HTC Vive XR Elite
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| HTC Vive XR Elite | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Mixed Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR, PC VR |
| Platform | VIVE Wave, SteamVR |
| Creator | HTC |
| Developer | HTC |
| Manufacturer | HTC |
| Announcement Date | January 5, 2023 (CES 2023) |
| Release Date | March 2023 (scheduled start of pre-order shipments) |
| Price | US$1,099 at launch (excluding sales tax); cut to US$900 in August 2024; US$899 on HTC's US product page in October 2026 |
| Website | https://www.vive.com/us/product/vive-xr-elite/ |
| Versions | VIVE XR Elite, VIVE XR Elite Business Edition |
| Requires | VR-ready PC for PC VR streaming (optional) |
| System | |
| Operating System | Android-based |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 (first generation) |
| CPU | Octa-core (1 x 2.84 GHz, 3 x 2.42 GHz, 4 x 1.81 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Memory | 12 GB |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual LCD |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1920 per eye (3840 x 1920 combined) |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | Up to 110 degrees |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Pancake lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 54-73 mm |
| Adjustable Diopter | Yes, per-eye dials for near-sightedness down to -6 D |
| Passthrough | Full color (16 MP RGB camera) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out (four tracking cameras) |
| Eye Tracking | No (optional VIVE Full Face Tracker add-on) |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Embedded speakers |
| Microphone | Dual microphones with echo cancellation |
| Camera | 4 tracking cameras, 16 MP RGB camera, depth sensor |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 + 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 + BLE, USB-C |
| Ports | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (one peripheral port, one power port) |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 + 6E (6E support is country dependent) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 + BLE |
| Power | Removable, hot-swappable battery cradle; 30 W USB-C Power Delivery source in glasses mode |
| Battery Capacity | 24.32 Wh |
| Battery Life | Up to 2 hours |
| Device | |
| Weight | 625 g (with battery); 273 g (without battery) |
| Sensors | 4 tracking cameras, 16 MP RGB camera, depth sensor, G-sensor, gyroscope, proximity sensor |
| Input | Two 6DoF controllers, hand tracking, volume button, headset button |
The HTC Vive XR Elite (sold as VIVE XR Elite) is a convertible standalone mixed reality and virtual reality headset made by HTC. It runs apps on a first-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chip and can also stream PC VR games from a computer over Wi-Fi or USB-C.[1][2] Its battery sits in a rear cradle that can be removed: the full headset weighs 625 g, and without the battery the front unit weighs 273 g and can be worn like a pair of glasses while it draws power from an external USB-C source.[3]
HTC announced the headset at CES 2023 on 5 January 2023, opened pre-orders the same day at US$1,099, and said in late February that pre-order shipments would begin on 10 March 2023.[3][4] UploadVR called it "HTC's first fully standalone headset for consumers"; press coverage at launch framed it as a cheaper rival to the US$1,500 Meta Quest Pro.[5][3] HTC cut the US price to US$900 in August 2024, and its US product page gave a price of US$899 in October 2026.[6][2]
Announcement and release
HTC presented the Vive XR Elite at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. Road to VR's report of 5 January 2023 gave the headset's weight as 625 g with the battery and 273 g in the glasses configuration, and listed pancake lenses, 1920 x 1920 pixels per eye, a 90 Hz refresh rate and a field of view of up to 110 degrees.[3] HTC's press release, distributed through PR Newswire with a Seattle dateline of 6 January 2023, described the product as its new consumer flagship all-in-one headset for gaming, fitness and productivity.[7] The release said the battery charges at 30 W over USB-C Power Delivery and that content could be streamed wirelessly from a compatible Android phone to the headset.[7]
Pre-orders opened on 5 January 2023 through vive.com and authorized retailers.[7] Launch prices were:[3][7]
| Region | Launch price |
|---|---|
| United States | US$1,099 (excluding sales tax) |
| United Kingdom | £1,299 (including VAT) |
| Germany and France | €1,399 (including VAT) |
| Norway | 15,499 NOK |
| Sweden | 16,299 SEK |
| Denmark | 11,099 DKK |
| Australia | A$2,099 (including GST) |
| New Zealand | NZ$2,299 (including GST) |
HTC said buyers who pre-ordered by 15 February 2023 would receive five titles selected by the company.[8] The company also promised about 100 mixed reality and virtual reality titles in the launch window, among them Demeo, Hubris, Yuki, Maestro, Les Mills Bodycombat, FigminXR, Unplugged and Finger Gun, with the mixed reality game Eggscape due later in 2023.[7]
The shipping date moved during the pre-order period. The CES press release estimated that pre-order shipments would begin in late February, while The FPS Review's report on the announcement gave early March 2023.[7][8] At Mobile World Congress 2023, MIXED reported that pre-orders would ship from 10 March 2023; HTC also said there that an "MR Face Gasket", which replaces the light shield with a small forehead pad to leave the wearer's peripheral view open, would reach its store in the second quarter of 2023.[4] Laptop Mag's CES hands-on had also given March 2023 as the start of shipping.[9]
Pricing history
| Date | United States price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| January 2023 | US$1,099 | Launch price, excluding sales tax[3] |
| August 2024 | US$900 | Permanent cut announced by HTC; the UK price fell to £900[6][10] |
| October 2026 | US$899 | Price on HTC's US product page[2] |
Design and hardware
Convertible design
The battery cradle mounts at the back of the head strap and acts as a counterweight to the front unit. It is removable and hot-swappable.[1] With the cradle detached and temple pads fitted, the headset becomes a glasses-style device; HTC states that this mode requires an alternate power source with 30 W Power Delivery or more.[7][2] HTC's carrying case for the headset also requires the battery cradle to be detached and stored separately.[2] In MIXED's review, the front unit weighed about 249 g and the battery 346 g.[11] The front gasket attaches magnetically.[1]
Display and optics
The headset uses two LCD panels at 1920 x 1920 pixels per eye and 90 Hz, behind pancake lenses that UploadVR said appear to match those of the HTC Vive Flow.[5] HTC specifies a field of view of up to 110 degrees.[1] A slider adjusts lens separation for an interpupillary distance of 54 to 73 mm.[5][1] Each eye also has a diopter dial; the dials correct near-sightedness only, down to -6 D.[3][12] HTC notes that the dials "may be beneficial to near-sighted individuals but are not intended to replace corrective lenses".[2]
Processing, memory and connectivity
The headset has a first-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2, the chip also used in the Meta Quest 2, with 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.[6][1] The XR2's CPU has one prime core at 2.84 GHz, three cores at 2.42 GHz and four at 1.81 GHz, with an Adreno 650 GPU.[13] Connections are two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C ports (one for peripherals and one for power), Bluetooth 5.2 with BLE, and Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, with 6E support depending on the country.[1] Road to VR saw no 3.5 mm headphone jack in HTC's product images at the announcement; audio comes from embedded open-ear speakers, and the headset has dual microphones with echo cancellation.[3][1]
Tracking and sensors
Four tracking cameras provide 6DoF inside-out tracking with no base stations; HTC recommends a play space of up to 10 x 10 m, with a minimum of 1.5 x 1.5 m for standing use.[1] The sensor set also includes a 16 MP RGB camera for color passthrough, a depth sensor, a G-sensor, a gyroscope and a proximity sensor.[1] MIXED reported that a single camera supplies the passthrough image and that the view is a flat image rather than depth-correct.[4][11] HTC states that features using the depth sensor work only indoors and need system software version 1.0.999.424 or later.[2] The headset has no built-in eye tracking; HTC sells eye and face tracking as an add-on (see below).[5][6]
Battery and power
HTC's specification page lists a 24.32 Wh lithium-polymer gel battery in the cradle, rated for up to 2 hours of use.[1] Road to VR's announcement table gave 26.6 Wh for the external battery.[3] In MIXED's review, recharging took about as long as the 2-hour runtime.[11]
Controllers
The two included 6DoF controllers are the same design as those of the HTC Vive Focus 3.[3] They have Hall sensors on the trigger and grip buttons, capacitive sensors on the trigger, joystick and thumb rest, A/B and X/Y buttons, a joystick, and an integrated battery rated for up to 15 hours and charged over USB-C.[1] The headset also supports controller-free hand tracking and the VIVE Wrist Tracker.[3]
Specifications
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | Dual LCD, 1920 x 1920 pixels per eye (3840 x 1920 combined), 90 Hz[5][1] |
| Lenses | Pancake[5] |
| Field of view | Up to 110 degrees[1] |
| IPD | 54-73 mm[1] |
| Diopter | Per-eye dials down to -6 D[3] |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2[1] |
| Memory and storage | 12 GB RAM, 128 GB[1] |
| Sensors | 4 tracking cameras, 16 MP RGB camera, depth sensor, G-sensor, gyroscope, proximity sensor[1] |
| Connections | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, Bluetooth 5.2 + BLE, Wi-Fi 6 + 6E[1] |
| Battery | 24.32 Wh, removable and hot-swappable, up to 2 hours[1] |
| Weight | 625 g with battery, 273 g without[3] |
Software and features
Standalone apps come from HTC's Viveport store; MIXED counted about 90 apps in April 2023 and noted that the Viveport Infinity subscription was not available on the headset at that time.[11] PC VR titles run through HTC's VIVE Streaming software over Wi-Fi or a USB-C cable, which requires a VR-ready PC; a button in the system menu switches between native apps and PC VR apps from SteamVR.[2][11] The headset is also a gateway to HTC's Viverse platform.[2] According to MIXED, phone streaming needs a Miracast-capable smartphone, and services such as Netflix work only if the phone supports HDCP 2.2.[11]
HTC added several features after launch. In April 2023 it gave select developers a beta of a room setup that uses the depth sensor to generate a mesh of the room and suggest desks and walls, and in May 2023 it described improved hand tracking with better occlusion handling, support for ArUco fiducial markers to co-locate several headsets in one room, and a developer and enterprise beta for streaming mixed reality from a PC.[14] In December 2023 VRChat became available on the headset's standalone store; it supported body tracking with HTC's Vive Ultimate Tracker but at first required controllers rather than hand tracking.[15] The Ultimate Tracker connects to the headset through the VIVE Wireless Dongle, and up to five trackers can be paired with one dongle.[2]
Accessories and editions
VIVE Full Face Tracker
HTC released the VIVE Full Face Tracker on 9 January 2024 for US$200. It attaches magnetically and connects over USB-C, and it has two eye-tracking cameras running at 120 Hz and one mouth-tracking camera at 60 Hz on a hinged flap. Apps can use its data to animate avatar faces, for foveated rendering and for analytics, and the headset can use it to set the IPD slider automatically. Each app has to implement face tracking itself; HTC said the tracker was designed around OpenXR.[16]
Deluxe Pack
In June 2024 HTC announced the Deluxe Pack: an upgraded face gasket (Face Gasket 2.0), the MR gasket, a Deluxe Strap that spreads the headset's weight more evenly, and temple clips that secure the glasses unit to the battery cradle. Existing owners could claim it free until 3 July 2024 by registering their serial number.[17] HTC's specification page now lists the four accessories in the box, along with the headset, battery cradle, two controllers, a top strap and USB cables; its product page describes them as included with each order through vive.com and participating retailers while supplies last.[1][2]
Business Edition
At the CES 2023 launch HTC said an enterprise version would follow and that a face and eye tracking unit would launch in 2023.[7] At Mobile World Congress 2024, HTC presented the VIVE XR Elite Business Edition, a hardware and software bundle with support for its Location Based Software Suite (LBSS) and the VIVE Business+ device management service, plus a face pad and headband designed for frequent user changes and safety clips that stop the battery holder being removed by accident. HTC aimed it at cultural and educational institutions and location-based VR.[18]
Reception
Early hands-on coverage at CES 2023 praised the comfort and the size of the headset. UploadVR's Ian Hamilton found it one of the most comfortable headsets he had tried and preferred its passthrough view to the Quest Pro's, though hand tracking lost his hand during a demo.[19] Engadget's Sam Rutherford found it more comfortable than the Quest Pro but criticized the bulkier controllers, the limited room for glasses and a diopter range that stops at -6, and said the price was still prohibitive for most buyers.[12] Laptop Mag called it "the most comfortable VR headset I've used", listing its price, limited occlusion tracking and unproven developer support as drawbacks.[9] Stuff found the VR strong but the mixed reality unconvincing for £1,300.[20]
Full reviews were mixed. In MIXED's April 2023 review, Benjamin Danneberg praised the slim modular design, the built-in diopter adjustment, easy setup and the Wi-Fi streaming setup, but reported strong glare and reflections in the lenses, a field of view smaller than the Quest Pro's and no larger than the Quest 2's, uncomfortable pressure on the forehead after 20 to 30 minutes, hand tracking that misread finger positions, software bugs and a store of about 90 apps; he concluded that he could only recommend the Quest Pro in that price range.[11] Inverse's Ian Carlos Campbell called it possibly "the most comfortable standalone VR headset" and found its passthrough clearer than the Quest Pro's, but criticized the loud fan, the roughly two-hour battery, duller displays than the Quest Pro's and Viveport's smaller library.[21] XR Today's November 2023 review listed the passthrough, comfort and portability among its strengths, and the clunky controllers, inconsistent hand tracking and limited mixed reality features among its weaknesses.[22]
The headset's price advantage over the Quest Pro narrowed after launch when Meta cut the Quest Pro from US$1,500 to US$1,000.[10] When HTC cut the XR Elite to US$900 in August 2024, UploadVR noted that adding the US$200 Full Face Tracker brought the total to US$1,100, while the Quest Pro included face and eye tracking for US$1,000, and that the Meta Quest 3 used the newer XR2 Gen 2 chip.[6]
| Feature | Vive XR Elite | Meta Quest Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price at XR Elite launch | US$1,099[3] | US$1,500[3] |
| Weight | 625 g with battery[12] | 722 g[12] |
| Eye and face tracking | US$200 add-on[6] | Built in[6] |
See also
- HTC Vive Focus 3
- HTC Vive Focus Vision
- HTC Vive Flow
- Meta Quest Pro
- Standalone VR
- PC-Powered VR
- Pancake lenses
Gallery
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HTC Vive XR Elite with Deluxe Pack accessories.
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 "VIVE XR Elite specs". VIVE. HTC. https://www.vive.com/us/product/vive-xr-elite/specs/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 "VIVE XR Elite - Base Station-Free PC VR in a Standalone Headset". VIVE. HTC. https://www.vive.com/us/product/vive-xr-elite/overview/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 "HTC Unveils Vive XR Elite, a Quest Pro Competitor Priced at $1,100". Road to VR. 2023-01-05. https://www.roadtovr.com/htc-vive-xr-elite-price-release-quest-pro-competitor-1100/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Jan Wöbbeking (2023-02-28). "HTC shows open Vive XR Elite and business solutions". MIXED. https://mixed-news.com/en/htc-shows-a-more-open-vive-xr-elite-and-business-solutions/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 David Heaney (2023-01-06). "Vive XR Elite: HTC's Quest Pro Competitor Ships Next Month For $1100". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/htc-vive-xr-elite/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 David Heaney (2024-08-02). "HTC Cuts Vive XR Elite US Price From $1100 To $900". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/htc-vive-xr-elite-price-cut/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 "HTC VIVE launches powerful and versatile VIVE XR Elite". AAP Releases (PR Newswire). HTC VIVE. 2023-01-06. https://www.aap.com.au/aapreleases/cision20230105ae78421. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "HTC VIVE XR Elite VR Headset Announced for $1,099". The FPS Review. 2023-01-06. https://www.thefpsreview.com/2023/01/06/htc-vive-xr-elite-vr-headset-announced-for-1099/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Jason England (2023-01-08). "HTC Vive XR Elite hands-on: Watch out, Quest Pro!". Laptop Mag. https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/htc-vive-xr-elite. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Scott Hayden (2024-08-12). "HTC Cuts Vive XR Elite Price in More Regions Ahead of New Headset Reveal". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/htc-vive-xr-elite-discount-focus-4-reveal/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Benjamin Danneberg (2023-04-23). "Vive XR Elite review: A good argument for a Quest Pro". MIXED. https://mixed-news.com/en/vive-xr-elite-review-a-good-argument-for-a-quest-pro/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Sam Rutherford (2023-01-06). "Vive XR Elite hands-on: HTC's more portable answer to the Meta Quest Pro". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/vive-xr-elite-hands-on-ht-cs-even-more-portable-answer-to-the-meta-quest-pro-ces-2023-203019745.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Jean-Luc Aufranc (2020-09-27). "Lantronix Open-Q 865XR SoM Brings Snapdragon XR2 Processor Beyond Virtual Reality". CNX Software. https://www.cnx-software.com/2020/09/27/lantronix-open-q-865xr-snapdragon-xr2-som-beyond-virtual-reality/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ David Heaney (2023-05-30). "Vive XR Elite Getting New Tracking And Mixed Reality Features & Improvements". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/vive-xr-elite-new-tracking-mixed-reality-features/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ David Heaney (2023-12-01). "VRChat Is Now On Vive XR Elite Standalone & Supports Body Tracking Via Ultimate Trackers". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/vrchat-vive-xr-elite-body-tracking-vive-ultimate-trackers/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Ben Lang (2024-01-09). "Vive XR Elite Gets Face-tracking Add-on with Eye & Mouth Sensing". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/htc-vive-xr-elite-full-face-tracker-accessory-eye-mouth-tracking/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Scott Hayden (2024-06-06). "HTC Announces 'Vive XR Elite Deluxe Pack', Including 4 Free Accessories for Its Flagship Quest Competitor". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/htc-vive-xr-elite-deluxe-pack-including-four-free-accessories/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Josef Erl (2024-02-28). "HTC unveils Vive XR Elite Business Edition & AI tools for Viverse". MIXED. https://mixed-news.com/en/htc-unveils-vive-xr-elite-business-edition-ai-tools-for-viverse/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Ian Hamilton (2023-01-12). "Vive XR Elite Hands-On: HTC's Modular Rebirth Has Impressive Mixed Reality". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/vive-xr-elite-hands-on/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Michael Sawh (2023-02-07). "HTC Vive XR Elite hands-on review: strong VR, but mixed reality is, well, mixed". Stuff. https://www.stuff.tv/review/htc-vive-xr-elite-review. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Ian Carlos Campbell (2023-05-03). "HTC Vive XR Elite Review: The Comfiest VR Headset I've Ever Used". Inverse. https://www.inverse.com/tech/htc-vive-xr-elite-review-vr-headset. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Rebekah Carter (2023-11-17). "VIVE XR Elite Review: Behind the Scenes of the XR Elite". XR Today. https://www.xrtoday.com/mixed-reality/vive-xr-elite-review-behind-the-scenes-of-the-xr-elite/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.