CES 2018: HTC launches VivePro VR headset and Vive Wireless Adaptor
At CES, HTC launched its updated Vive headset – VivePro. The new Vive Pro has Dual AMOLED 3.5-inch diagonal screen with an increased resolution of 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye (2880 x 1600 pixels combined), a 78% increase in resolution over the current Vive.The company claims that this resolution might help with clearer text rendering and overall graphics. It has a refresh rate of 90Hz and the field of view is 110 degrees. In addition to the resolution bump, HTC has also redesigned the Vive Pro’s headstrap and added built-in headphones.
“There’s a clear need in the VR market for a premium VR experience with high resolution display, integrated audio and the best components available today in a headset,” said Daniel O’Brien, GM U.S., VIVE. “Vive Pro offers an immediate upgrade for both VR enthusiasts and enterprises that want to utilize the best VR experience.”
HTC says the new Vive Pro has better resolution and audio, which weighs less than its existing VR model. The Taiwanese company hasn’t yet revealed cost or shipping dates. HTC VivePro has two front-facing cameras and dual microphones. The Vive Pro’s head strap includes a sizing dial so the headset is a lot more balanced.
The Vive competes with Facebook’s Oculus amongst high-end systems. They require powerful personal computers to run and haven’t been as widely used as cheaper headsets that use smartphones, including Samsung’s Gear VR and Google’s Daydream. The availability and pricing of VivePro is yet to be known.
Vive Wireless Adaptor
The Vive Wireless Adaptor will be the first to market with a truly wireless VR headset integration for both Vive and Vive Pro.
Vive Wireless Adaptor
The Vive Wireless Adaptor features Intel’s WiGig technology and operates in the interference-free 60Ghz band. The Vive Wireless Adaptor will ship in Q3 to customers worldwide.
“Wireless VR has been on nearly every VR user’s wishlist since the technology was unveiled,” said Frank Soqui, General Manager Virtual Reality Group at Intel Corporation. “By collaborating with HTC to commercialize Intel’s WiGig technology, we will guarantee that wireless VR meets the most discerning quality bar for home users and business VR customers.”
HTC announced Viveport VR, an interactive preview feature for the users. This feature can increase the interaction with content and offers developers a preview that showcases the quality of their titles and experiences.
In addition to new features, Vive Video has integrated content from Vimeo to stream high quality video directly to VR headsets.
