HTC reveals its new VR headset, the Vive Pro, which makes some major improvements and adds a few key features that were missing from the original device.
Nearly two years after the launch of the HTC Vive, the high-end VR headset is getting its first major upgrade. After speculation and leaks, HTC has officially confirmed that the Vive Pro is on the way and the new piece of hardware will address some of the key complaints filed against the original device.
There’s no denying that the Vive is a fantastic piece of hardware and it is, at least, on par with the Oculus Rift. Each device has its own strengths and weaknesses, but the Vive Pro looks poised to take a lead over the Rift in terms of quality by making some very impressive improvements.
One of the biggest complaints about the current Vive was that players had to use separate headphones, which complicates the rig setup and can break the immersion if not addressed properly. Luckily, the Vive Pro is taking a major step forward by redesigning the headstrap and adding built-in headphones.
In addition to that quality of life improvement, the Vive Pro also increases the resolution of the dual-OLED displays to 2880 x 1600 (1400 x 1600 per eye, and 615 ppi). That’s a 78% bump from the 2160 x 1200 (1080 x 1200 per eye) resolution in the original Vive.
Although all of these new features sound great, the price tag is going to be a major factor in this product’s popularity. VR is still an emerging trend and many casual gamers aren’t willing to throw down the hundreds of dollars it takes just to get started. It’s possible that the price will come as a surprise, but considering that this is being marketed as a premium product, we don’t recommend getting your hopes up.
The HTC Vive Pro pricing and bundle information have not been announced yet, but the device is expected to release later this quarter.
