The HTC Vive Focus 3 (left) next to the Oculus Quest 2 (right) with a battery loop: similar sizes, similar processors, but the Focus 3 increases the display and features.
Scott Stein / CNET
When I look at the Mona Lisa hanging in a virtual Louvre in the middle of an art gallery, it occurs to me that VR displays are no longer low-res. Whatever concerns I had about the pixelated appearance of VR through the screen door, that’s over now. The HTC Vive Focus 3 looks crystal clear and surprisingly sharp in my eyes.
Cross one item off the checklist: VR will look damn good in 2021.
HTC’s newest standalone VR headset is basically a business-focused Pro version of the Oculus Quest 2. The Vive Focus 3 does the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR 2 Processor, but with fans and cooling that HTC said could potentially boost performance.
The $ 300 headset from Facebook also has a business version, and a Quest Pro is in the works. However, it’s unclear whether Facebook’s app ecosystem and hardware support are flexible enough. The Vive Focus 3 is built more comfortably, has a better display and is not tied to Facebook.
The Vive Focus 3 uses cameras to track movement across the room and, just like the Oculus Quest 2, is completely self-contained.
Scott Stein / CNET
What the Focus 3 does better: display and convenience
The big advantage I saw with the Focus 3 was the larger field of view and the higher resolution display. The resolution of 2,448 x 2,448 pixels per eye felt wonderfully pixel-free and seemed to melt when I looked at the aforementioned art app or watched movie trailers on YouTube. I found the 1,832 x 1,920 pixels-per-eye resolution of the Oculus Quest 2 really good, but that of the Focus 3 is moving into the territory of the PC-based HP Reverb G2, one of the best VR headsets out there.
There’s an expanded 120 degree field of view for the display, which I immediately appreciated when I was playing a pre-installed online shooter game Hyper Dash (which felt like an inferior version of) Population one). The Quest 2’s field of view of around 90 degrees feels more like looking through a large porthole. The Focus 3’s wider field of view feels more like looking through a diving mask. I felt like I could see more of the playing surface without noticing that I was wearing a headset. That, along with the higher resolution, went a long way towards melting the headset on my face.
The display is not perfect: the Fresnel lenses occasionally still create small halos, as with many VR headsets. And the look sometimes seemed a bit strange to me; The 3D of the passthrough video made my eyes feel like they had to adjust. But it’s a big step up from the previous standalone Live focus Headset.
The battery is located on the back of the Focus 3, along with the power connection and a battery check status slash power button.
Scott Stein / CNET
The Focus 3’s headset design is bulkier, but also a lot more spacious. The battery on the back of the headset is similar to the separately available battery strap of the Quest 2, but is more robust (and an integral part of the design). The more spacious eyecups around the lenses did not restrict my glasses. The design is more similar to other wired PC VR headsets – built for convenience rather than pure portability. I like that the front glasses can be lifted and angled while wearing, so that they can be lifted up a little like a visor in case I have to look at my phone or laptop. The Focus 3 also has a more adjustable dial to adapt to different interpupillary distances (interpupillary distance or IPD). The Quest 2 only has three presets which may not be perfect for all eye and face types. I found fine-tuning the optics of the Focus 3 easier.
Since the battery is on the back of the headset, the weight balance feels less top-heavy, but a little more natural. The headset requires its own dedicated charger, which is disappointing – it doesn’t charge via USB-C like the Quest 2. But compared to the Quest 2, this headset is so easy to put on and take off, and the battery inside can be swapped out if necessary. (You could keep a bunch of charged Focus 3 batteries, for example when you’re doing demos somewhere.)
The Vive Focus 3 controller (left) next to the Quest 2 controller (right): It’s very, very similar, but charges via USB-C.
Scott Stein / CNET
Which is still pretty similar: controller and sound
In many ways, the Focus 3 is very similar to the Quest 2 experience. The controllers, for example, are extremely similar: the button layout and triggers and analog sticks feel almost identical. The Focus 3 controllers are longer and charge via USB-C instead of using batteries. But I prefer the Quest 2 controller feel and its stronger vibrating feel.
With the Focus 3, the sound comes through speaker holes in the headband, just like with the Quest 2, and delivers decent spatial sound in apps and games. There is also a headphone jack. The built-in audio didn’t blow my mind, but neither does it impress me very much on the Quest 2 (plus it’s handy to skip using headphones).
One thing that didn’t interest me was the Focus 3’s seemingly loud fan (to me), which starts up and hums on and off almost all the time.
What it is not: A device made for you or a PC headset
The Vive Focus 3 is a business headset priced at $ 1,300, which is a whopping $ 1,000 more than what the Oculus Quest 2 costs. The Focus 3 also runs its own apps through Vive’s app ecosystem, so it doesn’t work as a PC headset (you’ll need the Vive Pro for that).
But the convenience, improved display, and potential performance benefits could make this headset more attractive to future VR developers than Facebook’s often more isolated Oculus platform. I also like that the Focus 3 has a more open design, with a microSD card slot and USB-C for possible additional sensors and accessories.
This points the way where competition could replicate HTC’s plan by using Qualcomm’s chip to create other types of VR headsets. Facebook is working on its own type of Pro VR headset, likely with more sensors and perhaps its own improved display. The Vive Focus 3 shows that there is still room for expansion with Qualcomm’s chip technology, and that could point to the next steps.
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