The Playstation VR 2 (PSVR2) is Sony’s upcoming VR headset scheduled for release on February 22nd, 2023 for the price of $549.99. This latest iteration has many advantages over its predecessor, but how does it stack up against some of the most popular headsets currently on the market?
In this article, we compare the PSVR2 to the HP Reverb G2 and Valve Index to see how it fares. I have chosen these two headsets in particular because they are not only popular but also cost around the same price and are powered by an external device just like Sony’s headset.
Overview: PSVR2, HP Reverb G2, And Valve Index
I’ve summarised some of the main features of each headset in a convenient comparison table below.
|
PSVR2 |
HP Reverb G2 |
Valve Index |
|
|
Type |
Console-powered VR |
PC-powered VR |
PC-powered VR |
|
Lenses |
Fresnel |
Fresnel |
Dual-element canted Fresnel lenses |
|
IPD Adjustment |
Adjustable using hardware and eye tracking |
60-68 mm hardware adjustable (manual) |
58-70 mm hardware adjustable |
|
Resolution (per eye) |
2000x2040 |
2160x2160 |
1440x1600 |
|
Display |
HDR OLED |
LCD binocular |
2 x LCD binocular |
|
Refresh Rate |
90Hz, 120Hz |
90Hz |
90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz |
|
FOV |
110 degrees |
114 degrees |
130° degrees |
|
Tracking |
6 Dof inside-out |
6 Dof inside-out |
6 DoF outside-in |
|
On-board Cameras |
4 cameras for headset and controller tracking, 2 IR cameras for eye tracking |
4 cameras for headset and controller tracking |
Dual 960x960 color passthrough cameras |
|
Audio |
Comes with earbuds, inbuilt mic, and 3.5mm audio jack |
Off-ear stereo speakers |
Off ear stereo speakers |
|
Connectivity |
USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.1 |
DisplayPort 1.3, USB 3.0 |
DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0 |
|
Weight |
560g |
498g |
586g |
|
Current Price |
$549.99 |
$599 |
$499 (headset only) |
Display
A good display capable of delivering crisp visuals with smooth motion and a wide Field Of View (FOV) is, in many ways, one of the most important features of any VR headset. The quality of the on-screen visuals plays a big role in immersion, reducing motion sickness and overall enjoyment.
The above table shows the HP Reverb G2 beats the PSVR2 in the resolution stakes, albeit not by much. The PSVR2 however, is capable of a 120Hz refresh rate whilst the Reverb G2 is only capable of 90Hz maximum. In contrast, the Valve Index is the lowest resolution of the three headsets but makes up for it with the highest refresh rate (144Hz) and widest FOV (130 degrees). So what does all of this mean?
Essentially, the Reverb G2 and PSVR2 should have sharper image quality than the Index owing to the higher resolution, which means more pixels per eye. However, it’s not quite as simple as that because image quality comes down to more than just resolution and is also determined by things like the type of display panel used.
The PSVR2 uses an OLED display panel whilst the other two headsets use LCD. Each technology has its pros and cons but essentially when we compare the two, LCDs have more subpixels which results in a sharper image than OLED, with less screen-door effect. On the other hand, OLED has a higher refresh rate potential and darker blacks when compared to its LCD counterpart.
So whilst the PSVR2 and Reverb G2 have the highest resolution, it's important to recognize that resolution is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to the display. For example, out of all three headsets, the Index has the widest FOV, allowing players to see more of the screen which makes the view more natural and immersive. The Index also has the highest refresh rate which means the picture will refresh faster, making the on-screen action appear buttery smooth.
Audio
The Reverb G2 has pretty much the same integrated over-ear audio solution as the Index. The onboard headphones for both headsets feature an open-backed design and hover about 10mm over the ears which helps prevent them from getting sweaty on those hot days. The headphones also deliver a full-bodied sound with good bass to provide an immersive audio experience.
The PSVR2 on the other hand has no in-built speakers. Instead, users will have to rely on the TV’s sound system or a pair of earphones (which are fortunately included in the box). The absence of an inbuilt audio solution means the Reverb G2 and the Index trump the PSVR2 in the sound department.
Tracking
The PSVR2 and Reverb G2 include similar inside-out tracking delivered by four cameras in-built into the headset. These onboard cameras track the location of the headset and controllers in 3D space without the need for external peripherals. In contrast, the Index uses outside-in tracking via a pair of external base stations. These base stations cost an extra $149 in addition to the headset itself.
Which method of tracking works best depends on what you want. The outside-in tracking offered with the Index is the most accurate with the lowest latency. However, base stations take time to set up and you have to be aware of objects getting between the headset and the sensors. Any occlusion of the sensors will result in a partial or complete loss of tracking.
The inside-out tracking we see with the Reverb G2 and PSVR2 is by far the most convenient method. There’s minimal setup time and no additional peripherals to plug into your computer or console. However, the accuracy of the tracking isn’t quite up to par with the outside-in tracking of the Valve Index.
Games library
The PSVR2 will not be backward compatible with the original PSVR games library but will launch with around 50 plus titles. This pales in comparison to the thousands of VR titles already available on the PC platform. The PCVR library is a mixed bag in terms of quality but the sheer number of games available makes the HP Reverb G2 and Valve Index the clear winners in this category.
Additional Features
Sony’s headset comes with a pair of IR eye-tracking cameras which you won’t find on either of the two headsets compared here. These extra cameras are useful in many different ways; they can help with IPD adjustment, allow for dynamic foveated rendering, translate your real-life eye movements to a virtual avatar, or be used by game developers to introduce innovative gameplay features.
The PSVR2 will also come with haptic feedback in the headset itself, which is not something that’s included with any headset currently on the market. The haptic feedback is thought to be directional, meaning there will be ‘vibration points’ evenly spaced around the headset. So if my in-game character were to get whacked on the back of the head, I should feel a corresponding rumble in the rear of the headset, letting me know which direction I was hit.
Another innovative feature you will only find with the PSVR2 is the inclusion of adaptive triggers on the controllers that make them capable of adjusting tension in response to gameplay. For example, the controller’s trigger button tension could increase in response to pulling the trigger of a virtual gun, delivering a much more realistic experience.
The Valve Index also includes unique design features for its own controllers, such as 87 inbuilt sensors that track hand position, finger position, and grip pressure. Another useful feature is the ‘knuckles’ strap that comes included which keeps the controllers secured to your hands even with an open grip. However, just like the base stations, they are not included in the price of the Index headset and will set you back an additional $279 USD.
And The Winner Is…
To sum up, the PSVR2 has its fair share of advantages and shortfalls when compared to similar headsets in its price range. The display seems to achieve a middle ground between the Index and Reverb G2, whilst the audio solution is the worst out of all three headsets. Then again, Sony’s headset excels when it comes to additional features like eye tracking and headset haptics.
Which headset you decide on is going to depend on what’s most important to you and your budget. Assuming that you already own a VR-capable PC and PS5, the PSVR2 is the best all-rounder on this list when we factor in the price.
We can see that the PSVR2 is equivalent to, or outperforms, the Reverb G2 in most areas but comes in at about $50 less. The Valve Index on the other hand has more advantages over the PSVR2, but then again, the headset along with base stations and controllers would set you back a whopping $999, almost double that of the PSVR2.
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