PRICE £1,083 (£1,299 inc VAT) from vive.com/uk
I had high hopes for the HTC Vive XR Elite. This unique-looking, next-gen VR headset – which can also support mixed reality – appeared as though it might give Meta and its Quest Pro a run for its money. Unfortunately, the XR Elite proved to be a disappointment.
There are highlights. The modular design, which allows you to disconnect the battery pack and turn it into a lightweight pair of goggles, is inspired. This is the comfiest headset I’ve used, and one I wouldn’t mind wearing for a whole day, if “metaverse” working takes off. In addition, its mixed reality capabilities come close to being the best on the market; the passthrough video feed delivers a clear image of the real world and, thanks to its depth sensors, the Vive XR Elite’s sense of depth is accurate, too. Most other headsets fall down in at least one of these areas.
So it’s with sadness that I say the XR Elite has
