Like all parts of the tech industry, VR hardware is prone to leaks. In late September we may have caught our first glimpse of new hardware from Oculus, and this time it’s HTC’s turn. Late Tuesday, ahead of an event planned for Thursday, prolific leaker Evan “evleaks” Blass released several images that appear to show off HTC’s latest: the Vive Flow, a compact $499 VR headset.
Reaction was not positive. The Verge said the headset’s large reflective lenses will “make you look like a bug” and Tom’s Guide called the Flow “a nightmare for your face.” VR enthusiasts who care less about looks are excited by the prospect of a smaller, lighter headset from HTC, better-known for its bulkier and expensive enterprise headsets. The images make clear HTC is finally jumping into the consumer market, although from the looks of this device it’s unlikely to be a threat to Facebook’s offerings.
