The future of virtual reality hardware is wireless. No one likes being tethered to a desktop or laptop. Mobile VR is also bringing some stiff competition, which forces other companies to innovate. The Vive Wireless Adapter, for example, will be rather interesting to keep an eye on.
Vive Wireless Headset Piques People’s Interest
When it comes to VR headsets, it is evident both HTC and Oculus are struggling for market traction. The high price point of both units may have something to do with that particular issue. Additionally, both units need to be connected to a computer or laptop at all times. It makes for a far less favorable VR environment altogether.
Thankfully, it seems there is a positive change on the horizon. The Vive Wireless Adapter will shake things up quite a bit. According to HTC, this unit will come to market in August of 2018. An official release date has not been officially communicated at this stage. On the other hand, some specific hardware details became apparent.
It is important to note the Vive Wireless Adapter has its own battery. This will also power the Vive headset thanks to the QC 3.0 Powerbank embedded within the unit. As such, users can expect a battery life of anywhere from two to three full hours. It’s not terrible, but not all that great either. Fully charging the battery takes around an hour, which is on par with what one would expect in this day and age.
The biggest piece of information is the price. For now, HTC has not unveiled the price for the VIve Wireless Adapter. It is expected this unit will cost around $300, although the end result may be very different. Whether or not the unit will effectively make the HTC VIve and Vive Pro more appealing, is a different matter altogether. It is an additional cost on top of an already expensive headset. Convincing consumers will not be easy in this regard.
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