Those in denial about the impending technological singularity can keep their heads buried in the sand, but for those looking to adopt early See the evolution of the metaverse From virtual zero, we’re looking at the Meta Quest 2 and the HP Reverb G2. While each VR headset is different, they actually have a lot in common, and so do the prices. (meta though recently raised them.)
We put these top competitors to the Matrix-style ringer to determine the best VR headset in this goggle-on-goggle, eyeball-on-eye showdown. Read on to find out which VR platform gives you the most bang for your buck for virtual spending, and why.
Round 1: Game/App Library
Whether you are considering any of the following best VR headset For work and (perhaps) play, the app store is always a good place to start investigating. best gaming laptop When Best VR capable laptop. It won’t do much if the app or game you need is on another platform.
At the time of writing, there are approximately 5,700 VR-specific apps and games available on Steam and only 1,345 in the Oculus store. I could play with the Reverb G2 in famous franchises like Fallout VR and Skyrim VR, but when I started downloading those hefty installation files, I realized where the hefty minimum requirements were. . Fallout VR alone took up about 25 GB of storage on my laptop and was running hot all the time. (By contrast, the app for Song in the Smoke, a deceptively simple caveman simulation game, is just 2GB when downloaded directly to the Quest 2, and 2GB when downloaded separately to a laptop via the Oculus Link app. 8.1 GB.)
winner: HP Reverb G2
From a developer’s perspective, VR games and apps made exclusively for the Steam platform that have left beta tend to consume more resources and this is why many of them are fully wireless ready. It explains why there is no Metaquest 2 headset After all, it only has 256GB of onboard memory, but with 25GB of apps each, it fills up quickly.
That said, newcomers to VR will be well satisfied with the myriad of apps and games available in the Oculus store. Those looking to take a virtual step into the Metaverse may appreciate the built-in community features that Meta has been working on lately. — like them New Horizon Worlds Tools.
Round 2: Compare Specs
As you can see in the chart below, the HP Reverb G2 offers users a wide field of view and overall high-resolution imaging, but its Windows-only headset needs the right hardware to run it. (Includes top-notch GPUs), inevitably tethered to the technology via a bundled 6-meter cable. This can be a little tricky depending on your play area and the VR title you choose. (Pro Tip: If you’re swinging your arm around with an invisible sword, it’s easy to get your arm tangled.)
However, while the Meta Quest 2 is technically wireless out of the box, connect it to your computer Via USB cable (and Oculus Link desktop app) Significant performance improvement — provided your Windows system meets the same minimum requirements as the Reverb G2.
| HP Reverb G2 | |
|---|---|
| price | $399 |
| system requirements | Windows 10 (May 2019 update or newer); Intel Core i5, i7, Xeon E3-1240 v5, equivalent or better. AMD Ryzen 5 or better; DX12 ready graphics; 8GB of RAM; DisplayPort 1.3, USB 3.0 Type C power port |
| CPU | none |
| screen | 2160 x 2160 per eye |
| field of view | 114 degrees |
| refresh rate | 90Hz |
| size | 18.6 x 8.4 x 7.5 inches |
| weight | 1.2 pounds |
| battery life | none |
| meta quest 2 | |
|---|---|
| price | $399 (128GB), $499 (256GB) |
| System requirements (link compatibility) | Windows 10; Intel i5-4590 or above, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or above. Nvidia Titan X GPU or above, AMD 400 series GPU or above. 8GB RAM; USB 3.0 Type A or C port |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 platform |
| screen | 1832 x 1920 per eye |
| field of view | 89 degrees |
| refresh rate | Supports 60, 72 and 90Hz |
| size | 11.6 x 7.5 x 4 inches (with strap fully open) |
| weight | 1.1 pounds |
| battery life | 2-3 hours |
winner: tie
I have something to say about the Quest 2’s excellent wireless offerings, but when you plug the headset into your PC and install the Oculus Link desktop app, you can adjust the refresh rate by switching between 72Hz, 80Hz, 90Hz and 120Hz. . A rendering resolution between 2432 x 1216 and 5408 x 2736. Reverb G2’s native resolution of 4320 x 2160 – which is nice, but not wireless.
Round 3: Design and comfort
Users beware: Purchasing a Meta Quest 2 headset with that floppy default strap can quickly turn off the entire VR experience. The Elite strap ($60 upsell) is exponentially more comfortable, especially for fast games. It also wraps around the back of your head more ergonomically and holds the entire headset securely in place. The Elite Strap with Battery is twice the price ($120) and he gives you twice the juice. If your pockets are deep enough, it may be worth the extra cost.
HP has put a lot of thought into the overall ergonomics of the Reverb G2, making a few subtle tweaks from previous models according to the company’s website. It was just as comfortable as the Quest 2, even during long VR sessions, but it took some trial and error to get all three straps at the optimal length. The main cable hangs down the back, which is admittedly cumbersome, but not by much.
Both headsets have built-in interpupillary distance sliders that can be adjusted on the fly for optimized comfort, but the Reverb G2 has genuine external speakers and is slightly more robust. create a perfect soundscape.
In a side-by-side comparison, I don’t see much difference between the HP controller and the Meta controller. This is good. Both are similar in shape and button/joystick placement. Everything equals the course at the end of a beautiful day in the Metaverse.
winner: meta quest 2
with virtual hair. Overall ergonomics are about the same, but the Meta’s wireless capabilities give the Quest 2 an absolute edge.
Round 4: Setup process
Setting up each of these headsets really shows how family friendly the Quest 2 is compared to the Reverb G2. Meanwhile, to start using Meta’s headset, all you have to do is charge it. Turning it on; pairing the controllers; setting up a meta account; and even if you don’t run into any software issues, HP’s setup process is a little more complicated.
Once you’ve made sure your laptop meets all the minimum specs to run the Reverb G2 properly, you’ll need a Steam account to pair it. The headset also requires its own power source (via a wall outlet) and connects to your laptop via USB-C and DisplayPort. Long story short: If you choose the Reverb G2, you may need to do some additional troubleshooting during setup. (Think of it as a real-world boss fight if it helps you kill time.)
winner: meta quest 2
The Reverb G2 setup process is logical, but not as intuitive as the out-of-the-box Quest 2 platform. Well done, Meta.
Round 5: Overall Performance
Logistics and hardware aside, what kind of VR experience should these goggles offer? That’s the question now. As mentioned earlier, connecting the Meta Quest 2 goggles to your laptop via a USB-C cable will greatly improve performance. Of course, this comes at the expense of the aforementioned mobility, but in a more photorealistic game like The Climb (a rock climbing simulation), this extra power makes a difference. Keep in mind that maxing out all visual settings can reduce your overall frame rate.
in my test HP ZBook Fury 17 G8With a Xeon-powered laptop literally made for the Reverb G2, I experienced comparable gaming performance across each headset, especially with the Quest 2 plugged in. .) Watch the gameplay footage below to get an idea of how these headsets work. I’ve maxed out my laptop’s performance settings and defaulted my headset settings to get the best visual performance my machine is capable of.
Both of these titles represent how I first fell in love with PC gaming (at the time I spent over 90 hours on Fallout: New Vegas). If you’re not careful, you might sign into Skyrim one day and never come back.
We weren’t able to record gameplay footage directly from the Quest 2 headset with the Oculus Link app running, but from an anecdotal point of view, connecting the goggles to your laptop can help you with these games. I found that both definitely improve the graphics quality. We’ve come to shadow effects, background scenery, and close-up details. Exploring beautiful mountain peaks and prehistoric environments was an amazingly immersive experience, and using a laptop made it even more immersive.
In terms of audio performance, I experienced a surprisingly robust soundscape from the hard-to-find Quest 2 goggles’ built-in speakers that were of similar quality to the Reverb G2’s external adjustable speakers. (Audio enthusiasts can also offload SFX to their computers if wired cans are better.) One thing is for sure, thanks to the integration of VR hardware in recent years, both option also looks very sleek.
As a side note, I quest 2 home environment (opens in new tab) (There are 11 to choose from), it feels rather homey.
winner: tie
Based on my testing as a casual gamer (and metaverse trekker), I think the overall performance of each headset is pretty subjective based on how resource-hungry a particular app is.Meta The Quest 2 goggles make the platform HP Reverb G2 headset feel like a high-tech tool. From an anecdotal point of view, it seems to work better (and is somewhat future proof) when paired with the right hardware. With the settings adjusted properly, both platforms feel buttery smooth.
Overall Winner: Metaquest 2
We’ve only scratched the surface of what these VR headsets can do, but with the right gaming rig ready, you can expect better overall performance and access to more popular apps from the HP Reverb G2. . I must thank you. That said, if you’re less into high-end graphics and more into ultra-social community features, Meta Quest 2 is a better choice as it packs plenty of power into a completely portable package. . Game Start!
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