HTC Vive XR Elite
The HTC Vive XR Elite is HTC’s answer to the Meta Quest Pro, coming in at $1,100 (as opposed to the Quest Pro’s $1,500). What you get is a sleek, glasses-like VR headset that feels lightweight thanks to a small lens enclosure and an easily adjustable headband that balances out the weight on your head. You can even detach it from the battery cradle that sits behind your head and wear it like a proper pair of glasses, which works pretty well thanks to the full color video passthrough. You’ll just want to supply your own external battery pack, which you can do via USB.
Coming with sensorless room scale VR and controllerless hand tracking, this 4K headset presents a compelling alternative to Meta’s $400 more costly headset. It’s also got lenses that can dial in to different prescriptions, so it can accommodate most glasses-wearers with the default lenses. It’s still got controllers if you need them, plus wrist straps for better hand tracking, and I was able to play whack-a-mole, paint in 3D space, and conduct a virtual orchestra with ease during a demo of the device. HTC’s been lagging behind when it comes to consumer-facing standalone headsets, so this device’s release and price point is a clear shot across Meta’s bow. – Michelle Ehrhardt
