HTC Vive XR Elite with Deluxe Pack — Mixed Reality and PC VR Headset + Controllers

Mixed Reality is super!
I recently got my hands on this HTC VR headset. While there are some impressive aspects, there are also a few drawbacks worth mentioning.As a first-time VR user, I found the setup and usability to be straightforward, and the performance of this headset is indeed top-notch. The visuals are smooth, which enhances the immersive experience.One of the standout features is the Mixed Reality experience. It seamlessly blends the real world with the virtual, creating a captivating environment. Whether gaming or exploring virtual worlds, the transition feels natural and fluid.Comfort is another major plus. I was concerned about feeling weighed down or uncomfortable during extended use, but the ergonomic and well-balanced design allows for hours of wear without discomfort, which is great for long gaming sessions.However, the price is a bit higher than other AIO VR headsets available on the market. While the comfort and performance are excellent, this headset is a costly investment. My recommendation is for those who are willing to pay more for added comfort and an impressive Mixed Reality experience.Overall, this HTC VR headset offers solid performance and comfort, but the high price tag might not be justifiable for everyone.

Much improved since last year!
This new bundle with the “Deluxe Pack” seems to have fixed all of the comfort problems that previous reviews complained about – the new soft cushion/gasket has zero light bleed, and was comfortable to wear, even after an hour. The new wide “deluxe” head-strap also provides comfort and balance for extended use. I tried several apps/demos from the Vive Store, probably the Mona Lisa virtual tour was the most impressive. There was 1 app that required hand-tracking only (instead of controllers), and while it was good at tracking my hands & fingers location, it was almost impossible to “click” so I gave up on it. The Browser lets you watch YouTube 3D videos (and I assume other websites). I tried PC tethering (Half-Life:Alyx) both with Wifi 6E and USB3 – the USB was way smoother/consistent. I tried to use Windows 11 “mobile hotspot” but that didn’t work with 6GHz band (even though the Wifi adapter supports it) – not HTC’s fault, just pointing out to anyone reading this that USB is better and less frustrating – just have to get a long cable that has a 90-degree USB-C connector on 1 end (the wide headstrap has a hole in it for the USB port on top of the battery pack, but I can almost guarantee you’ll break the connector and/or port if you try running USB cable through there while playing). The lenses are good – I like that it lets you use without glasses – though my prescription is 4/4.5 and I had to rotate to 5.5/6 (the max), so if your glasses Rx is worse than ~5, it might not provide enough correction. IPD adjustment is great. The resolution is also high enough to read text in-game and via passthrough video (I could reply to message on phone without taking headset off). I couldn’t test phone mirroring as that’s an Android-only feature (I have iPhone). LCD color quality is not as good as OLED, but weren’t any “god rays” with these lenses. FOV is similar to other headsets (way less than the claimed 110, at least for my head/eyes). The setup/calibration process was easy enough, but I have experience with a few other VR headsets. The controllers (inside-out tracking) were quite accurate, never had a problem with losing them or “jumping”. Fan noise is definitely a thing – the built-in speakers are decent, but I wish it had a 3.5mm headphone jack to plug in my own headphones (most bluetooth headphones are too laggy for gaming). Should you get it? at the $899 sale price, it’s $100 cheaper (and does more) than the Valve Index bundle, but still costs more than Meta Quest 3 (with battery+strap).

Disappointing VR experience
The HTC Vive XR Elite, while a promising concept, falls short in several crucial areas that make it a difficult sell at its current price point. The mixed reality pass-through, while functional, lacks the depth and realism of true 3D mixed reality due to its single camera setup. The color accuracy and overall image quality are decent, but the small lenses and blurry peripheral vision significantly detract from the immersive experience.Ultimately, the HTC Vive XR Elite is a headset that struggles to justify its premium price tag. While it offers some interesting features, the subpar performance and limited capabilities make it a difficult recommendation. It’s definitely not worth the almost 1000 price tag.

First week of owning it and setting up was super easy I had no issues. Second week I go to use it and it will not connect to pc wirelessly all of a sudden. The pc won’t show up in the connections on headset yet I have changed nothing- I then uninstalled everything required for vive and reinstalled. It didn’t change anything. I reset the headset. Still won’t show connection.You can’t use a splitter on it. So I can either be plugged into the pc to use pcvr and get like an hour or less of gameplay because the battery is SO BAD. Or I don’t get to use pcvr but I can add a power bank. All of this defeats the purpose of what I bought it for which is specifically content creation.. thinking about returning it due to the no pc connection as I can not find a fix for it.