The benefit of the Cosmos is its ability to start as an entry-level headset – one that you can pick up without destroying your bank account – and evolve over time to a headset that rivals the best on the market. Pair that with HTC’s Viveport subscription service and you can expect an ever-changing library of fun new titles to try on a headset that truly looks great despite some field-of-view limitations. That’s more or less the story of the Cosmos at this time and at this price point – it’s a decent portal into virtual reality, but one that comes with a few caveats. Its hand-tracking ability isn’t perfect and its setup process can be hit-or-miss. Some games work without a hitch, while others can break down without pixel-perfect tracking. While other inside-out tracking headsets – like the completely untethered Oculus Quest or Oculus Quest 2 – face similar problems and have a worse resolution, they’re cheaper, less bulky and can be taken with you anywhere.

A great VR alternative to the Oculus Rift S, but the Vive's imperfect daylight tracking and a higher price tag hold it back from perfection. These might not be issues for all, but they were certainly frustrating for us. Software updates have vastly improved things since launch though.

With the HTC Vive Cosmos, you get a sharp display, great audio and a good app to go along with those things, but you have to deal with subpar tracking, an uncomfortable headband and a pair of bulky controllers, all for the high price of $699. The HTC Vive Cosmos has a long way to go to be a good VR headset, but if you're going to buy it, get it with some base stations.