HTC’s Vive Flow is a $499 light-weight VR headset constructed for leisure and wellness | Engadget

HTC is at this time launching a light-weight headset designed to separate the distinction between a standalone VR headset and a private cinema. The HTC Vive Flow is a pair of glasses weighing simply 189 grams (6.6 pounces) which pair with a smartphone to allow you to play some VR content material or just watch TV. It’s marketed as each a bit of tech to maintain you entertained and a tool that can assist you enhance your psychological wellbeing.

Naturally, the corporate doesn’t need to speak an excessive amount of concerning the know-how inside Flow, preferring to deal with what it will probably do. What we do know, nevertheless, is that it has two “1.6K” shows operating at a 75Hz refresh charge and providing a 100-degree sight view. There’s no battery per-se, apart from a tiny cell designed to ensure that it’ll shut down safely if Flow is severed from no matter energy supply you have linked its USB-C cable to. 

It’s on this regard that it’s arrange extra like a private cinema than it’s your customary VR headset, particularly with the pretty slim physique. HTC spent a whole lot of effort and time shrinking the space between the show and your eyes, and Flow makes use of a pair of diopter lenses up entrance. It implies that short-sighted people received’t have to put on their glasses when utilizing Flow, since they’ll set the lenses as much as go well with their consolation stage.

To make sure that Flow actually is moveable, HTC set an influence price range of seven.5 watts, the higher restrict for USB 3’s charging spec. It means you possibly can run this factor off any appropriate battery pack (or your telephone, in a pinch) in addition to an ordinary socket over a USB-C cable. Some of that juice goes to powering a small energetic fan in entrance of the nostril, which pulls chilly air over your face and pushes heat air out of the Flow’s prime vents.

HTC additionally spent loads of time speaking about how the dual-hinge system will make sure that the Flow’s glasses-like body will sit comfortably on anybody’s head. A pair of audio system embedded into the arms supply what we’re advised is surprisingly prime quality spatial audio, and beefy given their relative measurement. And since they sit in your head like common glasses, you possibly can put on them laying down ought to the necessity come up.

You can pair Flow along with your smartphone over Bluetooth or Miracast (for watching protected content material) and use the telephone as a pointer inside VR content material. That limits the variety of experiences you’ll be capable to get pleasure from with the gear, however you had been hardly going to have the ability to play Half Life: Alyx on this factor anyway. A pair of digicam lenses dealing with ahead will, when the characteristic is prepared, allow the Flow to trace your arms for extra immersive VR, too.

It’s price saying that this isn’t, and as I perceive it, can by no means change into an AR headset in its present kind. Those lenses do not apparently supply a lot passthrough (past what’s crucial for movement monitoring) and this is not designed for it anyway. 

HTC says that the main target of Flow’s content material on “wellbeing, brain training, productivity” and “light gaming,” with apps like Color Connect VR, Space Slurpies and VR meditation app Tripp. The headset will be capable to entry a particular model of Viveport Infinity, providing a large library of Flow-compatible content material for a month-to-month charge of $5.99. The firm added that if customers needed to meditate inside the Flow in direction of the tip of the day, a blue gentle filter will kick in to assist guarantee you can get extra restful sleep.

If you’re seeking to pay money for an HTC Vive Flow, then pre-orders are opening from at this time, with transport anticipated to start in November. The value is $499, and for that you simply get the glasses and a gentle carrying case thrown-in, however I’d strongly advise you to pre-order if you’d like one. Doing so entitles you to obtain the flask-like arduous carrying case, in addition to seven items of further VR content material thrown in free of charge.

Naturally, Flow has change into one thing of a worst-kept secret in know-how after many of those particulars had been leaked forward of time. One of the plain sticking factors is the upper value in comparison with the Quest 2, though HTC was clear to dispel the notion that the merchandise had been equals. Flow, in any case, is a not a standalone headset, and HTC believes that the lighter, extra elegant {hardware} will win it followers within the well being and health market.