The HTC Vive Focus 3 is the best standalone headset that we've tested. The screens are great, the performance is excellent, the field of view exceeds the competition by a significant margin, and the tracking is phenomenal. This headset has almost everything we'd like to see in a high-end consumer device. It's a shame this isn't for consumers.
Our editors hand-pick these products using a variety of criteria: they can be direct competitors targeting the same market segment or can be similar devices in terms of size, performance, or features.
HTC has built the first product that feels like a potential competitor to Oculus’ mobile VR, and the VR world needs that kind of competition. Facebook has funded a lot of excellent experiences, but it’s also alienated some VR fans with its aggressive Oculus-Facebook integration, particularly as it starts introducing ads into the Quest.
The HTC Vive Focus 3 is the best standalone headset that we've tested. The screens are great, the performance is excellent, the field of view exceeds the competition by a significant margin, and the tracking is phenomenal. This headset has almost everything we'd like to see in a high-end consumer device. It's a shame this isn't for consumers.
The business-centric HTC Vive Focus 3 sets a new benchmark for all-in-one VR, with a smart design and some mouth-watering specs. However, the odd performance dip reminds us that balancing performance and accessibility is not an easy task.
No matter how you cut it, the Quest 2 is still the standalone VR headset most consumers should buy. But the Focus 3 is perfect for businesses looking for something a bit more sturdy and powerful. For them, a $1,300 device makes more sense than investing tens of thousands on more elaborate training tools.
Hands on: That points the way to where competition could replicate HTC's plan, using Qualcomm's chip to create other types of VR headsets. Facebook is working on its own type of Pro VR headset, likely with more sensors and maybe its own improved display. The Vive Focus 3 shows that there's still room to expand using Qualcomm's chip tech, and that could point to what's coming next.