With the first previews of the HTC Vive slowly surfacing, it is evident this headset is HTC’s make-or-break moment. It is evident this is not the headset for most consumers, although that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. So far, it seems most people readily agree the Vive Pro is sharper and more impressive, but too pricey and overall still rather middle-of-the-pack.
The HTC Vive Pro Needs to Deliver
Anyone keeping a close eye on the VR headset market will now there are some tough months ahead for HTC. More specifically, the company is struggling in all of its VR ventures so far. The Vive headset has been met with a lukewarm reception so far. The Viveport subscription service is decent, but still fails to attract a lot of people.
With the HTC Vive Pro, the company may have its last shot at making an impact on this industry. So far, it seems that will be a futile effort. With the price tag of $800 – for just the headset, mind you – it is evident most consumers will pass up on this unit. For novice users, there are far better and cheaper options out there.
This leaves HTC with the “experienced” VR community, which is not the biggest segment. Moreover, convincing these people who already own an expensive headset to buy an $800 unit will not be easy. If you don’t own the best of gaming PCs, the headset won’t even run properly. Plus, with no controllers, Lighthouse boxes, and so forth, it is incredibly difficult to get potential users excited about this product in its current form.
The hefty price tag is warranted, though. The HTC Vive Pro is a lot more immersive and sharper than any other unit on the market. It looks a clunkier as well, but that is the price to pay, unfortunately. Thankfully, the overall comfort has improved, although users are still tethered to their computer at all times. Whether or not these changes are sufficient to get people excited about spending $800 for something they don’t really need, is a different matter.
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