HTC has not been actively participating in the smartphone market as they haven’t released any smartphones in recent years. However, HTC still keeps the Vive lineup of VR hardware very much alive. HTC has announced the VIVE Flow, its latest VR, that pairs with your smartphone for just $499. In this article, we’ll go through the features of this new compact VR headset.
VIVE Flow Specs & Features
The VIVE Flow is a compact VR headset worn like a pair of glasses. It comes in at 189g of weight which is lightweight when compared to other VR headsets. It comes with dual built-in speakers with spatial audio support and dual microphones with echo and noise cancellation. It comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.
As for compatibility, the VIVE Flow is compatible with any Android smartphone running on Android 9 Pie or later so far it’s not using Exynos CPUs. It is not currently compatible with devices running iOS.
It has dual 2.1 inches LCD 1600 x 1600 pixels displays that have a 75Hz refresh rate with a 100 degrees field of view. There are adjustable focus lenses on each side of the VIVE Flow so users can see clearly without needing corrective lenses. Also, there are two front-facing cameras that are used for video pass-through so the user can be aware of their environment. HTC also says they will add a feature that would let these cameras track hands as well soon.
VIVE Flow is powered externally via USB-C and HTC kept the power down to 7.5W, making it easy to use a compatible smartphone or a power bank as a power source. It has a hot-swapping feature that gives you up to 5 minutes to switch power sources thanks to the built-in uninterruptible power supply system.
It has a built-in fan for active cooling which leads to more stable performance and better user comfort.
As for connectivity, the VIVE Flow is paired to a smartphone and controlled with an app. The app supports a virtual remote to use as a pointer/scroll pad on the headset. It supports Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi connections.
VIVE Flow Price and Availability
The VIVE Flow is available only in the US for now for pre-order for $499 with shipments going from October 31st. Also, if you are to pre-order, you’d receive a soft carrying case and free VR content.
