HP Windows Mixed Reality
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| HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset VR1000 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC VR |
| Platform | Windows Mixed Reality |
| Creator | HP |
| Developer | HP, Microsoft |
| Manufacturer | HP |
| Announcement Date | 2017 (Developer Edition pre-orders announced May 12)[1] |
| Release Date | October 17, 2017 (retail controller bundle)[2] |
| Price | US$449 with motion controllers (2017 quotation)[3] |
| Website | https://www.hp.com/ |
| Versions | VR1000-100 (U.S. controller bundle; 2HJ34AA#ABA)[4] |
| Requires | Compatible Windows PC; legacy Windows Mixed Reality software[5] |
| Successor | HP Reverb G1 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows 10 at launch; legacy Windows Mixed Reality support through Windows 11 version 23H2 |
| Chipset | N/A (PC-tethered) |
| CPU | N/A (host PC) |
| GPU | N/A (host PC) |
| Storage | |
| Storage | N/A (host PC) |
| Memory | N/A (host PC) |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual LCD |
| Resolution | 1440 × 1440 per eye (2880 × 1440 combined) |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz / 90Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 95° horizontal (U.S. retail datasheet; advertised) |
| Horizontal FoV | 95° (advertised U.S. retail specification) |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel-Aspherical lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Fixed lens spacing; software IPD calibration[6] |
| Passthrough | Limited camera viewing via Mixed Reality Flashlight (Windows 10 October 2018 Update)[7] |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out (cameras and inertial sensors)[8] |
| Base Stations | None required |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes |
| Positional Tracking | Yes |
| Tracking Volume | Room-scale |
| Play Space | Seated/standing or room-scale, depending on setup |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Via 3.5mm jack (no built-in) |
| Microphone | External microphone via 3.5mm combo jack; no built-in microphone[9] |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Yes |
| Camera | 2× tracking cameras |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | HDMI 1.4/2.0, USB 3.0 |
| Ports | HDMI, USB 3.0, 3.5mm audio |
| Wired Video | Yes (HDMI) |
| Wireless Video | No |
| WiFi | No |
| Bluetooth | No headset radio; motion controllers pair to host PC |
| Power | Powered via USB |
| Battery Capacity | N/A |
| Battery Life | N/A (tethered) |
| Charge Time | N/A |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | Approx. 6.93 in L × 13.34 in W × 5.03 in H (HP unpackaged listing) |
| Weight | Approx. 1.84 lb (about 0.83 kg), HP unpackaged listing |
| Material | Plastic |
| Headstrap | Adjustable headband |
| Haptics | Controller haptics |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | 2 tracking cameras; accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer and proximity sensor (review specification) |
| Input | Windows Mixed Reality motion controllers (2 included) |
The HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset (VR1000 series) is a PC-powered virtual reality head-mounted display developed by HP for Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality platform. The 2017 VR1000-100 retail package included two motion controllers and joined the platform's first consumer wave on October 17, 2017. It uses two 1440 × 1440 LCD displays and camera-based inside-out tracking, with 60 Hz or 90 Hz display operation depending on the connected PC and video interface.[2][4][9] The U.S. controller bundle was quoted at US$449.[3]
The VR1000 is an opaque VR display. The "Mixed Reality" name identifies Microsoft's platform; it does not make the headset an optical see-through AR device. Later Windows software added a limited camera view called Mixed Reality Flashlight. Microsoft's legacy support documentation excludes Windows 11 version 24H2 and newer, so the original Windows compatibility and setup instructions require version-specific context.[6][7][5]
History and development
HP's May 12, 2017 announcement offered the Windows Mixed Reality Developer Edition for pre-order in the United States and Canada at US$329 and C$449. HP described this as hardware for application developers ahead of a later consumer release. HP described possible applications in education and healthcare, as well as entertainment.[1]
Microsoft's October 17 update confirmed availability of HP's controller bundle alongside Acer, Dell and Lenovo hardware and the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. HP Japan separately began selling its two-controller package that day for ¥59,800 before tax.[2][10]
| Edition or later model | Documented event | Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Developer Edition | May 12, 2017 pre-order announcement | US$329 U.S. headset offering intended for developers.[1] |
| VR1000-100 retail controller bundle | October 17, 2017 availability | HP's U.S. datasheet identifies product 2HJ34AA#ABA and includes wireless motion controllers.[2][4] |
| Professional Edition | Announced February 5, 2018; March availability was forecast | HP advertised an installed standard face cushion plus three cleanable replacements, with commercial development and deployment services described separately.[11] |
The later HP Reverb was announced in March 2019 with 2160 × 2160 pixels per eye, built-in headphones and microphones, and a headset Bluetooth radio for its controllers. HP Reverb G2 followed as another separate headset.[12][6]
Design philosophy
HP positioned the original design as a way to use VR across different PC tiers. Its tracking cameras removed the need to mount external tracking sensors, while HDMI and USB carried the headset's video, data and power. This reduced the amount of tracking equipment to install, but it did not remove PC, driver, software or play-space requirements.[1][4][5]
Display technology
The headset has two 2.89-inch diagonal LCD panels, each with 1440 × 1440 pixels, for a combined 2880 × 1440. HP's retail sheet specifies 90 Hz with HDMI 2.0 and 60 Hz with HDMI 1.4. The document calls these typical component specifications and cautions that actual performance can vary. Carbotte described a clear image but criticized the LCD panels' black levels in dark scenes.[4][9]
Microsoft's PC guidance also distinguishes 90 Hz systems with a suitable discrete GPU from 60 Hz configurations that can include supported integrated graphics. The graphics connection alone does not establish that the rest of a PC meets the relevant tier. Application requirements can exceed the platform minimums.[5][13]
Field of view
HP's U.S. VR1000-100 datasheet specifies a 95° horizontal field of view. The October 2017 Japanese announcement instead advertises a maximum horizontal field of view of 100°.[4][10]
In his 2018 hands-on review, Kevin Carbotte reported a restrictive view and a narrow visual sweet spot. Using the ROV Test FOV & Resolution environment, he obtained less than 80° horizontally from his own viewing position. He explicitly noted that visible field of view varies with the distance between a person's eyes and the lenses.[9]
Optical system
HP identifies the optics as Fresnel-Aspherical. The lenses have fixed physical spacing. Windows provides IPD calibration in software, which adjusts image distortion and depth calculations without moving the lenses. Microsoft also documented glasses use with Windows Mixed Reality headsets.[4][6]
Carbotte found that vertical alignment was important for clarity and criticized the lack of a mechanical IPD adjustment.[9]
Tracking system
The two forward-facing tracking cameras and inertial sensors support six degrees of freedom: rotation and translation of the headset. Microsoft's description of inside-out tracking explains that the black-and-white, visible-light cameras identify environmental features and combine them with inertial measurements to estimate pose. The PC can retain room-specific tracking and boundary information.[4][8]
The system needs adequate light and visible environmental detail. Microsoft's guidance warns about dark rooms, featureless surfaces, direct sunlight and moving vehicles. Users can configure a virtual boundary for the physical play area.[8]
Controller tracking also depends on the headset cameras' view. When a controller leaves that view, Windows can temporarily infer its position. After prolonged loss of visual tracking, it falls back to approximate positioning tied to the user's body while retaining the controller's sensed orientation. This accounts for the limitations of movements beside or behind the wearer without implying that every brief camera occlusion immediately stops input.[6]
Windows 10's October 2018 Update added Mixed Reality Flashlight, which opens a camera view of the surroundings from the Start menu or a Windows-plus-Grab controller command. This is a limited view of the surroundings through the cameras; the headset does not provide optical see-through AR.[7][6]
Controllers
The retail package includes left and right Windows Mixed Reality motion controllers. Carbotte identified HP's controllers as Microsoft's reference design with HP branding. Their controls include a thumbstick, touchpad and trigger, together with menu and Windows buttons. The illuminated rings provide visual tracking features, and the controllers provide vibration feedback.[4][9][14]
Each controller uses two AA batteries and pairs over Bluetooth to the host PC for this first-generation HP headset. The headset itself has no integrated controller Bluetooth radio. Microsoft's guidance calls for Bluetooth 4.0 on the PC or a suitable USB adapter; this differs from later Reverb models with controllers paired directly to the headset.[14][6][5]
Supported input depends on the application. The Windows environment also documented mouse, keyboard and Xbox gamepad input.[14]
Audio
The VR1000 has a 3.5 mm combined headphone and microphone jack on the underside of the visor. It has neither built-in headphones nor a built-in microphone. Voice communication therefore requires an external microphone, such as one in an audio headset connected to the combo jack.[4][9]
Carbotte found that the downward-hanging audio cable could catch on his hands. This was his assessment of the connector placement.[9]
Physical design
The black plastic visor attaches to a rigid, padded headband with a rear adjustment dial. A hinge lets the wearer raise the display without completely removing the headband. In the retail unit examined by Carbotte, the face cushion attached with hook-and-loop material and could be replaced, while the headband cushions were fixed in place. The three additional cleanable cushions in HP's 2018 Professional Edition announcement should not be assumed to come with every 2017 retail package.[4][9][11]
HP's retail sheet lists approximate unpackaged dimensions of 6.93 inches long, 13.34 inches wide and 5.03 inches high. In metric units those are about 176 × 338.8 × 127.8 mm in the same length-width-height order. It lists an approximate unpackaged headset weight of 1.84 lb, about 0.83 kg, without stating a cable-exclusion condition. These are HP's listed figures, with no visor-only measurement identified. Carbotte's review separately lists 528 g and different visor dimensions, so the published figures should not be treated as measurements on a shared basis.[4][9]
The main PC tether can disconnect from a short lead attached to the headset. This makes the long cable replaceable without treating the short lead as removable from the visor. HP Japan described the supplied HDMI 2.0/USB 3.0 cable as 4 m long.[9][10]
Connectivity
The headset connects to the PC through HDMI video and USB 3.0, with USB supplying power. Its rendering and application processing run on the PC. The following examples come from Microsoft's legacy requirements for the ordinary-resolution WMR headsets, rather than the separate higher-resolution Reverb requirements.[4][5]
| Component | 90 Hz tier | 60 Hz tier |
|---|---|---|
| Example Intel CPU | Core i5-4590 quad-core or better | Core i5-7200U dual-core with Hyper-Threading or better |
| Example graphics | NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 470/570, or better, meeting the listed DirectX requirements | Supported Intel HD Graphics 620 or better; specified entry discrete GPUs also listed |
| Memory | 8 GB DDR3 or better | 8 GB dual-channel DDR3 or better |
| Video interface | HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 with the required adapter | HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 with the required adapter |
| Other connections | USB 3.0; PC Bluetooth 4.0 for controllers | USB 3.0; PC Bluetooth 4.0 for controllers |
These are examples within a larger compatibility matrix, not interchangeable specifications for every processor with an "i5" name. Drivers, adapters, operating-system versions and the individual application's requirements also matter. HP's old retail sheet contains a more demanding developer-oriented recommendation list; it should not be confused with Microsoft's consumer platform minimums.[5][4]
Software platform
At launch, the headset used Windows 10's Mixed Reality Portal and the Fall Creators Update. The Windows Mixed Reality environment supported spatial app windows and compatible Microsoft Store VR software. Access to SteamVR content used the additional Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR bridge alongside Steam and SteamVR; support remained dependent on the application's hardware and controller requirements.[2][6][13]
Microsoft's legacy compatibility guidance now limits WMR support to Windows 10 version 20H2 through Windows 11 version 23H2 and excludes Windows 11 version 24H2 and newer. Its deprecation notice states that existing WMR devices can continue to work with Steam through November 2026 if users remain on Windows 11 version 23H2. After November 2026, Microsoft says WMR will no longer receive security or other updates, bug fixes, technical support or online documentation updates.[5][15][13]
Use cases
HP Japan's retail announcement described games, entertainment, simulated travel and large virtual video screens. These are documented intended uses of the first-generation headset. HP marketed the separate 2018 Professional Edition and development services for commercial design and training workflows.[10][11]
A 2020 interface study by Raymond Holder, Mark Carey and Paul Keir used a VR1000-100nn with controllers and an ASUS gaming laptop. Thirty-one creative-computing undergraduates explored the same four-model Unreal Engine 4 gallery in VR and on a separate HP laptop's 15-inch screen. The order of the two interfaces was counterbalanced. VR participants could manipulate objects, teleport or walk; desktop participants used mouse controls. The authors reported that 80% preferred the VR interface, while also discussing novelty and differences between the interfaces. This short exploration study did not establish improved educational attainment or a general performance advantage of the HP headset.[16]
Comparison with other WMR headsets
These three first-generation headsets shared Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality platform. Prices are explicitly dated U.S. quotations and can differ from later discounts or listings. Weight entries retain each publisher's stated basis; they are not a controlled comparison of cable-free headsets.
| Feature | HP VR1000 | Lenovo Explorer | Dell Visor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historical controller-bundle quotation | US$449, November 23, 2017 review[3] | US$449, August 31, 2017 announcement[17] | US$459.99, August 28, 2017 announcement[18] |
| Resolution | 1440 × 1440 per eye[4] | 1440 × 1440 per eye[19] | 1440 × 1440 per eye[20] |
| Published weight | HP: about 1.84 lb (0.83 kg), unpackaged[4] | Lenovo: 380 g in feature text; 0.55 kg in unpackaged-weight table[19] | Dell: 0.59 kg (1.3 lb); cable condition unstated[20] |
| Audio connection | 3.5 mm headphone/microphone combo jack[4] | 3.5 mm audio jack[19] | 3.5 mm audio jack[20] |
| Display refresh | 60/90 Hz, PC/interface dependent[4] | Up to 90 Hz; platform also supports a 60 Hz PC tier[19][5] | 60/90 Hz, PC/interface dependent[20] |
| IPD adjustment | Software calibration; fixed lens spacing[9][6] | Software calibration[6] | Software calibration[20] |
Strengths and limitations
The design combines headset-based tracking, a flip-up visor and a detachable main tether. Its practical constraints include fixed optical spacing, external audio equipment, camera-dependent tracking and dependence on legacy Windows software.[4][9][8][15]
Jez Corden's November 2017 review found the headset comfortable after adjustment but reported condensation inside the visor and Bluetooth-controller problems that improved after a driver update. Carbotte's July 2018 review praised the replaceable main cable and setup but criticized the restricted view, hinge wear observed during his test and controller construction.[3][9]
Technical specifications summary
The following values describe the U.S. VR1000-100 retail sheet unless another source is identified.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | Two 2.89-inch diagonal LCD panels, 1440 × 1440 per eye[4][9] |
| Total resolution | 2880 × 1440[4] |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz with HDMI 1.4; 90 Hz with HDMI 2.0 and a suitable PC[4][5] |
| Field of view | Advertised 95° horizontal in U.S. sheet; Japan advertised up to 100° horizontal[4][10] |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out, two front cameras and inertial sensing[4][8] |
| Controllers | Two WMR motion controllers; host-PC Bluetooth and two AA batteries per controller[4][14][6] |
| Connection | HDMI video, USB 3.0 data/power; 3.5 mm combined audio input/output[4][5] |
| Weight | HP lists approximately 1.84 lb (about 0.83 kg), unpackaged; cable basis not specified[4] |
| Price | US$449 controller bundle, as quoted in November 2017; historical rather than current offer[3] |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Sarah Murry (2017-05-12). "More than just gaming HP Windows Mixed Reality Developer Edition". HP Newsroom. https://www.hp.com/us-en/newsroom/blogs/2017/more-than-just-gaming-hp-windows-mixed-reality-developer-edition.html. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Elana Pidgeon. "Windows Mixed Reality headsets available today". Windows Experience Blog. https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/10/03/how-to-pre-order-your-windows-mixed-reality-headset/. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Jez Corden (2017-11-23). "HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset review: I'm a believer". Windows Central. https://www.windowscentral.com/hp-windows-mixed-reality-headset-review-im-believer. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 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 "HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset VR1000-100 with Controllers". HP product datasheet, hosted by Best Buy. 2017. https://files.bbystatic.com/yb95Jpp3ydKgEmhGKY1xjw==/6086401_ds.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 "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 "Before you buy frequently asked questions". Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/mixed-reality/enthusiast-guide/before-you-buy-faqs. 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 "Inside-out tracking". Microsoft Learn. 2017-12-10. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/mixed-reality/enthusiast-guide/tracking-system. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 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 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 "没入型VR体験を可能にするヘッドセット「HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset」発売のお知らせ". HP Japan. 2017-10-17. https://jp.ext.hp.com/info/newsroom/2017/2523486/. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "HP Revs Up Workstation, Unveils New VR Products and Services". HP Inc., via GlobeNewswire. 2018-02-05. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/02/05/1332987/0/en/hp-revs-up-workstation-unveils-new-vr-products-and-services.html. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ "HP Unveils Cutting-Edge Virtual Reality Headset at Global Partner Conference". HP Newsroom. 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 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Using SteamVR with Windows Mixed Reality". Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/mixed-reality/enthusiast-guide/using-steamvr-with-windows-mixed-reality. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "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.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Deprecated features in the Windows client". Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/deprecated-features. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ Raymond Holder; Mark Carey; Paul Keir (2020). "Virtual Reality vs Pancake environments: A comparison of interaction on immersive and traditional screens". Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Computer Graphics (AVR 2020), Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 12242. pp. 114-129. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-58465-8_8. https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/files/53683724/2020_06_15_Holder_et_al_Virtual_accepted.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ Mollie Ruiz-Hopper (2017-08-31). "IFA 2017: Lenovo announces Windows Mixed Reality headset and new 2-in-1 laptops". Windows Experience Blog. https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/08/31/ifa-2017-lenovo-announces-windows-mixed-reality-headset-new-2-1-laptops/. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ Mollie Ruiz-Hopper (2017-08-28). "IFA 2017: Dell unveils mixed reality headset, new laptops, and 2-in-1s with Windows 10". Windows Experience Blog. https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/08/28/ifa-2017-dell-unveils-mixed-reality-headset-new-laptops-2-1s-windows-10/. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 "Overview for Lenovo Explorer". Lenovo Support. https://smartsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/smart/arvr/lenovo-explorer/solutions/pd500067-overview-for-lenovo-explorer. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 "The perfect fit for any reality: Dell Visor & Dell Visor Controllers". Dell product brochure, hosted by Best Buy. 2017. https://files.bbystatic.com/7Xb6OZ1mzHKVGIf0yaGcTw%3D%3D/e9fc8b44-6b8d-4949-935c-1c4549021d2f.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-15.