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HTC Vive

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Revision as of 22:11, 7 January 2026 by Betabot (talk | contribs) (Improving page with detailed specifications, history, features, and references)
HTC Vive
Basic Info
VR/AR Virtual Reality
Type Head-mounted display
Subtype PC VR
Platform PC, SteamVR
Creator HTC, Valve
Price $799
Website https://www.vive.com
System
CPU Intel i5-4590 / AMD FX 8350+ (min)
GPU NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD R9 290+ (min)
Storage
Display
Display 2 x OLED
Resolution 2160 x 1200 (1080 x 1200 per eye)
Image
Optics
Tracking
Tracking 6DoF (SteamVR Lighthouse)
Audio
Microphone Yes
Connectivity
Connectivity HDMI, USB 3.0
Ports HDMI, USB, Power
Device
Weight 555g
Sensors Gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity, front camera
Input Vive Controllers (6DoF)


The HTC Vive is a virtual reality head-mounted display developed by HTC in collaboration with Valve Corporation. Announced at Mobile World Congress in March 2015 and released on April 5, 2016 at $799, the Vive was the first consumer VR headset to implement room-scale virtual reality with motion controllers out of the box. The headset features dual OLED displays at 1080 x 1200 per eye, 90 Hz refresh rate, 110-degree field of view, and SteamVR Lighthouse tracking with sub-millimeter accuracy. The Vive defined the modern PC VR experience alongside the Oculus Rift.[1]

History and Development

Valve Partnership

HTC partnered with Valve Corporation to implement Valve's SteamVR platform and Lighthouse tracking technology.

March 2015 Announcement

The Vive was announced at Mobile World Congress 2015.

Pre-Orders

Pre-orders began February 29, 2016 at $799 (€899, £689).

April 2016 Launch

The consumer Vive shipped on April 5, 2016.

Room-Scale Pioneer

First VR headset to provide motion controls and full room-scale tracking out of the box.

Design and Hardware

Display System

  • Display Type: Dual OLED panels
  • Resolution: 1080 x 1200 per eye (2160 x 1200 total)
  • Refresh Rate: 90 Hz
  • Field of View: 110 degrees
  • Persistence: Low persistence

Front Camera

  • Integrated front-facing camera
  • Passthrough view capability
  • "Chaperone" boundary camera

Sensors

  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Proximity sensor

Comfort

  • Adjustable headstrap
  • Replaceable face cushion
  • IPD adjustment

SteamVR Lighthouse Tracking

Base Stations

  • 2 base stations included
  • Marker-based tracking
  • Sub-millimeter accuracy
  • External sensor system

Room-Scale Support

  • Up to 15 x 15 feet play area
  • 360-degree tracking
  • Full body movement freedom

Chaperone System

  • Virtual boundary walls
  • Camera passthrough option
  • Safety notifications

Controllers

Vive Controllers

  • 6 degrees of freedom
  • Dual-stage trigger
  • Touchpad
  • Grip buttons
  • Menu buttons
  • Included with headset

Connectivity

Link Box

  • HDMI port
  • USB 3.0 port
  • Power connector
  • Breakout for cable management

PC Connection

  • HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2
  • USB 3.0
  • Power outlet

System Requirements

Component Minimum
GPU NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD R9 290
CPU Intel i5-4590 / AMD FX 8350
RAM 4 GB
Video HDMI 1.4 / DP 1.2
USB 1x USB 2.0+
OS Windows 7 SP1+

Vive Ecosystem

SteamVR Platform

  • Steam store integration
  • Thousands of VR titles
  • Workshop content

Vive Wireless Adapter

Optional wireless kit for untethered VR (sold separately).

Specifications

Specification Details
Display 2 x OLED
Resolution 1080 x 1200 per eye
Total Resolution 2160 x 1200
Refresh Rate 90 Hz
Field of View 110°
Tracking SteamVR Lighthouse
Controllers Vive Controllers (included)
Room-Scale Up to 15 x 15 ft
Weight 555g
Price $799

Legacy

Impact on VR

The Vive helped establish PC VR as a viable platform and demonstrated the importance of room-scale tracking.

Successors

See Also

References