HP Reverb G2 to Pimax Crystal Light: 10 Key Questions You Should Know
We collected 10 frequently asked questions from Discord, Reddit, and pre-sale support in order to help G2 users find their ideal headset to upgrade. You can now apply for an $80 discount when upgrading from G2 to Crystal Light, so don't miss your chance!
1. What are the main differences between HP Reverb G2 and Pimax Crystal Light?
Crystal Light has got...
- Wider FOV: 120°(h) x 105°(v) vs. 98°(h) x 90°(v)
- Higher clarity: 16.59 million pixels vs. 9.33 million pixels
- Brighter display: Glass lenses vs. Plastic lenses
- Larger sweet spot: Aspheric lenses vs. Fresnel lenses
- Better color vividness and contrast: QLED+MiniLED (local dimming) screen vs. LCD screen
2. Is Pimax Crystal Light worth the cost compared to the value of HP Reverb G2?
The Crystal Light is a clear step up from the G2 in clarity, field of view, and long-term support, making it a solid investment for sim enthusiasts.
- G2 launch price: $599
- Crystal Light (after $80 G2 user discount): $807
- Performance boost: For just $200 more, experience a significant upgrade in visual quality and immersion.
- Long-term support: The G2 relies on WMR, which has been discontinued, while the Crystal Light features cutting-edge hardware and ongoing software improvements, ensuring long-term compatibility.
3. What supported features does Pimax Crystal Light offer that HP Reverb G2 doesn't have?
Integrated OpenXR
Native OpenXR support ensures smoother performance and broader compatibility across modern VR applications, eliminating the need for additional middleware. (Added in a Pimax Play update, improving ease of use and long-term support.)
Upscale mode
Upscale mode allows users to boost performance by rendering at a lower resolution and upscaling, balancing clarity and frame rates for demanding simulations. (Introduced via Pimax Play updates, expanding flexibility for different hardware setups.)
Fixed Foveated Rendering & Quad-Views
These optimizations reduce GPU load by prioritizing resolution where it matters most, enhancing performance in titles like MSFS and DCS.
"So far it's very good compared to G2, more option in software, DCS works perfect"
4. Is Pimax Play for Pimax Crystal Light user-friendly compared to HP Reverb G2 interface?
The G2 is locked to Windows Mixed Reality (discontinued) and used to require unofficially supported, user-driven OpenXR solutions for DCS.
Crystal Light runs on Pimax Play, offering:
-
Built-in OpenXR, better compatibility with DCS and other games rely on OpenXR
-
Regular updates, ensuring long-term optimization
-
Intuitive interface, making setup and adjustments easy
A smoother long-term experience with no need for extra third-party fixes!
5. What is the build quality and durability of Pimax Crystal Light compared to HP Reverb G2?
Both headsets are built with high-quality materials, ensuring durability. Crystal Light is slightly heavier and bulkier than G2, but this is due to its more advanced optics and features. Comfort can be easily improved with accessories like additional straps and counterweights, making it much more balanced and comfortable for long sessions.
6. What improvements in performance have you noticed with Pimax Crystal Light?
Users have reported significant performance enhancements with Crystal Light compared to G2. Check out their honest review:
"Loving my PCL. The visual experience is both clearer AND smoother in the 90hz upscale mode compared to my HP Reverb G2. After dialing in my IPD, I have zero complaints about the lenses. No, it's not perfect edge-to-edge clarity as there does appear to be some minor chromatic aberration/blurriness on the periphery, but not enough for me to notice unless I'm looking for it, which is expected with these aspheric lenses. I'm not sure if they improved their QC, if I got lucky, or if I'm just less bothered by imperfections than some, but I am very satisfied with my PCL. I don't think there's a better PCVR headset out there."
"The clarity is a massive step up from my G2 and Oculus 3. No screen door, no artifacts, rich colors. Requires a little tweaking to suit and some double-sided velcro to fit the wide face plate.
Pre-delivery service was a little poor but after-sales servicehas been really fantastic.
Very happy with my headset."
"I am very satisfied with Pimax, the delivery to France from the warehouse in Europe was very fast with excellent tracking. No quality problems with the headset, the optics are flawless, and very easy to install. Coming from a G2 that broke down, the difference is obvious, and the image is fantastic with QLED screens. I am very happy, really great.
L'image dans DCS est incroyable, saturation des couleurs, netteté, définition d'image, les noirs sont fantastiques."
7. Are there any downsides to upgrading from HP Reverb G2 to Pimax Crystal Light?
- Comfort: Many users find Crystal Light less comfortable out-of-the-box vs. G2 but the comfort issue can be easily solved with additional paddings and straps.
- Audio: The default audio for Crystal Light is not as good as the G2, but the DMAS add-on brings it to the same standard.
- PC Requirement: For those seeking higher frame rates and more detailed visuals, GPUs like the RTX 3070 and above are better suited to fully leverage Crystal Light's high-resolution capabilities, offering a more immersive and visually stunning experience.
"Awesome compared to G2, unfortunately, it's less comfortable than g2, but clarity and resolution are better a lot than G2"
"Came from Reverb G2, flight simmer (MSFS, II2, DCS) with a decent pc (9800X3D & 4090).
I was very happy with the Reverb but after the MS support cutoff, I had to find the next HMD. Heard a lot of bad things about Pimax (support, quality issues), but there is a 2 weeks trial period so there is nothing to lose. Now I have this hmd for over a month and here are my thoughts
Pros:
-superb clarity & visuals. Everything as sharp as a 1440p monitor on native resolution
-plug & play and works well
-good support
Cons:
-out of the box it is very uncomfortable
-needs to be tweaked to have good visuals and needs a powerful pc
-a bit bulky"
8. How is customer support for Crystal Light users?
Pimax has been continuously improving customer support since the launch of Crystal Light.
- Faster Response Times: Support tickets can now receive a response within one business day.
- Improved Shipping Efficiency: Orders now ship within 3-5 days from local warehouses, significantly reducing wait times from the previous 3-4 weeks.
- Expanded Online Resources: The Pimax website and YouTube channel now offer detailed setup guides for different PC configurations and games.
- Enhanced Community Support: The Pimax Crystal Light Discord server provides fast peer-to-peer support for both hardware and game-related questions. Additionally, Pimax collaborates with industry experts to host regular AMA sessions for flight and racing enthusiasts.
9. Can existing HP Reverb G2 accessories be used with Pimax Crystal Light?
G2 users on Reddit started a discussion about keeping parts of the Reverb G2 alive, where they mentioned that the G2 off-ear speakers can be adapted for use with the Crystal Light. Simply grind down the connector stub slightly and use washers to adjust the screw length and you can get significantly improved audio with louder, clearer sound and better bass. The Reddit thread for more details can be checked out here.
As for other G2 accessories, there’s no known compatibility with the Crystal Light currently. However, you're always welcome to explore creative ways to repurpose your G2 gear!
10. What's the learning curve like when switching from HP Reverb G2 to Pimax Crystal Light?
The Crystal Light was generally easier to set up and performed well out of the box with little tinkering.
"Coming from a Reverb G2, the thing I like the most about the Crystal Light is the ease of use. It generally just works when I launch Pimax Play. One time I had to tell it to reset the headset and then it came up. Having OpenXR and Quadviews integrated into the software is also nice. It was a bit of a dance before with Windows Mixed Reality to get things up and running every time I wanted to fly in VR."
"I've come from a G2 and have tried the Crystal light. I can honestly say it's 100% improvement on the G2 and a worthwhile upgrade."