When HTC released the VIVE Focus 3, it checked almost all the boxes for gamers and other consumers looking for the best standalone VR headset. The omission, however, was a big one: it had no consumer marketplace. The Focus 3 was aimed squarely at business users. Fast-forward three years, and HTC is back with the VIVE Focus Vision, and this time; they are targeting not only business users but consumers with a dedicated edition of their follow-up cutting-edge mixed-reality headset.
Key Features of the HTC VIVE Focus Vision
- All-in-one standalone headset
- PC VR gaming with VIVEPORT and SteamVR™ gameplay, DisplayPort mode
- Eye and hand tracking plus face and body tracker support
- 5K resolution, 2448 x 2448 pixels per eye, up to 120° field of view, and 90 Hz refresh rate
- Auto-eye alignment
- 3D-spatial audio
- Hot-swappable battery
- Spatial computing
What’s New in the HTC VIVE Focus Vision?
The VIVE Focus Vision improves upon the impressive Focus 3 with more RAM and a hot-swappable battery. For this consumer edition, HTC has preloaded the headset with a three-game bundle and added SteamVR™ integration for access to Steam’s large library of VR content. If that isn’t enough, plug the headset into a PC via DisplayPort mode to stream to the Vision from your computer.
Improved Specifications
The VIVE Vision Focus has the same impressive technical features as the Vision 3 (Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ XR2 and 128GB ROM). HTC has improved performance by upgrading the RAM in the Focus Vision from 8GB to 12GB. The extra RAM means a consistent, smooth virtual or mixed-reality experience at up to 5K resolution (2448 x 2448 pixels per eye) at a 90Hz refresh rate.
Consumer Features
With three games bundled in with the headset and SteamVR support, there’s no lack of access to consumer and gamer VR content this time around. A hot-swappable battery means that the headset can be used for extended periods.
AIO Games pre-loaded:
- XRWorkout
- Capsule Critters
- theBlu
Choose from 3 packs
Wild Pack – for ages 18+
- Metro Awakening
- Arizona Sunshine 2
- Bootstrap Island
- Breachers
Epic Pack – for ages 13+
- The Pirate Queen of Lucy Liu
- TaskmasterVR
- Wanderer
- KayakVR: Mirage
All-in-one MR Pack – for family fun
- Puzzling Places
- Magic Keys
- YUKI MR
- Toy Trains
- Figmin XR
High performance
HTC has packed a number of cutting-edge performance features into the VIVE Vision Focus, including high-precision eye and hand tracking, 3D audio, a hot-swappable battery, and spatial computing capabilities. The first three features enable the headset to deliver an immersive experience while the battery will keep you in that experience with minimal interruptions. Finally, with spatial computing, the Vision Focus offers a mixed-reality productivity tool for mixing some work into the fun.
Advanced Eye and Hand Tracking
The Vision Focus is equipped with an infrared floodlight and 4 cameras to track hand movements with 26 points of precision. The headset uses an auto-adjustment system to align its lenses with your eye pupils. Additionally, more infrared cameras and processing track your eye movement.
Want even more tracking? The Focus Vision is compatible with the VIVE Full Face Tracker and VIVE Ultimate Tracker Kit accessories to extend the headset’s tracking capabilities to your entire face and body.
3D-Spatial Audio
Sound is a key component of immersive experiences, and HTC has designed the Vision Focus to excel on that front. Open-back, dual-driver speakers deliver 3D audio with minimal sound leakage. The onboard mic is also noise and echo-canceling.
Hot-Swappable Battery
Nothing is more of a buzzkill than a battery dying in the middle of a VR session. To minimize this, HTC has built a hot-swappable battery system into the Vision Focus. The headset is equipped with a reserve battery that sustains power long enough to quickly change batteries and get back into the action.
HTC VIVE Focus Vision Headset Offers Spatial Computing
While the headset is decidedly consumer-focused, HTC hasn’t entirely abandoned work-oriented features. Spatial computing allows you to leverage mixed reality to enhance your productivity, whether visualizing concepts, ideating, or multitasking.
Who Should Buy the HTC VIVE Focus Vision Headset
If you’re a prospective business user, HTC has a separate, business-focused version of this headset for you. If you are a consumer or gamer in the market for a high-end, high-performance standalone headset for mixed-reality and VR content, the Vision Focus should make your shortlist. In addition to the three-game bundle included with the headset, HTC is currently sweetening the deal with an additional bundle of games as a pre-order promotion.
Final Thoughts
For anyone looking for a powerful standalone headset, the VIVE Vision Focus will make a solid argument. 5K resolution, 12GB of RAM, and a hot-swappable battery put it at or near the top of the class. It takes a proven performer (the Focus 3), improves upon it, and adds the consumer features that the older model lacked. With three free included games, StreamVR support, and the potential for an additional game bundle with preorders, it’s a proposition worth considering for next-level mixed and virtual reality experiences.
