Valve Index has been one of my favorite VR headsets because not only is it comfortable to play games on this headset but the visuals and refresh rates make everything in VR feel so realistic.
The headset is expensive and when we are talking about expensive headsets, how can we not mention the HTC Vive Pro. HTC Vive Pro is a professional headset made by the company so that it could be used for industrial applications.
The Vive Pro felt way too expensive when it was released and left many questions, one of many being if it was really worth it to invest in the headset.
Valve has come out with its own headset now and with all the amazing features and a similar price range, it is going to be worth it to compare these two headsets.
Table of Contents
Design and Quality
The design of the HTC Vive Pro has a pretty similar design to the Vive. The Pro looks like there is a lot going on with the headset but when you wear the headset, you realize that it is pretty comfortable to wear.
The headset has a really premium look and you feel like you have spent a lot of money when you look at the details on the headset. It is not flimsy or does not feel cheaply made like a few Mixed Reality headsets out there.
The headset weighs around 555 grams which is pretty lightweight for a headset that looks bulky. The Vive Pro might feel heavy but it is really not a lot and you can definitely wear it during long gaming sessions.
The Valve Index is another premium headset that comes with an amazing design and quality. The headset has the typical Halo style that most of the VR headsets are going for these days like the Oculus Rift S and the Oculus Quest.
Valve Index has a lot of padding making it really comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions. When it comes to the design and quality of the headsets, both the headsets are pretty amazing and for a few, they could come across as bulky.
Display and Resolution
Valve Index comes with a resolution of 1440 x 1600 per eye which is clearly similar to the Vive Pro, which comes with a resolution of 1440 x 1600 per eye as well.
The Valve Index and the Vive Pro have similar lenses as well, so that makes the VR visuals on the headsets very similar to each other.
Both the headsets give you premium VR experiences something that you are not really going to appreciate as you are not going to find anything as good as this in the market.
Refresh Rate and FOV
The Refresh rate and the FOV of the HTC Vive Pro is 90 Hz and 110 degrees respectively. In this area, the Valve Index clearly beats the Vive Pro with a refresh rate of 120-144Hz and a FOV that is much wider.
Nothing can beat the Valve Index when it comes to these two features. Due to the high refresh rate, you would not feel motion sickness with this VR headset.
The wider FOV just makes the VR experience feel so realistic and the Valve Index makes it happen. The Valve Index is my pick when it comes to having a better refresh rate and FOV.
Even though the Vive Pro is more expensive than the Valve INdex, it just could not manage to take things to the next level.
Tracking and Controller
The tracking and controllers on both the headsets are pretty similar. The Vive Pro comes with two lighthouses and controllers that are similar to the HTC Vive.
Similarly, the Valve Index comes with two sensors that you need to place in your gaming room so that it could track the controllers and the position of your headset
Even though this process might need a lot more wires in comparison to the new headsets that come with inside out tracking, the process is worth it because you get the best tracking in VR.
There is no instance where you would feel like your controllers are acting up while gaming. This gives users a really smooth gaming experience and you are going to appreciate the precise tracking on both the headsets.
The controllers of both the Valve Index and the HTC Vive Pro are amazing and I think it is difficult to pick one among the two.
Gaming on the headsets
The gaming on both the headsets is EXCELLENT. The Valve Index comes with all the SteamVR games and so does the HTC Vive Pro.
The SteamVR is possibly the largest platform where you can get almost all of the VR games and you would be able to enjoy playing most of the top-rated VR games on these headsets.
The Vive Pro is designed for professional use but even then playing games on this headset is fun. The Valve Index, on the other hand, gives you an amazing interactive gaming experience that you would never forget.
Both the headsets ace when it comes to gaming.
Conclusion
The Valve Index is a pretty decent headset that you can easily get for $1000. The HTC Vive Pro is relatively more expensive than the Valve Index and it is inclined more towards professional use.
I think the Valve Index is a clearly better choice as you get a lot better features on this headset for a reduced price.
The Vive Pro is more expensive and it might not be the amount of money many people would be willing to invest in a VR Headset.
The Valve Index was released about a year later than the Vive Pro and hence it comes with a lot more updates than the HTC Vive Pro.
Overall, I think I would go with the Valve Index any day. Check out both the headsets and let us know which one is going to be your pick.
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