HTC Desire 22 Pro review
The Vive Flow is a compact VR headset designed for portability and comfort. Weighing just 189 grams, it's ideal for on-the-go use, whether that's traveling or simply relaxing at home. With its premium feel, adjustable focus dial, and dual microphones with Echo and noise cancellation, the Vive Flow promises an immersive experience. But is it worth the investment? In this review, we'll explore the device's features, performance, and value for money, helping you decide if this compact VR headset is right for you.
Build Quality and Design
The HTC Vive Flow is a sleek and premium VR headset that boasts an impressive design. The first thing that catches the eye is its lightweight construction, weighing just 189 grams. This makes it perfect for carrying around, especially during travel. The build quality of the Vive Flow is top-notch, with a sturdy and well-crafted frame that feels solid in hand. The fabric eye gasket is a nice touch, effectively blocking external light from entering the headset. The Tempo pads on the sides are also replaceable, adding to the overall durability of the device. The design itself is visually appealing, with a sleek and modern aesthetic that exudes premium quality. The two tracking cameras on the outside provide accurate tracking, while the stereo speakers deliver clear audio with special audio support. Unfortunately, these speakers can be overwhelmed by external noise when using Bluetooth headphones for personal audio experience. One minor drawback to the design is the stiffness of the pads on the frame near the ears. While they do help keep the headset in place, they can start to dig into your head after prolonged use, making it uncomfortable at times. Another area where the Vive Flow falls short is the scratch-prone outer glass. Over time, this can lead to a dulling effect that takes away from its original aesthetic appeal. Overall, the HTC Vive Flow's build quality and design are impressive, with a sturdy construction and sleek visual appeal. However, some minor drawbacks prevent it from being perfect, such as the stiff pads near the ears and scratch-prone glass.
Battery Life
One aspect that didn't quite impress me during my testing of the HTC Vive Flow is its battery life. While I was expecting it to be decent, considering its compact size and lightweight design, the actual performance left a bit to be desired. According to HTC, the Vive Flow has power for up to 5 minutes built-in, which means that if you're in the middle of an immersive experience and the battery runs low, you won't be interrupted. However, I found this claim to be a bit misleading. During my tests, I experienced inconsistent battery life, often getting around 2-3 hours of usage before needing to recharge. I was using the Vive Flow with its default settings, which included moderate graphics quality and average resolution. While these settings are perfect for casual gaming or content consumption, they do contribute to lower battery life. In comparison, the HTC Desire 22 Pro that I paired with the Vive Flow had an impressive battery life of around 8-10 hours, thanks to its more efficient processor and power-saving features. Considering the overall package and price point of the HTC Vive Flow, a better battery life would have been a welcome addition. While it's not a deal-breaker, it does make me wonder about the value proposition of this device for frequent travelers or those who need a portable VR solution.
Display
The HTC Vi Flow is a portable VR headset designed for immersive experiences on-the-go. The device boasts an impressive display, which is undoubtedly one of its standout features. Here, we take a closer look at the screen and its capabilities. The Vi Flow's display consists of two 2.1-inch LCD panels, each with a resolution of 1600 x 1600 pixels per eye. The refresh rate is 75 Hz, and the field of view is up to 100 degrees for each eye. This setup provides an immersive experience, but it's essential to note that the display is not quite as sharp as some other VR headsets on the market. In practice, the Vi Flow's display performed well during my testing. Images were crisp and clear, although I did notice some slight pixelation at times. The color accuracy was decent, but not outstanding. However, for a device designed for casual VR use, this level of performance is more than sufficient. One notable feature of the Vi Flow's display is its adjustability. Each eye can be adjusted to accommodate different prescription needs, making it accessible to users who wear glasses or contacts. This was particularly useful during my testing, as I'm nearsighted and appreciated the ability to customize the settings for optimal vision. The HTC Vi Flow's display is a solid aspect of the device, offering an immersive experience that's perfect for casual VR use on-the-go. While it may not be the most impressive display in its class, it still provides a good level of performance and adjustability. If you're considering purchasing the Vi Flow, I would recommend trying one out before committing to see if the display meets your expectations.
Camera
As I delved deeper into using the HTC Desire 22 Pro, I found myself impressed by its camera capabilities. This mid-range Android device boasts a triple-camera setup that's designed to capture life's precious moments with ease. The main camera is a 64-megapixel sensor with an f/1.9 aperture, which is capable of recording stunning 1080p videos. I was particularly pleased with the level of detail and color accuracy it produced, especially in well-lit environments. The presence of features like AI detection, Auto HDR, video stabilization, and pro mode further enhance the camera's capabilities. Additionally, there's a 13-megapixel f/2.4 lens and a 5-megapixel f/2.4 lens that complement the main camera, providing a versatile photography experience. Whether I was capturing landscapes, portraits, or still-life shots, the Desire 22 Pro consistently delivered impressive results. I also appreciated the presence of a 32-megapixel F/2.0 selfie shooter on the front. Selfie lovers will be thrilled with the level of detail and color accuracy it produces, making it perfect for capturing life's candid moments. While I didn't get to extensively test the camera in low-light conditions, my initial impressions suggest that the Desire 22 Pro handles such situations admirably. The presence of features like HDR and stabilization helps to minimize noise and blur, resulting in better-than-average images even in challenging lighting conditions. In conclusion, the HTC Desire 22 Pro's cameras are a significant strength of this mid-range Android device. Whether you're an avid photographer or just someone who likes to capture memories, the camera capabilities of the Desire 22 Pro will not disappoint. While the Desire 22 Pro's cameras are impressive, I wouldn't say they're quite on par with some of the more premium smartphones available in the market. However, considering its price point and overall value proposition, I'd still highly recommend this device to anyone looking for a capable camera smartphone without breaking the bank. If you're in the market for a mid-range Android device with impressive cameras, the HTC Desire 22 Pro is definitely worth considering. Its camera capabilities will not disappoint, and its overall value proposition makes it an attractive option for those seeking a reliable and feature-rich smartphone experience.
Price and Value
The HTC Vive Flow is a portable VR headset that has piqued my interest with its compact design and premium feel. However, when it comes to the price point, I have some reservations. Priced at £499 (or around £745 when bundled with a smartphone), the Vive Flow seems to be on the higher end of the spectrum for a portable VR headset. While it's understandable that HTC would charge more for its advanced features and premium build quality, I'm not convinced that this price tag is justified. The device itself feels solid in my hands, with a comfortable weight of around 189 grams and a sleek design that exudes a sense of luxury. The carrying case is also a nice touch, making it easy to take the headset on the go. However, when considering the value for money, I'm not sure that this price point justifies all the bells and whistles. The Vive Flow comes with some impressive specs, including stereo speakers, dual microphones, and 64GB of internal storage. The display is also quite good, with a resolution of 3.2K combined (two 2.1 inch LCD at 1600 x 1600 per eye). However, these features are not necessarily unique to the Vive Flow, and I've seen similar specs on other portable VR headsets that cost significantly less. For me, the deciding factor will be whether or not this device offers a significant enough experience to warrant the £499 price tag. If you're someone who travels frequently and wants a high-end VR experience on-the-go, then maybe this is worth the investment. However, if you're just looking for a casual VR experience at home, I'd recommend considering other options that may offer similar features at a lower cost. Overall, while the HTC Vive Flow is an impressive device in its own right, I'm not convinced that it offers sufficient value for money at this price point.
Performance
The HTC Vive Flow is an innovative VR headset designed to provide an immersive experience while being lightweight and portable. As part of my review, I'll focus on the device's performance. Firstly, the installation process was straightforward using the provided app. The headset itself felt premium with a fabric eye gasket that effectively blocked external light from entering. The Tempo pads were comfortable, but somewhat stiff, which may cause minor discomfort during extended use. In terms of display quality, I was impressed by the 3.2K combined resolution (two 2.1-inch LCDs at 1600 x 1600 per eye) with a 75Hz refresh rate and up to 100 degrees field of view. Each eye could be adjusted for optimal comfort, eliminating the need to wear glasses. The device's performance was generally satisfactory. The Qualcomm XR1 chipset provided smooth performance for various VR experiences, including games and apps. I also appreciated the option to tether the headset to my smartphone or use a compatible battery bank, which allowed me to stream video files from my phone and save storage space on the Vive Flow. However, during prolonged use, the headset's outer glass proved easily scratchable, resulting in an unsightly appearance after extended periods. Furthermore, I found the VR controllers to be somewhat finicky and occasionally ineffective when used as a smartphone controller. While the HTC Desire 22 Pro, which came bundled with the Vive Flow, performed well overall, it did tend to heat up during gaming sessions. Nevertheless, this didn't hinder my ability to play games like Call of Duty comfortably without lag or issues. In conclusion, while the HTC Vive Flow boasts impressive features and a premium design, its performance is satisfactory but not exceptional. The device's portability, display quality, and overall build make it suitable for travel enthusiasts who want an immersive VR experience on-the-go. However, users seeking more advanced VR capabilities may find this headset to be somewhat limited.
Pros
1. The phone has a premium design with a glossy back and classic frames.
2. It's IP67 rated for Splash and dust proofing, making it durable and easy to use in various environments.
3. The device comes with 128 gigabytes of storage that can be expanded using a Micro SD card, providing ample space for apps and files.
4. The phone has an all-day battery life with 4520mAh power battery, supporting wireless charging as well.
5. It's capable of running demanding games like Call of Duty smoothly without any lag or issues.
Cons
1. The device gets hot when gaming, which might be a concern for some users.
2. The outer glass of the VR headset is easily scratchable and may lose its original look over time.
3. The phone's performance is not ideal in terms of processing power, as it runs on a Snapdragon 695 5G processor.
4. The mono speaker setup on the Desire 22 Pro might not provide the best audio experience for some users.
5. The price point of the Desire 22 Pro bundle with the VI flow headset may be considered high by some users.