HTC Vive Focus Vision: A Standalone VR Experience Redefined, With a More Affordable Price

HTC Vive Focus Vision: A Standalone VR Experience Redefined, With a More Affordable PriceHTC, a pioneer in the virtual reality space, today unveiled its latest headset, the HTC Vive Focus Vision, which not only runs independently, but also plays PCVR games with visually lossless fidelity, marking another breakthrough in the VR world. As an upgrade to the Focus 3, Focus Vision features significant improvements in visual quality, tracking and connectivity, and comes at a lower price, making it a more attractive option

HTC Vive Focus Vision: A Standalone VR Experience Redefined, With a More Affordable Price

HTC, a pioneer in the virtual reality space, today unveiled its latest headset, the HTC Vive Focus Vision, which not only runs independently, but also plays PCVR games with visually lossless fidelity, marking another breakthrough in the VR world. As an upgrade to the Focus 3, Focus Vision features significant improvements in visual quality, tracking and connectivity, and comes at a lower price, making it a more attractive option.

Focus Vision is a standalone headset, retailing for 999 and inherits the rear-facing battery design of the Vive Focus 3, as well as its 2.5K LCD displays (90Hz refresh rate, 120-degree field of view), Fresnel lenses and Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen1 processor. It features added functionality with stereoscopic color passthrough achieved through dual 16MP cameras and depth sensors. Focus Vision also supports eye tracking and automatic IPD adjustment, which is highly practical for VR experience companies that host hundreds of visitors daily.

Another remarkable improvement is the support for foveated rendering, a technology that reduces the burden on the graphics hardware to improve VR smoothness. Focus Vision is equipped with larger internal fans that deliver more air to the system while maintaining quiet operation, keeping the headset cool during long hours of gameplay and preventing the optical system from fogging. The headset remains compatible with prescription glasses, eliminating the need for additional prescription lenses.

Focus Vision comes with controllers that are said to have undergone significant tracking improvements from the Focus 3. Internally, Focus Vision upgrades the RAM from 8GB in the Focus 3 to 12GB, while the onboard storage remains at 128GB with microSD card support for additional storage.

The Vive Focus Vision comes with a new (optional) DisplayPort streaming kit that connects to a computer and power source, eliminating the need for battery life concerns and promising better image quality than USB-C. The DisplayPort streaming kit will be sold separately with a price yet to be announced.

However, even with the DisplayPort streaming kit, the Vive Focus Vision still offers better value for money than the upcoming Focus 3. The 999 package includes the headset, two controllers, and all the cables needed for standalone use, whereas the Focus 3 is priced at 1372.

Another interesting new feature is the hot-swappable battery, where HTC has built a 10-minute battery into the Vive Focus Vision, allowing users enough time to hot-swap without disrupting the experience.

The HTC Vive Focus Vision is now available for pre-order, with the first units set to ship on October 1st. If you purchase before September 30th, you will get a free DisplayPort streaming kit.

In conclusion, the HTC Vive Focus Vision is a powerful standalone VR headset that delivers significant improvements in visual quality, tracking, connectivity and affordability, offering an exceptional experience for both standalone and PCVR gaming. Whether you're looking to step into the world of VR or upgrade your existing VR setup, Focus Vision is an excellent choice.