The recently concluded 2016 Consumer Electronics Show was a showcase of upcoming tech. Meanwhile, two of the most anticipated headgear and accessories system in a fledgling virtual reality industry made their appearances at the event.

With their improvements on their last previewed versions, how do the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift stack against each other this time?

Features

Fans were disappointed when HTC failed to launch the Vive last month. According to the company, the development team managed to have a big breakthrough for the system and had to integrate it to the VR headgear.

In the event, fans were treated to a sneak peek of the new HTC Vive via the Vive Pre, the second-gen dev kit of the system. The big breakthrough that HTC talked about was integrating a front-facing camera with the system and creating a seamless environment between real and virtual world.

Meanwhile, the Oculus Rift is the better choice, according to GizMag. According to the industry follower, one feature that makes the Rift stand out among the much-talked-about VR systems is that it offers a wider range of VR content based on its numerous demos.

Design

Both VR systems factored in user comfort and portability in their designs. The Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive both have comfortable adjustable Velcro straps and padding. Meanwhile, in terms of form factor, NeuroGadget places the Oculus Rift as the sleeker and more elegant of the two.

In addition, while the HTC Vive Pre is smaller than its previous version, the final consumer edition will be a heavy headset. The CES 2016 showcase highlighted the Vive Pre's 37 visible sensors on the front and, according to the industry follower, added significant weight to the device.

The HTC Vive's consumer version is scheduled to release in April. The Oculus Rift, on the other hand, is already open for pre-orders, with a late March shipment date. However, a market release date for the Rift is yet to be announced.