HTC Vive VR headsets fall to all-time lows for Black Friday | Engadget

HTC’s Vive Cosmos is one of the best VR headsets out there, but if we’re being real, it’s always been a bit too expensive. Now, you can buy that model from Amazon during Black Friday sales for $399 instead of $549, the biggest discount we’ve seen yet. Amazon also has deals on other HTC headsets and bundles, so it’s a good time to jump in if you’ve been waiting for a sale.

Buy HTC Vive Virtual Reality headsets at Amazon

The Vive Cosmos must be tethered to a PC, but there’s no need to install sensors thanks to the inside-out tracking system that works well, according to our Engadget review. It’s strongest feature is the bright and sharp screens with very high 2,880 x 1,700 pixel resolution across both eyes, along with decent 90 Hz refresh rates. The biggest downside is the price, as it’s far more expensive than Oculus headsets — but the sale brings it on par with rivals. Note that the controllers aren’t included.

On top of the standalone headset, you can get a good deal on the HTC Cosmos Elite bundle designed for gamers. Rather than using the inside-out-tracking, the Elite’s headset comes preinstalled with an External Tracking Faceplate that can be paired with base stations for higher precision. It includes two base stations and a pair of Vive controllers, along with the Vive Cosmos headset — and now costs $649 instead of $899 for a savings of $250 (28 percent). 

HTC’s Vive Pro headset and bundles are also on sale at Amazon at the best prices we’ve seen. The HTC Vive Pro offers features like 1,440 x 1,600 pixel resolution per eye on the OLED screens, great ergonomics and built-in headphones. They’re not for everyone because of the price, as we noted in our review, but you can now pick up the HTC Vive Pro system, including the headset, base stations and controllers 2.0 for $899 instead of $1,199. 

HTC’s Vive Pro Eye improves on that with the addition of eye-tracking that uses Tobii’s technology. It can follow users’ eyeballs in real time, letting developers gather data on where they’re looking and when, allowing for new and more immersive experiences. It also allows for foveated rendering, increasing resolution based on where a user is looking. You can now pick up the HTC Vive Pro Eye headset only for $599 instead of $799, and grab the HTC Vive Pro Eye VR system for $1,099, down from the regular $1,399 price. 

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