As our times lean into the virtual world, it is only right to have your own VR headset that can take you to this new world and you deserve the best like the Pimax 8K or HP Reverb G2.
Virtual reality is not a really new concept for tech-savvy people as it has been around for quite some time. However, not all of us have the device to access this kind of technology.
We might have the resources but the resources themselves are a problem. See, there is a lot of competition in the industry that confuses people and makes it hard to choose for most people.
Of course, we all want what is best for us and so it is not new that we get confused over what type of headset to choose. So here, we have two of the best headsets available right now.
HP is a well-known company when it comes to technology. They have produced different devices from laptops, PCs, and even home appliances that make our daily lives easier.
Their newly-released headset is perhaps one of the most anticipated VR headsets in the market. It has been the talk of the town since it was released this year and so it should.
Pimax, on the other hand, is a lesser-known company that also manufactures its own devices. They only started a few years ago and funded their first headset through a Kickstarter campaign.
However, many users are already saying that their headsets are the best when it comes to the visuals. In fact, they are pioneers of the display that is much clearer than what we are used to.
HP is not going to hold back when it comes to developing its headsets and is now also able to put up a display that is as impressive as the Pimax 8K. So let us see which of the two is better.
Table of Contents
Type Of Headset
If you are new to the virtual reality world, then you should not purchase a VR headset right away without considering what type it is. See, there are two major types of VR headsets right now.
The first one is called tethered headsets which, in accordance with its name, are tethered to a PC in order to garner that power it needs. These headsets are great for gaming with high-speed play.
The other type of headset is called standalone headsets which means that they have all the machinery and the needed technology within the headset to power the device without a PC.
So if you do not have a powerful PC to power a VR headset, then you should not purchase a tethered headset. This is only one of the many factors that you need to consider when buying.
The HP Reverb G2 is the successor to the original HP Reverb. The first one was meant for working like designing houses by architects while the newer Reverb G2 is for gaming.
That is according to the company itself. Since the new headset is meant for gaming, you should expect it to require a lot of power and so it falls under the tethered kind of VR headsets.
The Pimax 8K, on the other hand, is another powerful headset that also requires a lot of power. It is also considered a tethered VR headset since it relies on a PC to power its resolution.
Aside from knowing what type of headset you are going to buy, you also need to deal with the PC requirements if you choose a tethered headset as there are specifics that are required.
Display
Now, if you are buying a VR headset, you would want to know everything about the head-mounted display. This is where these two competitors go head-to-head with their display.
The HP Reverb G2 uses LCD panels for its display. This is not the most impressive type of display and certainly not the most unique but it is great and it is widely used on many devices.
However, there is a secret behind this unassuming LCD display. HP was able to put a full RGB stripe on the lenses which made the headset great in combining colors for the display.
The Pimax 8K headset uses a slightly different screen with an LED. This type of display is also not that unique as it is used in other devices as well but then again, this headset has a secret.
While one layer of LED is great, Pimax made sure that their display is better than any LED-lensed headset. They put another layer of LED at the back of the initial display, now that is unique.
See, if you put another layer of LED behind an already powerful display, you are going to get crisp images with less screen door effect. Making you play your games for hours on end.
Resolution
This feature is all about detail as it is the one responsible for making the display as realistic as possible. The resolution measures the number of pixels used by the VR headset for its display.
The HP Reverb G2 headset is one of the most impressive headsets that are available right now because of its resolution. It truly is an improvement from previous models and other headsets.
This headset has a display of 2160 by 2160 pixels per eye. This is one of the highest resolutions on the market and not even the impressive Valve Index comes close to this kind of resolution.
This is perhaps the most advanced and detailed display on any VR headset in the world without the need for an upgrade. But the thing is, Pimax does not back down either with the resolution.
The first model from Pimax, the 8K has a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels on each lens. This is considered as one of the closest 4K displays on the market but the Reverb G2 still takes over.
A more native 4K resolution per eye is from the newer Pimax 8KX which displays 4K resolutions on each lens. So if you want a more advanced display, then you should get that VR headset.
Either way, the HP Reverb G2 and Pimax 8K are known to have the most-detailed display on the market without actually needing an upgrade. The realistic display is ironically unreal.
Refresh Rate
Even if your display and resolution are as clear as the real world, it does not matter if the headset does not have enough power in order to make good resolution work as it should.
Refresh rate refers to the number of times the screen is able to refresh itself in one second. This pertains to the speed of the display so the higher the refresh rate, the smoother the display.
This is one of the most important factors in a VR headset. See, you are going to move inside the game so you need it to be smooth, plus your head will move along and turn so you need speed.
The HP Reverb G2 has a refresh rate of 90Hz. This is pretty high for a common headset but there is much to be improved as the headset has a high resolution.
The Pimax 8K also has the same 90Hz refresh rate. This kind of refresh rate is great but then sometimes you might experience a little bit of lag with these two headsets.
The lag is either caused by a low-spec PC that the headsets are connected to or when you play a highly-detailed game on them that they concentrate the power to the resolution and display.
But then, we have not invented the technology that can power both high resolution and powerful refresh rate so I say that these two are at the top tier of headsets with a great display and refresh rates.
Field Of View
This is one that Pimax boasts as they have the best Field of View in the market. The Field of View (FoV) pertains to how wide you can see inside the display when you wear the headset.
The Pimax 8K has a Field of View of 200 degrees. That means that from one end of your vision, you will see 200 degrees all the way to the other peripheral of your eye which is so wide.
Not impressive enough for you? Well, here is a fun fact, the limit of the human peripheral vision is 210 degrees so Pimax only left 5 degrees on each side of the headset for its FoV.
That means that this headset is one of the most immersive headsets as it encloses your vision within the display. Once you wear this headset and see the FoV, forget about the real world.
The HP Reverb G2 has a Field of View of 114 degrees. This is not the most impressive headset when it comes to FoV but the increased density of the pixels makes the display clearer.
See, that many pixels in a small field of view will give you the most detailed display ever. It compresses the images and uses RGB to produce amazing color combinations.
Controllers and Trackers
Controllers and trackers are one of the most important parts of a VR headset. They are responsible for connecting the movements from the real world and the virtual reality itself.
See, when you play a game with these two headsets, you will have to move in order to make your character move as well. The controllers are responsible for that while trackers keep them in line.
The controllers of the Reverb G2 are very familiar, especially with Oculus. Their controllers are almost the same with action buttons, function buttons, and a trigger on each controller.
The tracking system of the Reverb G2 has been improved from two cameras to now four tracking mounted cameras. This means that you do not have to set up trackers around a room.
The Pimax 8K does require mounted trackers which are more accurate. It also has trackers inside the screen to follow the gaze of the user which makes the controls and tracking even more accurate.
The controllers of the PImax 8K are also impressive. Not only does it have the basic buttons but it also has a five-finger tracking system to bring more accuracy and options to the game.
Comfort
These VR headsets are meant for gaming so expect to use them for long periods of time. That means that you need to get comfortable with these headsets to not feel the weight on your head.
Pimax made a large headset which is considerable because it needs to wrap around your face in order to give you that 200-degree Field of View. so the headset is pretty heavy.
However, they made the straps comfortable for their users. The halo strap, which is pretty standard for headsets, is equipped with extra paddings on the back for comfort.
There is also an over-the-head strap that can be adjusted like the halo strap. This ensures safety when you wobble or turn your head around while playing your favorite game.
The HP Reverb G2is light and with the same straps as the Pimax 8K, you will hardly feel the weight of the head-mounted display even after hours of playing with it.
It also has a front flip feature that gives you quick access to the real world. The weight is distributed well from the front to the back so you do not have to worry about long gaming hours.
Conclusion
If you want a headset that you can play any games with, then these two are perfect. Not only are they able to play the game but they also give the best quality in terms of display.
You will see the game from a whole new perspective with clearer visuals. The Pimax 8K is a great headset that is able to power most games and is compatible with most videos.
The HP Reverb G2 is not different as it also has enough power to play any game that you want. The one thing you should consider is the PC that they will be connected to.
Once you have rough power for the headsets (at least the NVIDIA RTX 2080 gaming card), then you should definitely go for the best and purchase the HP Reverb G2 or the Pimax 8K!
If you like the post then do not forget to share it on social media!
Leave a Reply