The HTC Vive is one of the best tethered virtual reality headsets available on the market today. As is the case with all tethered headsets, it requires a powerful PC setup to function. There has been talk of a standalone virtual reality headset from HTC which wouldn’t require users to carry a PC with them wherever they go. HTC has now launched a new standalone Vive VR headset, but there’s a catch.
The standalone HTC Vive VR headset looks pretty similar to the Daydream headset that the company has been working on. However, since Daydream is owned by Google and Google isn’t welcome in China, it has to make several changes before the headset can be allowed in.
This is why HTC’s standalone VR headset is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 processor coupled with the company’s proprietary virtual reality platform.
There isn’t a lot of information available about the specs of this handset but it would be reasonable to assume that it’s quite similar to the Vive Daydream headset that’s due to be released later this year.
HTC has only announced the standalone Vive VR headset for customers in China today. This would be the first time that the Viveport store and all of the content it offers will become available in China.
The company is quiet about the price so it’s not known how much the standalone headset is cost, but it’s likely going to be lower than the Vive’s $800 price tag.
Filed in . Read more about HTC, HTC Vive and Virtual Reality (VR).