Yesterday saw HP make a definitive step towards entering the virtual reality (VR) gaming space by announcing the Reverb G2, a headset made in collaboration with Valve and Microsoft. Based on the Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) platform the specifications promise what could be one of the best pieces of consumer VR hardware so below you’ll find a side-by-side comparison with all the other contenders.
Unlike the previous HP Reverb, the 2020 edition won’t be purely aimed at the enterprise market – an area some companies have steered towards to remain viable. This time consumers will get a look in, with a headset priced at $599 USD, offering an easy setup thanks to inside-out tracking and possibly class leading visuals.
The HP Reverb G2 will offer 2160 x 2160 per eye resolution while the Valve Index’s 1600 x 1440 seems a little lacklustre by comparison. The lenses on HP’s headset have been designed by Valve as well as the off-ear speakers to provide the spatial audio.
At that price the HP Reverb G2 sits between the Oculus Rift S at $399 and Valve Index’s full kit at $999, making it a very tempting solution for those looking at Valve’s headset who would like to save $400 to spend on videogames and not have to worry about base station placement. Whether the extra $200 over the Oculus Rift S is worth it is another matter. Once VRFocus has got its hands on the HP Reverb G2 you’ll know.
From the looks of it the HP Reverb G2 shapes up very nicely and could well become a Windows Mixed Reality headset to own. The platform has struggled since its launch in 2017, the headsets were cheaper than rivals whilst providing early inside-out tracking. But they never took off, VR was still finding its feet and the sudden influx of six devices didn’t make things simple for consumers.
HP has persevered and now looks to be on the right track. Even the ugly WMR controllers have had a makeover and actually look like they could be comfortable.
A worldwide launch of the HP Reverb G2 is expected to take place in the Autumn, with pre-orders going live in the coming weeks/months. VRFocus will continue its coverage of HP’s new Reverb G2, reporting back with the latest updates.
Source: https://www.vrfocus.com/2020/05/hp-reverb-g2-rivals-specification-comparison/
