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There can be only oneFor HTC Vive Virtual Reality System Frequently bought together + + Total price: $137.97. HTC Virtual Reality System Vive Standard Cloth Strap - PC/ Mac/ Linux HTC. 4.8 out of 5 stars 25. Windows Vista / XP, Mac. HTC Nose Rest - Narrow (Set of 3) HTC. 4.2 out of 5 stars 61. The Vive says it's SteamPlay in it's featured pane on the store page, so maybe it will ship with Mac support. The M395X is a Tonga GPU. So close to a 380X and below the recommended specs for the Rift and the Vive.
- VIVE Setup is your key to start exploring VR. It installs VIVE software such as the VIVEPORT Desktop app, and guides you with VIVE hardware installation.
- Valve Index is high-fidelity virtual reality. Superior displays and optics, off-ear audio, and adjustable comfort.
- HTC Vive Cover Pu Leather,Foam For HTC Vive Headset VR Face Cushion Cover Bundle,Easy-to-clean Face Foam Replacement HTC Vive Accessories 11mm(Pack of 3) 3.8 out of 5 stars 167 CDN$19.99.
- Jun 12, 2018 The Vive Pro is a successor to the original Vive headset from HTC. It boasts a sharper display (615 pixels-per-inch) for a more immersive virtual reality experience, as well as two front-facing.
The HTC Vive currently offers the best combination of performance, hardware compatibility, and supported games and apps to really get the most out of the experience. With more developers offering support every day, this is the platform you want to have attached to your iMac Pro.
Our Pick
HTC Vive
The best VR Headset for Mac fans.
With the only out-of-the-box whole room VR set up available today and it's killer collection of games and apps on Steam, HTC's Vive headset is an obvious winner for anyone looking to have tons of fun.
Who should buy this VR headset
If you're looking for a VR headset with native macOS support, both in hardware and software, this is the best route for you to go. But even without that native support through Steam VR, the HTC Vive is the most accurate whole room VR system you can buy today. Just set up the tracking boxes, fire up Steam, and get ready to lose a few hours in VR.
Is it a good time to buy this headset?
HTC just recently dropped the price on this headset, both to compete with others in the market and make room for the commercial-focused HTC Vive Pro headset, so now is the perfect time to pick up a Vive. It's not likely to see another price drop anytime soon, and this is the default headset for most developers building things for the Steam VR right now.
Reasons to buy
- Great build quality
- TONS of accessories
- Mac-supported games list grows daily
- Tracking system is scary accurate
Reasons not to buy
- Display resolution in the headset could be better
- Front camera doesn't get used for much
- Significant set up required
VR Headsets don't really support the Mac much right now
Feeding into the false narrative that most Mac users aren't gamers, there isn't a lot of great VR support for macOS. Windows Mixed Reality only supports Windows, Oculus Rift started to support the Mac years ago and then abruptly stopped, and it's taken a long time for things to change.
But Apple and Valve and HTC have been working together to fix this. Apple has added eGPU support to macOS so just about every Mac can be turned into a VR-ready machine, and releasing more capable machines like the iMac Pro to handle it natively. Coupled with a ton of work to make sure VR developers can easily publish Mac-friendly games to Steam VR and HTC's Vive supporting the Mac through this platform, everything has come together to ensure this is the best possible solution for anyone who owns a Mac, but especially those who own an iMac Pro.
Alternatives to the HTC Vive
If you're not concerned about how much things cost or what the state of the stable version of the software is, there are other VR headsets you can consider. HTC's other headset, the Vive Pro, asks a lot more from your PC in order to correctly function but the level of realism you get in the headset is ridiculous.
Runner-up
HTC Vive Pro
Unparalleled performance in a pretty blue package.
This headset combines stunning visuals, impressive audio, and a depth-sensing camera system to create an incredibly powerful VR experience.
HTC's Vive Pro is not made for the average VR fan. It's the headset you expect to see when you go to a VR arcade, or when you're seeing a professional demo at a mall kiosk. The 2K displays, built-in headphones, and massively updated tracking system built to support multiple headsets in much larger spaces all come together to create an unrivaled experience. But to get that experience you have to pay quite a bit, both in money and in processing power. Only the highest end iMac Pro will even support this headset, and even then the GPU is not capable of pushing this headset to its fullest potential. You'd need an eGPU to really make this VR headset do everything it was designed to do, but the end result is so very pretty.
Bottom line
VR on a Mac is both possible and fantastic these days, as long as you have the right hardware to accompany your shiny new iMac Pro. An HTC Vive transforms your whole room into a portal to new worlds, and does so at a relatively low price. But if you want to go all out and really show off, the HTC Vive Pro is there to really crank things up a notch.
Either way you're in for a good time, but the HTC Vive is going to be the best option for most folks.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Russell Holly is a Contributing Editor at iMore. He lives for the shiniest new thing, and loves explaining its potential to improve your life. Whatever you do, don't tell his spouse about the drawer full of tech under the bed.
iMac Pro
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Stay GrayHtc Vive Software Mac
Keep it chic with the best space gray accessories for your iMac Pro
These awesome accessories can help you customize and improve your iMac Pro experience while maintaining a consistent aesthetic by keeping the color scheme in the same classy tone.
Htc Vive Software
If you haven't already heard, Apple, Valve, and HTC have all teamed up to bring VR to the Mac on macOS High Sierra. Using either an externally mounted graphics processing unit (eGPU) or using the adequately powered Vega GPU inside the iMac Pro, you can now be part of the VR/AR revolution whilst running Mac hardware and software.
Vive Pro
You may know HTC as being makers of various smartphone products but it is also a pioneer in the burgeoning VR world. HTC had licensed technology from gaming company Valve to create the high-end VR display called the Vive. Continuing with their partnership, HTC is today announcing an upgrade to the Vive headset, the Vive Pro.
Vive vs Vive Pro
The Vive Pro is touting an upgraded resolution of 2880x1600 pixels and two front facing cameras. The original Vive by contrast sports an OLED display resolution of 2160x1200 pixels and only one front facing camera. On top of this, the Vive pro will also add built-in headphones to the system whereas the original Vive required the use of either third party headphones or the purchase of the deluxe audio strap add-on. As such, this isn't an announcement of a second generation Vive as it is more of a refresh to the existing system.
It can use the same Base Stations (although it is version 2-compatible for up to four Base Stations) as the original Vive for tracking, so you can optionally buy the headset only and not the complete system. It will be available some time in Q1. No mention of pricing as of yet.
Wireless adapter incoming
HTC also announced is wireless adapter add-on using the WiGig spec that will make your Vive pro tether free coming in the summer of 2018. This is likely in response to third party wireless adapter add-ons such as the one from TPcast that have adapters for the Vive and the Oculus Rift. It is unclear if this will be Mac compatible at release but HTC has confirmed that it will run on the original Vive headset. Also no mention of pricing as of yet.
Htc Vive Software For Mac Download
Final comments
I have three VR headsets in my home. Will a welcome but limited bump in resolution be enough for enthusiasts to upgrade to? My feeling is that it's doubtful. However, if you are in the market for a new VR headset and want the best resolution and tracking abilities available in VR Today, then the HTC Vive pro will be what you'll want in 2018. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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