KEY FINDINGS:
• After unplugging the four headset cables, we spot a standard 3.5mm audio jack, DC barrel jack, and a single HDMI port, flanked by two USB 3.0 ports. Interestingly, HTC left the right-most USB port open for third-party accessories.
• Nestled between the eyepieces is a proximity sensor, which detects when the Vive is on your face—for power saving reasons. Cog-zooks! We’ve got our gears turning as we remove the eye-relief adjustment on the Vive headset; not to be confused with IPD, this controls the distance from the headset’s optics to your eyes.
• Pulling back the outer shell on the Vive reveals a number of sensors—32 in total, according to HTC. These photodiodes take in IR light from the two Lighthouse base stations as they flash and sweep light across the room. This enables a connected PC to calculate the headset’s position and orientation in space, as a function of the time between receiving the flash and the following IR laser sweep—the opposite of the head-tracking technique of the Oculus Rift.
• After removing four Phillips screws, we lift away the display cover for access to one of the twin Samsung AMOLED panels. Each display measures ~91.8 mm diagonally, which translates to ~447ppi. For comparison, the Rift CV1 has ~456ppi, due to a slightly smaller display (90 mm) that still packs the same resolution as the Vive. A bit of adhesive secures each lens, but it doesn’t take much to pop them out.
• Repairability Score: 8 out of 10 (10 is easiest). Although it’s a complicated bit of gear, the headset breaks down without damage. The head strap and face pads are removable, and don’t incorporate sensors or electronics that might be prone to failure. Phillips and Torx screws are used throughout. Reuse of the touchpad hardware from the Steam Controller means some replacement parts are likely already available. The large number of components, many quite delicate, means you’ll want a service manual before attempting repairs. Adhesive is used sparingly, but secures the lenses, Lighthouse base station covers, and sensor arrays.