HP Reverb G1
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| HP Reverb G1 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC-Powered VR |
| Platform | Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR |
| Creator | HP |
| Developer | HP |
| Manufacturer | HP |
| Announcement Date | 19 March 2019 |
| Release Date | 6 May 2019 |
| Price | US$599 (Consumer Edition), US$649 (Professional Edition), launch prices with two motion controllers |
| Website | https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-reverb-g1-virtual-reality-headset-copperbq/28341578 |
| Versions | Consumer Edition, Professional Edition |
| Requires | Windows 10 PC (October 2018 Update or later) with DisplayPort 1.3 and USB 3.0 |
| Predecessor | HP VR1000 |
| Successor | HP Reverb G2 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows 10 (host PC) |
| Display | |
| Display | 2 x 2.89-inch LCD with Pulse Backlight technology, RGB stripe subpixels |
| Resolution | 2160 x 2160 per eye (4320 x 2160 combined) |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | Approx. 114 degrees (diagonal, manufacturer figure) |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel-aspherical lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Fixed lenses at 63 mm; software adjustment of +/- 8 mm (55-71 mm) |
| Passthrough | Black-and-white, via tracking cameras ("Mixed Reality Flashlight") |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | Inside-out tracking, 6DoF |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Integrated removable on-ear headphones with spatial audio; 3.5 mm headphone/mic jack |
| Microphone | Dual integrated microphones |
| Camera | 2 front-facing tracking cameras |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | 2-in-1 cable with DisplayPort 1.3 and USB 3.0; quick-release connector; DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort adapter |
| Ports | 3.5 mm headphone/mic jack |
| Bluetooth | Built into the headset for the motion controllers |
| Power | Via PC connection |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | 55 x 177 x 84 mm (without straps) |
| Weight | 433 g without cable (HP QuickSpecs); 1.1 lb (about 500 g) per HP's launch announcement |
| Material | Plastic, fabric front, removable foam face cushion |
| Color | Black/Gray |
| Sensors | Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer |
| Input | Windows Mixed Reality Motion Controllers |
The HP Reverb G1 is a tethered virtual reality head-mounted display made by HP for PCs running Windows Mixed Reality. HP announced it on 19 March 2019 and sold it as the HP Reverb Virtual Reality Headset in a US$599 Consumer Edition and a US$649 Professional Edition.[1] The "G1" suffix came later: when HP announced the HP Reverb G2 in May 2020 it referred to the first model as the HP Reverb G1, and HP's support site lists it as the HP Reverb G1 Virtual Reality Headset.[2][3]
The headset's main selling point was resolution. Its two 2.89-inch LCD panels each show 2160 x 2160 pixels.[4] HP said the resolution was double that of headsets at a similar price, and PCMag called it the highest-resolution VR headset it had seen.[1][5] It was HP's second Windows Mixed Reality headset after the HP VR1000, and it kept the platform's two-camera inside-out tracking and first-generation motion controllers.[6] Reviewers praised the sharp image and light weight but criticized the controllers, the limited controller tracking coverage and the Windows Mixed Reality software.[7][8]
Announcement and release
HP unveiled the headset, initially billed as the HP Reverb Virtual Reality Headset - Professional Edition, at its HP Reinvent partner conference in Houston on 19 March 2019. Spike Huang, HP's vice president and global lead of VR, said: "The time for commercial VR is now and adding HP Reverb to our broader virtual reality portfolio is an important step in addressing this growing market." HP aimed the Professional Edition at product design, architecture, engineering, training, healthcare and location-based entertainment.[1]
The press release gave "late April 2019" as the launch window for both editions.[1] Road to VR later reported that the Reverb would be released on 6 May 2019.[9] Supply was limited at first. In July 2019, Windows Central described a "rocky launch" with a slow rollout and limited availability, noted user reports on Reddit of quality-control problems with some lenses, and cited a statement attributed to HP on Reddit that demand had "greatly exceeded the supply"; HP had not answered the site's request for clarification.[10]
Editions
Road to VR reported that the two editions are identical in design and specifications; they differ in accessories and warranty.[9]
| Edition | Launch price (US) | Face cushion | Cables | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Edition | $599 | Washable fabric | Standard headset cable | 1-year limited consumer warranty |
| Professional Edition | $649 | Cleanable leather-style cushion | Standard cable plus a 0.6 m cable for the HP Z VR Backpack PC | 1-year limited commercial warranty |
Both editions shipped with the headset, two motion controllers and a DisplayPort adapter.[1][9][8] HP's QuickSpecs for the Professional Edition list a 4 m cable for desktop and mobile PCs, while the March 2019 press release and Tom's Hardware's specification table give 3.5 m and PCMag described an 11-foot cable.[4][1][8][5] HP also sold the short cable (part number 7DJ61AA), the 4 m cable (7DJ62AA) and the Professional face mask (7DJ64AA) separately.[4]
Successor
On 28 May 2020, HP announced the HP Reverb G2, developed with Valve and Microsoft. HP's announcement said the G2 kept "all of the best elements from the HP Reverb G1".[2] The G2 kept the 2160 x 2160 per-eye resolution but moved to four tracking cameras. In its G2 review, Road to VR wrote that the G1 "had pretty noticeable mura along with red-smearing and chromatic aberration", problems it did not find on the G2.[11]
Design and hardware
Headset and comfort
The Reverb dropped the halo headband of HP's first Windows headset for a three-point strap similar to the original Oculus Rift: two side straps and a top strap with hook-and-loop fasteners meet at a padded ring at the back of the head.[6][5] TechRadar compared the design to a cross between the original Rift and the Google Daydream View, with a low-profile visor that combines plastic and fabric.[7] Tom's Hardware described smooth black plastic contrasted with dark gray fabric, and noted that HP removed the flip-up visor of its first headset.[8]
HP's March 2019 announcement gave the weight as 1.1 pounds, and Road to VR reported 500 g (1.1 lb) excluding the cable.[1][9] TechRadar and Tom's Hardware listed 498 g, and PCMag gave 17.9 ounces, lighter than the Oculus Quest. HP's later QuickSpecs list 433 g without cable.[7][8][5][4] Windows Central compared this with 834 g for HP's first-generation Windows headset.[10]
The face cushion is removable for cleaning.[4] TechRadar found that it sealed out light well around the nose, but the reviewer's face still got sweaty during active games. A wearer with larger-framed glasses had trouble putting the headset on, and it tended to pull the glasses off when removed.[7] PCMag's reviewer, by contrast, reported little trouble wearing it over glasses.[5] Road to VR's reviewer was concerned that the headset might not easily accommodate larger heads or noses, and felt pressure on the bridge of the nose from the nose gasket.[6]
A thick cable runs along one side strap to a quick-release connector. It ends in DisplayPort 1.3 and USB 3.0 plugs; HP includes a DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort adapter.[7][4] Tom's Hardware noted that the cable connector gained a latch and is not interchangeable with the cable of HP's earlier headset.[8] TechRadar called the cable thick, heavy and hard to ignore during use.[7]
Display and optics
The Reverb uses two 2.89-inch LCD panels with what HP calls Pulse Backlight technology. Each has a resolution of 2160 x 2160 pixels (4320 x 2160 combined) with RGB subpixels and runs at 90 Hz.[4] According to HP, full 90 Hz operation requires a DisplayPort 1.3 or later connection.[4] Road to VR noted that this gives a little more than twice the total pixels of the Valve Index or HTC Vive Pro, whose panels are 1440 x 1600 per eye,[6] and 2.25 times the pixels of HP's first Windows headset.[9] Tom's Hardware pointed out that the combined horizontal resolution of 4,320 pixels is greater than that of a 4K display, and that the stripe subpixel layout avoids the PenTile arrangement of OLED headsets such as the Rift and Vive Pro.[8]
HP quotes a field of view of about 114 degrees with Fresnel-aspherical lenses.[4] Road to VR's Ben Lang noted that field-of-view figures are not measured consistently across the industry and judged the Reverb's to fall between those of the Rift and the HTC Vive.[6] Tom's Hardware wrote that the square panels reduce vertical field of view compared with most headsets, so the view was cut off below the nose.[8]
In reviews, the screen door effect was barely visible or absent.[6][7][8] Road to VR found that overall clarity was held back by clearly visible mura, and also reported chromatic aberration outside the lens sweet spot, subtle pupil swim, god rays typical of Fresnel lenses, and an unusual "red smear" artifact.[6] TechRadar sometimes saw the right display struggle to match the brightness of the left and flicker during bright scenes, though not consistently.[7]
There is no hardware interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment. The lenses are fixed for a nominal 63 mm IPD, and software can adjust by +/- 8 mm, a range of 55 to 71 mm.[4][9]
Tracking and passthrough
Two front-facing cameras provide Windows Mixed Reality inside-out six degrees of freedom tracking for the headset and controllers, together with a gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer. No external sensors are needed.[4] HP specifies no minimum space for standing or seated use, and a play area of at least 2 x 1.5 m and at most 5 x 5 m for room-scale use.[4]
HP told Road to VR that the Reverb's tracking is identical to the first-generation Windows headsets. Road to VR rated head tracking as on par with the Oculus Rift S, but found that controllers lost tracking whenever they left the cameras' view, for example when the arms hung at the sides.[6] TechRadar found rotational tracking smooth and accurate but positional movement and controller tracking jittery, and lost tracking when holding a shield at its side in Space Pirate Trainer or throwing objects in Superhot VR.[7]
The cameras also enable a "Mixed Reality Flashlight" passthrough view of the room, which TechRadar described as black and white and low resolution.[7]
Audio and microphones
Removable on-ear headphones are mounted on the side straps; they slide, swivel and flip up, and a 3.5 mm jack allows other headphones.[7][4] HP describes the audio as spatial and the two built-in microphones as smart-assistant compatible.[1] Tom's Hardware found the sound clean but the headphone hinges flimsy, and noted that the microphones support voice recognition with Cortana.[8] Among first-generation Windows Mixed Reality headsets, only Samsung's had included headphones.[8]
Controllers
The Reverb shipped with Microsoft's first-generation Windows Mixed Reality Motion Controllers, the same design used with the VR1000 and other Windows headsets.[5] Each controller has a touchpad, Menu button, Windows Start button, grab button, thumbstick and trigger, uses active LEDs tracked by the headset cameras, runs on two AA batteries and weighs 173 g.[4] Unlike earlier Windows headsets, whose controllers had to be paired with the PC's own Bluetooth, the Reverb has a built-in Bluetooth receiver, and the controllers come pre-paired.[4][8]
Reviewers were critical of the controllers. PCMag found the straight grips and flat triggers less comfortable than Oculus Touch, the vibration "spotty", and the battery doors prone to coming loose during Beat Saber.[5] Road to VR called them "the worst 6DOF controllers on the market", though it noted they tracked well while within the headset's field of view.[6]
Software and compatibility
The Reverb uses Windows Mixed Reality, which is built into Windows 10. Setup involves installing the Mixed Reality Portal from the Microsoft Store and connecting the headset to DisplayPort 1.3 and USB 3.0 ports; HDMI is not supported.[5] The Windows Mixed Reality home is a customizable virtual space called the Cliff House, where users place 2D app windows and 3D app launchers. PCMag described the Microsoft Store's VR library as small compared with SteamVR or the Oculus Store.[5] An official plugin makes the headset compatible with most SteamVR content.[6] TechRadar ran into problems getting height and orientation settings to carry over between Windows Mixed Reality and SteamVR.[7]
End of Windows Mixed Reality
Microsoft deprecated Windows Mixed Reality in December 2023 and removed it in Windows 11, version 24H2, including the Mixed Reality Portal app and Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR. Microsoft said existing devices would keep working with Steam through November 2026 for users who stay on Windows 11, version 23H2, and that after November 2026 Windows Mixed Reality will receive no security updates, bug fixes or technical support.[12] Road to VR reported in October 2024 that the 24H2 update, which began rolling out that month, ended support for Windows Mixed Reality headsets on the latest version of Windows 11.[13]
On 29 August 2025, Matthieu Bucchianeri released Oasis, a free, unofficial SteamVR driver for Windows Mixed Reality headsets that does not need the Mixed Reality Portal.[14] UploadVR described Bucchianeri as a Microsoft employee who had previously worked on HoloLens and Windows Mixed Reality, and reported that the driver was built through reverse engineering.[15] Its documentation names the HP Reverb among the headsets it is designed for and describes it as a Windows 11 driver compatible with version 24H2 and later. It works with Nvidia GPUs on Windows 11, and on 24H2 and later also with AMD RX 5000 series or newer GPUs; Intel GPUs and Windows 10 are not supported.[16] When AMD support arrived in version 1.0.2 in September 2025, the release notes listed the HP Reverb G1 as not working with AMD GPUs because of a crash in AMD's driver, which had been reported to AMD.[17][18] The first releases did not use the headset's built-in Bluetooth receiver, so controllers had to be paired with the PC's own Bluetooth adapter.[15] Version 1.0.3, released on 21 March 2026, added support for the built-in Bluetooth receiver on the HP Reverb, HP Reverb G2 and Samsung Odyssey+.[19]
System requirements
HP's recommended minimum workstation specifications:[4]
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Graphics | DX12-capable graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1080, NVIDIA Quadro P5200, AMD Radeon Pro WX 8200, equivalent or better |
| Processor | Intel Core i7, Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5, equivalent or better |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM or more |
| Video output | DisplayPort 1.3 |
| USB | 1 x USB 3.0 |
| Operating system | Windows 10 October 2018 Update or later |
Tom's Hardware gave the minimum graphics requirement as a GTX 1080 or AMD RX Vega 64, well above most headsets of the time.[8] PCMag noted that HP's recommended RAM was twice that needed for the Rift S.[5]
Technical specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 2 x 2.89-inch LCD with Pulse Backlight technology[4] |
| Resolution | 2160 x 2160 per eye (4320 x 2160 combined), RGB subpixels[4] |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz (requires DisplayPort 1.3 or later)[4] |
| Field of view | About 114 degrees, Fresnel-aspherical lenses[4] |
| IPD | 63 mm +/- 8 mm by software control[4] |
| Tracking | 2 front-facing cameras; inside-out 6DoF; gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer[4] |
| Connections | DisplayPort 1.3, USB 3.0, stereo 3.5 mm headphone/mic jack[4] |
| Dimensions | 55 x 177 x 84 mm (without straps)[4] |
| Weight | 433 g without cable (QuickSpecs); 500 g (1.1 lb) excluding cable (launch announcement)[4][9] |
| Controllers | Windows Mixed Reality motion controllers, Bluetooth, 2 x AA batteries each, 173 g[4] |
| Room-scale area | 2 x 1.5 m minimum, 5 x 5 m maximum[4] |
Reception
Reviews praised the display. PCMag gave the Reverb 3.5 out of 5 ("Good") and called it the highest-resolution VR headset it had tested, with the sharpest picture it had seen.[5] Tom's Hardware wrote that it had never been able to read text so clearly in VR, and Road to VR called it "the singular choice for anyone prioritizing resolution over anything else", while noting the mura problem.[8][6] Windows Central called it the best and most comfortable Windows Mixed Reality headset, listing built-in headphones, microphones and Bluetooth among its strengths and its limited availability, price and lack of a flip-up visor as drawbacks.[10]
The main complaints concerned the parts shared with other Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Tom's Hardware listed poor controller ergonomics, faulty controller tracking with a limited field of view, and no IPD adjustment as cons, and concluded that competitors offered better experiences.[8] TechRadar's verdict was that the display beat all of the Reverb's competition but that Windows Mixed Reality software held it back; it also listed tricky software setup, unrefined controllers, a bulky cable and tracking issues as cons.[7] TechRadar suggested that the tracking shortcomings would matter less for the professional applications HP targeted,[7] and Road to VR noted that text legibility, a major selling point for enterprise customers, benefits from the high resolution whether or not mura is present.[6]
Images
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "HP Unveils Cutting-Edge Virtual Reality Headset at Global Partner Conference". HP Newsroom. HP Inc.. 2019-03-19. https://www.hp.com/us-en/newsroom/press-releases/2019/hp-unveils-cutting-edge-virtual-reality-headset-at-global-partner-conference.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "HP, Valve, and Microsoft Removing Distance Barriers with Next-Gen Virtual Reality Headset". HP Newsroom. HP Inc.. 2020-05-28. https://www.hp.com/us-en/newsroom/press-releases/2020/hp-valve-microsoft-next-gen-virtual-reality-headset.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "HP Reverb G1 Virtual Reality Headset (CopperBQ)". HP Customer Support. HP Inc.. https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-reverb-g1-virtual-reality-headset-copperbq/28341578. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 "QuickSpecs: HP Reverb Virtual Reality Headset - Professional Edition (c06227520, version 2)". HP QuickSpecs. HP Development Company. 2019-10-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20250806170955/https://h20195.www2.hp.com/V2/getpdf.aspx/c06227520.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 Will Greenwald (2019-05-22). "HP Reverb Review". PCMag. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/hp-reverb. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 Ben Lang (2019-05-06). "HP Reverb Review - An Impressive Headset Stuck with Windows VR Controllers". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/hp-reverb-review-vr-headset/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 Mark Knapp (2019-07-18). "HP Reverb VR Headset review". TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/hp-reverb-vr-headset. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 Kevin Carbotte (2019-05-15). "HP Reverb VR Headset Review: Windows Mixed Reality Never Looked So Good". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/hp-reverb-vr-virtual-reality-windows-mr-headset,6124.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Ben Lang (2019-05-02). "HP's High-res 'Reverb' Headset to Launch May 6th Starting at $600". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/hp-reverb-vr-headset-announcement-price-release-date/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Daniel Rubino (2019-07-12). "HP Reverb headset review: Windows Mixed Reality meets higher resolution". Windows Central. https://www.windowscentral.com/hp-reverb-2019-review. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Ben Lang (2020-11-18). "HP Reverb G2 Review - Screen Door No More". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/hp-reverb-g2-review/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "Deprecated features in the Windows client". Microsoft Learn. Microsoft. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/deprecated-features. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Scott Hayden (2024-10-02). "Windows 11 No Longer Supports Microsoft's Windows VR Headsets Following October Update". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/windows-11-drops-wmr-support-24h2/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "Oasis Driver for Windows Mixed Reality". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3824490/Oasis_Driver_for_Windows_Mixed_Reality/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 David Heaney (2025-09-01). "Windows MR Headsets Revived By Free 'Oasis' SteamVR Driver". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/oasis-steamvr-driver-revives-windows-mr-headsets-on-windows-11/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Matthieu Bucchianeri. "Oasis Driver for Windows Mixed Reality wiki". GitHub. https://github.com/mbucchia/Oasis-Driver-for-Windows-Mixed-Reality/wiki. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Matthieu Bucchianeri (2025-09-27). "Oasis 1.0.2". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3824490/view/1811772772316358. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Matthieu Bucchianeri (2025-09-20). "Launching Oasis "Preview" Branch / Partial AMD Graphics Support". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3824490/view/1811138915469295. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Matthieu Bucchianeri (2026-03-21). "Oasis 1.0.3 - Built-in Bluetooth support". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3824490/view/1827626365760498. Retrieved 2026-09-28.