Vive Cosmos Elite
Where does Vive’s latest headset stand in the VR world?
HTC HAS BEEN AT the forefront of the “newera” VR race since 2016, when it originally launched its first headset, the Vive. Since then, alongside the likes of Oculus, HP, and more, it has been constantly evolving its systems to improve the overall virtual experience. The Cosmos Elite is the result of more than five years of development time, and is the company’s top gamefocused headset, designed to deliver ultimate precision for elite VR gamers with SteamVR tracking support. Is this the case, though? Does it finally provide a seamless immersive experience? After all, that’s the goal for virtual reality.
Setting up VR can be a pain—cables, sensors, making sure you have enough room, and so on. There’s no change with the Cosmos Elite. Luckily, the numbered box design makes it easy to locate items, with the steps printed on a handy diagram. In the box, you get the headset, two controllers, two base stations, and all the cables needed to get them to work together. The whole setup, including PC and monitor, requires at least five outlets, so you might need to order another extension cord. The base stations (sensors) go on either side of the room, facing each other. The controllers are wireless, and pairing them to the headset is straightforward, but overall, setup can be lengthy, generally taking 30–60 minutes. Getting the headset fitted correctly and mapping out your play area is essential for the best experience.
We have to admire the build quality of the Vive Cosmos Elite, right down to the thick confidence-inducing cables. Every aspect of the device feels solid and hard-wearing. The controllers have a nice heft to them and are textured, with a rubberized grip, so you don’t lose control mid-fight. The headset feels very durable. The base stations are glassfronted and rubber-based, to ensure that the signal is strong out the front and they don’t slide if you opt to place them on a surface instead of wall-mounting or whacking them on a tripod. When you are paying around a grand for something, this is exactly the quality you’d expect to receive, so props to HTC there.
Going back to the headset, this is one of the best the company has released to date. Comfort is a priority but, of course, it’s always subjective. An abundance of padding creates a soft cushion around the head. The downside is the weight— it’s not the lightest. It can cause a pull on the front of the head/face, leading to a little discomfort over time. It can also cause a bit of distraction, resulting in blurred vision. Think of it like a pair of glasses: Once suited to you, they’re perfect for your eyes, but move them slightly, and your vision becomes a little blurred. The same applies here. A click wheel on the back controls the tightness, which is incredibly easy to adjust. Neat. An elasticated band on top can also be tweaked to aid comfort.
But what’s all this if the experience doesn’t match the high build standards? Well, gameplay is rewarding, to put it lightly. With a 90Hz refresh rate and excellent tracking, it’s super-smooth, which is essential for an immersive 3D
experience. The screens are dual 3.4inch, with a resolution of 1,440x1,700, or 2,880x1,700 when combined. This is a tight PPI of 671, but it needs to be, as your eyes are so close to the display. For comparison, a 32-inch 4K monitor is around 137 ppi, but you don’t have your eyes up against the screen—at least, we hope not. Once calibrated, the quality is exactly what you’d hope for. Good quality screens help the immersion and stop motion sickness, so that’s a plus. Attached are two headphone-style open-back speakers that hover over your ears. They were difficult to put in place, but the sound quality was decent. A great positive for the Vive systems are the controllers; the design and feel of them make interacting in-game a pleasant experience. They have a very reactive touch wheel, and great tactile buttons, with a gripping side button. Haptic vibration responds well, and the overall immersion is superb, due to good ergonomics.
If you are looking to go fully into VR and get the most out of it, this is an impressive headset to get you started. Just remember, VR is pricey, so do your research and make sure you understand exactly what you need to power it, the price of the games, and whether you can dedicate a whole room to it. If you want excellent immersion, though, the Vive Cosmos Elite can deliver. There’s just a few things holding it back, the main one being its price.