Rumors recently erupted that HTC will finally be unveiling the HTC Vive 2 at the upcoming CES 2017.
Will the HTC Vive 2, expected to be a wireless version of its predecessor, really be a part of the upcoming annual event?
HTC Vive 2 At CES 2017?
According to a DigiTimes report, HTC will likely unveil the HTC Vive 2 at CES 2017, which will be running in the first week of January in Las Vegas.
The report goes on to describe the HTC Vive 2 as a virtual reality headset that will use a wireless transmitter to be able to connect to PCs. HTC has opened preorders to grant the same feature to the current HTC Vive, with the upgrade kit to cost users who would like to get rid of cables for the virtual reality headset for $220.
The device is also said to be coming with a pair of 4K displays, with its monitor refresh rate to also see an improvement from 90Hz in the current model to 120Hz .
It was added that the price of the HTC Vive also received a 10 percent discount in China, a move that mirrors the recently announced $100 discount for the virtual reality headset in the United States. The offer, DigiTimes said, was launched in preparation for the arrival of the HTC Vive 2.
HTC Responds To HTC Vive 2 Rumors
According to a statement by HTC, there is no truth to the rumor that the HTC Vive 2 will indeed be unveiled at CES 2017. The company added that its current focus is on the growth of the virtual reality ecosystem for the HTC Vive, for both the current and potential owners of the virtual reality system.
The now debunked rumor was not completely unfounded, as HTC did showcase develop kits for the HTC Vive in previous CES events. However, the company's statements do not mean that it will not be participating at CES 2017, as HTC has confirmed its attendance in the annual show. Instead of the HTC Vive 2, however, the company will likely be announcing new software and initiatives for the HTC Vive.
Are The Reported Specs Of The HTC Vive 2 Even Possible?
A deeper analysis on the rumored specifications for the HTC Vive 2 already cast doubt on the debunked rumor. While wireless connections are feasible and would prove to be convenient, the upgrade to twin 4K displays and 120Hz refresh rates from the 2,160 x 1,200 resolution, or 1080p for each eye, at 90Hz might already be impossible at this point of the technology.
The computers required to run the HTC Vive at its current demands are already on the powerful side, and so it would be hard to imagine the specifications required for a virtual reality headset that runs a pair of 4K displays at 120Hz.
