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HTC unveils a new VR headset for workplace use that ships next month for $799

Published Mar 26th, 2019 6:50AM EDT
HTC Vive Focus Plus
Image: HTC Vive

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HTC Vive used the occasion of its annual Vive Ecosystem Conference in Shenzhen on Monday to unveil a new workplace-focused VR headset — the VIVE Focus Plus, which promises a slew of features for enterprise customers like enhanced optics and upgraded lenses in the head-mounted display. And all of it, in a package that costs $799 and will be available starting April 15 from Vive’s website.

Among the new headset’s specs, HTC says it sports new ‘fresnel’ lenses that offer a sharper visual and create a more true-to-life effect for users. The headset also comes with newly added six-degrees-of-freedom controllers, paving the way for more comfortable extended VR sessions that enterprise customers who may use this for more than cursory experiences will no doubt appreciate.

Additionally, in most markets the headset will include an enterprise license at no additional cost.

“With the unveiling of these enhancements for Vive Focus Plus, the VR industry is taking a big step forward with this new generation of full-fidelity standalone VR devices enabling total freedom of interaction and freedom of connection,” said HTC’s China president Alvin Wang Graylin, in a release about the device. “We’re thrilled so many developers and partners are supporting this product with exciting experiences across a wide range of use cases, showcasing  the incredible opportunity for VR/AR to enter all facets of our lives”

The headset includes a 3K AMOLED display, and it’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor. Users will enjoy a 110-degree field of view, and the headset also comes with a 4,000 mAh battery.

Among other features, users will have access to almost 250 Vive Wave applications at launch that run natively on the headset, and a “Viveport Infinity Wave” subscription program for the headset will include more than 70 premium VR application titles. The headset also has a multi-mode capability, which will let users access existing content across a range of devices.

Thanks to this capability, the headset is compatible with everything from PCs and laptops to smartphones, game consoles, 2D video streaming devices, live 360 camera streaming and more.

Andy Meek Trending News Editor

Andy Meek is a reporter based in Memphis who has covered media, entertainment, and culture for over 20 years. His work has appeared in outlets including The Guardian, Forbes, and The Financial Times, and he’s written for BGR since 2015. Andy's coverage includes technology and entertainment, and he has a particular interest in all things streaming.

Over the years, he’s interviewed legendary figures in entertainment and tech that range from Stan Lee to John McAfee, Peter Thiel, and Reed Hastings.