Inside the HTC Vive Pro

We find out how the latest virtual reality headset works

The original HTC Vive is widely considered the best of the major VR headsets since it launched, and now HTC is back with an updated version. The Vive Pro is a new, more powerful version of its famous headset. It’s got a new design. It’s got higher screen resolution. And it’s got plenty of great new features that make the VR experience even better than before.

The update starts with the design, which is focused on player comfort. The first Vive was comfortable but could feel heavy on the front of your face during longer playing sessions. The new Vive spreads the weight out across your head and adds built-in surround sound headphones. This means you can play for longer and get the best possible sound experience without having to wear a separate heavy pair of your own headphones.

The tech inside the headset is better too. The two screens inside the goggles are higher resolution, which means there are more pixels in front of your eyes. This makes games look smoother, and everything looks that little bit more realistic.

Then there are the two cameras pointing out of the front of the headset. These are spaced out at around the same distance as your eyes, and they can capture a view of what’s in front of you. This means the headset can detect where you are in a room to avoid you accidentally crashing into walls! But how does all this tech fit into a compact pair of goggles? Let’s find out…

Head strap The head strap features a curved design and more padding for better comfort. The hinged design makes it easier to put on too. Under the hood What tech powers this all-new VR headset?

The front of the Vive Pro features 32 sensors to capture the incoming IR beams projected by the base stations

HTC have worked hard to keep the weight of the headset low and evenly distributed