Taiwanese company HTC unveils an even better Vive virtual reality (VR) headset at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Called Vive Pro, the latest HTC VR headset sports two OLED screens, with a total resolution of 2880 x 1600 pixels (1400 x 1600 per eye, and 615 ppi). That is 78 percent more than the existing model, which was released two years ago.
This upgrade already puts Vive Pro on top of the VR headset ladder, above Oculus Rift and Windows Mixed Reality headsets.
The new model solves problems with the previous model, beginning with sharper graphics and clearer text rendering.
Apart from much-improved visuals, the Vive Pro includes a re-designed headstrap as well as built-in high-performance headphones. It also comes with an amplifier that should give the headset a "heightened sense of presence" as well as richer sound.
The lack of headphones is among the complaints on the existing Vive, as users have to connect another output to the already heavy and difficult to adjust headset.
According to The Verge, Vive Pro sports a sizing dial, making it more balanced than before. It also features dual microphones and dual front-facing cameras that look like eyes -- features that VR developers should totally take advantage of.
Outfitted with HTC's wireless adapter, there is no stopping users from getting lost in the VR world.
Vive Pro received high praises from Gizmodo's Sam Rutherford, who said "there's no going back" after trying out the new headset for himself.
He said Vive's "biggest win" was eliminating the use of cords, giving users more freedom to move around, without worrying that they will get tangled up with the headset's wires. He added that this improvement just made the Oculus Rift and first-generation Vive look like "archaic devices."
HTC has yet to reveal the price and release date for Vive Pro, but the company promised it will make an announcement soon.
