HTC Launches Vive Focus Vision Mixed Reality Headset
HTC has announced the Vive Focus Vision mixed reality headset, an update to the Vive Focus 3.
The company only sells the Vive Focus 3 to businesses, while it also offers the Vive Focus Vision to consumers for $1,000.
The Vive Focus Vision inherits the Vive Focus 3's rear battery design, 2.5K LCD displays, Fresnel composite lenses, and original Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 chipset.
HTC has improved the sensor and RAM suite, and added a host of new features, including eye tracking and DisplayPort PC VR support.
The Vive Focus 3 has a black-and-white passthrough mode similar to the Quest 2, while the Vive Focus Vision has two color cameras for passthrough mode.
HTC claims to offer depth-corrected mixed reality, as well as a depth projector for scene mapping and improved hand tracking in low light.
The addition of eye tracking allowed HTC to remove the lens separation adjustment bar, replacing it with motorized lenses that adjust the distance between the pupils completely automatically, similar to Apple's Vision Pro.
Eye tracking also works with PC VR, unlike PlayStation VR2, meaning it can be used for focus mapping in games that support it.
To appeal to PC VR users, HTC's headset supports DisplayPort PC VR lossless through a $160 adapter.
On the standalone side, the chipset is still the same one used in the Quest 2, the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1.
HTC has equipped the glasses with up to 12GB of RAM and improved cooling fans for increased quietness.
The company says the Vive Focus 3 is mostly used as a wireless PC VR headset, so it decided not to increase the price by upgrading the chipset to the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2.
Another new feature is battery swapping. The Vive Focus 3 had a swappable battery, though replacing it required a reboot of the headset.
With the Vive Focus Vision, the company has built a 10-minute battery into the visor to allow more than enough time for quick swapping.
The advantage of inheriting the design of its predecessor is that the Vive Focus Vision is compatible with all the same official accessories, including the multi-battery charger and face tracking accessory, as well as the Vive Ultimate Trackers for body tracking.
Introducing VIVE Focus Vision – our new hybrid standalone PCVR headset.
— HTC VIVE (@htcvive) September 18, 2024
VIVE Focus Vision harnesses the power of XR with high-resolution displays, DisplayPort mode for visually lossless PCVR, MR passthrough, & advanced built-in eye and hand tracking. https://t.co/I6xYJNtG7n pic.twitter.com/eIZSJvolk1