HTC Vive Cosmos

Hands on: Aside from the hardware, the other big feature of the Cosmos is that it's the first HTC VR headset to ship with the Vive Reality System rather than SteamVR. The Vive Reality System is a new software experience for the platform that comes complete with a redesigned user interface called Lens for browsing apps and settings.

Hands on: Clearly, I have some reservations about Vive Cosmos's VR potential. Oculus Rift S is currently a much snappier system in terms of reliable inside-out tracking. And Valve Index doesn't cost that much more to blow Cosmos away in terms of LCD panel performance and FOV boosts. (Let's not forget Oculus Quest, which still leads my "best VR headsets of 2019" list by more than a slim margin.)

Hands on: With changes to tracking, controller design, and a modular concept which may further expand the headset’s capabilities over time, HTC is aiming to reboot the Vive experience with Cosmos.

Hands on: To be honest, I wasn’t too excited about Rift S after first trying it at GDC earlier this year, but now it has become my go-to PC VR device simply because of the ease of use and form factor. If you’re dialed into the Vive or SteamVR ecosystem already, there’s a good chance Cosmos could fulfill a similar spot for you.