HTC Vive XR Elite is a competitively priced Meta Quest Professional rival

HTC has introduced the Vive XR Elite, a brand new wi-fi VR headset that’s designed to offer the Meta Quest Professional a run for its cash. Aiming to be an all-in-one system that’s prepared for the varied completely different metaverses cropping up left, proper, and centre, HTC combines each digital and blended actuality right into a single headset that undercuts the value of its rival by a 3rd.

It’s been a very long time coming, as HTC has teased its new system by way of trademark filings, retailer listings, and picture leaks for the reason that Meta Quest Professional launched in October, 2022. It appears as if these have been just about on the cash, because the Vive XR Elite has a shiny design, alongside a digital camera and sensor on the entrance, and the battery pack linked to a single band on the again.

Facet-by-side with the Meta Quest Professional, the HTC Vive XR Elite shares quite a lot of similarities. It has 12GB of RAM, a 90Hz refresh price, and each are rated to last as long as two hours on a single, full cost. They boast the identical connectivity choices, with WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB Sort C to hook up with a PC. The brand new HTC headset comprises half the space for storing of its competitor at 128GB, however many individuals take into account the decrease storage Quests higher worth for cash anyway.

The XR Elite contains two open-ear audio system for audio, 4 extensive FOV cameras, a depth sensor, hand-tracking, and capacitive sensing, however is way more customisable. You’ll be able to detach the bulkier battery pack and go for glasses-like stems for those who fancy plugging it into your gaming PC or utilizing your individual powerbank. It appears like there’s room for additional attachments later down the road, too, similar to a facial monitoring module, though that’s not a part of the bottom bundle or but confirmed by HTC.

The brand new system is way extra light-weight at 625g together with the battery in comparison with the Meta Quest Professional’s 722g. This isn’t too stunning, for the reason that latter is the chonkiest VR headset in Meta’s present line-up. The Vive XR Elite additionally has a barely larger decision with 1,920×1,920 per pancake lens, however we’ll want our palms on the system to guage whether or not the distinction is all that perceptible in comparison with the Meta Quest Professional’s 1,800×1,920 per eye.

Naturally, paper-bound specs don’t imply a lot when the true check comes within the efficiency. We’ll must see how effectively the 2 stack up in opposition to one another earlier than making snap selections on which ought to be topped one of the best VR headset. That mentioned, the Vive XR Elite has the sting in value at $1,099 USD / £1,299 GBP, which makes it way more gaming pleasant than the $1,500 Meta Quest Professional.