Skillsive

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HP Reverb G2 vs Valve Index

Both devices below are described from their manufacturers’ own specification pages. Where a row does not apply to one of them, it says so rather than showing a dash — that is a different statement from “the maker does not publish it”.

Differences you can see

Pictures first, table second. Every chart is computed from the same published fields you can read below it — nothing here is an illustration.

  • HP Reverb G2
  • Valve Index

Resolution per eye

Panels at true pixel scale, one inside the other.

The sharpest panel here has 102% more pixels per eye than the softest — that is what you gain on small text inside a scene.

Launch price

On the whole catalogue’s scale, from $199 to $38500.

HP Reverb G2$599
Valve Index$999
$199$38500

On sale, and supported

Two different questions: how long you can still buy it new, and how long the manufacturer keeps updating it. The dashed line is the end of a three-year training programme (2029).

HP Reverb G2 sold 2020–2026 · support until 2026

Valve Index on sale since 2019 · no published end of support

20182030

Sold and supported are not the same thing. A model can leave the shelves while its maker keeps shipping software to the units you already own — and it can stay on the shelves with no published support commitment at all.

What actually differs

Computed from the two records, most decisive first.

  • Price band

    HP Reverb G2
    Mid range
    Valve Index
    Premium
  • Launch price

    HP Reverb G2
    $599
    Valve Index
    $999
  • Resolution per eye

    HP Reverb G2
    2160x2160
    Valve Index
    1440x1600
  • Field of view

    HP Reverb G2
    98° horizontal
    Valve Index
  • Refresh rate

    HP Reverb G2
    90 Hz
    Valve Index
    80/90/120/144 Hz
  • Weight

    HP Reverb G2
    550 g
    Valve Index
  • Availability

    HP Reverb G2
    Discontinued
    Valve Index
    On sale
  • Manufacturer

    HP Reverb G2
    HP
    Valve Index
    Valve
  • Announced

    HP Reverb G2
    2020-05-28
    Valve Index
    2019-04-30
  • Released

    HP Reverb G2
    2020
    Valve Index
    2019
  • Support ends

    HP Reverb G2
    2026-11-01
    Valve Index
  • Swappable facial interface

    HP Reverb G2
    Yes
    Valve Index
    No

They match on 20 further specifications.

Full specification, row by row

36 of 87 rows differ.

Specifications of the selected headsets, one column per model
Specification
ManufacturerWho makes it — and who you buy support from.HPValve
CategoryWhich kind of product this is. It decides which rows below make sense at all.VR — PC-tetheredVR — PC-tethered
Device typeWhere the computing happens, and therefore what you need to run it.PC-powered VRPC-powered VR
AnnouncedThe day it was shown, which is not the day it shipped.2020-05-282019-04-30
ReleasedYear the model went on sale. Older is not automatically worse in this category.20202019
AvailabilityWhether you can still order it new today.DiscontinuedOn sale
Support endsThe date the manufacturer stops supporting it. Decisive for a fleet you are about to buy.2026-11-01Support ends: not published by the manufacturer
PanelThe screen type. micro-OLED gives deeper blacks and higher contrast; LCD is brighter and cheaper.LCDLCD
OpticsThe lenses in front of the panel. Pancake stays sharp closer to the edges than older Fresnel, which decides how much a trainee has to aim their head to read something.Fresnel lensesCanted dual-element
Eyes coveredOne eye or both. Over a full shift this is a real difference in fatigue.Both eyesEyes covered: not published by the manufacturer
Resolution per eyePixels delivered to each eye. Higher means small text and labels stay readable.2160x21601440x1600*VRcompare
Refresh rateImages per second. Higher feels smoother and helps people prone to motion discomfort.90 Hz80/90/120/144 Hz
Field of viewHow much of your view the image covers. Bigger is more immersive, not automatically better for work.98° horizontal*VRcompare measurementField of view: not published by the manufacturer
Pixel densityPixels per degree of view — the honest way to compare sharpness between a headset and a pair of glasses. Higher is sharper. Only shown where somebody published it; we never compute it ourselves.Pixel density: not published by the manufacturerPixel density: not published by the manufacturer
BrightnessIn a plant or outdoors, brightness decides legibility more than resolution does.Brightness: not published by the manufacturerBrightness: not published by the manufacturer
WeightThe device alone. Anything above roughly 150 g is felt within an hour.550 gWeight: not published by the manufacturer
Visible field of viewWhat the eye actually sees through the optics, by axis.98° horizontal · 90° vertical · 107° diagonal108° horizontal · 104° vertical
Rendered field of viewWhat the device draws. Never smaller than what you see.98.85° horizontal · 90.85° vertical · 107.52° diagonal108.06° horizontal · 109.16° vertical · 114.43° diagonal
Binocular overlapWhere both eyes see the same thing — this is where depth happens.84.31°*VRcompare measurement85.93°
Average pixel densityPixels per degree across the image. More is sharper.Average pixel density: not published by the manufacturer13.3 PPD horizontal · 15.4 PPD vertical (computed)
Peak pixel densityThe sharpest point, usually the centre of the lens.Peak pixel density: not published by the manufacturerPeak pixel density: not published by the manufacturer
Subpixel layoutHow the coloured dots sit in a pixel. A stripe looks cleaner on text than PenTile.RGB stripe · 3 subpixels per pixelRGB stripe · 3 subpixels per pixel
Foveated renderingWhether detail is dropped outside where you look, to save performance.NoneFoveated rendering: not published by the manufacturer
PassthroughWhat the front cameras give you: colour, grayscale, or nothing.Passthrough: not published by the manufacturerNone
Passthrough camerasResolution, density and frame rate of that camera feed.Passthrough cameras: not published by the manufacturerPassthrough cameras: not published by the manufacturer
IPD adjustmentMatching lens spacing to the eyes. Motorised is fastest when one headset passes between people.ManualManual
IPD rangeHow far the lenses travel to match eye spacing. A narrow range excludes part of any group of adults, which matters when one headset is shared.60–68 mmIPD range: not published by the manufacturer
Works with glassesWhether people who wear glasses can use it — fits over them, or takes prescription lens inserts.Works with glasses: not published by the manufacturerWorks with glasses: not published by the manufacturer
Vision correctionHow somebody who wears glasses uses it, and in what dioptre range.Vision correction: not published by the manufacturerVision correction: not published by the manufacturer
DimensionsWidth, height and depth of the device itself.186 × 75 × 84 mmDimensions: not published by the manufacturer
Weight with strapWith the strap it ships with — the weight you actually wear.Weight with strap: not published by the manufacturerWeight with strap: not published by the manufacturer
Head strapSoft band or a rigid one. Decides how the weight sits over an hour.HeadbandRigid strap with a dial
MaterialsShell and facial interface, in the vendor’s words.plastic · foam facial interfacePlastic · foam facial interface
ColoursColours the manufacturer sells it in.BlackBlack
Haptics in the headsetVibration in the headset itself, not in the controllers.NoNo
TrackingWhether content stays put in the room (6DoF), follows head rotation (3DoF) or is simply fixed.inside-out 6DoFoutside-in 6DoF (SteamVR base stations)
Base stationsWhether boxes have to be mounted on the walls before it works.Not neededRequired
Tracking camerasHow many cameras it uses to know where it is.4Tracking cameras: not published by the manufacturer
Tracking rateHow often position is recalculated. Higher is steadier.Tracking rate: not published by the manufacturerTracking rate: not published by the manufacturer
Depth sensorA dedicated sensor for distance, on top of the cameras.NoDepth sensor: not published by the manufacturer
Hand trackingWhether bare hands can operate the interface, without a controller or the phone.NoNo
Eye trackingThe headset knows where the trainee is looking. Enables sharper rendering where they look, and attention analytics.NoNo
Face trackingTracks facial expression — for avatars, not for training scenarios.NoNo
Body trackingHow much of the body the device knows about. Estimated legs are not tracked legs.NoneNone
Controllers includedWhether motion controllers come in the box, or are bought separately — or the device is hands-only.YesYes
Controller modelThe manufacturer's own name for the controller.HP Reverb G2 ControllersIndex Controller
Controller tracking6DoF controllers track position and rotation, so a hand reaches in space; 3DoF only point. “None” means hands only.6DoF6DoF
Finger tracking on the controllerWhether the controller senses individual fingers, and how.Finger tracking on the controller: not published by the manufacturerFull
Controller inputsButtons, sticks and triggers the controller offers.thumbstick · analog trigger · analog grip · A/B and X/Y buttons · menu button · Windows buttonCapacitive thumbstick · trackpad · capacitive face buttons · capacitive index trigger · pressure sensitive grip
Controller hapticsVibration feedback in the hand.YesYes
Controller powerDisposable cells or a built-in rechargeable — a fleet question.AA batteriesController power: not published by the manufacturer
Controller weightOne controller, as the vendor weighs it.167 g196 g
Other input methodsWays in beyond controllers and bare hands.Other input methods: not published by the manufacturerOther input methods: not published by the manufacturer
ProcessorThe processor and memory inside. This is what the performance grade above is derived from.Processor: not published by the manufacturerProcessor: not published by the manufacturer
CPUCores and clocks, where the manufacturer publishes them.CPU: not published by the manufacturerCPU: not published by the manufacturer
GPUThe graphics part of the chip.GPU: not published by the manufacturerGPU: not published by the manufacturer
MemoryRAM on the device. Together with the chipset it sets how complex a scene can be.Memory: not published by the manufacturerMemory: not published by the manufacturer
SD card slotWhether storage can be added with a card.SD card slot: not published by the manufacturerSD card slot: not published by the manufacturer
BatteryRuntime as the manufacturer states it. A hot-swappable pack matters more than the figure.Battery: not published by the manufacturerBattery: not published by the manufacturer
Battery capacity (Wh)Energy in the cell. Bigger is longer, given the same power draw.Battery capacity (Wh): not published by the manufacturerBattery capacity (Wh): not published by the manufacturer
Battery capacity (mAh)The same fact in the other unit vendors use. We never convert between the two.Battery capacity (mAh): not published by the manufacturerBattery capacity (mAh): not published by the manufacturer
Charge timeFrom empty to full. Rarely stated by the manufacturer, so it usually comes from whoever timed it.Charge time: not published by the manufacturerCharge time: not published by the manufacturer
ChargerPower of the supplied charger — it decides the charge time above.Charger: not published by the manufacturerCharger: not published by the manufacturer
External batteryBattery on a cable or a puck instead of on the head.External battery: not published by the manufacturerExternal battery: not published by the manufacturer
Charging caseExtra runtime carried in the case the glasses ship with.Charging case: not published by the manufacturerCharging case: not published by the manufacturer
Hot-swap batteryWhether a charged battery can replace the empty one without ending the session. This is what decides if a headset can hold an all-day training station.Hot-swap battery: not published by the manufacturerHot-swap battery: not published by the manufacturer
Runs Skillsive appsOur own statement about whether Skillsive training applications run on it today.NoNo
Suitable for trainingOur judgement on whether it survives real deployment: comfort, hygiene, fleet management.NoNo
Kiosk mode / MDMVendor tooling to enrol devices, push an app and lock the headset to it. Practically required above ten devices.NoNo
Business tierAn official business tier, so devices belong to the company rather than to employees’ personal accounts.NoNo
Swappable facial interfaceRemovable, wipeable face padding. A consumable, and the difference between shared use and complaints.YesNo
CertificationsIndustrial certifications stated on the manufacturer's own page. Empty means unconfirmed, never "probably fine".Certifications: not published by the manufacturerCertifications: not published by the manufacturer
PortsPhysical sockets and charging contacts.DisplayPort 1.3 · USB 3.0 Type-C · power adapterFront USB port
Wi-FiThe Wi-Fi generation — it decides how well wireless streaming holds up.Wi-Fi: not published by the manufacturerWi-Fi: not published by the manufacturer
BluetoothFor controllers, headphones and accessories.Bluetooth: not published by the manufacturerBluetooth: not published by the manufacturer
Video from a computerWhether a computer can drive it, over a cable or wirelessly.Over a cableOver a cable
AudioBuilt-in sound. Matters most where somebody has to hear a remote expert while working.Built-in speakersBuilt-in speakers · Headphone jack
MicrophoneBuilt-in microphone — the other half of talking to a remote expert.YesYes
MicrophonesHow many. An array picks a voice out of a noisy hall; one does not.Microphones: not published by the manufacturerMicrophones: not published by the manufacturer
Price bandThe band it sits in, rather than a price that goes stale.Mid rangePremium
Launch priceThe manufacturer's launch price. Fixed history, so it never goes stale.$599$999
Price by configurationWhat each configuration cost at launch.Price by configuration: not published by the manufacturerPrice by configuration: not published by the manufacturer
Price todayApproximate current net price in USD — a general figure, since these barely differ between regions once tax is stripped out. A snapshot from the date shown, not an offer.Price today: not published by the manufacturerPrice today: not published by the manufacturer
Comfort (from reviews)How it wears over a full session. Scored from agreement between independent reviewers, not from our own testing.3 / 5Road to VR called it comfortable enough and better than the G1, without moving the bar for VR comfort; Pocket-lint put a comfortable fit among its pros and the velcro head strap among its cons. At 550 g it sits in the middle of the field.Road to VR review,Pocket-lint reviewComfort (from reviews): not published by the manufacturer
Edge clarity (from reviews)Sharpness away from the centre of the lens. Scored from agreement between independent reviewers.Edge clarity (from reviews): not published by the manufacturerEdge clarity (from reviews): not published by the manufacturer
Tracking reliability (from reviews)How tracking holds up in poor light and fast movement. Scored from agreement between independent reviewers.Tracking reliability (from reviews): not published by the manufacturerTracking reliability (from reviews): not published by the manufacturer
Hand tracking quality (from reviews)How usable controller-free hand tracking is in a training scenario. Scored from agreement between reviewers.Hand tracking quality (from reviews): not published by the manufacturerHand tracking quality (from reviews): not published by the manufacturer

“—” means the manufacturer does not publish that figure. “≈” with an asterisk means it was measured by somebody else — follow the asterisk for who. Prices are an indicative net figure in USD, a snapshot from the date on each model page, not an offer.

Product and company names used here are the trademarks of their respective owners and appear only to identify the hardware being compared. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any of these manufacturers. Illustrations are our own.