HTC Vive pre-orders start February 29th; VR headset priced at $799

posted by Alan F. / Feb 21, 2016, 1:26 PM

HTC Vive pre-orders start February 29th; VR headset priced at $799

If you are waiting for the HTC Vive VR headset to be available for pre-orders, we have some good news today. The company has announced that the device can be reserved starting on February 29th at 10am EST. This is for the final consumer version of the Vive, which has some added features compared to the Vive Pre that was on display at CES in Las Vegas last month.

The price of the HTC Vive will be $799. Among the new features added for the consumer version of the headset is phone connectivity. You will be able to pair your iOS or Android phone to the device using Bluetooth. This will allow you to receive calls and messages even when you are "in another world." And with the built-in microphone, you will be able to respond to those calls without having to remove the headset.

Compared to the Vive Pre, the consumer version of the device has a sleeker look with a more-rounded design. There are two gaskets being offered that allow the headset to fit different size faces. The Vive will be available in 24 countries for the initial pre-order period, including the U.S., U.K. and parts of Europe.

So what exactly are you getting for your $799? In the package comes the VR headset, two room sensors, two wireless controllers and all of the necessary connections allowing you to hook up the device to a PC. While any set of earphones will work with the headset, HTC includes a pair of ear buds in the box. And those who reserve the HTC Vive will receive two titles to jump start their Vive experience, Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives, and Fantastic Contraption. You will need a PC with a specific graphics card (possibly the Nvidia 970 or AMD 290). HTC will release in the future, the specific specs required for the headset. Shipping is expected to start in April.

Last month, HTC CEO and co-founder Cher Wang said that creating connected virtual reality devices is more important to HTC than producing smartphones. Will she still feel the same way after the Vive has been released?

HTC Vive pre-orders begin February 29th, priced at $799

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HTC Vive pre-orders begin February 29th, priced at $799

HTC Vive pre-orders begin February 29th, priced at $799

source: SlashGear, Pocketlint

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17 Comments

1. shizz812

Posts: 7; Member since: Nov 01, 2013

First

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 1:30 PM 1

25. AllFanboysMatter

Posts: 206; Member since: Feb 14, 2016

STFU...

posted on Mar 07, 2016, 9:17 AM 0

2. Joosty

Posts: 459; Member since: Mar 14, 2013

Lol wtf. $799, does it come with a M10?

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 1:30 PM 6

4. vincelongman

Posts: 5585; Member since: Feb 10, 2013

Rumors were it was priced at $1000, or higher Oculus is $650 and that's without the 2 room sensors and 2 wireless motion controllers VR is expensive Even the PS VR will probably be $500 or so

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 1:32 PM 2

22. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

If Sony could keep it to $399 with one good launch title than there is still be hope that VR will gain main stream developer support.

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 8:05 PM 0

3. vincelongman

$799 That's actually not as high priced as I was thinking Considering Oculus is $650, with the 2 room sensors and 2 wireless motion controllers That being said, I'll wait for the second gen Hopefully it drops down to $499 and I have a Pascal/Polaris GPU by then

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 1:31 PM 2

5. Joosty

I'm not too up to date on VR. So I wouldn't understand the pricing. But if Samsung is throwing in a free Gear VR for preorders of the S7, then this must be leaps and bounds better?

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 1:34 PM 0

6. Busyboy

Posts: 731; Member since: Jan 07, 2015

Well, the Gear VR uses the actual phone as a display, while the Vive has its own. Not to mention the fact that the Vive will be leaps and bounds better than the Gear in terms of head movement tracking, amongst other things.

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 1:38 PM 5

10. j2001m

Posts: 3060; Member since: Apr 28, 2014

It's going to have a content problem, the gear VR as way more content, it's doa due to content, no one will buy it and it will be the next Windows phone, no apps

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 2:45 PM 1

7. xondk

Posts: 1904; Member since: Mar 25, 2014

Whelp, that's expensive, wonder how they are going to compete with Oculus, though I suppose they have the whole improved sensors and motion control, and much larger area.

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 1:48 PM 0

8. Arch_Fiend

Posts: 3934; Member since: Oct 03, 2015

Damn that's high but hey if it ends up being better than all the other vr headsets then I guess its justified.

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 2:02 PM 2

9. ashrafalhujaili

Posts: 73; Member since: Oct 03, 2014

samsung is given a VR for free with a 650 $ phone and HTC is selling the VR alone by 799 ! am I messing something or my calculations are right !!

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 2:24 PM 0

12. amro99

Posts: 114; Member since: Nov 29, 2012

You are indeed missing something! Vive is by far the best vr headset introduced so far, which I assume you are not aware of

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 2:52 PM 2

15. Joosty

AHH, so a standalone VR system that doesnt need a phone. Pricing is justified. Just like when the first gaming consoles were released.

posted on Feb 21, 2016, 4:20 PM 0

24. AwesomestMaximuss

Posts: 148; Member since: Jul 09, 2013

Remember that you ll also have to invest in the pc if you dont already own one with a good config. Its fine for me as i update my gaming pc at least once an year. For a person who doesn't own a good pc,price ll probably be around 2000 bucks at the least.