HTC · Updated July 2026
HTC Vive XR Elite: price, specs & release date
HTC Vive XR Elite, released 2023-02. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: en.wikipedia.org verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
The HTC Vive XR Elite is listed at $899 on en.wikipedia.org as of 2026-07-27, #5 cheapest of 15 VR headsets (median $999); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Bronze Deskmark — 20/100 pay-blind standing, #16 of 17 in class.
Verified Jul 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Lightweight, comfortable modular design (battery-pack strap or ultra-light goggles mode); High-quality mixed-reality passthrough with accurate depth.
- Skip if Steep $1,100 price undercut by cheaper or more capable rivals (Quest Pro/Quest 2) is a dealbreaker.
Price history
$899Is the HTC Vive XR Elite a good buy?
At $899, the HTC Vive XR Elite is #9 cheapest of the 15 VR headsets we track, where the median is $999. On the spec sheet, its refresh of 90 Hz is the lowest of the 17, its storage of 128 GB is the lowest of the 10, and its weight of 625 g is above the median of the 16.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 1
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 1
- Outlets on record1 tested · 2 mention-only
- 3
One independent lab measured this product across 1 physical metric — battery. These numbers rest on a single hands-on source so far; 2 other outlets have it on record by mention only.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the HTC Vive XR Elite
Across one full review (TechRadar) and two CES hands-ons (RoadToVR, UploadVR), testers praise the XR Elite's lightweight, comfortable modular design and, for two of three, class-leading mixed-reality passthrough, but flag a steep $1,100 price, weak Viveport software, poor controllers, and tracking hiccups. Only TechRadar tested at length; the sole reported number is an observed ~2-hour battery life, with no lab-instrument measurements.
Based on 3 reviews · 1 lab-tested · 2023-01-09–2023-04-15
Tested by TechRadar, RoadToVR, UploadVR
Consistently praised
- Lightweight, comfortable modular design (battery-pack strap or ultra-light goggles mode) · 3 sources
- High-quality mixed-reality passthrough with accurate depth · 2 sources
- Good pancake-lens clarity and solid performance running games · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- Steep $1,100 price undercut by cheaper or more capable rivals (Quest Pro/Quest 2) · 3 sources
- Weak Viveport software library versus Meta's Quest store · 2 sources
- Poor controllers and ergonomic misses (nose room, cloth face cover) · 2 sources
- Tracking not as tight as Meta's; hand/controller tracking dropped during demos · 2 sources
Where reviewers disagree Mixed-reality passthrough splits testers: TechRadar and UploadVR rate it among the best available, while RoadToVR found it 'entirely undercooked' with 'a lot of warping due to incorrect depth-mapping' and not as sharp as Quest Pro.
The sources (3)
Battery life on a single charge (observed): ~2 hours
The HTC Vive XR Elite has set a new bar for VR headset design in terms of comfort.
its mixed reality capabilities come close to being the best on the market
Neither am I a fan of the controllers, which are awful.
the first time I put on Vive XR Elite it was clear to me that there wasn't nearly enough room for my nose
Vive XR Elite's pancake lenses are pretty good on the clarity front, with good edge-to-edge clarity, though falling short of the excellent lenses on Quest Pro
it's difficult to see how, for most people, Vive XR Elite can justify an $1,100 price tag compared to Quest 2 at $400.
I much preferred Vive XR Elite's mixed reality passthrough view.
The headset's overall weight I would describe, in the best possible way, as forgettable.
With Maestro on this latest Vive, my hand lost tracking and then reacquired such that I couldn't point to the orchestra reliably in time with the song.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $899 — current on record (was $1099) |
|---|---|
| Brand | HTC |
| Released | 2023-02 |
| Display per eye | 1920x1920 |
| Refresh (Hz) | 90 |
| FOV (°) | 110 |
| Tracking | inside-out (4 wide-FOV cameras + depth sensor) |
| Standalone | Yes |
| Storage (GB) | 128 |
| Weight (g) | 625 |
| Passthrough | Yes |
Source: en.wikipedia.org (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by vive.com. Wikipedia HTC Vive XR Elite: 1920x1920 per eye, 90 Hz, up to 110° FOV, 625 g (with battery), 128 GB storage, Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, inside-out tracking with 4 wide-FOV cameras + depth sensor, full-color RGB passthrough. Standalone capable; also connects to PC. Released February 2023 at $1,099. HTC Vive overview page corroborates standalone capability and passthrough.
Is the HTC Vive XR Elite worth it vs cheaper VR headsets?
HTC Vive XR Elite against its closest cheaper and pricier VR headsets on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 15 ranked
| Product | Price | Display per eye | Refresh (Hz) | FOV (°) | Tracking | Standalone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTC Vive XR Elite this | $899 | 1920x1920 | 90 | 110 | inside-out (4 wide-FOV cameras + depth sensor) | Yes |
| HTC Vive Pro 2 | $800 | 2448x2448 | 120 | 120 | SteamVR Tracking 2.0 outside-in (base stations required) | No |
| Valve Index | $999 | 1440x1600 | 144 | 108 | Lighthouse 2.0 outside-in (requires base stations) | No |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the HTC Vive XR Elite?
Across one full review (TechRadar) and two CES hands-ons (RoadToVR, UploadVR), testers praise the XR Elite's lightweight, comfortable modular design and, for two of three, class-leading mixed-reality passthrough, but flag a steep $1,100 price, weak Viveport software, poor controllers, and tracking hiccups. Only TechRadar tested at length; the sole reported number is an observed ~2-hour battery life, with no lab-instrument measurements. Praised: Lightweight, comfortable modular design (battery-pack strap or ultra-light goggles mode); High-quality mixed-reality passthrough with accurate depth; Good pancake-lens clarity and solid performance running games. Flagged: Steep $1,100 price undercut by cheaper or more capable rivals (Quest Pro/Quest 2); Weak Viveport software library versus Meta's Quest store; Poor controllers and ergonomic misses (nose room, cloth face cover); Tracking not as tight as Meta's; hand/controller tracking dropped during demos; No built-in eye/face tracking (optional accessory planned for later). (From 3 tester reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
How much does the HTC Vive XR Elite cost?
The HTC Vive XR Elite has a US price of $899, as of 2026-07-27.
How does the HTC Vive XR Elite compare on price?
At $899, the HTC Vive XR Elite is #9 cheapest of the 15 VR headsets we track, where the median is $999.
Has the HTC Vive XR Elite's price dropped?
Yes — since 2026-06-27 the HTC Vive XR Elite has fallen 18.2%, from $1099 to $899.
What is the lowest price the HTC Vive XR Elite has been?
The lowest we have recorded for the HTC Vive XR Elite is $899 on 2026-07-27 — which is its current price.
Is now a good time to buy the HTC Vive XR Elite?
At $899, the HTC Vive XR Elite is at the lowest price we have recorded since 2026-06-27.
When was the HTC Vive XR Elite released?
The HTC Vive XR Elite was released 2023-02.
What are the HTC Vive XR Elite's key specs?
HTC Vive XR Elite (HTC): display per eye 1920x1920, refresh hz 90, fov deg 110, tracking inside-out (4 wide-FOV cameras + depth sensor), standalone Yes. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $899 at en.wikipedia.org, 2026-07-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See HTC Vive XR Elite on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar VR headsets
Nearest in price — swipe to browse. Every pick sourced and dated.
All VR headsets ranked · Open data & methodology · Queryable via MCP
Compare with
Head-to-head
Cheaper VR headsets
- HTC Vive Pro 2 $800
- Sony PlayStation VR2 $549
- Meta Quest 3 $429
- Meta Quest 3S $299
Step up
- Valve Index $999
- HTC Vive Focus Vision $999
- Bigscreen Beyond $999
- Meta Quest Pro $999
- Pimax Crystal Super $1783
- Samsung Galaxy XR $1799
More from HTC
- HTC Vive Focus Vision $999
- HTC Vive Pro 2 $800
Part of the Wearables cluster
What you put on your wrist, face and finger. Same sourcing, same dated prices: