While the Cosmos Elite is an excellent headset, it doesn’t address the VR problems of the vast amount of space necessary to work well or the numerous cords that will cause tripping hazards in your living room. While the controls are acceptable and function well, their tracking isn’t as precise as you’d like for ultimate immersion in VR.

The Elite retains some of the most striking features of the HTC Vive Cosmos, including the powerful 1440 x 1700 display with a refresh rate of up to 90Hz all for $900. The Cosmos Elite compensates for this by being one of the most comfortable and adaptable VR headsets in the market, it provides a VR experience that perfectly fits the user, unlike other VR headsets that are too tight or too loose.

The Design

Two 1440-pixel displays are contained in a big, lightweight front piece on the HTC Vive Cosmos Elite. While the outside shell isn’t the most attractive, the Cosmos Elite excels in the areas that matter most, such as comfort and craftsmanship. The outer edge of the headset is surrounded by soft padding that eliminates the uncomfortable pressure that other headsets can cause. Because the strap is adjustable, everybody should be able to select a size that is comfortable for them. A dial on the back of the headset allows you to modify the tightness of the fit.

The headset’s front panel can actually fold up to allow you to look around, alter PC settings, or do anything else that requires your entire attention. This is by far the best part of the design, as constantly taking the headset on and off is a pain, not only because it’ll need to recalibrate once you’re back in VR, but also because the glass panels in the headset can easily become smudged, which is very noticeable in such close proximity to your eyes.

Once properly synced, the included controllers are comfortable, well-balanced, and straightforward to operate. The devices have a micro USB plug on the bottom for charging, and their power level is visible in VR. Hand tracking in general works well, however, my hands did appear on the floor in front of me a few times but you’ll get accustomed to it and learn to waggle your way back to reattach them. The big touchpad, which lays nicely beneath your thumbs, is responsive.

Performance

The amount of space you can afford to offer the HTC Vive Cosmos Elite is one of the most important elements in determining if it is the headset for you. You may need to rearrange a lot of items if you’re incorporating them into your office. You’ll need a lot of empty room to use the head to its maximum potential.

Two base stations are used by the Vive Cosmos Elite. These are little sensor boxes that must be put on either side of the room where the headset will be used. They’re necessary since they give the headset superior tracking than most other headsets on the market, but they do come with a few drawbacks. Also, both base stations must be connected, and the connections aren’t particularly long. You may have to fully adjust your setup if you don’t have any power outlets handy. This isn’t ideal, especially considering you’ll be wearing a virtual reality headset.

The Vive Cosmos Elite, on the other hand, is wonderful. It’s best renowned for its gaming prowess, but it can also handle productivity software, manufacturing and development tools, and graphic design interfaces with ease. There’s hardly any consumer-level hardware that compares in terms of performance versatility.

Is It Worth It?

If you’re new to VR and want a powerful, PC-based headset that can run any VR game at excellent settings and you have the room, the Vive Cosmos Elite is a recommendation for you. No other headset compares to its build quality and comfort, and if you can get over the space requirements, it’s a fantastic headset.

The HTC Vive Cosmos Elite might not be for you if you’re seeking a VR headset that doesn’t take up a lot of space or requires you to change your room around. There are other VR headsets that offer the same build and quality for a much cheaper price.