HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset review: I'm a believer

We picked up a HP Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) Headset from Microsoft for me to review and trial, and while WMR is still firmly what I'd call an "early on adopter" feel, I'm now a laic in the future of this paradigm, if Microsoft and its OEM partners can iron out the problems.

At this bespeak, I have only used HoloLens, PlayStation VR, HP's WMR headset, Dell'due south Visor WMR headset, with a brief amount of fourth dimension with Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive at various trade shows. Some of the issues I've had with HP'southward headset is more to exercise with their design choices, rather than Mixed Reality itself, but it shows that Microsoft still needs to accept a firm grip over how OEMs build these experiences to ensure early adopters and regular consumers get a decent feel. Still, this is a keen (and affordable) first endeavor from HP.

HP WMR Headset Tech Specs

• Displays: 1440 10 1440 per centre (2880 10 1440 combined), LCD, 90Hz
• Field of view: 95 degrees
• Sensors: Accelerometer, gyroscope, and proximity sensor
• Audio: iii.5mm philharmonic jack
• Dimensions: 338.84 mm (W) 10 176.02 mm (50) x 127.76 mm (H)
• Weight: 834 grams
• Connectivity: HDMI and USB iii.0
• Price: $329 standlone, $449 with controllers

Run into at Microsoft Store

Design and condolement

The HP WMR headset sports a pretty standardized VR headset design, black with a front-heavy visor and an adaptable "halo" headband. The dial on the reverse of the headband is pervasive across the WMR line-upwards, including HoloLens, and tin be turned to tighten or loosen the headband at volition. Despite the adjustability of the headset, I nevertheless found it quite difficult to notice a "perfect" position with this production, mainly due to the thick, stifling padding HP used on the visor itself.

While you lot tin can flip it upwards on a hinge, when in use the visor practically clings to your face. Given the autumnal temperatures here in Germany, condensation quickly became an event for me with this headset. To gainsay it, I had to position the headset in a way that information technology was angled away from my peel, to foreclose the visor bedroom from becoming steamed up. Information technology was a constant source of frustration that I simply didn't have with other headsets, including Dell's Visor, which has large gaps to keep the air flowing. I could probably solve information technology by cut gaps in the foam from HP's visor, but damaging an expensive product like this never seems similar a skillful idea.

Once I institute a position I could piece of work with, I establish the headset to be completely comfortable. It's the heaviest headset of the electric current lineup, at over 800 grams, but I never felt that this was an consequence, even after a few hours of play time.

The headset comes with a socket for a HDMI and USB combo cable, as well every bit a jack for iii.5mm audio underneath. Both role well, although the sheer number of cables involved is a connected badgerer with VR in general. It made me yearn for HoloLens' completely wireless grade factor, simply this is ultimately a different, fully immersive experience that HoloLens isn't yet capable of.

Windows Mixed Reality experience

The HP WMR headset is pretty standard when information technology compares to other WMR headsets on the market. In terms of displays, it's beaten past Samsung, Dell, and ASUS, which sport college per-eye resolution and fields of view. Indeed, y'all can "see" the black edges of the eyepieces with this headset quite easily, owing to its field of view, but it'due south not a large problem.

WMR is an experience still in its infancy, every bit such, I feel as though I've gone back in time with some aspects of the tech. For example, all the games I tested await as though they were plucked from a previous generation, with low res assets and textures, and the "quality" of the HP headset's display reminds me of when you lot await at monitors upwardly closely, with large visible pixel edges. I'm non sure how they could take solved these issues at this early stage, but the resolution of games in WMR'due south "Ultra" configuration is a far cry from the Xbox I X'southward photorealistic 4K gaming capabilities. You're not here for the raw graphics, though, y'all're here for the feel.

Playing Arizona Sunshine, I completely forgot I was wearing a headset, and got fully immersed slaying zombies with the surprisingly capable WMR Movement Trackers (built by Microsoft, non HP). I did have some issues with the Motion Trackers, though, given the fact they use Bluetooth equally their master source of connectivity.

Just got my first ever Mixed Reality Xbox achievements ... I BELIEVE. #ArizonaSunshine pic.twitter.com/G12EBgJkTQ

— Jez☕ (@JezCorden) November sixteen, 2022

Initially, I couldn't become them to track within games at all, making the experience virtually unusable. Installing the latest Bluetooth drivers for my laptop completely fixed my issues, but if you're a casual computer user, this is far from what I'd telephone call an ideal scenario to be in. I experience as though WMR would take been meliorate served using something proprietary like Xbox Wireless, bundled with a USB dongle, rather than Bluetooth, given how notoriously interference-prone it is.

Even with the Bluetooth updates, the WMR controllers judder and jiggle inside the experience, which is a piffling annoying, but not game-breakingly so. Hopefully it'due south something they can prepare via firmware and software updates in the futurity. And that'south really the matter with WMR, it's all the same early days, and yous can certainly feel that aspect of it with the product.

For more details on my thoughts on today's version of Windows Mixed Reality itself, rather than this headset, head over here.

Final thoughts

Overall, though, the HP headset made me a laic in virtual reality equally a method for delivering games. The tracking of the controllers (after updates) and the headset itself was stone solid, and immersive. And equally someone who suffers from motility sickness incredibly easily, I was amazed that HP'southward headset made VR experience completely natural to me, in a way that felt spacious and inviting, rather than blinding and claustrophobic.

Pros:

• Comfortable, functional design.
• No motion sickness!
• Immersive gaming experiences.

Cons:

• Visor chamber can get steamed upwardly easily.
• Field of view isn't as wide as it could be.
• Windows Mixed Reality has a long way to get as an Os experience.

You might not get a "premium" experience with this HP headset, similar you might with Samsung's higher-res AMOLED displays, but I think at this early on stage of WMR's development, it'southward probably smarter to spring in at the cheaper terminate for now, unless money is no object. HP'south headset does the chore for those who might be curious about the potential this format has for Microsoft and beyond.

See at Microsoft Shop

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/hp-windows-mixed-reality-headset-review-im-believer

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