Simão Carreira: HTC Vive Pro HMD Pre-orders Start Today for $799; Vive Reduced to $499

HTC has kicked off pre-orders this morning for their previously announced HTC Vive Pro Head Mounted Display, setting the price on the standalone HMD at $799. Furthermore, any Vive Pro HMDs purchased by June 3^rd will begin shipping on April 5^th and will include a free six-month trial to Viveport Subscription, where owners will get the chance to play 30 titles with their new HMD. Meanwhile, the company has also announced a $100 price drop for the current Vive full kit. This price reduction brings it down to $499 globally

The HTC Vive Pro VR HMD is aimed towards consumers and professionals who love want to be on the bleeding edge of VR hardware. While not a full generational update over its predecessor, the Vive Pro comes equipped with dual 3.5-inch OLED displays with a combined resolution of 2880x1600 at 90 Hz refresh rate. This increase in resolution over the current Vive (78% more pixels) significantly increases the resulting image clarity. However it's worth noting that the FOV remains at 110° - the same as the Vive (non-Pro). Additionally, the Vive Pro features integrated headphones with a built-in amplifier as well as dual microphones which HTC says creates a ‘heightened sense of presence and sound through noise cancellation capabilities’.

The Vive Pro was also redesigned for increased comfort using a head-strap which balances the weight of the headset more evenly and features simple adjustment buttons for users who wear glasses. The Pro works with both SteamVR tracking 1.0 and 2.0 so existing Vive customers are able to upgrade the headset only while continuing to use current generation controllers and base stations. In essence, users are receiving a unit with increased resolution, integrated audio, and a redesigned headset strap for comfort.

We are hoping to hear more about the Vive wireless adapter using Intel’s WiGig technology to get rid of the cords. However it would seem that HTC isn't revealing anything about its availability at this time.

HTC Vive and Vive Pro HMDs
	Vive	Vive Pro
Screen	Dual 3.6" diagonal AMOLED	Dual 3.5" diagonal AMOLED
Resolution	1080 x 1200 pixels /eye (2160 x 1200 Combined)	1440 x 1600 pixels /eye (2880 x 1600 Combined)
Refresh Rate	90 Hz
Field of View	110°
Audio	Not integrated	Hi-Res certificate headset Ho-Res certificate headphone (removable) High impedance headphone support
Input	Multifunction trackpad Grip buttons Dual-stage trigger System button Menu button Integrated microphone	Integrated Microphones Multifunction trackpad Grip buttons Dual-stage trigger System button Menu Button
Connections	HDMI USB 2.0 Stereo 3.5mm headphone jack Power Bluetooth	USB-C 3.0 Displayport 1.2 Bluetooth
Camera	Yes	Yes, 2 x
Sensors	Steam VR Tracking G-sensor Gyroscope Proximity	Steam VR Tracking G-sensor Gyroscope Proximity IPD sensor
Ergonomics	Interpupillary distance and lens distance adjustment	Eye relief with lens distance adjustment Adjustable IPD, headphones, head strap
Price	$499 (Complete Kit)	$799 (HMD Only)