A great VR alternative to the Oculus Rift S, but the Vive's imperfect daylight tracking and a higher price tag hold it back from perfection. Software updates have vastly improved things since launch though.

Snazzy design; Inside-out tracking cameras means easier setup; Awesome-looking controllers; Comfortable fit; Superb flip-up visor;

Lacks Mini DisplayPort adapter in the box; Some of the design feels flimsy; White room setup can still be an issue;

The creator of Audiosurf turns his rhythm action classic into one of the coolest games in the Vive virtual reality line-up.

A fun reinterpretation of classic rhythm action games; that looks great and has a potentially infinite music library

The gameplay gets repetitive very quickly, no matter how different the music is you use; Very buggy, particularly the menu interface

The HTC Vive is up against the Oculus Rift and Sony's PlayStation VR in the race to be the best and most successful virtual reality headset. I'll say right here and now that as a piece of technology, it probably is the best, but that as a consumer device, it probably won't be the most successful.

Brilliantly immersive; Can be worn at length; Plenty of good games

Neither cheap nor simple; Inevitably bulky & cumbersome; Very few great games

With its streamlined setup, lack of base stations, and tracking that's fairly accurate for the most part, anyone getting their first taste of VR will be rightly impressed with Cosmos. The potential for upgrading in the future sounds tempting, too. However, at £699, it's hardly entry-level money - and that's before you start adding accessories or faceplates with extra functionality. If you don't plan on buying upgrades in the future, the Oculus Rift S offers a similar experience with only slightly inferior visuals for £300 less. And anyone wanting the very best VR right now needs to bite the bullet on Valve's more costly Index. Cosmos has potential, and HTC hasn't been afraid to pump out accessories for the OG Vive, so it may still surprise us - but as a one-box system, it's tough to recommend.

High quality visuals, if not quite the best; Tracking without Base units is convenient; VivePort subscription good for VR newcomers;

Position and hand tracking can lose itself; Controllers not the most comfortable; Limited upgrade potential right now;

High quality visuals, if not quite the best; Tracking without Base units is convenient; VivePort subscription good for VR newcomers;

Position and hand tracking can lose itself; Controllers not the most comfortable; Limited upgrade potential right now;

HTC launched the Vive as the only VR HMD with roomscale support and proper motion controllers over two years ago, and while their competitors have caught up over that time, they've introduced a killer accessory that once again puts them ahead in the realm of movement.

True wireless freedom; Works with either Vive HMD; Easy setup; No image quality reduction versus being wired; No noticeable added input latency; Battery pack design makes for an easy swap-out; Headset doesn't feel any heavier

More expensive for Vive Pro owners; Battery is not hot-swappable; Image quality could be affected by slower CPUs

On its own, HTC Vive, with its room-scale VR capability, offers an immersive VR experience that transports you into virtual worlds. However, there's an ever-present cable you must keep track of that keeps you tethered to the real world.

No tripping hazards; Less risk of equipment damage; Unobstructed movement

Short battery life; Compatibility issues with Ryzen; Vive Pro

HTC's Vive Cosmos uses a flippin' genius idea to make VR easy

Crisp display for an immersive VR experience; Convenient flip-up screen design; Embedded cameras eliminate bulky sensors; Full-featured controllers for gaming

Still requires tethering to a PC; Expensive compared to competition; No increase in field of view

It's hard to compare the HTC Vive to anything. It doesn't have the games of the Oculus Rift yet, but the Vive's take on virtual reality is best in breed. No other VR headsets offer such an immersive virtual reality experience that you can wander around it, poke stuff and genuinely lose yourself in...

Room-scale VR is the one to beat; Excellent; intuitive controllers; Comfortable and well-designed headset

Not enough content; A bit laborious to set up; Expensive

The promise of virtual reality has always been to escape the bounds of your living room or office and enjoy an entirely new world where the same rules don't apply. High-end VR headsets like the HTC Vive have largely delivered on that promise, but if you've ever dabbled in VR you'll know that...