The HTC Vive Focus 3 is the company’s latest all-in-one virtual reality (VR) headset, succeeding the Vive Focus Plus, and it’s rather impressive.

With a combined 5K resolution across twin screens, a 90hz refresh rate, and a 120-degree field of view, it offers a spec sheet that rivals the previous generation of PC-powered headsets (FOV). Despite this, the Vive Focus 3 is completely wireless, with all tracking and computing handled onboard, just like its predecessor.

With a few dips here and there, the screen is very sharp, and the performance is seamless. HTC has also managed to do rid of some of the nausea-inducing visual oddities that have plagued previous all-in-one headsets.

Price and availability

The Vive Focus 3 isn’t cheap, but given that it’s a corporate VR headset, that’s to be expected.

The smartphone will be available for $1,300, excluding VAT, starting June 27. The headset, an AC adapter, two controllers, splitter cable, and lens cleaning cloth are all included in this pricing.

It’s worth noting that the controllers aren’t available individually at this time, which could provide difficulty in the event of a malfunction.

Design

It’s difficult to make VR headsets look slim, yet HTC manages to do so admirably. The Vive Focus 3 has a more appealing design than its predecessor.

The black magnesium alloy chassis is just the perfect amount of curvy, and it works well with the faux-leather face gasket and padding to produce a sleek corporate aesthetic; it’s the polar opposite of the porcelain white Focus Plus.

The new model is around 20% lighter than the previous edition, which will come as a welcome relief to anyone who has ever worn a battery-powered VR headset. Despite its weight, the gadget feels solid, which is critical for use cases that require numerous people to collaborate.

Unlike many headsets on the market, the Focus 3’s lightweight design makes it comfortable to wear for long periods of time. HTC also optimized weight distribution to reduce neck strain by placing the battery behind the head as a counterbalance.

The most difficult aspect of the project was getting the fit right, especially with glasses on. You’ll experience some disorienting blur unless the head strap and padding are properly fitted and the IPD is properly set.

The battery life of the Focus 3 is also a deterrent to a marathon session; after a few hours of use, the Focus 3 ran out of juice. The ease with which a fresh one may be switched in, however, ensures that a quick shift between meetings is possible. If only the headset came with more than one battery!

The Focus 3 comes with a pair of new infrared controllers, which replace the trackpad with a standard joystick and buttons. The joystick, in particular, is a nice addition, as it offers a more familiar alternative to teleportation for moving about the virtual world.

The controllers are lightweight and comfortable in hand, with tactile and pleasant buttons and triggers. The buttons and joystick are arranged in such a way that everything is easy to reach, unlike the side button on the Vive Pro controllers.

The Focus 3 controllers can also be recharged through USB-C, which addresses a prevalent issue with previous AAA battery-powered integration.

Performance

Although the Vive Focus 3 will easily handle some games (we found that a multiplayer FPS game called Hyper Dash worked smoothly enough), HTC has made its intentions for the new headset very clear.

The Focus 3 is designed to address a void in the market for a business VR headset that is both accessible and robust, as well as providing top-tier performance for corporate use cases (e.g., 3D modeling).

The Focus 3 reaches astounding levels of performance and fidelity for an all-in-one headset, thanks to a modified version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 platform pushed to its limits by a 15W copper heat pipe and high-performance fan.

The 5K resolution (2448 x 2448 pixels per eye) and 90hz refresh rate provide a silky smooth experience, while the large 120-degree FOV feels more natural. The improvement over prior generations is especially obvious when it comes to reading small print, which was previously nearly impossible.

The Vive Focus 3 is a marvel because it was once inconceivable that any competent VR headset could operate wirelessly without the support of a top-of-the-line PC.

The primary limitation is that this level of performance is not consistently maintained. Surprisingly, the foyer section, Virtual Reality System 2.0, was where we had the most problems. When returning from an application, we were occasionally faced with a terrible frame-rate decrease and screen-tearing.

When casting content to a nearby screen, we found more performance issues, which is a function that businesses are likely to want to employ at trade exhibitions or during training sessions. While the broadcast was mostly smooth, it did experience some glaring latency from time to time.

When running specific apps, the fan whirrs at an unsettlingly high volume, albeit this is less of an issue if you use headphones to listen to the audio. If you’re an audiophile, this method is highly advised, as the in-built speakers are notoriously tinny and bass-deficient.

It’s also worth mentioning that, for use cases requiring substantial simulation, content can be streamed to the headset from a PC. The review model, on the other hand, was not designed to put this functionality to the test.

Conclusion

The Vive Focus 3 is an incredibly fantastic piece of technology that solves many problems that have plagued VR headsets since their introduction. It’s light and comfy, with a quick and easy setup and a gorgeous screen.

However, we were dismayed to notice some performance issues, particularly in the main lobby area. Despite HTC’s efforts to improve resolution and frame rate in order to reduce unpleasant side effects (such as nausea and migraines), inconsistent performance is a blemish on the record.

Inevitably, the steep price tag will be a deterrent, limiting the audience to a select group of enterprises with significant pockets. However, for areas like architecture or healthcare that could benefit from a high-quality headset designed for long-term usage, there is currently nothing that compares to the Vive Focus 3.

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