Valve Index design
The Valve Index is perhaps the most well-crafted VR-bril to date. Looking at the design, the Valve Index is made with the word 'comfort' in mind. Even after longer gaming sessions, the Index remains particularly comfortable on the head.
Sturdy build
The case is initially a converted VR Flightcase with dimensions of 58 x 46 x 30 cm (l x w x h). The case features a standard handle, two wheels, and a retractable handle. This makes the case usable as a trolley as well. Quite handy, as the case, filled with hardware, quickly weighs around 15 to 20 kg. The hard exterior material of the case can withstand a good deal of impact.
Valve knuckle controllers
Where the Valve Index truly distinguishes itself from its competition is with the Valve Knuckle controllers. The Valve Knuckles are hands-on controllers that you strap around your hand via a band. This means you no longer need to hold the controller, as it rests on your hands without needing to grip it. This takes some getting used to at first, as you are automatically accustomed to holding (and thus gripping) your controllers. But after a while, you get the hang of how the controllers work and notice that the Valve Knuckles offer a very pleasant way of controlling. The best part about the Valve Knuckles is their new method of 'finger tracking'. Each individual finger on your hand can be fully tracked! This is particularly useful in the game 'Aperture Hand Lab', where you play as a robot in the Portal universe. Through tasks involving your hands and fingers, you must navigate the world. For example, you might be tasked with picking something up, waving to someone, or giving a thumbs-up.
The downside of the Valve Knuckles (and the new method of finger tracking) is that there are still relatively few games that utilise this feature. Aperture Hand Lab is a good example of how games can use finger tracking, but many games are still accustomed to the 'old' controllers. Fortunately, there are enough game-developers that are adapting to the trend of the new controllers, and we can expect plenty of games in the coming months that will make optimal use of finger tracking.
Visuals and tracking capabilities
The Index uses a dual-LCD screen with 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye. With the very high refresh rate of 120 Hz, games are played particularly smoothly and sharply. There is even an option to increase the refresh rate to 144 Hz for an even smoother experience. The screen-door-effect is thus kept to a minimum, although you can distinguish some individual pixels if you really focus on it. The Valve Index works with the well-known base stations - lighthouses - from HTC or Valve. This method of external tracking ensures that you always have reliable tracking in a room, with no loss of tracking when you, for example, hold the controllers behind your back (which can be an issue with inside-out tracking, such as with the Oculus Rift S). Additionally, the Valve Index is fully compatible with the HTC Vive and Vive Pro. The base stations are identical and can communicate with each other. This makes the Valve Index a particularly good upgrade if you want to move on from the 'old-fashioned' HTC Vive.
Conclusion
With the new Valve Index, another new high-end VR-bril has been brought to the market. There are certainly no gaps that the headset fills, but it is a welcome addition to the current VR range. The Valve Index sits somewhere between the Oculus Rift S and the HTC Vive Pro. While the Oculus Rift S is mainly aimed at consumers and the HTC Vive Pro is aimed at business users, the Valve Index fits right in between. In terms of specifications and tracking method, the Index can compete with the Vive Pro, but in terms of price and applicability, it is also the ideal headset for consumers to venture into high-end VR for the first time. The new Valve Knuckles are a breath of fresh air in the field of motion controlling. We believe that other VR headsets should certainly follow this innovation, as the Knuckles are noticeably more comfortable and capable than the old-fashioned motion controllers.
So, are you looking for a VR headset with very sharp quality, precise tracking, and very comfortable controllers? Then the Valve Index is an excellent choice! Click here to order the Valve Index.
