After much speculation, HTC Vive has officially unveiled its "big news in a small package": a new virtual reality (VR) headset, the Vive Flow. Described by the company as "immersive glasses" designed to straddle the line between a virtual reality headset and smart glasses, Vive Flow arrives as a lightweight and portable entertainment, wellness and gaming platform for virtual reality on the go. There's no separate supervisor, the device is completely managed by the user's Android smartphone via Bluetooth, and at just 2g, it's lighter than most of today's best smartphones and fits easily. Perfectly shaped into a box-like carrying case to maximize portability. When it comes to its specs, 2 LCD screens, a 75k resolution, and a XNUMXHz refresh rate mean the Vive Flow can't touch the brand's more premium VR offerings, like the HTC Vive Focus. Three for performance, but clearly a simple product to use. . in the spirit. However, the Vive Flow features a XNUMX-degree field of view, a dual-hinge fit system and snap-on face pad, spatial surround sound, and adjustable diopter lenses, which the brand says should eliminate the need for of wearing glasses, by those who wear them.
(Image credit: HTC Vive) This audio is built into the arms of the device, while two microphones are placed on the front for calls. The Vive Flow also features an active cooling system that uses an internal fan to draw air away from the user's face to avoid excessive heat and glass vapor. Then it should be very comfortable to wear. When it comes to the raison d'être of Vive Flow, HTC bets on a plurality of use cases. As we discovered through our brief use of the device, the lenses can be used to play games, watch movies and TV shows, or dive into a variety of wellness-focused programming. For example, while you generally can't carry a giant VR headset on a plane when you travel, the Vive Flow can present itself as an ultra-portable theater experience. Or, if you're in a busy office, the lenses can be used for a moment of relaxation with the many meditation apps available on Viveport, the brand's digital store. "With Vive Flow, HTC is taking technology in a new direction, focusing not on what we do, but rather on how we feel," HTC CEO Cher Wang said in a statement. “Maintaining our well-being has become a priority in recent times, so taking time to ease our spirits has never been more essential, and Vive Flow provides the perfect opportunity to escape our 2 walls and immerse ourselves in our ideal atmosphere. . . "
(Image credit: HTC Vive) The Vive Stream accepts standard USB, so it can be easily powered anywhere and will comfortably run for up to 5 hours, according to HTC. The company is also offering a carrying case and additional downloadable content for customers of the service who reserve the device from October XNUMX. However, less exciting is its cost. At $XNUMX / $XNUMX / AU$XNUMX, the HTC Vive Flow is even more expensive than some of the more popular, and superior, VR headsets out there today, like the Oculus Quest XNUMX. and PSVR. Sure, that's a far cry from the cost of other HTC devices like the flagship HTC Vive, but the PSP's essentially half of VR hardware (in terms of form and portability, at least) seems a bit steep. . Is the HTC Vive Flow going to make our list of the best VR headsets of XNUMX then? That doesn't seem very likely, but the Taiwanese tech giant deserves credit for developing a product that truly brings something new to the table, even if the cost of innovation is high.