HTC Vive Focus 3

HTC Vive Focus 3
Basic Info
VR/AR	Virtual Reality
Type	Head-mounted display
Subtype	Standalone VR
Platform	Viveport, VIVE Business Platform
Creator	HTC
Developer	HTC
Manufacturer	HTC
Announcement Date	May 11, 2021 (Vivecon)
Release Date	June 27, 2021
Price	$1,300 (includes 2-year business warranty)
Website	https://www.vive.com/us/product/vive-focus3/
Versions	VIVE Focus 3, VIVE Focus 3 Battery Edition
Requires	VIVE Business account (enterprise)
Predecessor	HTC Vive Focus Plus
Successor	HTC Vive Focus Vision
System
Operating System	VIVE Wave (Android-based)
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2
CPU	Octa-core Kryo 585 (1× 2.84 GHz + 3× 2.42 GHz + 4× 1.8 GHz)
GPU	Adreno 650
Storage
Storage	128GB
Memory	8GB LPDDR4X
SD Card Slot	Yes (microSD up to 2TB)
Display
Display	Dual LCD
Subpixel Layout	RGB stripe
Peak Brightness	Not specified
Resolution	2448 × 2448 per eye (4896 × 2448 combined)
Pixel Density	~20 PPD
Refresh Rate	90Hz
Persistence	Low persistence
Image
Field of View	120°
Horizontal FoV	~120°
Vertical FoV	~120°
Average Pixel Density	~20 PPD
Peak Pixel Density	~20 PPD
Foveated Rendering	Fixed foveated rendering
Optics
Optics	Dual stacked lenses
Ocularity	Binocular
IPD Range	57-72mm (continuous mechanical adjustment)
Adjustable Diopter	No (glasses compatible)
Passthrough	Yes (grayscale)
Tracking
Tracking	6DoF inside-out (4 cameras)
Tracking Frequency	N/A
Base Stations	None required
Eye Tracking	No
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	Yes (added via update)
Body Tracking	No
Rotational Tracking	Yes
Positional Tracking	Yes
Update Rate	90Hz
Tracking Volume	Room-scale
Play Space	Roomscale
Latency	<20ms motion-to-photon
Audio
Audio	Dual stereo speakers
Microphone	Yes (dual microphones)
3.5mm Audio Jack	Yes
Camera	4× inside-out tracking cameras
Connectivity
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6/6E, Bluetooth 5.2 + BLE
Ports	2× USB-C 3.2 Gen-1, 3.5mm audio
Wired Video	Yes (USB-C streaming)
Wireless Video	Yes (VIVE Business Streaming)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 6 + 6E (country dependent)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.2 + BLE
Power	Removable rear battery
Battery Capacity	26.6Wh (lithium-polymer gel)
Battery Life	~2 hours (active use)
Charge Time	0-50% in 30 minutes (fast charging)
Device
Dimensions	~258mm × 195mm × 310mm
Weight	785g (with battery)
Material	Magnesium alloy frame, plastic
Headstrap	Integrated halo strap with rear battery
Haptics	Controller haptics
Color	Gray/Black
Sensors	4× tracking cameras, IMU, gyroscope, G-sensor, proximity sensor
Input	VIVE Focus 3 Controllers, hand tracking
Compliance	FCC, CE

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The HTC Vive Focus 3 is an enterprise-focused standalone virtual reality head-mounted display developed by HTC, announced at Vivecon on May 11, 2021, and released on June 27, 2021 at a price of $1,300 including a two-year business warranty. The Focus 3 represented HTC's most powerful standalone VR headset, featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor (a three-generation leap from the Snapdragon 835 in previous Focus headsets), dual LCD displays with 2448 × 2448 resolution per eye (matching the Vive Pro 2), a wide 120° field of view, innovative dual stacked lenses, and a unique hot-swappable rear battery design for continuous enterprise deployment. While the Meta Quest 2 dominated the consumer standalone market, HTC positioned the Focus 3 as the premium enterprise choice with professional-grade features, robust device management, and business-focused support.

History and Development

HTC's Enterprise Strategy

HTC focused on business VR market:

Consumer market increasingly competitive
Enterprise demand for standalone VR growing
Professional features differentiator
Business-focused ecosystem

Focus Product Line

Evolution of standalone VR:

VIVE Focus (2018): First standalone, China-focused
VIVE Focus Plus (2019): Improved controllers, 6DoF
VIVE Focus 3 (2021): Major generational upgrade
Enterprise positioning refined

Vivecon 2021 Announcement

Dual announcements:

Vive Pro 2 for PC VR
Vive Focus 3 for enterprise standalone
Same display resolution across both
Clear market segmentation

Snapdragon XR2 Adoption

Three-generation processor jump:

From Snapdragon 835 to XR2
2× CPU performance
2× GPU performance
11× AI processing improvement

Design Philosophy

Enterprise-First Design

Built for business deployment:

Hot-swappable battery
Device management support
Durable construction
Professional aesthetics

5K Resolution

Matching PC VR quality:

2448 × 2448 per eye
Same as Vive Pro 2
Professional clarity
Text readability for enterprise apps

Active Cooling

Sustained performance:

15W copper heat pipe
Active cooling fan
Consistent performance
Extended operation capability

Balanced Weight

Comfort design:

Rear battery as counterweight
Magnesium alloy frame
Reduced facial pressure
Extended wear comfort

Display Technology

Dual LCD Panels

High-resolution displays:

Resolution: 2448 × 2448 per eye
Total: 4896 × 2448 (approximately 5K)
Size: 2.88 inches per eye
Pixel Density: ~20 PPD

Refresh Rate

Standard VR timing:

90Hz refresh rate
Low persistence
Smooth visuals
Consistent experience

Visual Quality

Professional-grade imagery:

RGB stripe LCD
Clear text for productivity
Reduced screen door effect
Wide color gamut

Comparison to Competitors

Resolution leadership:

Higher than Quest 2 (1832×1920)
Matched Vive Pro 2
Excellent for enterprise applications
Clear visual advantage

Optical System

Dual Stacked Lenses

HTC's new optical design:

Type: Bespoke dual stacked lenses
FOV: 120° (full)
Clarity: Edge-to-edge sharpness
Distortion: Minimized

Field of View

Industry-leading FOV:

Total: 120°
Wider than most competitors
Enhanced immersion
Better peripheral awareness

IPD Adjustment

Continuous mechanical adjustment:

Range: 57-72mm
Dial adjustment
Wide user accommodation
Physical lens movement

Processing Power

Snapdragon XR2

Latest XR processor at launch:

CPU: Octa-core Kryo 585
GPU: Adreno 650
AI: 5th generation AI Engine
Process: 7nm

Performance Improvements

Over previous Focus:

2× CPU performance
2× GPU performance
11× AI processing
15 TOPS AI capability

Memory

Enterprise-grade RAM:

RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X
Storage: 128GB internal
Expansion: microSD up to 2TB

Thermal Management

Active cooling system:

15W heat pipe
Active fan
Sustained performance
No thermal throttling

Tracking System

Inside-Out Tracking

Four-camera system:

Wide-angle cameras
6DoF head tracking
6DoF controller tracking
Room-scale support

Tracking Quality

Enterprise-grade accuracy:

Reliable positioning
Good controller tracking
Robust in various environments
Consistent performance

Hand Tracking

Added via software update:

Controller-free interaction
Gesture recognition
Menu navigation
Application support growing

Controllers

VIVE Focus 3 Controllers

New controller design:

Similar to Quest controllers
IR LED tracking rings
6DoF tracking
Ergonomic grip

Controller Features

Input options:

Thumbstick
Trigger and grip
Face buttons
Capacitive touch

Battery

USB-C rechargeable:

Built-in battery (not removable)
USB-C charging port
15+ hours battery life claimed
Quick charging support

Hot-Swappable Battery

Rear Battery Design

Innovative power solution:

Battery integrated into rear strap
Doubles as counterweight
Removable during use
Continuous operation possible

Battery Specifications

Capacity: 26.6Wh
Chemistry: Lithium-polymer gel
Runtime: ~2 hours active use
Fast Charge: 0-50% in 30 minutes

Enterprise Benefits

Business deployment advantages:

Swap batteries without removing headset
Continuous use scenarios
No downtime for charging
Multiple batteries per headset

Charging

Fast charging support:

QC 3.0 / PD 3.0
30 minutes to 50%
Separate battery charger available
USB-C charging

Physical Design

Magnesium Alloy Frame

Premium construction:

Lightweight but strong
Professional durability
Quality feel
Enterprise-grade build

Halo Strap

Comfortable head mounting:

Halo-style design
Adjustment dial
Weight distribution
Rear battery integration

Weight

785g total (with battery)
Front: ~430g
Rear: ~355g (with battery)
Balanced distribution

Ventilation

Active thermal management:

Intake vents
Fan cooling
Heat dissipation
Comfortable temperature

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 6/6E

High-speed wireless:

Wi-Fi 6 standard
Wi-Fi 6E (country dependent)
Enterprise wireless support
Low latency streaming

USB-C Ports

Dual peripheral ports:

2× USB-C 3.2 Gen-1
External accessories support
PC streaming capable
USB OTG support

Bluetooth

Device connectivity:

Bluetooth 5.2 + BLE
Controller connection
Accessory support
Low energy operation

PC VR Streaming

VIVE Business Streaming

PC connectivity:

Wireless streaming to PC
SteamVR game access
Low latency
Enterprise deployment

Wired Connection

USB-C streaming:

Direct PC connection
Higher quality option
Reliable performance
Stable latency

Audio System

Dual Stereo Speakers

Built-in audio:

Positioned near ears
Spatial audio support
Open design
Adequate quality

Microphone

Communication features:

Dual microphones
Clear voice capture
Video conferencing capable

3.5mm Jack

Headphone option:

Standard audio jack
Private listening
Higher quality audio option

Enterprise Features

VIVE Business Platform

Management tools:

Device management
Content deployment
User administration
Analytics

MDM Support

Mobile Device Management:

Enterprise deployment
Remote configuration
Policy management
Security features

Kiosk Mode

Controlled deployment:

Single-app mode
Content restrictions
User limitations
Public deployment ready

Business Warranty

Included support:

2-year business warranty
Enterprise support
Replacement options
Professional service

Software Platform

VIVE Wave

Android-based OS:

Custom VR interface
Android app support
Development tools
Regular updates

Viveport

Content platform:

Enterprise applications
Training content
Productivity apps
Entertainment options

Developer Tools

SDK and support:

VIVE Wave SDK
OpenXR support
Unity/Unreal integration
Enterprise development

Accessories

Additional Batteries

Extended operation:

Extra battery packs
Battery charger
Continuous use
Enterprise bundles

VIVE Wrist Tracker

Full body tracking:

Wrist-worn tracker
6DoF tracking
Hand presence
Training applications

Face Tracker

Facial expression:

Face tracking module
Avatar animation
Social VR
Enterprise add-on

Use Cases

Training

Enterprise training:

Safety training
Skills development
Simulation
Assessment

Design and Engineering

Professional visualization:

3D model review
Design collaboration
Engineering simulation
Architecture

Healthcare

Medical applications:

Surgical training
Therapy applications
Patient education
Medical simulation

Education

Learning environments:

Virtual classrooms
Lab simulations
Distance learning
Interactive education

Comparison with Quest 2

Feature	VIVE Focus 3	Meta Quest 2
Price	$1,300	$299
Target Market	Enterprise	Consumer
Resolution/eye	2448×2448	1832×1920
FOV	120°	~89°
RAM	8GB	6GB
Hot-swap Battery	Yes	No
Business Support	2-year warranty	Standard warranty
Device Management	Included	Additional cost

Technical Specifications Summary

Specification	Details
Display	Dual LCD, 2448 × 2448 per eye
Total Resolution	4896 × 2448 (~5K)
FOV	120°
Refresh Rate	90Hz
Processor	Snapdragon XR2
Memory	8GB RAM, 128GB storage
Expandable	microSD up to 2TB
Tracking	4-camera inside-out
Battery	26.6Wh (hot-swappable)
Battery Life	~2 hours
Wi-Fi	6 / 6E
Weight	785g
Price	$1,300

References