Vive Cosmos, HTC’s latest PC VR headset and replacement for the original Vive, launches today for $700. Just like all of company’s PC VR headsets to date, Cosmos will be able to use the Vive Wireless Adapter, but you’ll need a few things first that the company will soon be selling in a special Compatibility Pack.

If you happen to already own Vive Wireless and are looking to use it with your new Vive Cosmos, you’ll have to wait for official support which HTC says in a blog post should arrive later this month.

Also coming later this month is a Cosmos wireless compatibility pack for $50, which arrives with a 21W power bank, connection cable for Cosmos, and attachable headstrap pad.

Image courtesy HTC

At $300, the Vive Wireless Adapter itself normally arrives with a 10050mah battery pack that provides an output capable of driving the original Vive for 2.5 hours wirelessly. HTC maintains that Cosmos requires more power than the current Vive Wireless Adapter battery can support due to the headset’s inside-out tracking.

The company additionally revealed that Cosmos’ camera tracking data is kept entirely on-board, which although touted as a privacy feature makes for higher headset power consumption.

SEE ALSO
Our Vive Cosmos Review is Postponed Until HTC Shines Light on a Potentially Glaring Issue

It’s uncertain whether the Wireless Adapter will see a price bump when it’s officially available as a bespoke product, and not just a $50 add-on kit. Whatever the case, HTC says it will be offering the 21W battery as a part of all Vive Wireless Adapters in the future.

If you’re wondering where out signature deep-dive review is, you may have to wait a bit longer because we’ve run across a worrying issue with our review unit that may or may not be a feature of the headset.

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Scott Hayden
Well before the first modern XR products hit the market, Scott recognized the potential of the technology and set out to understand and document its growth. He has been professionally reporting on the space for nearly a decade as Editor at Road to VR, authoring more than 3,500 articles on the topic. Scott brings that seasoned insight to his reporting from major industry events across the globe.
  • Xron

    Hmz… still kinda expensive for mass adoptation…

    • Niklas Fritzell

      50 dollar add on for an already expensive device…

      • USAMPVet

        No that’s $50 add-on on top of the $300 wireless adapter. Which mind you is price at 40% of the cost of the new Cosmos. Price will have to drop before I jump on that for it. That drives the cost to $1049 before tax.

        • Erilis

          What is that adapter anyway, can I just use a bit of velcro? it’s down to $999 then. plus base station adapter, and index controllers.

  • Jarilo

    Love this option for Cosmos owners. I have the wireless adapter on the Vive Pro currently and it’s fantastic, no issues, and reliable PC-VR wireless.

    • JohnMcL7

      I bought the wireless adapter for the original Vive and it sat in a box as I tried to justify the huge cost but I eventually fitted it and it amazed me, it just transforms the VR experience as you get the obvious benefit of not having the cable but also I found it far more comfortable to wear the headset.

      I haven’t considered any of the new headsets as I can’t use the wireless adapter but I’m very interested in the Cosmos now I can use the wireless adapter.

      • Jarilo

        Yep, perfect 1 to 1 PC-VR but wireless. I was surprised that not having the cable tugging all the way down to the floor actually improved comfort as well.

  • Andrew Jakobs

    Or just buy a bigger batterypack yourself (I think a lot of people already own one or two)..

  • sfmike

    Always another overpriced add-on.

    • Abion47

      That’s the price to be an early adopter of new technology.

  • Greyl

    HTC treat their headsets like how Sega did in the 90’s with all these crazy add-ons and attachments. Vive headsets have turned in to a confusing mess of a product line.