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Oculus Rift CV1

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Revision as of 16:55, 7 January 2026 by Betabot (talk | contribs) (Improving page with detailed specifications, sections, and references)
Oculus Rift CV1
Basic Info
VR/AR Virtual Reality
Type Head-Mounted Display
Subtype PC VR
Platform Oculus, SteamVR
Developer Oculus VR (Meta Platforms)
Manufacturer Oculus VR
Announcement Date January 2016
Release Date March 28, 2016
Price $599 USD
Website https://www.meta.com/
Successor Oculus Rift S
System
Storage
Display
Display OLED
Resolution 1080x1200 per eye
Refresh Rate 90 Hz
Image
Field of View 87°
Optics
Ocularity Binocular
Tracking
Tracking 6DoF (Constellation, outside-in)
Audio
Audio Integrated 3D headphones
Connectivity
Connectivity HDMI + USB 3.0
Device
Weight 470g

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The Oculus Rift CV1 (Consumer Version 1) is a PC virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Oculus VR (now Meta Platforms), announced in January 2016 and released on March 28, 2016 at $599. The first consumer VR headset from Oculus and one of the first modern consumer VR systems, the Rift CV1 featured dual OLED displays at 1080x1200 per eye with 90Hz refresh rate, the Constellation tracking system using infrared LEDs for sub-millimeter positional tracking, and integrated 3D audio headphones. The Oculus Touch motion controllers, launched in December 2016, transformed the Rift into a full room-scale VR system.

History and Development

Oculus VR, founded in 2012 and acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $2 billion, launched the Rift CV1 on March 28, 2016, marking a pivotal moment in consumer VR history. Pre-orders began January 6, 2016 at $599. The initial launch included an Xbox Wireless gamepad, with the revolutionary Oculus Touch controllers releasing on December 6, 2016. Production concluded in March 2019, succeeded by the Oculus Rift S with inside-out tracking. The CV1 remains a landmark device that made high-quality VR accessible to consumers.[1]

Design and Hardware

Display

Dual OLED panels:

  • 1080x1200 per eye resolution
  • 2160x1200 combined
  • Dual OLED displays
  • 90 Hz refresh rate
  • 87° field of view
  • 233 million pixels per second
  • Vibrant OLED colors
  • Minimal screen door effect
  • Low persistence

Tracking

Constellation tracking system:

  • 6DoF tracking
  • Constellation sensors (outside-in)
  • Infrared LED tracking
  • Sub-millimeter accuracy
  • Near-zero latency
  • 360° positional tracking
  • Specific LED blink patterns
  • External sensor units

Room Scale

  • Minimum: 2m x 1.5m
  • Maximum sensor distance: 5m
  • Multi-sensor setup
  • Full room-scale with Touch

IPD

  • Physical IPD adjustment
  • Hardware slider
  • Precise eye alignment

Audio

Integrated 3D audio:

  • Built-in headphones
  • 3D audio effects
  • RealSpace 3D Audio technology (Visisonics)
  • Positional audio
  • User-replaceable
  • Immersive soundscape

Build

  • 470g weight (~1 pound)
  • Fabric exterior
  • Breathable design
  • Adjustable straps
  • Comfortable fit
  • Premium materials

Connectivity

  • HDMI video output
  • USB 3.0 data + sensors
  • USB 2.0 additional
  • External Constellation sensors
  • Multiple USB ports required

Oculus Touch

Motion controllers (December 2016):

  • 6DoF hand tracking
  • Constellation tracking
  • Thumbstick per controller
  • Buttons and triggers
  • Hand presence sensors
  • Ergonomic design
  • Room-scale enabler

PC Requirements

Recommended

  • GPU: NVIDIA GTX 960 / AMD equivalent
  • CPU: Intel i3-6100 / AMD FX 4350
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Video: HDMI 1.3
  • USB: 2x USB 3.0 + 1x USB 2.0
  • OS: Windows 8+

Technical Specifications

Specification Details
Display 1080x1200 per eye OLED
Refresh Rate 90 Hz
FOV 87°
Tracking Constellation (outside-in)
IPD Physical adjustment
Audio Integrated 3D headphones
Controllers Touch (sold separately)
Connection HDMI + USB 3.0
Weight 470g
Price $599

Reception

Praise:

  • First modern consumer VR
  • OLED displays excellent
  • 90Hz smooth experience
  • Constellation tracking accurate
  • Sub-millimeter precision
  • Integrated 3D audio quality
  • Touch controllers revolutionary
  • Room-scale capable
  • Made VR accessible
  • Historical significance

Criticism:

  • $599 launch price high
  • External sensors required
  • Multiple USB ports needed
  • Touch sold separately initially
  • Cable management complex
  • Sensor setup required
  • 87° FOV narrow
  • 1080x1200 resolution limited
  • Discontinued 2019
  • Replaced by Rift S[2]

See Also

References