HP Reverb G2 – Hardware Test

HP and Valve worked together and developed a VR headset together that can score points using the many Valve indicator components. As with high-end glasses, open spatial audio headphones are included, which virtually float above the ears and emit an impressive 3D sound. Steam Group also lent a hand with lens technology and aided with calibration. The unique selling point of the 700-franc headphone with built-in tracking is the crystal-clear picture – with a resolution of 2160 x 2160 pixels per eye. First of all: the image, color and comfort of the G2 are at a very high level! Or in other words: Sometimes, there are several factors that allow for a good VR experience.

HP VR glasses use the same resolution as their predecessor with two 2K ​​LED screens. Awesome: Even compared to high-end bottles like Pimax Vision 8K Plus and 8KX, the visual perception is extremely sharp. As with the Pimax Vision 8K Plus, the effects of the flight screen are practically non-existent. A similar image appears in a direct comparison to Cosmos Elite, but also to Oculus Quest 2 in PC streaming or Oculus Link mode. Especially impressive: If you take a closer look at the hand implant in a game like “Half-Life: Alyx” or crawl a mutant past in dim surroundings, it becomes clear just how clear, bright and rich in the contrast the action brings, as the headset has a good effect and has a good field of focus.

Large focus area, can not greatly dilute the eye

Additionally, the Reverb G2 was awarded a mechanical IPD controller – a small luxury that was only included in previous WMR headphones in better gear like the Samsung Odyssey. The setting range is from 60 to 68 mm, which in turn may cause criticism, as there are greater distances between the pupils in the range of 70/71 mm. However, the image was very sharp with the test person (or author). So the cool spot or area to focus on isn’t exactly small. By the way, people who wear glasses with a maximum frame width of 14.5 cm can be happy: You won’t find the cramped conditions of the first Windows Mixed Reality glasses anymore. A small bonus: You can fold the mugs up just like with previous Cosmos Elite and WMR glasses.

However, the horizontal field of view is limited. We only measure 95 degrees with test tools. Depending on the person, the distance between the two lenses or between the screen and the eyes differs slightly. Some might see “tunnel vision” as more extreme, others less. With the first HP virtual reality glasses, we found the scuba mask effect even more annoying. However, with the latest innovation, this is also due to the upholstery, which restricts the field of view slightly to the left and right. The difference is actually noticeable with the LED indicator (130 degrees), while the Pimax Vision 8K Plus with its bulky lens can cover a horizontal field of view up to 170 degrees. With Oculus Quest 1 and 2, we estimate that the field of view is nearly the same (95 to 100 degrees), also compared to PSVR.