HTC Vive Focus Vision review: A premium VR headset with average performance

The $999 HTC Vive Focus Vision offers average performance with aging tech.

: The HTC Vive Focus Vision is a $999 premium standalone VR headset offering solid PC VR capabilities. However, it uses outdated Snapdragon XR2 hardware from 2020, features old Fresnel lenses, and lacks an extensive game library compared to competitors like Meta Quest 3. Despite excellent build quality and comfort, along with a hot-swappable battery, its high price and aging components limit its appeal. The headset's strengths lie in its build quality, field of view, and potential for uncompressed PC VR with a $149 accessory.

The HTC Vive Focus Vision, a $999 VR headset, attempts to merge standalone capabilities with solid PC VR integration. Despite its sleek design and features like built-in eye tracking and hot-swappable batteries, it struggles with performance issues due to its use of outdated 2020-era Snapdragon XR2 hardware and older Fresnel lenses, making it less appealing compared to Meta's Quest 3, which uses newer processors.

The headset is crafted for VR enthusiasts and enterprise users, offering a resolution of 2,448 by 2,448 pixels per eye and a 120-degree field of view, providing an immersive experience. Build quality stands out with a comfortable fit and durable construction. However, its potential is undermined by a small library of VR titles and sporadic performance of new features like auto-IPD adjustment and mixed reality cameras.

While the Vive Focus Vision's attractive features such as high-end construction and the optional $149 DisplayPort streaming kit for PC VR appeal to niche users, it remains a challenging choice at its steep price. It offers neither the affordability nor the up-to-date components of its competitors. Additionally, issues with eye tracking and limited mixed reality options further complicate its positioning in the current VR market.

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