October 14, 2021 – HTC VIVE has today unveiled its newest virtual reality (VR) device with the launch of the ‘VIVE Flow’, a compact, lightweight immersive glasses device, designed with comfort and portability in mind. Available in November, HTC stated that the VIVE Flow is intended to help people nurture their minds, relax, and have fun on a daily basis.
“With VIVE Flow, HTC is taking technology in a new direction, focusing not on what we do, but on how we feel. Maintaining our wellness has come to the forefront in the last few years, with so many millions feeling stressed every day, so it has never been more important to take time out to calm our minds, and VIVE Flow provides the perfect opportunity to escape our four walls and immerse ourselves in our ideal ambience,” said Cher Wang, Chairwoman and CEO of HTC. “Meditation, gentle stretches, brain training, streaming our favorite shows or even meeting friends or coworkers in VR with VIVE Sync can all be enhanced by a device light and compact enough to fit in our pocket. VIVE Flow represents the next evolution of technology, as we take a more holistic view of how we can make life better.”
“Relaxation means different things to different people,” said Nanea Reeves, CEO of XR wellness service TRIPP. “It’s important to find your own version of zen, whether that means meditating, watching videos, or playing games. The fact that HTC gets it, that we can use VR in these ways that can benefit peoples’ emotional and mental well-being is something that I personally am very excited about as is our entire team at TRIPP.”
With lifestyle-focused features in mind, such as meditation, entertainment, and productivity, VIVE Flow will allow users to:
- Dive into a range of immersive experiences via the VIVEPORT app store anytime, anywhere, using an Android smartphone as a controller;
- Connect wirelessly to a 5G Android smartphone and stream content like TV shows;
- Meet with colleagues and friends in realistic virtual environments via VIVE Sync.
According to HTC, the VIVE FLow weighs just 189g (about the same as a chocolate bar). The device features a dual-hinge design and soft face gasket that allow it to fold down into a compact footprint for portability. VIVE Flow’s hinge is designed to fit many different head shapes and sizes too. The face gasket takes inspiration from the VIVE Focus 3, with magnetic connections making it simple and quick to swap out. VIVE Flow also has built-in diopter dials, allowing users to easily make adjustments for clearer visuals. Finally, the device’s active cooling system pulls warm air away from a user’s face, for increased comfort whilst in use.
Under the hood, VIVE Flow offers a 100-degree field of view (FoV), with a 3.2K resolution and a 75 Hz refresh rate, allowing for cinematic screens in HD quality. The device also features full 3D spatial audio for immersive sound delivery, plus the VIVE Flow delivers can also connect to external Bluetooth earphones.
For accessories, VIVE Flow has a matching carry case available for purchase, and the company is also offering a small but powerful 10,000mAh VIVE power bank to provide extra battery life for longer sessions in VR.
To coincide with the launch of the VIVE Flow, HTC VIVE is also unveiling a new special VIVEPORT subscription plan that will give users unlimited access to a wide range of immersive apps covering well-being, brain training, productivity, light gaming, and exclusive content like a Lo-Fi room designed to look and feel like a cozy café. The plan is priced at USD $5.99 per month.
HTC states that the VIVE Flow will retail for USD $499 / GBP £499 / EUR €549. It will be available via from the company’s website, as well as from retailers around the world. Pre-orders start on October 14 globally, and anyone pre-ordering will receive the official VIVE Flow carry case and a gift bundle of 7 pieces of content. Open sales will begin in November 2021.
For more information on HTC and its virtual reality devices and platforms, click here.
Image credit: HTC VIVE
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Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.