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Improving page with detailed specifications, sections, and references
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Improving page with detailed specifications, sections, and references
Tag: Reverted
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|Subtype = [[PC VR]]
|Subtype = [[PC VR]]
|Platform = [[SteamVR]]
|Platform = [[SteamVR]]
|Developer = [[Valve]]
|Developer = [[Valve Corporation]]
|Manufacturer = [[Valve]]
|Manufacturer = [[Valve Corporation]]
|Release Date = June 28, 2019
|Release Date = June 28, 2019
|Price = $499 (headset) / $999 (full kit)
|Announcement Date = April 30, 2019
|Price = $999 USD (full kit) / $499 (headset only)
|Website = https://www.valvesoftware.com/en/index
|Website = https://www.valvesoftware.com/en/index
|Successor = [[Steam Frame]] (2026)
|Display = LCD (dual)
|Display = LCD (dual 1440x1600)
|Resolution = 1440x1600 per eye
|Resolution = 1440x1600 per eye
|Combined Resolution = 2880x1600
|Combined Resolution = 2880x1600
|Refresh Rate = 80/90/120/144 Hz
|Refresh Rate = 80/90/120/144 Hz
|Field of View = 108°
|Field of View = 108° horizontal / 104° vertical
|Ocularity = Binocular
|Ocularity = Binocular
|Tracking = Lighthouse 2.0 (outside-in)
|Eye Tracking = No
|IPD = 58-70mm (mechanical)
|Tracking = SteamVR Lighthouse 2.0 (external)
|Audio = BMR off-ear speakers
|IPD = Hardware adjustable (58-70mm)
|Controllers = Index Controllers (87 sensors)
|Audio = Off-ear BMR speakers
|Connectivity = DisplayPort 1.2 + USB 3.0
|Passthrough = Stereo RGB cameras
|Weight = 888g
|Controllers = Valve Index Controllers (finger tracking)
}}
}}


The '''Valve Index''' is a PC [[virtual reality]] [[head-mounted display]] developed and manufactured by [[Valve]], released on June 28, 2019. The Index features dual 1440x1600 RGB LCD displays with industry-leading 80/90/120/144 Hz refresh rate options, 108° field of view, canted dual-element Fresnel lenses, and revolutionary Index Controllers with 87 sensors for individual finger tracking. Using Lighthouse 2.0 outside-in tracking, the Index became the gold standard for high-refresh-rate PC VR, maintaining 13.2% of Steam VR market share as of January 2025 despite launching in 2019.
The '''Valve Index''' is a PC-tethered [[virtual reality]] [[head-mounted display]] developed and manufactured by [[Valve Corporation]], released June 28, 2019 at $999 (full kit). Valve's flagship VR headset featuring dual LCD displays at 1440x1600 per eye, industry-leading 144 Hz refresh rate, 130° field of view, canted dual-element Fresnel lenses, SteamVR Lighthouse 2.0 tracking, off-ear BMR audio, and revolutionary Index Controllers with individual finger tracking. Bundled with Half-Life: Alyx.


== History and Development ==
== History and Development ==


Valve announced the Index on April 30, 2019, releasing it on June 28, 2019. The headset represented Valve's first complete VR hardware ecosystem, building on their collaboration with HTC on the original Vive. The Index introduced groundbreaking finger-tracking controllers and maintained backward compatibility with all HTC Vive base stations. In November 2025, Valve announced a successor called Steam Frame, scheduled for launch in early 2026. Despite being discontinued, the Index remains one of the most respected PC VR headsets.<ref name="valve">{{cite web |url=https://www.valvesoftware.com/en/index/headset |title=Valve Index Headset |publisher=Valve |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>
Valve announced the Index on April 30, 2019, releasing June 28, 2019. Following their collaboration with HTC on the Vive, Valve developed the Index entirely in-house to showcase premium PC VR. The headset prioritized refresh rate (first consumer 144Hz VR) and the innovative "Knuckles" controllers (now Index Controllers) with finger tracking. Half-Life: Alyx launched March 2020 bundled with Index purchases, demonstrating VR's potential for AAA gaming.<ref name="valve">{{cite web |url=https://www.valvesoftware.com/en/index/headset |title=Valve Index Headset |publisher=Valve Corporation |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>


== Design and Hardware ==
== Design and Hardware ==
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=== Display ===
=== Display ===


High-refresh RGB LCD:
High refresh rate LCD:


* '''1440x1600 per eye''' resolution
* '''1440x1600 per eye''' resolution
* '''2880x1600 combined''' resolution
* '''2880x1600 combined'''
* '''Dual RGB LCD panels'''
* '''Dual LCD''' panels (full RGB)
* '''50% more subpixels''' than OLED
* '''80/90/120/144 Hz''' refresh rate
* '''3x better fill factor''' than OLED
* 50% more subpixels than OLED
* Greatly reduced screen door effect
* 3x better fill factor
* Full RGB per pixel
* Reduced screen door effect
* Low persistence global backlight
* Low persistence (0.33ms at 144Hz)
* '''0.330 ms persistence''' at 144Hz


=== Refresh Rate ===
=== Optics ===


Industry-leading options:
* '''Dual-element canted Fresnel lenses'''
 
* '''130° field of view''' (adjustable)
* '''80 Hz''' mode
* Eye relief adjustment
* '''90 Hz''' mode
* Lenses move closer for wider FOV
* '''120 Hz''' mode
* 30° difference across adjustment range
* '''144 Hz''' experimental mode
* Smooth high-framerate VR
* Reduced motion sickness


=== Field of View ===
=== Field of View ===


* '''108° FOV'''
* '''108° horizontal'''
* '''Canted dual-element Fresnel lenses'''
* '''104° vertical'''
* Expanded peripheral vision
* ~130° diagonal (maximum)
* Immersive wide view
* Adjustable via eye relief


=== IPD ===
=== IPD ===


* '''Hardware IPD adjustment'''
* '''58-70mm range'''
* '''58-70mm range'''
* '''Physical slider adjustment'''
* Physical slider
* Precise eye alignment
 
* Hardware IPD control
=== Tracking ===
 
SteamVR Lighthouse 2.0:
 
* '''External base stations'''
* Sub-millimeter precision
* '''Up to 4 base stations'''
* Room-scale tracking
* Includes 2 base stations (full kit)


=== Audio ===
=== Audio ===


Premium off-ear system:
Revolutionary off-ear design:


* '''BMR (Balanced Mode Radiator) drivers'''
* '''Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) speakers'''
* '''Off-ear (extra-aural) speakers'''
* '''Off-ear (extra-aural)'''
* Ultra near-field design
* No ear contact
* '''Full-range frequency response'''
* Full-range frequency response
* Accurate low-frequency sounds
* Deep bass
* Built-in microphone
* Integrated microphone
* No headphones needed
* Comfortable extended use


=== Build ===
=== Passthrough ===


* '''888g weight'''
* '''Dual stereo RGB cameras'''
* Premium materials
* Computer vision ready
* Adjustable head strap
* High-quality passthrough
* Face gasket options
* Robust construction


=== Tracking ===
=== Connectivity ===


Lighthouse precision:
* '''DisplayPort 1.2'''
 
* '''USB 3.0'''
* '''Lighthouse 2.0 tracking'''
* '''12V power adapter'''
* External base stations required
* 5m tether cable
* '''Sub-millimeter accuracy'''
* Full room-scale support
* Compatible with Lighthouse 1.0
* HTC Vive base station compatible


== Index Controllers ==
== Index Controllers ==
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Revolutionary finger tracking:
Revolutionary finger tracking:


* '''87 sensors''' per controller
* '''87 sensors per controller'''
* '''Individual finger tracking'''
* '''Individual finger tracking'''
* Hand position tracking
* Hand position tracking
* Motion tracking
* Pressure sensing
* Pressure sensing
* '''Strap design''' (hands-free grip)
* Thumbstick
* Thumbstick
* Touchpad
* Touchpad
* Two face buttons
* Face buttons (A/B)
* Menu button
* Trigger
* Trigger
* Grip sensing
* System button
* Accelerometer
* Strap-on design (hands-free release)


== Pricing ==
== Pricing ==
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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Configuration !! Price
! Bundle !! Contents !! Price
|-
|-
| Headset only || $499
| Full Kit || Headset, 2 controllers, 2 base stations || $999
|-
|-
| Headset + Controllers || $749
| Headset Only || Headset, face gasket, cable || $499
|-
|-
| Controllers pair || $279
| Controllers || 2 Index Controllers || $279
|-
|-
| Base station || $149
| Base Stations || 2 Lighthouse 2.0 stations || $299
|-
| Full Kit (all included) || $999
|}
|}


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! Specification !! Details
! Specification !! Details
|-
|-
| Display || 1440x1600 per eye LCD
| Display || 1440x1600 LCD x2
|-
| Combined || 2880x1600
|-
|-
| Refresh Rate || 80/90/120/144 Hz
| Refresh Rate || 80/90/120/144 Hz
|-
|-
| FOV || 108°
| FOV || 108°x104° (up to 130°)
|-
|-
| Tracking || Lighthouse 2.0
| Tracking || Lighthouse 2.0
|-
|-
| IPD || 58-70mm
| IPD || 58-70mm (hardware)
|-
| Audio || BMR off-ear speakers
|-
| Controllers || 87 sensors, finger tracking
|-
|-
| Connection || DP 1.2 + USB 3.0
| Audio || Off-ear BMR speakers
|-
|-
| Weight || 888g
| Controllers || Finger tracking (87 sensors)
|-
|-
| Price || $499-$999
| Price || $999 (full kit)
|}
|}


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'''Praise:'''
'''Praise:'''
* 144Hz highest refresh rate
* 144Hz smoothest VR
* Index Controllers revolutionary
* LCD clarity excellent
* Finger tracking innovative
* Wide FOV adjustable
* 87 sensors unprecedented
* Off-ear audio revolutionary
* BMR audio exceptional
* Index Controllers innovative
* 108° FOV wide
* Finger tracking immersive
* RGB LCD sharp
* Build quality premium
* Lighthouse tracking precise
* Half-Life: Alyx bundled
* Modular purchasing options
* SteamVR ecosystem
* Gold standard PC VR
* Enthusiast-grade experience
* Still respected after years


'''Criticism:'''
'''Criticism:'''
* 888g heavy
* $999 expensive
* $999 full kit expensive
* External tracking required
* Base stations required
* Base station setup
* Complex setup
* LCD blacks not OLED
* External sensors needed
* Heavy compared to competitors
* 1440x1600 resolution dated
* Requires powerful PC
* No wireless option
* GTX 1070 recommended
* Discontinued (2024)
* Controller thumbstick durability
* Cables tethered
* Limited availability<ref name="techradar">{{cite web |url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/valve-index |title=Valve Index Review |publisher=TechRadar |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>
* Space requirements<ref name="wikipedia">{{cite web |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Index |title=Valve Index |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2025-01-07}}</ref>


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
* [[Steam Frame]]
* [[HTC Vive]]
* [[Vive Pro 2]]
* [[HP Reverb G2]]
* [[HP Reverb G2]]
* [[Pimax Crystal]]
* [[Bigscreen Beyond]]
* [[Bigscreen Beyond]]


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