Rumors about HTC preparing to announce the next VR/mixed reality headset in the company’s popular Vive range are circulating, after it released what many believe to be a teaser video for a new device.
The video (below) doesn’t feature any details about a possible new headset, or even confirm that it’s set to release one. It features images of existing HTC headsets and their capabilities along with a teaser message: “Soon, our innovation will offer you a new kind of power. Prepare to pioneer the next reality.” The video ends with what appears to be the silhouette of a new headset.
If, as expected by many, HTC makes a full announcement about a new headset soon, it’s likely that the device in question will be pitched to compete with Apple and Meta’s recently-released headsets. Apple’s first mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro, was released in February 2024 and currently sells for prices starting at $3,499: a premium price for the sector. The Meta Quest 3, Meta’s most recent mixed reality headset, costs from $499.99 and was released in October 2023.
Extended reality (XR) manager Brad Lynch claimed to have obtained leaked information about a new HTC headset, which he said would follow design progression from HTC’s Vive Focus 3, which came out in 2021.
According to Lynch’s information, which HTC has not confirmed or commented on, the new device will feature the same displays and optics as the Vive Focus 3. However, it will, Lynch claimed, integrate the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 chipset, which is currently used in HTC’s Vive XR Elite headset (pictured below), which was released in 2023.
The purported leaked information suggested that the new device will have dual cameras with depth sensors, built-in eye tracking functionality, and will have 4GB more RAM compared to the Vive Focus 3’s XR2 chip.
It’s been speculated that if these specs turn out to be accurate the new HTC headset, like Vive Focus 3, may be likely to be geared more towards enterprise and business use rather than home use. The Vive Focus 3 currently sells for $1,300, a price point out of reach for a lot of home use buyers, who might be more inclined to get a $499.99 Meta Quest 3.
We’ll update this story if and when HTC confirms details about a forthcoming new headset.
