May 11 marked Day One of ViveCon 2021, a three-day virtual convention that features keynote sessions as well as new announcements from HTC Vive. Two new virtual reality (VR) headsets were announced: the Vive Pro 2 and Vive Focus 3. The former is a PC-based virtual reality (VR) headset for an immersive gaming/designing experience. The latter is a standalone VR headset that caters to the business needs of the COVID-era “new normal”—remote meetings and project visualization, virtual training and collaborations and location-based experiences.
The HTC Vive Pro 2
One feature that was highlighted at the Vive Pro 2’s launch was its redesigned dual-stack lenses that provide an enhanced 5K resolution RGB display. A 5K resolution means that 2448 x 2448 pixels are being delivered to each eye in a crisply rendered 120-degree field of view (FOV). In comparison, the highly-touted Oculus Quest 2 offers 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye, HP Reverb G2 offers 2160 x 2160 pixels per eye and Valve Index, Oculus Quest 1 and Vivo Pro offer 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye. Combined with its 120 Hz refresh rate, a negligible motion blur and 3D spatial sound headphones, the Vive Pro 2 has the potential to yield an extremely fluid, immersive VR experience.
This experience is further refined via a low-persistence LCD coupled with an adjustable inter-pupillary distance (IPD) range of 57-72 mm. Together, these features combat eye fatigue, allowing users to remain VR-immersed for longer. The whole contraption is also designed so that its weight is distributed over the user’s cranium, lending itself to comfortable, long-duration usage.
By collaborating with NVIDIA, Vive has introduced display stream compression (DSC) in VR headsets. This technology not only curtails motion blurring, but endows the HTC Vive Pro 2 with backward compatibility. As such, users currently running Pro or Valve Index on older hardware (e.g., graphics cards) can still use the HTC Vive Pro 2 and enjoy the enhanced visual quality. All old and new HTC Vive VR accessories, wireless adapters, Base Station 1.0 and 2.0 controllers and even select Valve Index hardware are compatible with the Vive Pro 2, granting easy upgrading capabilities to VR aficionados.
To order the HTC Vive Pro 2 or view more information, go here.
The HTC Vive Focus 3
Like the Vive Pro 2, the HTC Vive Focus 3 offers 5K resolution in a 120-degree FOV. With a 90 Hz refresh rate, this headset offers smooth, fluid VR immersion further enhanced by its 57-72 mm adjustable IPD range. Four cameras on the visor offer six degrees of freedom (6DoF) for precise inside-out tracking powered by an AI algorithm. The headset’s light-weight controllers allow 6DoF navigation, intuitive to use and run on 15-hour batteries that can be charged via USB-C.
The HTC Vive Focus 3’s open-back speakers allow the user to hear sounds from their physical surroundings whilst still in VR. This is beneficial in collaborative or team meetings where the user may need to listen to members in VR as well as those who are present nearby. If necessary, users can plug in their own headphones to maximize immersion. Specialized privacy settings are available to prevent the audio from “leaking” and being heard by those close by—a valuable feature depending on the confidentiality of the user’s vocation (say, an international spy with a license to kill).
Design-wise, the HTC Vive Focus 3 has been revamped. Now flaunting a matte-black finish, the headset’s frame is a durable magnesium alloy that is 20 percent lighter than its predecessor’s. Like the HTC Vive Pro 2, the headset’s weight is evenly distributed over the user’s head and comes equipped with a quick-release button. As a standalone VR headset, the HTC Vive Focus 3 has a versatile battery that is easily swappable and can fully charge in an hour, allowing the user to stay connected to the VR world for longer. Additionally, the HTC Vive Focus 3 will be taking full advantage of HTC’s Vive Business—an enterprise-focused set of software and services designed to help businesses of all sizes utilize the benefits of VR, AR and MR.
To order the HTC Vive Focus 3 or view more information, go here.