Which wins between Apple’s Vision Pro vs. HP Reverb G2? The VR market has a bevy of different options which can make it very difficult to choose the right headset for your needs. Apple’s recent announcement of its debut wearable headset has been an exciting prospect.
The HP Reverb G2 is one of the most affordable headsets on the market currently. You can get full VR immersion for your Windows devices for well under the suggested retail price of the Apple Vision Pro.
However, the Reverb G2 lacks key functionality in some regards when compared directly to the Vision Pro. This guide will cover which of these headsets is the absolute best for your needs, as well as provide a deeper dive into the specs and capabilities.
Apple’s Vision Pro vs. HP Reverb G2: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Apple Vision Pro | HP Reverb G2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Prospective 3800 x 3000 per eye | 2160 x 2160 per eye |
| Processor | Apple M2 | None |
| Cameras | 12 cameras internally built into the device | Four cameras |
| Battery | 2 hours of battery life | Tethered connection, no battery |
| Sound Support | Six microphones, spatial audio support | Two microphones, built-in headphones |
| Controllers | Eyes, hands, and voice control | Physical handheld controllers |
| Operating System | visionOS | Windows compatible |
| MSRP | $3,499 | $599 |
There is quite a bit of disparity between these two headsets as you might infer. The HP Reverb G2 is intended for use with a robust gaming PC to deliver content, while the Apple Vision Pro is more in line with a standalone portable device.
Apple’s Vision Pro vs. HP Reverb G2: What’s the Difference?
Apple’s Vision Pro isn’t available on the retail market yet, so what is known is merely speculative. You can purchase an HP Reverb G2 currently, so there is better hard data available on how it performs.
Resolution
- 2160 x 2160 LCD panels per eye
- 4 built-in cameras and ergonomically designed controls
- Compatible with both SteamVR and Windows Mixed Reality
- Sweatproof
It isn’t truly known how sharp the resolution is going to be for the Apple Vision Pro. During its debut, Apple claimed it would be possible to deliver 23 million pixels across both displays. If this is true, it would be sharper than a 4K resolution per eye.
Apple has been known for pushing higher resolutions in its retail products, especially when looking at the likes of its iMac and MacBook line. So, this would be fully in line with the company’s design ethos.
The HP Reverb G2 has a fairly sharp 2160 x 2160 per eye, according to the official specs released from Hewlett-Packard. This is perfect for modern VR gaming and, coupled with the 90Hz refresh rate, it should make for a smooth and comfortable gaming experience.
The high resolution per lens makes the Reverb G2 a great fit for modern VR gaming. One of the bigger complaints with earlier headsets was the limited resolution. HP has delivered a fully usable headset for well under $1,000 that can perform next to its more expensive competitors.
Compatibility
The Vision Pro is intended to fit right in with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. This ostensibly means you’ll use the device as a standalone, with an iPhone, or with a Mac computer of some sort. The Vision Pro’s wider capabilities aren’t truly known, as the press events showcasing it only showed a limited scope.
That said, Apple does have room to truly capitalize on a VR and mixed reality headset for its ecosystem. Currently, only the Meta Quest 2 really integrates with its mobile platforms. Apple devices aren’t known for being strong VR gaming platforms, however.
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The HP Reverb G2 is intended for Windows gaming and, more specifically, SteamVR usage. The Reverb G2 excels in this capacity, especially when factoring in its higher resolution. You won’t be deploying the Reverb G2 for use with your mobile devices, regardless of whether it is Android or iOS.
Pricing
The most controversial point of the Vision Pro comes down to its pricing. With a suggested retail price of $3,499, it is very much a luxury piece of tech. The pricing may come down for eventual revisions to the hardware, as is the custom with Apple devices.
That said, it is priced well out of range for your average consumer, regardless of their stake in the Apple ecosystem. This was a likely outcome from the jump with the Vision Pro, as it is Apple’s first real foray into this market segment. As such, it is built like any first-generation Apple device, with a price to match.
The HP Reverb G2 retails for around $599, and it can be regularly found for less when on sale. The Reverb G2 has received quite a bit of critical acclaim, with users claiming it punches well above its weight when compared to more expensive headsets like the HTC Vive 2 or Valve Index 2.
Portability
The Vision Pro is fully portable, with a projected two hours of battery life. To this end, Apple has developed a whole new operating system, visionOS, to function as its primary means of use. It is fully wireless, and you need no external controllers to actually use the Vision Pro.
As stated under compatibility, you can tether the Vision Pro to your Apple devices. However, this isn’t crucial to actually using the device for casual growing. It does come with an Apple M2 processor built-in, so it has plenty of power to spare.
The HP Reverb G2 has no provisions for portability. It is a tethered device through and through, meaning you’ll have to use cabling and have space to actually use it. It would be nice to see some degree of wireless connectivity for the Reverb G2, but wireless connectivity isn’t available.
Availability
The Vision Pro isn’t available on the market just yet, with Apple claiming it will be out in early 2024. Preorders and the like haven’t been made available, so you’ll likely have to keep a sharp eye out for its launch window.
As with all Apple products, the tech giant will be more forthcoming with details as the launch window grows closer. Apple keeps fairly tight-lipped about product debuts right up until the release point, so thankfully there have been more concrete details in terms of performance with the Vision Pro.
You can purchase an HP Reverb G2 right now, with a number of retailers carrying the headset. You’ll readily find it at the likes of NewEgg, Best Buy, Amazon, and of course HP’s official site. This gives the Reverb G2 a distinct edge, as you can actually lay hands on the device today if you so choose.
Apple’s Vision Pro vs. HP Reverb G2: 6 Must-Know Facts
- The Vision Pro is Apple’s first standalone headset.
- The Vision Pro uses virtual reality, mixed reality, and augmented reality functionality.
- You won’t need an Apple device to use the Vision Pro, as it is standalone.
- The HP Reverb G2 is only usable with Windows PCs.
- The Reverb G2 has no eye control but instead relies on physical controllers for gameplay and navigation.
- The Reverb G2 can be used for virtual reality or mixed reality.
Apple’s Vision Pro vs. HP Reverb G2: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Choose?
So, which of these headsets wins? The HP Reverb G2 gets the nod due to the simple fact of being more affordable and more readily available. Yes, the Apple Vision Pro shows a lot of promise in the VR headset segment. However, its high price and compatibility leave it out of the range of a wider range of users.
The HP Reverb G2 might not be usable as a piece of daily wearable tech, but it has distinct advantages when it comes to gaming. Apple does have support for more mainstream games, but the Vision Pro was only shown off with Apple Arcade games.
The Reverb G2 at least gets you access to the impressive library of SteamVR titles, provided you have a powerful PC to run them.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©PK Designs/Shutterstock.com.
