Leaker claims to know name and price of HTC's upcoming self-tracking trackers
According to a leak, HTC's self-tracking trackers will soon go on pre-order and could be quite expensive.
In March, HTC announced a yet-to-be-named self-tracking tracker for the Vive Focus 3 and Vive XR Elite (see video below). Unlike the Vive Tracker 3.0, they don't require base stations and track themselves using built-in tracking cameras. A USB-C dongle supports up to five trackers and enables use cases like full-body tracking.
The new trackers are 50 percent smaller than the Vive Tracker 3.0 and weigh about 100 grams. However, HTC says they do not replace them. For PC VR headsets like Vive Pro and Cosmos Elite, the company still recommends using the Vive Tracker 3.0.
HTC said in March that the tracking system supports OpenXR and teased possible compatibility with other standalone headsets.
Vive Ultimate Tracker: No PC VR support at launch
According to VR leaker Brad Lynch, the accessory will be called the Vive Ultimate Tracker and will cost $200 per unit. A Vive Tracker 3.0 costs $130, but has no cameras built in.
The proprietary USB-C dongle will cost an additional $39. Those who buy three trackers in a bundle will get the USB-C dongle for free. Lynch refers to information "from a variety of my sources".
Finalized a new hardware leak from a variety of my sources ?? pic.twitter.com/SYmOWqOI4k
- Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) September 21, 2023
According to Lynch, the battery lasts up to seven hours and the USB-C dongle supports a range of 9 meters.
The announcement and pre-orders will take place in October, notes Lynch. HTC spoke of a launch in the third quarter of 2023. The Vive Ultimate trackers will be compatible with the Vive Focus 3 and Vive XR Elite, with a PC VR Beta starting "at a later date".
Such a limited support of headsets, even if temporarily, is unfortunate and would severely limit its market potential. Lynch makes no mention of possible compatibility with Quest or Pico headsets, so we'll probably have to wait for the official announcement. Sony's Mocopi trackers also do self-tracking and are compatible with Quest products.
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