HTC VIVE Tracker Review: New VR Trackers

A new generation of virtual tracking

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HTC VIVE Tracker Review: New VR Trackers
Mixed RealityMR ReviewsInsights

Published: December 3, 2021

Rebekah Carter

Rebekah Carter

It takes various features working together to make a virtual reality experience truly incredible. Aside from your virtual reality (VR) headset and software, you also need the right equipment for tracking movements and translating them into language a VR program can understand. HTC VIVE may have the solution.

HTC VIVE recently announced the launch of a new generation of trackers, the VIVE Tracker 3.0. Featuring a host of exciting updates to the original trackers introduced in 2017, the latest HTV VIVE trackers promise exceptional battery life, a lightweight design and enhanced portability.

Perhaps most importantly, the cutting-edge tracking technology can enhance your VR experiences.

With cutting-edge technology at its core, the HTC VIVE Tracker can capture full-body movements with amazing accuracy, ensuring excellent realism and texture in VR experiences. Let’s discover what the latest VR trackers from HTC VIVE can do.

HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0 Review: Features

Compatible with a range of products, including the VIVE Pro and Cosmos series, the HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0 creates seamless, wireless connections between VR tools and software. You can even attach a DSLR camera to the tracker to create new experiences.

As a significant improvement on the previous VIVE Tracker creations, the 3.0 will feature a host of new features, including facial tracking functionality to help developers leverage the nuance of facial expression when building virtual environments. The latest version of the trackers also come with Steam support too.

Features include:

  • Full-body tracking with precision accuracy
  • Lightweight design for portability
  • Lightweight, versatile, and more comfortable to use
  • 75% larger battery life than previous Tracker
  • Enterprise virtual tracking support
  • Developer toolkit
  • Dongle included
  • 240-degree field of view
  • Compatible with VIVE products
  • Suitable for Steam VR experiences

Intended to help businesses and VR enthusiasts go beyond the basics of VR controllers, the HTC VIVE tracker creates seamless connections between virtual experiences and real-world objects.

This new technology responds to the challenge of making users feel fully embedded within a virtual reality environment by translating their movements more accurately into the virtual world.

Building on the success of previous HTC VIVE trackers, the 3.0 models enable all the same excellent functionality, with enhancements like a more lightweight structure and longer-lasting batter life. The HTC VIVE Tracker works seamlessly with the SteamVR Base Station 2.0.

HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0 Review: Benefits

A better tracking experience creates engagement in virtual reality environments. The VIVE Tracker 3.0 from HTC leverages the incredible experiences possible in today’s ever-evolving VR environment.

Facial tracking technology can bring human expression into the digital environment, while full-body tracking ensures people can move as naturally as they would in the real world.

When announcing the HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0 kit, HTC were particularly focused on the potential of the facial tracker system, which can seamlessly examine up to 38 facial movements.

In the new world of virtual collaboration and remote work, these tracking capabilities may lead to better connections between distributed teams.

Some of the major benefits of the HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0 include:

  • Full body tracker: The standard HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0 will capture high-precision movements throughout your body with amazing accuracy. Combined with the facial tracker service from VIVE, you can capture body and facial movements in tandem, creating an experience which really submerges your user into the virtual world.
  • Convenient design: Ideal for the ever-evolving workplace, the HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0 is built for simplicity and portability. A lightweight and compact design ensures users can take their trackers with them wherever they go. The lightweight structure also means your trackers won’t feel unnatural when you’re using them alongside your VR headset.
  • Multiple use cases: HTC VIVE supports groups from all backgrounds on their journey into the possibilities of VR and extensive tracking. Enterprise brands can access guidance for using their trackers to design simulation training or motion capture apps. Developers have access to an extensive toolkit where they can unlock new levels of creativity with more accurate monitoring capabilities.
  • Flexibility: HTC VIVE tracker tools are designed to work conveniently with a range of VIVE hardware, as well as external tools. You can connect your trackers to Steam VR and use them to help create more immersive experiences for customers when you’re working on your own virtual reality apps. HTC VIVE even suggest recommended accessories for your purchase.
  • Ease of use: Stepping into a VR environment should be as pain-free as possible if companies want to ensure they’re getting the most out of their investment. The HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0 makes it simple to both create and experience unforgettable virtual environments for all kinds of use cases.

Who Needs the HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0?

The latest and greatest tracking system from the HTC VIVE ecosystem, Tracker 3.0 represents a fantastic step up in what companies can do to monitor user movements.

Either used as a standalone movement tracking solution, or combined with facial tracking tools, the HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0 is a powerful investment for the modern world.

This tool will be particularly valuable for business leaders looking to design immersive training opportunities for their teams, or developers building VR experiences. There are also plenty of opportunities for gaming companies to develop competitive worlds with HTC’s tracking tech.

HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0 Review: Verdict

A significant upgrade to the previous versions of the HTC VIVE Tracker technology, the 3.0 trackers are a great step forward into what the future of VR control can really look like.

With the HTC VIVE Tracker 3.0 users can enjoy a better level of immersion in virtual reality, with accurate tracking, powerful motion discovery, and access to an ever-evolving range of complementary tools.

If you’re hoping to bring a higher level of motion tracking functionality into your VR experiences, the HTC VIVE Tracker goes far beyond the basics of standard VR controllers.

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