{"id":3038,"date":"2023-10-04T13:44:22","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T13:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vrlowdown.com\/?p=3038"},"modified":"2023-11-11T12:19:02","modified_gmt":"2023-11-11T12:19:02","slug":"hp-reverb-g2-vs-pimax-crystal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vrlowdown.com\/hp-reverb-g2-vs-pimax-crystal\/","title":{"rendered":"HP Reverb G2 Vs Pimax Crystal: Hands-On Comparison"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"HP<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

I’ve owned the HP Reverb G2 since it was released in 2020, and I’ve spent thousands of hours using it. I’ve also been using the Pimax Crystal extensively over the last 6 weeks, and the visual clarity on offer has blown me away. This article is going to compare the HP Reverb G2 vs Pimax Crystal to see how they stack up and help you decide which of these VR headsets is the better option for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HP Reverb G2 has long been one of the most popular VR headsets for VR flight sim and racing sim enthusiasts thanks to the impressive visual clarity on offer. Although it’s been around since 2020, it still compares favorably to other options available. Coupled with the supreme comfort and attractive price point, I still think it is a great VR headset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, since the HP Reverb has been released, the competition has caught up, and there are a number of other headsets that offer better specs, although many of them cost considerably more. I’ve been using the Pimax Crystal headset extensively for the last 6 weeks, and I’ve generally been very impressed with it, particularly by the incredible visual clarity, which is the best I have seen in any headset so far. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drawback is that the Pimax Crystal costs a lot more than the HP Reverb G2, so it needs to be a lot better to justify the higher price. I’m going to share my experience of using both headsets, discussing all the pros and cons, and how they stack up side by side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think both these headsets are great options for PCVR simulation enthusiasts as they both offer inside-out tracking, negating the need for an expensive and unnecessary tracking station setup. They both also prioritize clear visuals, which are crucial for both flight and racing simulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HP Reverb G2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many things I love about the HP Reverb G2<\/a><\/strong>. It has excellent lenses and display panels providing 2160×2160 pixels per eye resulting in clear visuals. It is lightweight and the facial interface is supremely comfortable, resulting in it being very comfortable to wear for extended sessions. The facial interface creates a perfect seal on my face, resulting in no light leak at all, and the audio from the off-ear speakers is really impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combined with a very attractive price point, the HP Reverb G2 remains a really good option for anyone looking for a great headset for PC VR content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the downside, the FOV is relatively narrow, being noticeably smaller than many other competing headsets, the lenses are quite prone to steaming up, and it’s tied to Windows Mixed Reality, which doesn’t bring much to the table. <\/p>\n\n\n

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HP Reverb G2 (left) vs Pimax Crystal (right)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Pimax Crystal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Pimax Crystal<\/a><\/strong> boasts glass aspheric lenses that are able to provide a 125-degree FOV, and QLED panels with a resolution of 2880 x 2880 per eye, providing the best visual clarity of any VR headset I have ever tried. This results in a peak clarity of 35 PPD, compared to 19 PPD for the HP Reverb G2. When I tried the Pimax Crystal for the first time, I was genuinely blown away by the visuals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although we’re still not close to the 60 PPD that is required to match 20\/20 human vision, the increase in visual clarity makes a big difference to me when playing flight sims like DCS and Microsoft Flight Simulator. No more leaning forward to read cockpit instruments, or straining to see enemy aircraft in the distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, it has eye tracking and dynamic foveated rendering, which allows the displayed resolution to adjust depending on gaze, reducing hardware load and improving performance. Eye tracking also allows automatic IPD detection and setting, which is a feature usually only seen on high-end VR headsets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The downside to all of these features and visual clarity is that it costs more than twice the price of the HP Reverb G2, at $1600, although they do have a dedicated Crystal-Sim Limited Edition<\/a><\/strong> that drops the price to $1450 and comes without controllers. They are also offering an $800 trade-in deal for people who upgrade the Pimax Crystal to their upcoming Pimax 12K headset. You can purchase the Pimax Crystal from the Pimax website<\/a><\/strong> or from Amazon<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the uncompromising focus on visual clarity, the Pimax Crystal is a heavy and bulky headset. It weighs 960g and is quite front-heavy, so you do feel the weight when wearing it, particularly after using it for long periods. The headstrap and facial interface do a reasonable job of ensuring a comfortable fit, but it is nowhere near as comfortable to wear as the HP Reverb G2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can and do use the Pimax Crystal for hours at a time, and I never have to stop due to discomfort, but I definitely wish this could be improved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other drawback for PCVR sim fans is that the Pimax Crystal also has a standalone mode, necessitating a rear-mounted battery to be onboard at all times. This adds to the weight and complexity of the headset while providing minimal benefit for PCVR sim enthusiasts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

HP Reverb G2 Vs Pimax Crystal: Which Is Best?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Both of these headsets have a lot of excellent points, but also a number of drawbacks. As a result, the right headset for you will depend on your individual priorities. If you are looking for a good VR headset for PCVR use, that is particularly suited to VR flight and racing sims, the HP Reverb is still a great choice that you can safely buy and know that you are going to get many years of use and satisfaction from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, if you prioritize visual clarity, but are willing to pay the higher price, and put up with some drawbacks, then you will get immense pleasure from using the Pimax Crystal. If both headsets were the same price, I would tell everyone to go for the Pimax Crystal, even though it’s not a perfect headset. The price differential makes it a much more nuanced decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s take a look at some of the key features of both the HP Reverb G2 and Pimax Crystal to see how they stack up in comparison. <\/p>\n\n\n

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HP Reverb G2 and Pimax Crystal Specs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On paper, the specs of the Pimax Crystal beat the HP Reverb G2 in most areas, but you need to balance this with the negatives of the Pimax Crystal, in particular the weight and bulk of the headset, and the much higher price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feature \/ Specification<\/th>Pimax Crystal<\/th>HP Reverb G2<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Display Type<\/strong><\/td>Dual QLED + Mini-LED<\/td>Dual LCD<\/td><\/tr>
Resolution (per eye)<\/strong><\/td>2880 x 2880<\/td>2160 x 2160<\/td><\/tr>
Total Resolution<\/strong><\/td>5760 x 2880<\/td>4320 x 2160<\/td><\/tr>
Pixels Per Degree (approx) (PPD)<\/strong><\/td>35<\/td>19<\/td><\/tr>
Lenses<\/strong><\/td>Aspheric glass lenses<\/td>Plastic fresnel lenses<\/td><\/tr>
Refresh Rate (Hz)<\/strong><\/td>90\/120<\/td>90<\/td><\/tr>
Field of View (FOV) (Horizontal)<\/strong><\/td>125\u00b0<\/td>98\u00b0<\/td><\/tr>
IPD Range (mm)<\/strong><\/td>58-72 (Manual and Automatic)<\/td>60-68mm (Manual)<\/td><\/tr>
Audio<\/strong><\/td>Off-ear stereo speakers (Optional DMAS)<\/td>Off-ear stereo speakers<\/td><\/tr>
Microphones<\/strong><\/td>Integrated triple<\/td>Integrated dual<\/td><\/tr>
Tracking Type<\/strong><\/td>Inside-out and SteamVR Tracking<\/td>Inside-out<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Tracking<\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td><\/tr>
Battery<\/strong><\/td>6000mAh Replaceable + 120mAh inside<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
Weight (g)<\/strong><\/td>960g including battery<\/td>550g<\/td><\/tr>
Price<\/strong><\/td>$1600<\/td>$599<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

HP Reverb G2 Vs Pimax Crystal Video<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to this article, I’ve also made a video comparing these two headsets. I share my experience of using the HP Reverb G2 and the Pimax Crystal and discuss all the important features and how each headset performs in the real world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n