HTC teases Vive Proton ‘display headset’ concept for 5G smartphones

Now that its Vive and Vive Cosmos families have been firmly established as PC-tethered virtual reality headsets, HTC is tentatively looking toward a future where its hardware is used with 5G cellular devices, and considerably less bulky than its current goggles. That explains the company’s unexpected disclosure today of Project Proton, a pair of concept “display headsets” that could rely on a portable external device for processing and connectivity.

It’s worth noting up front that HTC is showing two concepts — neither final — but isn’t officially announcing details or putting out a formal press release. That’s because it’s hoping to solicit community feedback as it continues to develop the concept, and hasn’t yet decided whether to go after the “all-in-one” mixed reality headset market developed by Microsoft’s HoloLens, or the “all-in-two” market with separate processing units, represented by Magic Leap One and Nreal’s Light.