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HTC Vive

HTC · VR Headset 2016 Active 8

First-generation room-scale tethered PC VR headset built with Valve, using OLED panels and external Lighthouse base stations for tracking.

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First-generation room-scale tethered PC VR headset built with Valve, using OLED panels and external Lighthouse base stations for tracking.

The HTC Vive is the first-generation room-scale VR headset that HTC developed together with Valve and launched in 2016. It is a tethered device built around a PC host: all rendering happens on the computer, while the headset acts as a high-refresh display and tracking system for virtual reality experiences.

Because it relies entirely on the connected PC, performance and the range of available experiences are determined by the host machine rather than by the headset. The Vive is not a standalone console or a retro emulation device. Its purpose is PC-based virtual reality, from seated experiences to full room-scale sessions where you move around the room.

Visuals are delivered by OLED panels at 1080x1200 per eye, running at a 90 Hz refresh rate that helps keep motion smooth. Fresnel lenses provide a field of view of roughly 110°, wide enough for a convincing sense of immersion.

Tracking relies on external Lighthouse base stations, which follow your movements across a room-scale play space. Setup means mounting these stations in the room, an extra step compared with simpler solutions. At 555 g, the headset is noticeable on your head during long sessions, so regular breaks are a good idea.

The connection to the PC runs through the Link Box, which carries the signal over HDMI 1.4 and USB 2.0. The cable is part of the experience and limits freedom of movement compared with a wireless system, but it provides a direct link to the host computer.

Content runs on the PC, so the available library depends on the VR software installed on the computer. As the product of the collaboration between HTC and Valve, the Vive remains an important milestone in the history of PC virtual reality.

Ideal for: owners of a capable PC who want a classic entry into room-scale VR, collectors interested in the first modern headsets, and anyone with a dedicated space for Lighthouse base stations.
Resolution
1080x1200 per eye
Refresh Rate
90 Hz
Lens
Fresnel, ~110° FOV
Ports
HDMI 1.4 + USB 2.0 (via Link Box, to PC)
Weight
555 g

No platform data

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Pros & Cons

Pros

  • room-scale tracking
  • Lighthouse base stations
  • OLED panels
  • 90 Hz refresh rate
  • ~110° field of view
  • developed with Valve

Cons

  • requires a PC host
  • tethered cable
  • external base station setup
  • 555 g weight
  • older HDMI 1.4 and USB 2.0 link

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