Acer’s ConceptD VR headset compared to the HP Reverb

Update 2021

Unfortunately Acer abandoned their plans to build the ConceptD OJO as a retail headset.

Acer has announced a new high resolution Windows Mixed Reality headset called the ConceptD OJO. With two panels running at 2160×2160 per eye, the ConceptD has a 4,320 x 2,160 combined resolution. This is identical to the recently announced HP Reverb VR headset, that also features 4,320 x 2,160 combined. People have reported amazing VR clarity when testing HP’s Reverb, so this sounds very promising.

While a higher resolution doesn’t always create a better experience, it’s interesting to note that the recently announced Oculus Rift S has a resolution of only 2,560 by 1,440 (almost half of these two headsets).

While the HP Reverb and Acer ConceptD share a similar resolution, the Acer ConceptD has a manual IPD adjustment (interpupillary distance). This is a definite bonus, especially if your IPD is very wide or very narrow (plus 70 milimetres or minus 60 milimetres) as it can avoid motion sickness in some cases and produce greater clarity for those people at these extremes. The HP Reverb adjusts IPD distance using software only.

Another difference is in the overall design. Acer’s ConceptD headset, according to its press event, is “detachable and swappable”. Apparently this means you can detach the actual display and padding parts of the headset for cleaning purposes in public use environments like VR arcades. The Acer ConceptD also looks heavier than the HP Reverb and clunkier (although no one has been allowed to try it yet so it may be lighter and easier to use than it looks). The HP Reverb seems to have taken all of its design cues from the original Oculus Rift headset and is only 500 grams (1.1 pounds), excluding the cable. The original Oculus Rift headset is extremely comfortable.

Another difference could be in the audio department. Acer mentioned that the ConceptD headset has something called a “patented sound pipe”, but its unclear if this just means you can take off the attached headphones and still receive audio (like the Oculus Quest) or simply that the headphones are removable.

Because both are Windows Mixed Reality headets, they both use Microsoft’s VR inside out tracking (two cameras at the front detect embedded leds in the controllers and headset). This tracking is generally considered to be inferior to Oculus’s “outside in” (and its new “inside out” tracking). And definitely not as good as the HTC Vive’s base station “Outside in” tracking.

Acer’s ConceptD OJO headset is part of their new brand of gadgets designed for professional creators, which includes a stunning 4K, 43inch 144htz refresh rate monitor.

I’m looking forward to testing out both headsets when they arrive later this year. The HP Reverb headset is launching in April, but there is no release date yet for the ConceptD. Given that the HP Reverb, Oculus Quest and Oculus Rift S are all landing in April, I would guess Acer will aim for a similar time frame to avoid being lost in a crowded market.