HTC Vive Focus Plus
More actions
| HTC Vive Focus Plus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR |
| Platform | Vive Wave, Viveport |
| Creator | HTC |
| Developer | HTC |
| Manufacturer | HTC |
| Announcement Date | February 21, 2019 |
| Release Date | April 15, 2019 |
| Price | US$799 (launch price, VIVE website) |
| Website | https://business.vive.com/us/product/focus-plus/ |
| Predecessor | HTC Vive Focus |
| Successor | HTC Vive Focus 3 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Vive Wave (Android-based) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 |
| CPU | 8x Qualcomm Kryo 280, up to 2.45 GHz |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno 540 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 32 GB; microSD slot, up to 2 TB |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual AMOLED, 3.5 in diagonal |
| Resolution | 1440 x 1600 per eye (2880 x 1600 combined), 615 PPI |
| Refresh Rate | 75 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 110° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 60.5-74 mm (mechanical adjustment) |
| Passthrough | Yes, through the front tracking cameras |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out (headset); 6DoF Chirp SonicTrack ultrasonic + IMU fusion (controllers) |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | Via the Vive Hand Tracking SDK (beta) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Built-in speakers, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Microphone | 2, with noise cancellation |
| Camera | 2 front-facing tracking cameras |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11a/n/ac (5 GHz), USB 3.1 Type-C |
| Ports | USB 3.1 Type-C, 3.5 mm audio jack, microSD slot |
| WiFi | 802.11a/n/ac (5 GHz) |
| Bluetooth | Yes (pairs with a phone through the VIVE app)[1] |
| Power | Built-in rechargeable battery; Quick Charge 3.0 |
| Battery Capacity | 4000 mAh |
| Battery Life | Up to 3 hours active use (headset); up to 4 hours (controllers, two AAA batteries each) |
| Device | |
| Weight | 695 g +/- 1% |
| Material | Plastic shell; replaceable synthetic leather face gasket |
| Color | White and black |
| Sensors | 2 tracking cameras; proximity sensor; ultrasonic transceivers for controller tracking[1] |
| Input | Two 6DoF controllers (trackpad, analog trigger, grip button, menu button, VIVE button) |
The HTC Vive Focus Plus (styled VIVE Focus Plus by HTC) is a standalone VR head-mounted display aimed at enterprise customers. HTC announced it on 21 February 2019 and released it on 15 April 2019 for US$799, initially in 25 markets with support for 19 languages.[2][3] It is an updated version of the HTC Vive Focus. The main change is a pair of 6DoF controllers tracked by ultrasound, which replaced the original model's single 3DoF controller. The Focus Plus also has new Fresnel lenses and a more comfortable fit.[4]
The headset uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. It has dual AMOLED displays with 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye, a 75 Hz refresh rate and a 110-degree field of view. Two front cameras provide inside-out tracking of the head, so the headset needs no PC or external sensors.[5][6] HTC sold it mainly as a business device, with Kiosk Mode and device management tools; in most markets an enterprise license was included at no extra cost.[2] The HTC Vive Focus 3 succeeded it in 2021, and HTC's business site now lists the Focus Plus as no longer available.[7][6]
Announcement and release
The original Vive Focus launched first in China with one 3DoF (rotation-only) controller and reached Western markets in November 2018 at US$599.[8] Road to VR described its pairing of 6DoF head tracking with a 3DoF controller as a sticking point for users and developers.[9][8] In January 2019, TDK announced Chirp SonicTrack, an ultrasonic 6DoF controller tracking system from its Chirp Microsystems unit. The first system to use it was a developer kit for the Vive Focus that added two tracked controllers and a snap-on faceplate.[10][4]
HTC announced the Vive Focus Plus in a press release datelined Barcelona on 21 February 2019, the week before Mobile World Congress, where it showed the headset alongside the HTC Vive Pro Eye.[2][8] The release promised a Q2 2019 launch on HTC's website in 25 markets. It named Kiosk Mode, Gaze Support and remote enrollment and management tools as professional features, and quoted early enterprise users SimforHealth (medical and nursing simulation) and Immersive Factory (occupational health and safety training).[2] HTC told UploadVR that it had no plans to bring the new controllers to owners of the original Vive Focus.[8] Road to VR reported that the Focus Plus would launch as an enterprise product in every market except China, where it would be sold to consumers, as the original Focus had been.[11]
Price and release date followed on 25 March 2019 at the VIVE Ecosystem Conference (VEC2019) in Shenzhen. HTC said the headset would go on sale on 15 April for US$799 in 25 markets, with 19 languages supported. At launch it had nearly 250 native Vive Wave applications, and the VIVEPORT Infinity Wave subscription had more than 70 titles.[3] UploadVR pointed out that this was about twice the US$399 starting price of the consumer Oculus Quest, due out that spring.[12]
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 8 January 2019 | TDK announces Chirp SonicTrack; the first system to use it is a Vive Focus controller developer kit[10] |
| 21 February 2019 | HTC announces the Vive Focus Plus[2] |
| Late February 2019 | Shown at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona[8][4] |
| 25 March 2019 | Price (US$799) and release date announced at VEC2019 in Shenzhen[3] |
| 15 April 2019 | On sale on the VIVE website in 25 markets[3] |
| 4 December 2019 | Beta of VIVEPORT Streaming for wireless PC VR streaming[13] |
| 11 May 2021 | Successor HTC Vive Focus 3 announced[7] |
Design and hardware
Display and optics
The Focus Plus has two 3.5-inch AMOLED screens with 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye (2880 x 1600 combined) at 615 pixels per inch. It runs at 75 Hz and has a 110-degree field of view.[6] HTC marketed the display as "3K AMOLED".[3] The processor and display resolution are unchanged from the original Vive Focus.[4]
The lenses are new. HTC said its new Fresnel lenses gave a sharper image and reduced the screen door effect.[3] In Road to VR's hands-on, Scott Hayden noted that the Fresnel ridges stop further from the lens center than on other Vive headsets, a layout he compared with the Samsung HMD Odyssey. In a high-contrast streamed demo of Superhot VR, he found a notable reduction in god rays.[4]
Users adjust the interpupillary distance with a slider under the headset, over a range of 60.5-74 mm.[6][14] Most glasses fit inside the headset; HTC's support page says that standard glasses with a frame width under 155 mm can be worn with it.[15]
Processing and storage
The headset uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, with 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage and a microSD slot that accepts cards up to 2 TB.[6] The Snapdragon 835 has eight Qualcomm Kryo 280 CPU cores running at up to 2.45 GHz and an Adreno 540 GPU, and is made on a 10 nm FinFET process.[16] Data on the device is protected with Android file-based encryption.[6]
Tracking
Two front-facing cameras track the headset with six degrees of freedom (inside-out tracking).[6][5] The controllers use Chirp SonicTrack, which combines ultrasonic tracking with inertial data (sensor fusion of ultrasound and an inertial measurement unit).[6] According to TDK, the system sends ultrasonic pulses between CH-101 sensors in the headset and in the controllers to measure the 3D position of each controller relative to the headset. TDK claims sub-millimeter precision over a field of view of more than 240 degrees, and says the tracking uses far less power and processing than camera-based systems.[10] The ultrasonic signals are sent and received through small dimples on the front and sides of the headset.[9]
At MWC 2019, Road to VR's Scott Hayden found the controller tracking "pretty acceptable", with "good enough" latency. The tracking volume was wide enough that the controllers stayed positioned when held behind the back or head, and tracking worked on the noisy show floor.[4] HTC's support documentation warns that when two or more Focus Plus sets are used close together, ultrasonic interference can make the controllers track incorrectly. It recommends keeping users at least 2 m (6.5 ft) apart.[17]
Controllers
The Focus Plus ships with two identical controllers that work in either hand. Each has a trackpad, an analog (pressure-sensitive) trigger, a grip button, a menu button and a VIVE button.[6][2][4] Each controller runs on two AAA batteries, rated for up to 4 hours of active use.[6] Hayden wrote that the menu and home buttons were awkwardly placed and required a change of grip.[4] Engadget's Nick Summers used them in a SimforHealth medical training demo at MWC, and Engadget's report called them "a big improvement over the original Vive Focus".[18]
Audio, battery and ergonomics
The headset has built-in speakers, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and two noise-cancelling microphones.[6] Its 4000 mAh battery is rated for up to 3 hours of active use. It charges over USB Type-C with Quick Charge 3.0 in about two hours.[3][6] The headset connects over Wi-Fi 802.11a/n/ac on the 5 GHz band and has a USB 3.1 Type-C port.[6]
HTC says the headset weighs 695 g (+/- 1%) and fits more than 95% of head sizes, for users aged 14 and over. It has a replaceable synthetic leather face gasket.[6] Compared with the Vive Focus, it has a larger forehead piece to spread the weight. Because the ultrasonic tracking hardware is built into the headset, it is also better balanced than the front-heavy controller developer kit.[4] The shell is white and black.[9] In a May 2019 comparison, Antony Vitillo of The Ghost Howls described it as bulkier and heavier than the Oculus Quest and made entirely of plastic. He added that its plastic side wings and rear tightening knob spread the weight better.[5]
Software and features
Vive Wave and Viveport
The Focus Plus runs HTC's Vive Wave platform, and its content store is Viveport.[2] HTC said that the Wave SDK tools would make porting PC VR applications to the headset "relatively easy" for developers.[2] Buyers received a six-month VIVEPORT Infinity membership.[13]
On 4 December 2019 HTC released a beta of VIVEPORT Streaming, which streams PC VR titles from a VR-ready PC to the Focus Plus over a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network. It was free for VIVEPORT Infinity members, was limited to home users at launch, and required updated PC software and headset firmware. HTC said Focus Plus owners had more than 300 native Vive Wave titles, plus thousands more through streaming.[13] Before this, Road to VR noted, owners typically streamed PC VR games with unofficial tools such as VRidge and AMD ReLive.[19] HTC's VIVE Business Streaming software does not support the Focus Plus.[20]
Multi-mode and mixed reality
At VEC2019 HTC announced a "multi-mode" capability, which it said would let the headset show content from PC VR, PCs and laptops, smartphones, game consoles, 2D video streaming devices, live 360-degree cameras and future cloud VR services.[3][21] HTC also said it would demonstrate a mixed reality fitness game from New Tech Walkers Studio in which players see their real surroundings through the front cameras.[3] Vitillo reported that the cameras give a black-and-white passthrough view and that developers can access the camera stream through dedicated APIs.[5]
Hand tracking
HTC's Vive Hand Tracking SDK also runs on the Focus Plus. In a March 2021 hands-on with version 0.1 (a beta), Vitillo found that it offered full skeletal hand tracking on the headset. He also reported that it ran well below 75 Hz, often lost the hands, and worked worse away from the center of the two cameras' view. His conclusion was that it was usable for simple gestures but not ready for commercial products.[22]
Enterprise features
HTC's business page for the Focus Plus lists these features:[6]
- support for existing mobile device management (MDM) systems, plus offline batch configuration at no extra cost
- an Enterprise Portal for deployment, and support for Wi-Fi certificates and VPN
- an unrestricted Kiosk Mode that limits which apps and menus a user can reach
- screencasting to a TV, PC or tablet over Miracast, so an instructor can see what a trainee sees, plus session recording
VIVE Business Warranty & Services (BWS) is required for commercial use of the Focus Plus. The package includes a two-year limited commercial-use warranty and must be activated within 90 days of purchase.[6]
Uses
HTC promoted the Focus Plus mainly for training, simulation and collaboration.[2] SimforHealth used it for medical and nursing simulators. Its CTO, Olivier Gardinetti, said the 6DoF controllers made possible medical interactions that the earlier 3DoF controllers could not handle. Immersive Factory ported its Hazard Spotting safety-training range from the HTC Vive Pro to the Focus Plus for large corporate deployments.[2] HTC's VEC2019 announcement listed arena-scale and multiplayer demonstrations for standalone headsets. They included a large-space tracking system from ModalVR, co-founded by Nolan Bushnell, which HTC said could track up to 40 standalone headsets across a space of up to 900,000 square feet.[3]
Comparison with Oculus Quest
Both headsets launched in spring 2019 and share much of their core hardware.[5][12]
| Feature | HTC Vive Focus Plus | Oculus Quest |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price (US) | US$799[3] | From US$399[12] |
| Target market | Enterprise (consumer in China)[11] | Consumer[12] |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835[6] | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835[5] |
| Resolution per eye | 1440 x 1600 AMOLED[6] | 1440 x 1600 AMOLED[5] |
| Storage | 32 GB + microSD (up to 2 TB)[6] | 64 GB or 128 GB, not expandable[5] |
| Headset tracking | 2 front cameras[5] | 4 cameras[5] |
| Controller tracking | Ultrasonic + IMU[6] | Optical, by the headset cameras[5] |
Reception
Early press coverage focused on the controllers and the price. Road to VR called the new lenses "remarkably clearer" than the original Vive Focus's and the controller tracking "pretty acceptable", but found the controller button layout awkward.[4] Engadget said the Focus Plus was aimed at businesses. It argued that success as a consumer product would need more content and a lower price, and doubted that it would undercut the Oculus Quest.[18] After pricing was announced, UploadVR wrote that it was "not clear how the headset or its business license will outperform Oculus Quest for business use cases".[12]
In his May 2019 comparison, Vitillo recommended the Quest for consumers in the West and the Focus Plus for enterprises. He found the Quest's headset tracking more stable and less prone to drift, its controllers almost free of jitter, its lenses showing fewer god rays, and its setup process more guided. The Focus Plus, in his view, balanced better on the head, showed no ghosting in high-contrast scenes, and seemed to manage its battery better. Its controllers jittered slightly, especially far from the headset, which HTC told him it would fix in an update.[5]
Successor
HTC announced the Focus 3 on 11 May 2021 at US$1,300 including a two-year business warranty. The Focus 3 moved to the Snapdragon XR2, a 2448 x 2448 per-eye resolution and four tracking cameras. It dropped the Focus Plus's ultrasonic controllers for new controllers tracked by the headset cameras.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "VIVE Focus Plus User guide". VIVE. HTC. https://dl.vive.com/guide/VIVE_FOCUS_PLUS_UG_WWE.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 "HTC VIVE Announces VIVE Focus Plus For Premium Standalone VR Experiences". VIVE Newsroom. HTC. 2019-02-21. https://www.vive.com/us/newsroom/2019-02-21/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 "HTC VIVE Unveils VIVE Focus Plus Pricing, Availabilty, Improved Connectivity, And Enhanced Lenses". VIVE Newsroom. HTC. 2019-03-25. https://www.vive.com/us/newsroom/2019-03-25/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 Scott Hayden (2019-02-28). "Hands-on: Vive Focus Plus Brings 6DOF Controllers, New Lenses & Better Comfort". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/hands-on-vive-focus-plus-mwc-2019/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 Antony Vitillo (2019-05-27). "Oculus Quest vs HTC Vive Focus Plus". The Ghost Howls. https://skarredghost.com/2019/05/27/oculus-quest-vs-htc-vive-focus-plus/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 "VIVE Focus Plus". VIVE Business. HTC. https://business.vive.com/us/product/focus-plus/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Ben Lang (2021-05-11). "Vive Focus 3 Announced with Snapdragon XR2, 6MP Resolution, $1,300 Enterprise Price & June 27th Launch". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/htc-vive-focus-3-specs-price-release-date-announcement/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Jamie Feltham (2019-02-21). "HTC Vive Focus Plus Is A New Standalone Headset With 6DOF Controls And Improved Comfort". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/vive-focus-plus-announced/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Scott Hayden (2019-02-21). "HTC Unveils Vive Focus Plus with 6DOF Controllers, Built for Enterprise". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/enterprise-vive-focus-plus-6dof-controllers/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "TDK announces new Chirp SonicTrack inside-out 6-DoF ultrasonic controller tracking solution for all-in-one VR". TDK InvenSense. TDK Corporation. 2019-01-08. https://www.invensense.tdk.com/en-us/news-media/press/tdk-announces-new-chirp-sonictrack-inside-out-6-dof-ultrasonic-controller-tracking-solution-all. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Scott Hayden (2019-02-28). "Hands-on: Vive Focus Plus Brings 6DOF Controllers, New Lenses & Better Comfort (page 2)". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/hands-on-vive-focus-plus-mwc-2019/2/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Ian Hamilton (2019-03-25). "Vive Focus Plus Ships April 15 For $799 With Business License". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/vive-focus-plus-enterprise-800/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "HTC VIVE launches beta of "VIVEPORT Streaming" enabling wireless streaming of PC VR content to VIVE Focus Plus and VIVE Wave Standalone VR devices". PR Newswire. HTC. 2019-12-04. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/htc-vive-launches-beta-of-viveport-streaming-enabling-wireless-streaming-of-pc-vr-content-to-vive-focus-plus-and-vive-wave-standalone-vr-devices-300968997.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Adjusting the IPD on the headset". VIVE Focus Plus Support. HTC. https://business.vive.com/us/support/vive-focus-plus/category_howto/adjusting-the-ipd-on-the-headset.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Can I wear my prescription glasses while using VIVE Focus Plus?". VIVE Focus Plus Support. HTC. https://business.vive.com/us/support/vive-focus-plus/category_howto/can-i-wear-glasses-while-using-vive-focus.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform product brief". Qualcomm. Qualcomm Technologies. https://www.qualcomm.com/content/dam/qcomm-martech/dm-assets/documents/snapdragon_product_brief_835_0.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "The controllers in VR are flying all over the place when two VIVE Focus Plus headsets are used in the same area, why is that?". VIVE Focus Plus Support. HTC. https://business.vive.com/us/support/vive-focus-plus/category_howto/controllers-are-flying-all-over-the-place.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Nick Summers (2019-02-26). "HTC's Vive Focus Plus is a business-ready VR bundle". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/2019-02-26-htc-vive-focus-plus-controller-hands-on.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ Scott Hayden (2019-12-04). "HTC Launches Viveport PC Streaming for Vive Focus Plus". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/htc-viveport-streaming-vive-focus-plus/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "VIVE Business Streaming". VIVE Business. HTC. https://business.vive.com/us/solutions/streaming/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ Kevin Carbotte (2019-03-26). "HTC's Vive Focus Plus Available to Developers April 15 for $799". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/htc-vive-focus-april-release-date-price,38908.html. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ Antony Vitillo (2021-03-18). "Hands-on Vive Focus Plus Hand Tracking SDK". The Ghost Howls. https://skarredghost.com/2021/03/18/vive-focus-plus-hand-tracking-sdk-review/. Retrieved 2026-09-29.