HP VR1000
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| HP VR1000 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC-Powered VR |
| Platform | Windows Mixed Reality |
| Developer | HP |
| Manufacturer | HP |
| Announcement Date | 11 May 2017 (Developer Edition pre-orders) |
| Release Date | 17 October 2017 (consumer bundle with motion controllers) |
| Price | US$449 (launch price, headset with two motion controllers); US$329 (Developer Edition, 2017) |
| Versions | Developer Edition (VR1000-009); consumer edition with controllers (VR1000-100) |
| Requires | Windows 10 PC with HDMI or DisplayPort video output and a USB 3.0 port |
| Successor | HP Reverb |
| Display | |
| Display | 2 x LCD binocular (2.89-inch diagonal each) |
| Resolution | 1440x1440 per-eye |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 95° horizontal, 91° vertical |
| Horizontal FoV | 95° |
| Vertical FoV | 91° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel-aspherical lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Fixed lens spacing; software IPD setting (+/- 8 mm) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out tracking with two front-facing cameras |
| Audio | |
| Audio | 3.5 mm combo audio jack (no built-in headphones) |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | 2-in-1 cable with HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0 plugs; removable extension cable |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | 6.93 in (L) x 13.34 in (W) x 5.03 in (H) approx. |
| Weight | 1.84 lb (approx., headset, HP datasheet) |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, proximity sensor |
| Input | Windows Mixed Reality Motion Controllers |
HP VR1000 is a virtual reality head-mounted display released in 2017. It is the model series of the HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset, HP's first headset for Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality platform.[1][2] The headset connects to a Windows 10 PC by cable and uses two front-facing cameras for inside-out tracking, so it does not need external sensors.[1][3]
HP first sold the headset as a Developer Edition, announced with pre-orders at US$329 on 11 May 2017. The consumer version, VR1000-100, was bundled with two motion controllers and went on sale on 17 October 2017, the day the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update began rolling out, at US$449.[3][4][5] Each eye has a 1440 x 1440 LCD panel, and the refresh rate is up to 90 Hz.[1] HP replaced it in 2019 with the HP Reverb.[2] Microsoft removed Windows Mixed Reality from Windows 11, version 24H2, so the headset is no longer supported on current versions of Windows.[6]
History
Developer Edition
Microsoft announced during Alex Kipman's keynote at its Build 2017 conference that Windows Mixed Reality developer kits from Acer and HP were available for pre-order through the Microsoft Store for developers in the United States and Canada. The HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset Developer Edition was priced at US$329, compared with US$299 for the Acer kit.[3] HP's newsroom gave the Canadian price as C$449.[7] Road to VR reported that delivery of the developer headsets was scheduled for August 2017.[8] HP's specification sheet for the kit, model VR1000-009, lists an "on ad date" of 30 July 2017.[9]
Microsoft said the Acer and HP kits shared a common set of display and audio features but had different industrial designs, and described HP's headset as having a "modern and industrial look".[3] HP's newsroom wrote that the kit was meant to get developers building immersive software for a broader audience ahead of the planned consumer launch later in 2017, and quoted John Ludwig, HP's gaming and VR product manager, as saying that Windows Mixed Reality was "not just about gaming".[7] In the same article HP compared the 1,440 x 1,440 per-eye resolution with what it called the existing standard of 1,280 x 1,080 per eye in most headsets.[7]
Consumer release
On 3 October 2017, Microsoft announced that Windows Mixed Reality headsets from its partners could be bought at the Microsoft Store and Microsoft.com, and said HP's headset would be bundled with motion controllers. An update to the post dated 17 October 2017 said the headsets were available that day.[4] HP's datasheet for the consumer bundle, the HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset VR1000-100 with Controllers, gives the same on-ad date of 17 October 2017.[1] PCWorld reported that HP's kit sold for US$449, the same as Dell's, while the Acer and Lenovo bundles cost US$399.[5] By the time Tom's Guide reviewed the headset in December 2017, it quoted a price of US$349.[10]
Professional Edition
In February 2018 HP added a Professional Edition of its Windows Mixed Reality headset, aimed at professional environments. AnandTech reported that it kept the double-padded headband and front-hinged display, added cleanable, replaceable face cushions for shared use, and was otherwise the same as the standard edition in specifications. It shipped with a 3.6 m and a 0.6 m 2-in-1 cable and three polyurethane face cushions, and HP planned to release it in March 2018 for US$449.[11]
Successor and end of platform support
HP announced the Reverb in March 2019 as its second Windows VR headset. Road to VR noted that the Reverb raised the per-eye resolution from 1,440 x 1,440 to 2,160 x 2,160, replaced the halo-style headband with an overhead strap and built-in headphones, and dropped the flip-up visor of HP's first headset.[2]
Microsoft announced in December 2023 that Windows Mixed Reality was deprecated, and removed it in Windows 11, version 24H2, including the Mixed Reality Portal app and Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR. According to Microsoft, existing Windows Mixed Reality devices keep working with Steam through November 2026 if users stay on Windows 11, version 23H2, after which the platform receives no further updates or technical support.[6] Road to VR reported that the update effectively disabled headsets from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung on the new Windows version.[12]
Design
The headset has a visor mounted on a padded headband. A hinge lets the wearer flip the display up to see the room without taking the headset off, and a knob at the back adjusts the fit.[1][10] HP recommends extended wear only with frequent use of the front-hinged display in the up position.[1] Tom's Hardware described the headset as all black, with a "balanced crown" strap that supports the weight on top of the head, moisture-proof covers on the fixed head-strap cushions, and a foam face cushion held on with Velcro. It reported that the plastic hinge started to sag during testing.[13]
There are no built-in headphones or microphone. Audio goes through a single 3.5 mm combo jack on the bottom of the visor.[1][13] Tom's Guide found the jack placement easier to reach than the cable-mounted jack of the Acer AH101, while Tom's Hardware found that the cable hanging down from the face was easy to catch with the hands.[10][13]
The cable is removable. Microsoft's developer-kit listing gives a "4.0m/0.6m removable cable".[3] Tom's Hardware described a short tether from the visor with a socket for an extension cable that ends in HDMI and USB 3.0 plugs, and called it the only Windows Mixed Reality headset with a removable tether cable.[13]
HP's datasheet lists the unpackaged headset at approximately 1.84 lb and 6.93 x 13.34 x 5.03 inches, and each controller at approximately 0.38 lb.[1] Tom's Guide gave the headset's weight as 28.8 ounces and found it heavier and larger than Acer's headset.[10] The specification table in Tom's Hardware's review listed 528 grams.[13]
Display and optics
The headset has two 2.89-inch (diagonal) LCD panels with 1440 x 1440 pixels per eye (2880 x 1440 combined). It runs at 90 Hz when connected to an HDMI 2.0 port and at 60 Hz on an HDMI 1.4 port. HP lists a field of view of 95 degrees horizontal through Fresnel-aspherical lenses.[1][9] Other published figures differ. Tom's Guide and AnandTech cited a 100-degree field of view, with Tom's Guide reporting a 90-degree field of view and 60 Hz on lower-powered PCs with integrated graphics.[10][11] Using a SteamVR test environment, Tom's Hardware measured less than 80 degrees of horizontal view in the HP headset, against about 90 degrees in an Oculus Rift and about 100 degrees in an HTC Vive for the same tester.[13]
The lenses cannot be moved to match the wearer's interpupillary distance. Tom's Hardware's specification table listed a 65 mm fixed IPD with software adjustment of +/- 8 mm, but by its own measurement the lenses were set for about 60 mm, which it said made the headset less suitable for people with wide-set eyes.[13] AnandTech's specifications for the Professional Edition gave "63mm +/- 8mm" with software control.[11] Tom's Hardware found the screen door effect "nearly imperceptible unless you're looking for it". It preferred the image quality of Samsung's OLED displays, used in the Samsung Odyssey, and said the LCDs were poor at producing deep blacks, so dark scenes looked somewhat washed out.[13]
Tracking and controllers
Two front-facing cameras provide six degrees of freedom inside-out tracking with no external sensors or base stations.[1][3] Tom's Hardware listed an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer and proximity sensor, and described the cameras as angled outward and toward the floor to prioritize tracking of the ground and the space at the wearer's sides. It said the cameras use tracking technology from Microsoft's HoloLens.[13]
The consumer bundle includes two wireless motion controllers, and HP's requirements list Bluetooth 4.0 on the PC for accessory connectivity.[1] HP used Microsoft's reference controller design unchanged except for the logo.[13] Tom's Hardware criticized the controllers' build quality and button feel.[13] Tom's Guide found them comfortable and easy to use in games such as Space Pirate Trainer. It wrote that the headset tracked the controllers well, with occasional hiccups, such as a virtual hand briefly passing through a weapon it was reaching for.[10]
PC requirements and software
The headset uses a 2-in-1 cable that combines HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0.[1] HP's recommended system requirements, which the datasheet says are intended as guidance for software developers and exceed the minimum requirements, are:[1]
- Windows 10 Creators Update
- Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 1700 processor
- NVIDIA GTX 965M or AMD RX 480M (2GB) notebook graphics, or NVIDIA GTX 980/1060 or AMD Radeon RX 480 (2GB) desktop graphics
- 16GB of memory and more than 10 GB of free storage
- HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 for 60 Hz mode; HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 for 90 Hz mode
- One USB 3.0 Type-A port, and Bluetooth 4.0 for accessories
Tom's Guide reported that the headset also ran on laptops with integrated graphics and an HDMI 1.4 port, at the lower refresh rate and field of view.[10]
The headset runs the Windows Mixed Reality environment, which opens in a virtual house called the Cliff House where users pin apps such as the Microsoft Store, Skype and Edge as windows. At the time of its review, Tom's Guide counted 49 apps in the Mixed Reality section of the Microsoft Store. It used the early-access Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR app to play SteamVR titles, with mixed results.[10]
Reception
Tom's Guide's Sherri L. Smith called the headset "a portable, plug-and-play virtual reality option that can work with integrated and discrete graphics". She praised the audio-jack placement and swappable cables but listed the small app catalog, visual differences depending on the connected PC, and the weight as drawbacks. She recommended the Oculus Rift over it until SteamVR compatibility improved.[10]
Kevin Carbotte of Tom's Hardware wrote that the headset "offers a handful of excellent features, but its value is marred by a handful of poor design choices, and the $449 asking price makes it hard to recommend", adding that it was a compelling purchase at US$250 or less. The review listed the narrow field of view, flimsy controllers, a tether cable it considered too short, the lack of IPD adjustment and the non-replaceable head-strap cushions as drawbacks, and praised the replaceable tether cable, easy setup and moisture-proof cushions.[13] In a PCWorld article at launch, Hayden Dingman argued that the first Windows Mixed Reality headsets, HP's included, were VR headsets despite the "mixed reality" name, and that most of them lacked the integrated audio of the Oculus Rift.[5]
Specifications
- Display: 2 x LCD binocular, 2.89 inches diagonal each[1]
- Resolution: 1440x1440 per-eye (2880 x 1440 combined)[1]
- Refresh Rate: 90 Hz (60 Hz when connected to an HDMI 1.4 port)[1]
- Field of View: 95° horizontal[1], 91° vertical
- Lenses: Fresnel-aspherical[1]
- IPD Range: Fixed lens spacing with a software IPD setting (+/- 8 mm)[13][11]
- Tracking: Inside-out, six degrees of freedom, 2 front-facing cameras[1]
- Audio: 3.5 mm combo audio jack[1]
- Connection: 2-in-1 cable with HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0[1]
- Weight: 1.84 lb approx. (headset); 0.38 lb approx. (each controller)[1]
- Price: US$449 at launch with two motion controllers; US$329 for the Developer Edition[5][3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 "HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset VR1000-100 with Controllers (datasheet)". HP. HP Development Company, L.P.. 2017. https://files.bbystatic.com/yb95Jpp3ydKgEmhGKY1xjw==/6086401_ds.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 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 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Windows Apps Team (2017-05-11). "Windows Mixed Reality Dev Kits available for pre-order". Windows Developer Blog. Microsoft. https://blogs.windows.com/windowsdeveloper/2017/05/11/windows-mixed-reality-dev-kits-available-pre-order/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Elana Pidgeon (2017-10-03). "Windows Mixed Reality headsets available today". Windows Experience Blog. Microsoft. https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/10/03/how-to-pre-order-your-windows-mixed-reality-headset/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Hayden Dingman (2017-10-18). "Don't be fooled: Windows Mixed Reality headsets are just VR headsets". PCWorld. https://www.pcworld.com/article/3233247/virtual-reality/dont-be-fooled-windows-mixed-reality-headsets-are-just-vr-headsets.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Features and functionality removed in Windows client". Microsoft Learn. Microsoft. 2026-08-25. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/removed-features. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Sarah Murry (2017-05-12). "More than just gaming HP Windows Mixed Reality Developer Edition". HP Newsroom. HP Inc.. https://www.hp.com/us-en/newsroom/blogs/2017/more-than-just-gaming-hp-windows-mixed-reality-developer-edition.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ Shawn Whiting (2017-05-11). "Acer & HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset Dev Kits Now Available for Pre-order Starting at $300". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/acer-and-hp-windows-holographic-mixed-reality-vr-dev-kits-now-available-for-purchase-starting-at-300/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset Developer Edition VR1000-009". HP. HP Development Company, L.P.. 2017. https://www.hp.com/wcsstore/hpusstore/Treatment/MR_Headset_q2fy17_specification.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 Sherri L. Smith (2017-12-17). "HP VR1000-100 Review: This VR Headset Needs More Apps". Tom's Guide. https://www.tomsguide.com/us/hp-windows-vr1000-100,review-4996.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Joe Shields (2018-02-05). "HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset, Professional Edition, Coming March". AnandTech. https://www.anandtech.com/show/12394/hp-windows-mixed-reality-headset-professional-edition-coming-march. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 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 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 Kevin Carbotte (2018-07-05). "HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset Review: Narrow FOV Is Not What You Want". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/hp-windows-mixed-reality-headset,5665.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.