degree field of view, 4K resolution, 2K displays for each eye, and 90Hz refresh rate make it an excellent gaming headset.

The headset has a Snapdragon XR 2 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and 120GB of ROM for storing games and other content locally. Naturally, this headset can also be connected to a gaming PC via USB-C for a desktop-powered, higher-resolution VR experience. The battery has a two-hour capacity and offers 30W fast charging, which should allow you to charge half of the battery in 30 minutes.

It’s also more comfortable to wear than the majority of VR headsets because it has a fabric gasket that can be removed and cleaned easily. Since this headset has built-in diopters for each eye, most people can use it without glasses.

This headset’s arms are designed to be as light as possible and to rest on the sides of your head like glasses. Having said that, there are still speakers built into the stems, and HTC claims that they will provide better bass, directional audio, and clarity than its previous headsets.

You can also use the headset like a VR goggles by disconnecting the battery pack from the stems and connecting it via USB-C to a phone or computer. The Vive XR Elite only weighs 0.53 pounds (240 grams) without the battery pack.

Additionally, this VR headset can be transported in a compact case and folded up like a pair of sunglasses.

The HTC Vive XR Elite has 6Dof controllers for tracking, and a laser depth-sensing camera on the front of the headset allows it to track hands and fingers without the need for IR lighthouses. In addition, the front of the headset has a RGB camera for mixed-reality experiences.

Regarding content, HTC claims that Vive Connect will include over 100 games at launch. While wearing the headset, users can also stream games and video content, such as Fortnite Mobile, from their Android phones to a private 100-inch screen.

The HTC Vive XR Elite headset, controllers, and carrying case are expected to be available in February and will cost $1,099 each.