VRHow / Headsets / HP Reverb G2
HP Reverb G2: specs, revisions and Windows Mixed Reality status
Verified specifications
| Item | Verified detail |
|---|---|
| Maker and launch | HP; announced May 28, 2020, with U.S. availability planned for fall 2020 at $599. HP launch announcement |
| Display | Two LCD panels, 2,160 × 2,160 pixels per eye (9.3 million pixels total); 90 Hz. HP datasheet |
| Optics and tracking | Valve-designed lenses, manual IPD adjustment, four built-in cameras, six degrees of freedom and no external tracking sensors. HP's launch page describes a 114° field-of-view claim; do not treat that marketing figure as a guaranteed measured FOV. HP launch announcement |
| Connections and package | 6 m headset cable, DisplayPort 1.3, USB 3.0, power adapter, two motion controllers and DisplayPort-to-mini-DisplayPort adapter (HP's regional specification lists a USB-C-to-A adapter too). HP product specifications |
| Original PC baseline | Windows 10 May 2019 Update or newer; HP lists 8 GB RAM, a Core i5/i7/Xeon E3-1240 v5 or Ryzen 5 equivalent, DisplayPort 1.3, USB 3.0 and a DirectX 12-capable GPU. HP's named GPU examples distinguish cards that typically run full versus half resolution; they are not a universal performance guarantee. HP product specifications |
Original G2 versus the later revision
HP continued to call both versions “Reverb G2.” The later U.S. revision is often called G2.1 or “Revision 2” by retailers and the specialist press, so a used listing's label alone is not proof of which unit it is. HP's datasheet identifies the revised unit by changes including a 6 m cable compatible with AMD systems, improved controller tracking, and an adjustable eye-relief face mask. It says the tracking improvement is 30% vertically (for U.S.-sold headsets), and that the revised cable and mask features are also U.S.-only in that document. HP datasheet
Road to VR's November 2021 comparison supplies useful detail that HP's sheet does not: the revised face interface uses a removable spacer, changing eye relief from 15 mm to 9 mm. In that publication's personal measurements, the closer setting changed horizontal FOV from 82° to 98° and vertical FOV from 78° to 88°; those are the reviewer's measurements, not an HP universal specification, and face shape changes the result. Road to VR comparison
Used-buyer check: ask for a photo of the face gasket/spacer and cable label, and confirm that the cable is included and undamaged. A missing or failed cable is a hardware/parts problem, not evidence that WMR has been removed. HP's product page lists a one-year limited warranty including one year of parts and labor, subject to country terms; that is the original warranty statement, not a promise that replacement parts remain available in 2026. HP warranty and specification record
Windows Mixed Reality: the compatibility cliff
The G2's original setup depended on WMR for headset tracking and for the WMR bridge to SteamVR. Microsoft's archived setup guide says WMR for SteamVR runs SteamVR experiences on WMR headsets and documents installing SteamVR plus Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR. That guide is now explicitly retired, so it is historical setup guidance rather than a supported future platform. Microsoft's archived SteamVR/WMR guide
Microsoft's current removed-features list states that WMR was removed in Windows 11 version 24H2, including Mixed Reality Portal, Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR and SteamVR Beta. It says existing WMR devices continue to work with Steam through November 2026 only if the user remains on the released Windows 11 version 23H2; after November 2026, WMR receives no security or non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support or online technical-content updates. Microsoft: removed Windows features
Practical consequence: On Windows 11 23H2 (or an older supported Windows installation), the headset's original WMR/SteamVR software path may continue to operate, subject to the PC, drivers and the particular SteamVR application. On Windows 11 24H2 or later, the operating system removal blocks that original setup path; installing SteamVR alone does not replace WMR's headset runtime. Staying on 23H2 is a compatibility choice with security and lifecycle trade-offs, not a recommendation to avoid normal Windows updates. The November 2026 date is the end of Microsoft's WMR servicing/support commitment, not a physical switch that proves every headset stops working that day.
Availability and support caveat
HP's 2020 announcement documents launch pricing and planned availability, while its current support record still exposes specifications and the original one-year warranty. Neither source supplies a dated end-of-sale notice or a 2026 replacement-parts guarantee. Treat “discontinued,” “new old stock,” and used-market availability as seller-specific claims unless a listing provides its own evidence. This page therefore does not invent an end-of-sale date: platform retirement is verified by Microsoft; HP's current parts availability remains unverified and should be checked by serial number and country before buying.
Sources
- HP, “HP, Valve, and Microsoft Removing Distance Barriers…” (May 28, 2020) — launch, original platform compatibility and headline features.
- HP Reverb G2 datasheet — display, dimensions, package, warranty and revision notes.
- HP product specifications and warranty record — OS, ports, PC baseline and warranty statement.
- Microsoft, “Features and functionality removed in Windows” — WMR removal in 24H2 and November 2026 support boundary.
- Road to VR, “Hands-on: New Reverb G2 Tweaks…” (Nov. 2, 2021) — independent G2/G2.1 face-interface and measured-FOV comparison.