After doing a brief unboxing and first impressions, we’ve had enough time to do a full PSVR 2 review, which is good because there is a lot to say about Sony’s follow-up to the original PSVR.

The original PSVR was released way back in 2016 for the PS4 and sold surprisingly well, even surpassing Sony’s own expectations, proving that consoles were a good platform for VR, so it’s no surprise that they are trying to recreate this success with the PS5.

Of course, the original PSVR wasn’t Sony’s first go at VR, they had previously experimented with this technology back in the 90s with the Visotron and Glasstron, though of course the technological constraints of the time limited the capabilities of these products.

This meant these devices were little more than head-mounted displays, with no virtual reality features to speak of. The point is that Sony has been at this game for a while now, and with the monstrous power of the PS5 behind the PSVR 2, it should be a stunning experience. So, enjoy our full PSVR 2 review as we find out if it’s a worthy addition to your gaming setup.

PSVR 2 specs

Sony PSVR 2

Weight

560g/19.8oz

Cameras

4 embedded cameras for headset and controller tracking IR camera for eye tracking per eye

Sensors

Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer) Attachment Sensor: IR Proximity sensor

Display resolution

2000 x 2040 per eye OLED panels

FOV (field of view)

Approx. 110 degrees

Refresh rate

90Hz, 120Hz

How We Review

Pros

Comfortable
Lightweight
Ergonomic controllers

Cons

Exterior feels cheap
Very pricy

What’s in the box & setup

PSVR 2 headset
PlayStation VR2 Sense controller (Left & right) with wrist straps
USB A to USB Type-C charging cable
Stereo earbuds
6 earbud size options
User manual
Warranty guide

The unremarkable unboxing experience belies some uncharacteristic corporate responsibility on Sony’s part, which is nice to see. We’d normally expect an expensive delicate product to be surrounded in foam, with each individual accessory and component hidden away in padded cubby holes.

Instead, unboxing the PSVR 2 is a rather spartan affair, with the headset and controllers held snug in a single piece of form-fitting cardboard, each wrapped in anti-scratch bags. The accessories, manual, and warranty info are held in a blank cardboard box positioned above the controllers.

So, you’ll be underwhelmed by the packaging of the PSVR 2, but you should also be gratified that Sony is taking steps to reduce the amount of waste that typically plagues packaging.

While unremarkable, the packaging is very utilitarian, and you can be confident that your PSVR 2 will arrive undamaged, though we’d recommend keeping the box in the event that you need to transport the headset as it does feel a bit fragile.

PSVR 2 setup process

Of course, as with any VR headset, setup is a bit of a hassle, though Sony has streamlined it down to about 15 minutes. essentially, plug the PSVR 2 into the USB Type-C port on the front of the PS5, and you’ll be taken through the process step-by-step.

This starts on the TV screen and switches to the PSVR 2 display to set up things like eye tracking and inter-pupillary distance. The setup will also detail how to adjust the headband and all the other stuff to make the headset fit comfortably.

It’s worth noting here that if you wear glasses, put them on before now otherwise the settings might not be correct when you do put them on. We’d also recommend going through this process, then plugging the PSVR 2 Sense controllers in to charge while you enjoy a beer or something, as they aren’t charged much out of the box.

Once you’ve charged the controllers and refreshed yourself, you are ready to enter the virtual world provided by the PSVR 2. Luckily, putting on the headset means that you don’t have to look at it. Speaking of which:

PSVR 2 headset design

Bulbous is a good word, perhaps swollen. In our first impressions, we noted that it looked like the PSVR2 was suffering from the effects of an allergic reaction and we stand by this sentiment.

Sony has clearly taken steps to keep the look of the PSVR 2 consistent with the PS5, which is good for aesthetic cohesiveness but has resulted in a VR headset we can’t help but call ugly.

This isn’t to say that it’s not a well-thought-out design. The long sweeping curves of the PS5 have been replicated here as the PSVR 2 has a broad, rounded curve to it. We suspect the size and shape are a result of the necessary FoV required by the built-in cameras to reliably track the controllers.

The color scheme is familiar too, with the outer plastics of the PSVR 2 being white in color, while the interior surfaces are black, echoing the two-tone look of the PS5.

We also find an odd triangular grommet on each side of the headband near the back, which kind of standout due to the sharp shape. We giggled a bit when we found out that you stash the built-in earbuds here as it sounds useless.

Our incredulity was proven foolish when we found out that it’s actually quite smart to have a consistent location in which to find them when you’re blind to the outside world, the incongruous design notwithstanding.

If you’d prefer a more robust set of cans, we’re pleased to report that you can wear over ear headphones with the PSVR 2, though headphones with super thick ear cushions might be a bit of a tight fit. We assume that the PS5 Pulse headset and the more recent INZONE H series of headsets will fit too.

Happily, we don’t have much else to talk about in terms of design as the PSVR 2, unlike the original PSVR, doesn’t require an external camera or breakout box to clutter your gaming space. The controllers connect wirelessly and the headset itself manages everything via a single unremovable USB Type-C cable, which is pretty incredible when you think about it. What isn’t incredible, however, is the build quality.

Build quality and comfort

Unfortunately, the PSVR 2 doesn’t feel that good. Don’t get us wrong, the comfort is outstanding as the PSVR 2 only weighs 565g/1.24lbs. However, in pursuit of this impressively low weight, it would appear that Sony has turned to some cheap-feeling plastics.

The front of the PSVR 2 is the biggest culprit, the outermost white plastic panel on the front reminding us of a cheap plant pot. It also has a similar level of flex, which should hopefully give it enough bounce to survive a fall or two.

That being said, the parts of the PSVR 2 that actually make contact with the user feel really nice in terms of build quality and comfort. Squeezing the padded sections of the headband, you can feel the sort of ribbed internal structure that keeps the PSVR 2 comfy, secure, and stable during gameplay. So, the PSVR 2 only feels cheap on the outside, but how does it feel during gameplay?

The answer is fantastic. Once you dial in the settings the comfort is outstanding, allowing you to play VR games for extended periods without overheating, or otherwise getting uncomfortable. Preventing you from overheating is particularly impressive as the headset uses a rubber gasket of sorts to fill the gap between the front and your face.

This prevents errant light from leaking through and jeopardizing your immersion, which you’d think would also make the user really sweaty. Sony, however, has cleverly vented the headset. these vents can be found near the top of the headset, and in the grubber gasket as well. The grossly-named nose flaps also provide ventilation, while preventing heat build-up. Even during long periods of play, we never experienced any fogging, proving that Sony has done their homework here.

PSVR 2 controllers

Of course, the headset itself is only part of the Overall VR package, with a good pair of controllers completing the experience, Luckily, Sony’s PSVR 2 Sense controllers are mostly great, as we only have a couple of niggles here and there.

In terms of comfort and ergonomics, we have no complaints whatsoever. They fit the hand really well and the inputs are all comfortable enough to reach. Additionally, some worried that the position of the PS buttons would make them easy to accidentally press can rest easy as this turned out not to be the case.

What was a bit weird is the positioning of the face buttons. We’ve spent decades knowing that Circle, X, Square, and Triangle are on the right, accessible by the right thumb. Sony has now split this once-happy family up. Now Square and triangle are on the left controller and Circle and X are on the right. This took a while to adjust to, but it does make sense, everything else is sound, however, with the share and pause buttons remaining where you expect.

What does feel a little off, though, are the analog sticks. As they are smaller than normal it’s hard to use them accurately. Sort of the controller equivalent of a mouse with the DPI set too high. However, the analog sticks aren’t used all that much in the games we tested the PSVR 2 with, so it shouldn’t be much of a problem. Additionally, the analog sticks are touch sensitive, with resting your thumb on them typically closing a fist in-game. We mention this because it took an embarrassingly long time for us to figure out.

PSVR 2 gameplay experience

It’s kind of tricky to review a VR headset. When you get past the physical characteristics like comfort and build quality, it becomes down to the games. This means that the experience will differ a lot depending on the game in question.

Most of our time was split between Horizon: Call of the Mountain and Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, both of which are good examples to showcase the good and bad aspects of the PSVR 2. Horizon is a particularly glorious test of the lenses, providing a sumptuous mixture of rich foliage, distant misty valleys, and meticulously detailed cliffside houses. While Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge is less visually spectacular, the wide FoV of the PSVR 2 still gave us a sense of wonderment as we stood on the bridge gazing out as hyperspace rushed over the ship.

All of these were brilliantly realized with at times jaw-dropping levels of visual fidelity. Speaking of dropping, hanging from vines hundreds of feet above a chasm, and making the mistake of looking down provides a surprisingly intense feeling of vertigo, due to the 110-degree FoV and 4K resolution. The HDR also helped give everything a far richer look, providing more true-to-life colors, again, helping immersion.

Altrenatively, you can use the PSVR 2’s cinemtatic mode to give yourself your own personal cinema, as it renders a gigantic regular screen floating in a black void. This can be used to view general streaming content or play normal PS5 games, however we have doubts about how often this mode will be used. The PSVR 2 is comfortable, but not 3-hour movie comfortable. Luckily, switching bewtween these modes is done mostly automatically, with the option to manually switch viewing modes taking only a few button presses.

Additionally, if you find yourself tangled up, feeliong motion sick, or otherwise discombobulated, you can use the PSVR 2 see through mode to be given a 1:1 real-time view of the real world in greyscale. This can be accessed by pressing the button on the bottom right of the scope, which is helpful for knowing when comedian roommates or co-workers are about to trip you up.

The PSVR 2 Sense controllers also contributed to the VR experience in both games. The variable-resistance triggers faithfully recreated the rumbling sensation of a space-screwdriver in Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, and gave a flit of feedback when released to loose an arrow in Horizon: Call of the Mountain.

Now that the PSVR 2 has shirked the external camera of the original PSVR in favor of 4 cameras in the headset itself, tracking has been improved. We noticed no loss of connection or lag even when we contorted ourselves into the most uncompromising positions, often in full view of the entire WePC office. Though the aforementioned contortion did occasionally wind the 4.7m cable around our bodies worryingly tight.

With that said, the PSVR 2 is worlds ahead of the original PSVR. With a better design, simpler setup, and a far more impressive virtual reality experience. However, it’s unclear how much of the improved experience comes from the PSVR 2 and how much comes from the PS5. If you’re after the best VR experience on consoles, this is it, though some might find it hard to justify the price.

PSVR 2 review: FAQs!

If you’re eager to know everything about the PSVR 2, you’re in luck, as we’ve written a lot of pages about the PSVR 2. For your convenience, we’ve listed it all below!

PSVR 2 Review: Final Verdict

The PSVR 2 is a significant upgrade over the original. It takes full advantage of the PS5’s monstrous hardware to provide one of the best VR experiences we’ve had.

If you don’t mind the cable running down your back and occasionally coiling around you like a Boa constrictor, then the PSVR 2 provides a VR gaming experience far superior to even the best standalone VR headsets.

Once adjusted correctly, the comfort is outstanding too, however, Sony’s pursuit of a low weight has resulted in some cheap and fragile-feeling plastics on the outside, which is a bitter pill to swallow considering the price of the thing.

However, if you’re looking for the best VR gaming experience currently available on console, it has to be the PSVR 2, so we do recommend it, but also get the feeling that it won’t sell very well…

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PSVR 2 Review: Captivating, comfortable, costly

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PSVR 2 specs

Sony PSVR 2

What’s in the box & setup

PSVR 2 setup process

PSVR 2 headset design

Build quality and comfort

PSVR 2 controllers

PSVR 2 gameplay experience

PSVR 2 review: FAQs!

PSVR 2 Review: Final Verdict

Sony PSVR 2

4.5/5

Editor’s Rating

Ben Atkins Chafer