ASUS Windows Mixed Reality
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| ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset HC102 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC VR |
| Platform | Windows Mixed Reality |
| Creator | ASUS |
| Developer | ASUS, Microsoft |
| Manufacturer | ASUS |
| Announcement Date | 30 August 2017[1] |
| Release Date | February 2018; reported available in the US on 20 February[2] |
| Price | US$429 MSRP with two controllers (February 2018)[2] |
| Website | https://www.asus.com/Headset/ASUS-Windows-Mixed-Reality-Headset-HC102/ |
| Versions | ASUS HC102 |
| Requires | Windows Mixed Reality compatible PC |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Fall Creators Update at launch; original WMR software removed from Windows 11 version 24H2[3][4] |
| Display | |
| Display | Two 2.89-inch LCD panels[2] |
| Resolution | 1440 × 1440 per eye (2880 × 1440 combined)[2] |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz / 90 Hz, depending on PC configuration[5] |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 95° horizontal (review specification)[6] |
| Horizontal FoV | 95° (review specification)[6] |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel-aspherical lenses[6] |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 63 mm fixed lens spacing; software adjustment (+/-8 mm)[6] |
| Passthrough | Limited camera view through Mixed Reality Flashlight, introduced in October 2018[7] |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out, two front cameras[1] |
| Base Stations | None required |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes |
| Positional Tracking | Yes |
| Tracking Volume | Room-scale |
| Play Space | Room-scale or standing setup[8] |
| Audio | |
| Audio | External headphones/microphone through 3.5 mm jack[6] |
| Microphone | No built-in microphone[6] |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Yes |
| Camera | 2× tracking cameras |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | HDMI and USB; controllers use the PC's Bluetooth[3][6] |
| Ports | HDMI, USB 3.0, 3.5 mm audio[3] |
| Wired Video | HDMI 2.0[6] |
| Wireless Video | No |
| Bluetooth | Controllers pair with the PC; no bundled Bluetooth adapter[6] |
| Power | USB-powered[5] |
| Battery Life | Tethered headset; controllers use AA batteries[6] |
| Device | |
| Weight | Under 400 g (ASUS specification)[1] |
| Material | Soft cushion fabrics; advertised as antibacterial by ASUS[9] |
| Headstrap | Balanced-crown design, rear adjustment wheel and flip-up visor[3][9] |
| Haptics | Motion-controller vibration[10] |
| Color | Grey with black faceplate[6] |
| Sensors | Two tracking cameras, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer and proximity sensor[2] |
| Input | Two Windows Mixed Reality motion controllers[3] |
| Compliance | FCC Part 15 statement; CE declaration for NR002-L/R controllers in the guide[3] |
The ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset (model HC102) is a PC-powered virtual reality head-mounted display developed by ASUS for Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality platform. ASUS unveiled it at IFA on 30 August 2017; US availability was reported on 20 February 2018 at US$429 with two motion controllers.[1] [2]
The headset has a polygon-patterned faceplate, a flip-up visor and two front-facing cameras for inside-out tracking. Its two LCD panels provide 1440 × 1440 pixels per eye. Microsoft removed the original Windows Mixed Reality software from Windows 11 version 24H2.[2] [4]
History and development
Windows Mixed Reality launched with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update in October 2017. Microsoft's October announcement listed headsets from several PC manufacturers; ASUS's model arrived later.[11]
ASUS presented its headset at The Edge of Beyond, its IFA 2017 event in Berlin. The announcement described the collaboration with Microsoft and the camera-based six-degrees-of-freedom tracking system. It also specified a weight below 400 g and an antibacterial cushioned headband.[1]
The February 2018 launch report gave an MSRP of US$429 for the headset and controllers. In June 2018, Tom's Hardware reported prices around US$399-429 while competing WMR models were often discounted below US$300.[2] [8]
Design and physical construction
The visor has a pattern of hundreds of polygons and a glossy tone-on-tone finish. ASUS said its designers used techniques associated with digital architecture to develop the pattern. The retail unit reviewed by Tom's Hardware was grey with a black faceplate.[9] [6]
The display assembly hinges upward, allowing a view of the room without removing the headband. ASUS's quick-start guide illustrates lifting the visor and adjusting the band with the rear wheel.[3]
ASUS's balanced-crown design places most of the headset's weight on the forehead and back of the head. The company advertised soft, quick-drying, antibacterial cushion fabrics.[9]
Tom's Hardware found removable cushions held by hook-and-loop fasteners and reinforced with plastic inserts. Its reviewer praised the padding but found that the forehead support allowed the headset to slip during movement.[6] [8]
Display technology
The HC102 has two 2.89-inch LCD panels, with a resolution of 1440 × 1440 pixels per eye, or 2880 × 1440 across both eyes. ASUS marketed the combined resolution as "3K".[2] [9]
The panels can operate at 60 or 90 Hz. Microsoft's PC guidelines distinguish 60 Hz and 90 Hz configurations, including different graphics requirements and HDMI 1.4 versus HDMI 2.0 capability. Refresh rate therefore depends on the host system, rather than the HDMI connector alone.[5]
Field of view and optics
Contemporary specifications describe Fresnel-aspherical lenses and a 1.3 m focal distance. Tom's Hardware's review lists a 95° horizontal field of view and fixed lens spacing of 63 mm, with software IPD adjustment of plus or minus 8 mm. The lenses do not have a mechanical spacing adjustment.[2] [6]
In the reviewer's visual tests, the image still showed the screen door effect, although lens glare was lower than on the original Vive and Rift. These observations depended on the reviewer's fit and test setup.[8][6]
Tracking system
Two built-in front-facing cameras support six-degrees-of-freedom head tracking without external base stations. ASUS also identifies gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer sensors for orientation; the launch specification includes a proximity sensor.[1] [9] [2]
The headset cameras also observe the controllers' light patterns. Microsoft's controller documentation describes tracking within the headset sensors' field of view. Its troubleshooting guide identifies lighting, low batteries and Bluetooth interference as possible causes of poor controller tracking.[12] [10]
Controllers
The bundle includes two Windows Mixed Reality motion controllers. ASUS's guide labels the touchpad, thumbstick, menu button, Windows button, trigger, grab button, wrist strap and visible LEDs. It identifies the left and right controllers as NR002-L and NR002-R.[3]
ASUS specifies 32 LEDs on each controller for optical tracking. The controllers pair to the PC over Bluetooth, rather than supplying a wireless video connection to the headset. Each uses two AA batteries, and the PC needs suitable Bluetooth support; Tom's Hardware found no Bluetooth adapter in the package.[9] [12] [6]
Audio
The HC102 has a 3.5 mm audio connection for external headphones and a microphone. It has no integrated headphones or microphone. The guide shows the jack and the optional headphone connection.[6] [3]
Connectivity
A single tether carries HDMI video and USB data to the host PC through separate plugs. Contemporary specifications give a 4 m cable, HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0. The quick-start guide labels its USB plug "USB 3.1 Gen 1" and illustrates connecting both plugs to the computer.[2] [6] [3]
Tom's Hardware noted that replacing the tether requires partial disassembly of the visor. ASUS's guide advises against user disassembly and describes cleaning the lenses with a microfiber cloth; it also advises against hand-washing the cushions or using alcohol and other chemical cleaners.[6] [3]
Software platform and support
At launch the headset used Windows Mixed Reality on a compatible Windows 10 PC with the Fall Creators Update. ASUS's guide describes Mixed Reality Portal starting when the headset is connected and cautions that application requirements vary. Microsoft's original platform supported Windows applications and immersive content.[3] [11]
SteamVR content used the Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR integration. Microsoft's October 2018 update let SteamVR titles appear in the mixed-reality Start menu and be placed in the virtual home. Compatibility still depended on the application, PC and controller support.[7] [10]
Camera view
The October 2018 update introduced Mixed Reality Flashlight for Windows Mixed Reality immersive headsets. The feature opens a portal showing the surrounding room, directed with a controller, without removing the headset. This is a dated software feature separate from physically flipping up the visor.[7]
Microsoft support status
Microsoft deprecated Windows Mixed Reality in December 2023 and removed it from Windows 11 version 24H2, including Mixed Reality Portal and the Windows Mixed Reality SteamVR integration. Its notice says existing WMR devices can continue working with Steam through November 2026 if users stay on Windows 11 version 23H2. After that date Microsoft will provide no further platform security updates, bug fixes or technical support.[4]
Applications and research
ASUS advertised games, virtual travel, video playback and ordinary Windows applications in a virtual home.[9]
In Remote VR Studies, a 2021 paper on conducting experiments with participant-owned headsets, the authors list one "Asus Windows Mixed Reality Headset" among 24 reported participants in a remote VR shooter case study. The application used Unity and SteamVR and compared ways of displaying the player's health. The paper does not give that ASUS unit's HC102 model identifier or a separate ASUS performance result; the participants used several different headset models.[13]
Comparison with other WMR headsets
The figures below describe the original models and dated bundle prices. The stated weights follow each manufacturer's source.
| Feature | ASUS HC102 | Samsung Odyssey | Dell Visor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historical US bundle price | US$429 (February 2018 MSRP)[2] | US$499 (October 2017 announcement)[14] | US$449.99 (November 2017 listing)[15] |
| Resolution per eye | 1440 × 1440[2] | 1440 × 1600[16] | 1440 × 1440[17] |
| Display | LCD[2] | AMOLED[16] | LCD[17] |
| Built-in headphones | No[6] | AKG headphones[16] | No; external 3.5 mm audio[17] |
| Flip-up visor | Yes[3] | No[18] | Yes[17] |
| Mechanical IPD adjustment | No; software adjustment[6] | Yes[16] | No; software adjustment[17] |
| Stated weight | Under 400 g (ASUS)[1] | 645 g (Samsung Korea)[16] | 0.59 kg (Dell)[17] |
Contemporary assessment
Tom's Hardware's June 2018 review praised the padding, low weight and ease of setup, but criticized the controllers, tether attachment, fixed lens spacing and forehead support. It found the headset difficult to recommend at around US$400 when other WMR models were heavily discounted. These are the reviewer's assessments of a particular unit and market price.[6] [8]
Technical specifications summary
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | Two 2.89-inch LCD panels, 1440 × 1440 per eye[2] |
| Total resolution | 2880 × 1440[9] |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz / 90 Hz, depending on PC configuration[5] |
| FOV | 95° horizontal in the review specification[6] |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out, two front-facing cameras[1] |
| Controllers | Two WMR motion controllers[3] |
| Connection | HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0; Bluetooth on the PC for controllers[2] [6] |
| Weight | Under 400 g (manufacturer claim)[1] |
| Price | US$429 launch MSRP with two controllers, February 2018[2] |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "ASUS Presents The Edge of Beyond at IFA 2017". ASUS Pressroom. 2017-08-30. https://press.asus.com/news/press-releases/114. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 Leon Chan (2018-02-20). "Asus Announces HC102 Windows Mixed Reality Headset". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/asus-hc102-windows-mixed-reality-headset,36548.html. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 "ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset HC102: Quick Start Guide (Q13477)". ASUS. 2017. https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/GamingNB/HC102/Q13477_ASUS_MR_HMD_HC102_QSG_WEB.PDF. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Features and functionality removed in Windows client". Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/removed-features. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Minimum PC hardware guidelines". Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/mixed-reality/enthusiast-guide/windows-mixed-reality-minimum-pc-hardware-compatibility-guidelines. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 Kevin Carbotte (2018-06-12). "Asus Windows Mixed Reality Headset Review: Nice, But High-Priced". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/asus-windows-mixed-reality-headset,5580.html. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Release notes - October 2018". Microsoft Learn. 2018-10-02. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/mixed-reality/enthusiast-guide/release-notes-october-2018. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Kevin Carbotte (2018-06-12). "Asus Windows Mixed Reality Headset Review: Living With The Asus Windows MR HMD". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/asus-windows-mixed-reality-headset,5580-2.html. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 "ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset (HC102) - Features". ASUS. 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171120070115/https://www.asus.com/Headset/ASUS-Windows-Mixed-Reality-Headset-HC102/Features/. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Motion controller FAQs". Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/mixed-reality/enthusiast-guide/motion-controller-problems. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Alex Kipman (2017-10-03). "The era of Windows Mixed Reality begins October 17". Windows Experience Blog. https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/10/03/the-era-of-windows-mixed-reality-begins-october-17/. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Motion controllers in Windows Mixed Reality". Microsoft Learn. 2020-09-15. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/mixed-reality/enthusiast-guide/controllers-in-wmr. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ Rivu Radiah et al. (2021). "Remote VR Studies: A Framework for Running Virtual Reality Studies Remotely Via Participant-Owned HMDs". ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction 28 (6): 1-36. doi:10.1145/3472617. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ Michelle Fitzsimmons (2017-10-03). "Samsung HMD Odyssey brings spatial audio to Windows Mixed Reality". TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/news/samsung-hmd-odyssey-brings-spatial-audio-to-windows-mixed-reality. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ Dell (2017-11-01). "Dell Announces Biggest Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals On Widest Selection Ever". PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dell-announces-biggest-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-deals-on-widest-selection-ever-300547181.html. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 "Samsung announces the Samsung HMD Odyssey (Korean announcement and specifications)". Samsung Newsroom Korea. 2017-10-08. https://news.samsung.com/kr/%EC%82%BC%EC%84%B1%EC%A0%84%EC%9E%90-%ED%94%84%EB%A6%AC%EB%AF%B8%EC%97%84-%ED%98%BC%ED%95%A9-%ED%98%84%EC%8B%A4mixed-reality. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 "Dell Visor: The perfect fit for any reality". Dell. 2017. https://files.bbystatic.com/JnN9QtqRz5kU89bS8FL1%2BQ%3D%3D/084b800c-f2cc-439e-9cdd-b884ce7a0bbc.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ Ben Lang (2017-11-07). "Samsung Odyssey Windows VR Headset Now Available - Everything You Need to Know". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/samsung-odyssey-vr-headset-mixed-reality-now-available-everything-you-need-to-know/. Retrieved 2026-10-15.