When the first HTC Vive virtual-reality headset hit the market, it made waves in the VR community and put itself on the map in comparison to other available VR headsets. The Vive Pro was first released in 2018, further solidifying HTC Vive’s place in the VR space. Now VR headset users have a brand new VR headset to look forward to using - the HTC Vive Pro 2. The new model was released on June 4, 2021, but consumers need to know if it’s a worthwhile investment, especially compared to other VR headsets on the market.
The HTC Vive Pro 2 makes both cosmetic and hardware changes to the original Vive Pro, making it a much more advanced VR headset. It improves upon the graphics, headphone mounts, and more to truly make it a newer, improved version of the HTC Vive Pro. The HTC Vive Pro 2 and HTC Focus 3 hit the market at about the same time, but the Vive Pro 2 is focused on the gamer experience, while the Focus 3 is concerned with more professional, business-based experiences.
Design-wise, the HTC Vive Pro 2 doesn’t look as flashy as the other high-end VR headset HTC offers, the HTC Vive Cosmos. However, the Vive Pro 2’s design is much sleeker and muted compared to the original Vive Pro. It’s also incredibly adjustable, making it easy to find a comfortable setting that can easily be worn for hours at a time. The headphone pieces, front, and back of the headset are cushioned with extremely flexible material, making it comfortable and easily adjustable.
The headphone pieces easily move to match anyone’s ear placement, and the headset itself can be adjusted with a knob at the back of the head and a fabric strip at the top. All things considered, the physical adjustment of the headset is straightforward and easy. Adjusting the visuals once inside the headset is a bit more complicated, though. Users will need to make note of the IPD (inter-pupillary distance) knob on the right side of the headset as well as a button on the lower-left corner to adequately adjust the visuals displayed in the Vive Pro 2.
Glasses are accommodated nicely within the gear, so glasses users don’t have to worry about taking off their glasses to successfully use the Vive Pro 2. However, adjusting the knob and pushing the button to bring the screen the correct distance away from the eyes is a bit tricky. Even once the process was done, it left a small “sweet spot” of the visual field, leaving the rest slightly out of focus.
Installation and setup isn’t too much of a hassle, though HTC Vive Pro 2 users will need enough space for the motion-tracking bases. This isn’t surprising, however, as many VR headset users need to do the same. The controllers have satisfying clicking actions, sounds, and vibrations during use, making it easy to know which controls are being used at that moment. Those with smaller hands may have a trickier time adapting to the Valve controls, but it’s more than manageable altogether.
The HTC Vive Pro 2 is solely a PC VR headset, connecting to the computer via USB 3.0 and DisplayPort connections, and its wired connection is hardly noticeable during use. The headset is also compatible with all previously released Vive accessories, including the SteamVR 1.0 and 2.0 base stations. The Vive Pro 2 features real RGB technology and a 5k total resolution, meaning each eye has a resolution of 2.5k. Despite the hassle of adjusting the eye settings once inside the headset, these graphic improvements definitely minimize the “screen door effect” that can so often mar VR experiences.
In fact, the Vive Pro 2 delivers one of the crispest images possible for a PC VR experience. The games tested looked incredible and were easy to navigate, as long as the controllers and headset were within range of the base stations. All things considered, the graphic improvements shown with the HTC Vive Pro 2 make it a top contender compared to other VR headsets on the market. One thing to note, however, is the headset can get quite hot during use, making the headset warm to the touch.
Currently, only the HTC Vive Pro 2 headset is available for purchase at $799. Those wanting to invest in VR for the first time might be better off buying an HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit, but right now those interested will have to sign up for availability updates on the Vive website. Additionally, the price of the full kit is over $1,000, making it a costly investment. The HTC Vive Pro 2 is undoubtedly worth the money, but it’s not an accessible option for everyone who wants to try out VR gaming.
Overall, the HTC Vive Pro 2 is a stunning piece of technology. Its graphics, refresh rate, and ease of use make it a leading VR headset on the market, though users will have to get used to a smaller visual “sweet spot.” If users have the capability of running a Vive Pro 2 on a high-end gaming computer and have the money to invest in the new headset, there’s not a better choice than the HTC Vive Pro 2.
HTC Vive Pro 2 is available for $799. Game ZXC was provided with an HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Set for this review.
The HTC Vive Pro 2 virtual reality headset with two controllers is now the cheapest yet on Amazon, at just $999.
