Engadget
82
Engadget Review
HTC Vive review: Truly immersive VR comes at a cost
Summary
The HTC Vive offers the best in-home VR experience yet, but it's too unwieldy to truly enjoy for extended play sessions.
$799.99+
Pros
- Sharp and incredibly immersive VR
- Head tracking is superior to Oculus Rift
- Whole-room VR is impressive
- Motion controllers work well
Cons
- Expensive
- Tricky setup
- Uncomfortable to wear for long periods
The virtual reality wars have officially begun. Last week the consumer version of the Oculus Rift finally started shipping, and now HTC's $800 Vive headset is ready to roll. It's a collaboration between HTC and Valve, and it's also a showcase for Valve's SteamVR platform. In particular, the two companies are aiming for a more immersive VR experience: The Vive comes with motion controllers, and you can turn an entire room into a VR play field. More so than the Rift, the Vive shows us that interacting with virtual environments naturally is a key part of immersion. But unfortunately, you'll have to deal with additional discomfort and a higher cost to achieve that.
