In the VR world, led by the Meta Quest 2 (opens in new tab), every VR headset entry has a lot to compete with due to its affordable price and effortless design. the HTC Vive XR Elite is a standalone, high-end PC VR headset as a good bat and the box specs are truly impressive. However, there are a few things to consider, especially as a PC gamer, especially when the price is $1,099 / £1,299 (more than 2.5 times the Quest 2).

I must say that the HTC Vive XR Elite is one of the least ugly headsets I've seen, and HTC's vision of an ultra-lightweight XR headset has been realized. Not only does it fit comfortably on my head, but the weight on the front and back is perfectly calibrated, preventing 614 grams of weight from being placed on my nose.

Being able to breathe in VR is always a plus, and the unobtrusive cooling feature that exhausts from the top allows me to wear it for hours on end. Or it would be, if it were possible.

HTC has done its best to push the portability factor of the Vive XR Elite to the max and make the most of its lightness. Sadly, the battery life is supposed to be 2 hours, but in games it is closer to 1.5 hours.

As for the controller, I was able to enjoy a couple of sessions on a full charge. On a couple of occasions, it would turn on even though I wasn't moving it or pressing anything on it. The headset was not connected to the battery.

Speaking of which, the HTC Vive XR Elite is convertible; you can plug it directly into your PC and wear it on your head for only 260 grams, but you have to handle the included glasses-like attachment. This attachment is not adjustable and digs hard into the temporal area, which was a real problem. The only way to get a comfortable fit is to wear it more like a tiara than a pair of glasses, but it ends up slipping.

When connected to a PC, this is a dangerous combo. One tug and the 1,300-pound headset tumbles down. The included USB Type-C to Type-C cable is also not long enough, unless you are sitting at a desk. It is not suitable for VR games where you have to swing your arms around a lot; HTC also told me that the included cable is not for streaming, so you will need to purchase a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Vive streaming cable (opens in a new tab).

This cable offers much higher bandwidth, more flexibility, and works great than the included cable, but it will set you back another $79. I had no problems setting up the wireless game streaming side. So even if you don't have a USB Type-C connection, as long as you have a Wi-Fi environment, you should be fine.

Sadly, the lack of a base station makes setup easy, but the Vive XR Elite's tracking leaves something to be desired. Especially when it comes to finger tracking, it is not accurate, even when in full view of the headset's camera. On top of that, the horrible screen door effect in the periphery and the trailing effect caused by the 90Hz refresh rate kept me from having the best time. I ended up feeling a little sick after an hour or so of playing Half Life: Alyx (opens in new tab).

Ultimately, the HTC Vive XR Elite is more expensive and heavier than the Quest 2 and has weaker battery life. While there is something to be said for the XR's functionality, including its brilliant pass-through, genuine comfort, easy setup, and portability, its poor tracking and low refresh rate make it hard to recommend to PC gamers.

In the U.S., it is certainly cheaper than its sister device, the HTC Vive Pro 2 (opens in new tab) at $1,399, but not by much. We'd recommend the Pro 2 if you can afford it, especially since it's the same price as the Vive XR Elite in the UK. That way, according to our best VR headsets (opens in new tab) guide, you'll get one of the best displays to adorn VR, and you won't have to worry about low refresh rates.