The hardware specifications of the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR headsets are as follows:
| HTC Vive | Oculus Rift |
Display type | PenTile OLED | PenTile OLED |
Display size | 3.58 inches (447 ppi) | 3.54 inches (456 ppi) |
Resolution per eye | 1,080 x 1,200 | 1,080 x 1,200 |
Total resolution | 2,160 x 1,200 | 2,160 x 1,200 |
Refresh rate | 90Hz | 90Hz |
Field of view | 100 degrees horizontal (+/-) 110 degrees vertical (+/-) | 80 degrees horizontal (+/-) 90 degrees vertical (+/-) |
Weight | 1.03 pounds | 1.04 pounds |
Motion controllers | 2x Motion Controllers | 2x Touch Controllers |
Standard controller support | Any PC-based | Xbox One |
External sensors | 2x Lighthouses | 2x Constellation sensors |
Tracking area | 15 x 15 feet | Two sensors: 5 x 5 feet Three sensors: 8 x 8 feet |
Inputs | 1x HDMI 1.4 1x USB-A 2.0 Bluetooth 4.1 | 1x HDMI 1.3 1x USB-A 3.1 1x USB-A 2.0 |
Required link box | Yes | No |
Audio | 1x Microphone 1x Headphone jack | 1x Microphone Integrated headphones |
Distribution | Steam Viveport | Oculus Store Steam Viveport |
Launch date | April 5, 2016 | March 28, 2016 |
Price | $700 | $400 |
The HTC Vive kit contains a Link Box that stays in-between your PC and the Vive headset. This Link Box helps to transmit audio, video and USB-based input while also supplying power to the headset. The box connects to the headset using a 16-foot cable to allow for freedom of movement while using the VR headset, and connects to the PC using the HDMI and USB-A ports. The Vive kit also contains a pair of Lighthouses with infrared LEDs and laser, connected to the Link Box via Bluetooth, which help the entire system know where the headset and controllers are located physically and what direction they are facing.
On the other hand, the Oculus Rift relies on two “Constellation” sensors to determine the location and direction of the headset and controllers. One of the sensors typically serves to track the headset while the other serves to track the controllers. If you want a room-scale experience, you would need at least one more sensor.
Like the Vive Lighthouses, the Oculus Rift’s Constellation sensors also emit infrared light which is picked up by photosensors on the headset and controllers. However, unlike the HTC Vive, the Oculus Rift does not have a Link Box, but instead the cables are connected directly to your PC.