Introduction
The Playstation VR 2 headset launched late February 2023 much to the excitement of gamers, VR enthusiasts, and iFixit community members. But it also seems that Sony has done the hard part for the iFixit community and has published an official teardown video of the newly released PlayStation VR2 headset.
The first PlayStation VR headset launched in October 2016 for the PlayStation 4, so let's see how the next generation of PlayStation VR technology has improved. All images are from Sony's teardown video and iFixit's official teardown video.
Video Overview
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Spec wise the PS VR2 improves on some aspects of the original PS VR headset that set it apart from other competitor headsets.
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Single OLED display with 2000 x 2040 per eye
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Approximately 110º field of view
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Refresh rate up to 120 Hz
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Six-axis movement detection system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axle accelerometer)
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Headset weight: 560 g (Around 50 g lighter than the previous model)
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Specs aside Sony has improved the headset significantly in terms of external design and setup.
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The new PlayStation VR features 4 built-in cameras for inside-out tracking, removing the need for a camera.
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Sony also simplified the setup process by removing the processor unit, which means that setup is as simple as plug and play.
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Out of the box, you will get the headset, newly designed move controllers, earbuds, an extra USB-C-to-A cable, and the user manual.
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The headset features a similar headband and visor combination as the previous model, with the most significant change being that the headband can be detached without any tools.
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Removing the headband is as easy as unplugging the audio and video cables and pressing a button between the light shield and the headband.
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This small change makes swapping out cables, or headband replacements much easier, as you don't really need to disassemble the headset itself to remove the headband.
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The PS VR2 still relies on a rubber light shield block light, which means that we get the same washable surface.
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The holder for the light shield is held in with 4 screws. Once all the screws are removed we can simply remove the holder without any issue.
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The exterior fastener is held in with only one screw. Removing the screw allows us to separate the fastener from the front of the headset.
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With the front cover removed, we can notice two significant changes.
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The sea of flex cables that were in abundance in the previous headset has been reduced quite significantly. This makes potential repairs way less intimidating for anyone who would attempt to do so.
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We can also see that Sony has added a cooling fan. Presumably, this is meant for cooling the electronics inside, but also means that the same cooling system will prevent the lenses from fogging over.
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The bottom camera assembly can be removed. The only thing holding this assembly in place is two screws, and a few flex cables. With minimal fuss the assembly is free.
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The bottom camera assembly also has two shock-absorbing rubber grommets. These are easily removed through the bottom of the assembly.
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The button assembly itself holds the power button and the headsets microphone. One of the nicest things that is not mentioned is that both the microphone and the power button can actually be replaced independently of one another. This means that if one breaks, then the whole assembly is not trashed.
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Repairability Score: 10 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)
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Overall, the new design of the PS VR2 is a definite improvement over the original, and Sony has improved many of the aspects that made the first PS VR headset so difficult to repair.
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Thoughtfully constructed and fairly straightforward to disassemble.
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Many of the pieces, such as the cushions and light shield, still snap in place with no fussy fasteners or adhesive.
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Sony took the time to reduce the amount of trim that made their first headset so complicated to disassemble.
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The adhesive is still used minimally throughout and what adhesive there is can be removed easily. The lenses are easy to remove.
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7 Comments
Can you please further tear down the cable connector to see which company's chip is enabling the Active Cable single-cable design?
Hello, this guide is still in progress and will be updated in the near future
Interesting that they made the headband so easy to separate from the visor....I wonder if this is to facilitate a future wireless headband accessory with in-built battery and transmitter?🤔
It is interesting how Sony changed their design to allow for the headband to be taken off, and it will be interesting to see what direction Sony takes the headset as time goes on. Even if Sony doesn't make something like that, just having the headband detachable does help with repairing the headset.