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Review: HP Reverb G2 VR Headset

HP is one of the few companies that continues to develop and release new VR headsets for PCs. Their latest Reverb G series headsets come with improved features and ergonomics. We take a look at the new HP Reverb G2 VR headset.

When it comes to the best VR experiences, the design ergonomics and wearing comfort of the headsets are of importance, allowing users to wear the device for longer hours. The headset comes with a magnetically detachable face mask, featuring an increased cushion size that allows an even weight distribution. The flex material used on the face mask and its capability to detach does help to provide a custom fit, regardless of the shape and size of your face.

This will allow users to easily customize the eye distance from the lens for a better visual experience. You can also easily adjust the head and side-facing velcro adjustment straps so the headset fits firmly while you wear it. And to aid the visual adjustment further, there is an IPD Adjustment that is located under the main headset. The IPD (Interpupillary distance) allows users to easily adjust the width of the lens for different sorts of eye distances to achieve the perfect fit.

The headset weighs about 453g. As compared to previous generations, the HP Reverb G2 VR headset features a total of four cameras for better tracking capability. There are two cameras located on the front portion, along with each of the remaining on either side of the headset.

The HMD system also features industry-leading Valve speakers that are designed to sit off the ear by a distance of 10mm, offering a better comfortable fit. The Valve speakers are capable of providing an immersive spatial audio experience.

The two motion controllers that come with the HP Reverb G2 are comfortable to hold, thanks to its lightweight design The orb-like structure and its LED lights help for better tracking. Each of the controllers features an analog stick, A/B buttons, a Windows button, and another for options. The controller also is equipped with a trigger button and a side button.

Another major change is the introduction of a new 6m meter cable with full compatibility with modern Intel and AMD-powered systems. While almost every GPU comes with a full-sized Display Port, there are some systems or motherboards that may not come with a USB-C port. So HP was kind enough to also include the USB-C to A type adaptor to use the USB-C cable that splits from the main adaptor.

On the HMD, the connection that houses the port for the mini-DisplayPort is located on the top-left portion of the internal area where the lens resides. You will need to take out the magnetic face mask to be able to connect the cable. The only drawback that I noticed is you will need to put a bit of pressure to ensure that the connection with the mini-DisplayPort is secure, or your PC will not be able to detect the HMD system. This took a bit of trial and error to successfully secure a connection with my PC.

The HP Reverb G2 is designed to work with both Steam VR and Windows Mixed Reality applications, and you actually need the latter to do the initial setup. The steps are simple and straightforward with a few optimization procedures that ask you to hold the headset in different places near the PC.

As for its capability, this VR headset has two 2.89-inch LCD screens with a super-sharp resolution of 2160 x 2160 per eye. The displays also feature a fast refresh rate of 90Hz. I had tried the HMD on my system that features the AMD Ryzen 3800X processor, XFX Radeon RX 6900 XT GPU, 32GB of GSkill 3800MHz RAM, high-capacity SSDs, Windows 11 Pro, and more.

We explored the Windows Mixed Reality platform where I was able to navigate through the cliff house and try different virtual games and applications. We tried games such as SuperHot VR, Beat Saber, and more. We also tried some casual applications such as media players, exploring the world, and more. Accessing SteamVR is also fairly easy, after installing the Windows Mixed Reality plugin and you will be able to play most SteamVR games/ applications.

The new HP Reverb G2 is an impressive head-mounted display for those looking to invest in a VR device that can run games and applications from both Windows Mixed Reality and SteamVR platforms. The new device features an ergonomic design that focuses on the wearing comfort, along with adjustable straps and IPD adjustments for the best visual experience. The headset also includes Valve-based speakers with support for spatial audio.

The headset also comes with a long 6m cable for DisplayPort connections. The two main 2.89-inch displays feature a 2160 x 2160 resolution with a 90Hz refresh rate. The motion controllers that come with the package are lightweight and comfortable to hold and use. Setting up the headset with the system is fairly easy, except for the DisplayPort connection that goes to the HMD device. And you get to access and run any program from the Windows Mixed Reality or SteamVR platform.