Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | HP - Reverb G2 (v2) | Valve - Index |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz | 144 Hz |
| Field of view | 114 ° | 130 ° |
Between the Reverb G2 (v2) and Index, the Reverb G2 (v2) comes out ahead in several specs, while the Index wins on refresh rate / field of view. Overall, the Reverb G2 (v2) scores 67.8 and the Index scores 65.4 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (67.8 vs 65.4). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
The Reverb G2 (v2) does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the Index if the display is what you stare at all day — refresh rate, brightness, or sharpness is where the difference will be most visible. Its strongest claims are refresh rate, field of view. The single most decisive one: Refresh rate — 60.00% more. 144 Hz vs 90 Hz.
Both ship with comparable standalone, eye tracking, color passthrough, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: HP - Reverb G2 (v2) or Valve - Index?
HP - Reverb G2 (v2) leads the current Mars Score by 2.4 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare refresh rate, field of view against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose HP - Reverb G2 (v2) if…
HP - Reverb G2 (v2) does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
Choose Valve - Index if…
Valve - Index has the measurable edge on refresh rate hz, fov deg.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why HP - Reverb G2 (v2) wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Valve - Index wins
- ▲Refresh rate — 60.00% more. 144 Hz vs 90 Hz.
- ▲Field of view — 14.04% more. 130 ° vs 114 °.
Spec comparison
Display
| Spec | HP - Reverb G2 (v2) | Valve - Index |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution per eye | 2160x2160 | 1440x1600 |
| Refresh rateⓘ | 90 Hz | 144 Hzlead |
| Field of view | 114 ° | 130 °lead |
| Panelⓘ | LCD | LCD |
Tracking & Audio
| Spec | HP - Reverb G2 (v2) | Valve - Index |
|---|---|---|
| Inside-out tracking | truelead | false |
| Eye tracking | false | false |
| Face tracking | false | false |
| Color passthrough | false | false |
Compute
| Spec | HP - Reverb G2 (v2) | Valve - Index |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone | false | false |
| Battery | 0 h | 0 h |