Valve Index
| Valve Index | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC VR |
| Platform | SteamVR |
| Developer | Valve |
| Manufacturer | Valve |
| Announcement Date | April 30, 2019 |
| Release Date | June 28, 2019 |
| Price | $999 USD (full kit), $499 (headset only) |
| Website | https://www.valvesoftware.com/en/index |
| System | |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | 2× LCD |
| Resolution | 1440×1600 per eye (2880×1600 combined) |
| Refresh Rate | 80 Hz, 90 Hz, 120 Hz, 144 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 108° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Dual-element canted Fresnel lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 58-70mm (physical slider) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | Lighthouse 2.0 (external base stations) |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No (finger tracking via controllers) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Off-ear BMR speakers |
| Microphone | Dual |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0 |
| Device | |
| Weight | ~809g (with strap) |
| Color | Black |
The Valve Index is a PC VR head-mounted display designed and manufactured by Valve, released on June 28, 2019. The Index is Valve's first self-manufactured VR headset and represents a second-generation premium VR experience. It features dual 1440×1600 LCD displays with an industry-leading refresh rate of up to 144 Hz, dual-element canted Fresnel lenses, Lighthouse 2.0 tracking, and the innovative Index Controllers (formerly "Knuckles") with 87 sensors for individual finger tracking. The release of Half-Life: Alyx (free for Index owners) drove significant sales in late 2019.
History and Development
Valve announced the Index on April 30, 2019, and released it on June 28, 2019 as their first fully self-manufactured VR headset. Previous Valve VR experiences required HTC-manufactured hardware (Vive series). The Index was designed to push VR fidelity forward with higher refresh rates and more precise input via the finger-tracking controllers.[1]
The headset sold an estimated 149,000 units in 2019, with 103,000 in Q4 following the announcement of Half-Life: Alyx, which was bundled free with Index purchases.[2]
Design and Hardware
Display
The Index features high-refresh-rate LCD panels:
- Dual LCD displays
- 1440×1600 resolution per eye (2880×1600 combined)
- Full RGB subpixels (no pentile)
- Multiple refresh rates: 80 Hz, 90 Hz, 120 Hz, 144 Hz
- Low persistence global backlight (0.330 ms at 144 Hz)
- 108° estimated field of view
Optics
Innovative canted lens design:
- Dual-element canted Fresnel lenses
- Canting increases effective field of view
- Wide sweet spot
- Reduced god rays vs first-gen headsets
- Physical IPD adjustment slider (58-70mm)
Audio
Premium off-ear speaker system:
- BMR (Balanced Mode Radiator) speakers
- Off-ear design—no contact with ears
- High-quality spatial audio
- No headphones required
- Dual microphones for voice chat
Tracking
Lighthouse 2.0 external tracking:
- External base station tracking
- Sub-millimeter accuracy
- Large play space support
- Compatible with: All HTC Vive base stations (1.0 and 2.0)
- SteamVR ecosystem
Build
- ~809g weight with strap
- Adjustable head strap
- Comfortable for extended sessions
- Front-facing expansion bay (frunk)
- USB port for accessories
Index Controllers
The signature feature of the Index system:
Finger Tracking
- 87 sensors per controller
- Individual finger position tracking
- Motion detection
- Pressure sensing
- Creates accurate hand representation in VR
Design
- Hand strap design—secured to palm
- No need to grip continuously
- Can release grip without dropping controller
- Natural throwing and grabbing motions
Inputs
- Thumbstick
- Touchpad
- Two face buttons (A, B)
- Menu button
- Analog trigger
- Grip force sensors
Compatibility
- Works with all SteamVR games
- Backward compatible with Vive wands
- Sold separately ($279/pair)
Pricing
| Package | Price | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Full Kit | $999 | Headset + 2 controllers + 2 base stations |
| Headset + Controllers | $749 | For Vive base station owners |
| Headset Only | $499 | For Vive/Vive Pro upgraders |
| Controllers Only | $279 | Pair of Index Controllers |
System Requirements
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1070 / AMD RX 580 or better
- CPU: Dual-core with hyperthreading
- RAM: 8 GB
- Ports: DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0
- OS: Windows 10
Reception
Praise:
- Industry-leading 144 Hz refresh rate
- "Next-level VR" - Engadget
- Index Controllers with finger tracking revolutionary
- High-quality off-ear audio
- Wide 108° field of view
- Smooth, low-persistence displays
- Full RGB panels (no pentile)
- SteamVR ecosystem compatibility
- Half-Life: Alyx showcase
- Lighthouse precision tracking
Criticism:
- $999 price (premium tier)
- Requires external base stations
- Tethered (no wireless option)
- Resolution lower than HP Reverb G2
- LCD panels (not OLED)
- Base stations require wall mounting
- Limited availability/long wait times[3]
See Also
References
- ↑ "Valve Index". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Index.
- ↑ "Valve Index Bundle $999: 1440×1600 LCDs, 144 Hz, Wide FOV". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/valve-index-price-specs/.
- ↑ "Valve Index review". TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/valve-index.
- ↑ "Valve Index review: Next-level VR". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/2019-06-28-valve-index-review-vr.html.