After teasing their new VR cybergoggles earlier this 12 months, HP have now absolutely unveiled their new Reverb G2 headset, and it seems to be an terrible lot just like the Valve Index. That’s most likely as a result of it’s been designed in collaboration with Valve, and makes use of the identical lenses and audio system that they created for the Index. However, HP’s Reverb G2 takes issues even additional with a better decision show and much more monitoring cameras. And one of the best factor about it’s that it’s not going to price the earth to purchase, both.
Indeed, HP are calling the Reverb G2 a “no compromise VR headset” that units “the new standard in VR”, and a giant a part of that little doubt comes from its whopping 4320×2160 decision show. That’s 2.5x extra pixels than the 2560×1440 show on our present best VR headset, the Oculus Rift S. Heck, even the Valve Index solely has a mixed decision of 2880×1600, so it seems to be just like the Reverb G2 will provide fairly a considerable soar in general sharpness and readability.
The Valve Index nonetheless wins out relating to refresh price, although, because the Reverb G2 will probably be capped at 90Hz just like the HTC Vive Cosmos and Cosmos Elite. The Index, alternatively, can stretch all the way in which as much as 144Hz for those who’ve received sufficient graphical grunt to succeed in these sorts of refresh charges, however actually, 90Hz continues to be completely enough for a clean VR expertise.
It’s not but clear whether or not the lenses themselves are the identical ones Valve used on the Index – all HP say on the matter is that they’re “industry-leading lenses designed by Valve” – however one factor that does look similar are the built-in audio system, which sit 10mm off the ear identical to those on the Index, and even have the identical form and design.
As for adjustment, the Reverb G2 comes with every little thing you’d count on from a “no compromise” headset. There’s an interpupillary distance slider on the underside of the headset, as nicely a replaceable magnetic cloth face cushion (once more, wanting similar to the one on the Valve Index), plus your regular assortment of velcro straps.
Best of all, although, it received’t require any SteamVR base stations for monitoring functions, as its 4 built-in cameras will deal with all that internally, very like the inside-out monitoring of the Oculus Rift S. It additionally seems to be prefer it’s going to really feel loads lighter in your previous noggin, as HP say its weight begins at 1.1lbs, or 499g (with out the cable), in comparison with the 1.78lbs, or 807g Index (once more, with out the cable). I’ll have to attend till I get one in for testing earlier than passing judgment, after all, however as somebody who usually will get a little bit of a headache from taking part in VR, that is very welcome information certainly.
I must also word that it’s not simply Valve who’ve had a hand within the Reverb G2’s design, because it’s additionally been made in partnership with Microsoft as nicely. That’s as a result of this isn’t simply one other SteamVR machine. It’s additionally appropriate with the Windows Mixed Reality platform, making it some of the versatile VR headsets but.
The solely questions that stay are how a lot this factor’s going to price and after we can get our arms on it. HP are nonetheless maintaining the Reverb G2’s launch date near their chests in the meanwhile, however its value seems to be very cheap certainly. While HP haven’t listed a value on their official website but, other people who’ve gone arms on with it within the US are saying it’s going to price $599 – which is fairly rattling aggressive given the specs. After all, the Vive Cosmos at present prices £699 / $699, whereas the Valve Index goes for a whopping £919 / $999 – and if the Reverb G2 brings a slice of that Valve goodness right down to a extra mid-range form of value level, then we’d simply have a brand new best VR headset contender on our arms.
