ASUS’ HC102 Mixed Reality Headset Now Available for $429

Just a few short weeks ago, we were discussing our favorite products from the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show and one that kept getting brought up was HTC’s Vive Pro.  Not only was it a significant improvement over its first-gen sibling, it was far more than that.  It was a refreshing reminder that the VR market is not dead and that a significant amount of resources are being dedicated to its advancement.  While running all over Las Vegas during the show, one company we were sure to meet with was ASUS.  In our meeting, we were shown what to expect from the technology giant in 2018 and one product that caught our eye was its Windows Mixed Reality Headset, or HC102 for short.

Announced officially this week, the HC102 brings a creative 3D patterned design that ASUS hopes will let the headset stand out from the rest of the Windows Mixed Reality launch partners.  While the last of the launch partners, a list made up of HP, Acer, Lenovo, Samsung and Dell, ASUS is hoping to benefit from its well-known and respected name and it will need to.  The HC102 is now available in the United Stated with a MSRP of $429, placing it on the upper end of the pricing spectrum.  For that price, buyers get the headset and two reference design controllers.

Speaking of the headset, the HC102 boasts 1440×1440 resolution per eye, 2880×1440 in total and 105 degrees field of view.   With built in sensors, like an accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope and P-sensor, users of the HC102 do not need to worry about setting up external sensors.  Everything needed to track movement is baked into the headset and controllers.

With plenty of options to choose from, the VR market seems to be heating up again.  Just yesterday, Jamie reported on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 Mobile VR reference design.  Adding that to the HC102 and all other Windows Mixed Realty headsets, the Vive and Vive Pro, and the Rift, there are options for most anyone looking to get into the VR game.