Tom's Hardware Verdict
The Samsung Odyssey is the best Windows Mixed Reality headset we’ve seen so far, and we’re confident it is the best option for this generation. It does carry a price premium over the competing Windows MR headsets, but we think the quality of the components justifies the price. And the integrated headphones and microphone help offset the cost difference.
Pros
- +
Best-in-class resolution and image clarity
- +
Integrated 3D audio
- +
Ergonomic controllers
- +
Adjustable lenses
Cons
- -
No flip-visor
- -
Earphone, forehead, rear foam not replaceable
- -
Fixed tether cable
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Meet The Samsung HMD Odyssey
Samsung was late joining the Windows Mixed Reality party, but when it finally stopped by, it showed up with the fanciest toys. Samsung's Odyssey HMD is, in some ways, the Cadillac of Windows Mixed Reality headsets. It boasts a higher resolution than other Windows MR HMDs, and it includes built-in headphones that are tuned for 3D audio. It also features moisture-proof leather cushions, and to top it off Samsung redesigned Microsoft's controllers with more thought for ergonomics. If you’re looking for a high-end Windows Mixed Reality headset, the only metric where the Odyssey doesn’t compete well is the price.
Arrived Late With All The Fancy Toys
In late 2016, Microsoft announced that it would be bringing Windows 10 into the immersive computing age. The company revealed Windows Mixed Reality, a platform that encompasses the spectrum of immersive computing. Microsoft boasted that Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps from the Windows Store would be compatible with the 3D Windows Mixed Reality environment, and that you would be able to do your daily computing tasks while fully immersed in a 3D space.
Along with the announcement of the Windows MR platform, Microsoft revealed that it wouldn’t be making Microsoft-branded headsets. Instead, the company fostered relationships with several PC hardware makers to create Windows Mixed Reality head-mounted displays (HMDs). Microsoft set the hardware specifications for certified devices, and it created a reference design from which to build.
However, Microsoft left it up to its partners to decide what changes they wanted to make to differentiate their device from other Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Microsoft revealed the “Spectrum of HMD Design Freedom,” which outlined the range of specifications that HMD makers could implement. These included minimum resolution, refresh rate, and video and data interface compatibility requirements.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Windows Mixed Reality | Windows Mixed Reality Ultra |
| Operating system | Windows 10 Fall Creators Update | Windows 10 Fall Creators Update |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-7200U | Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD Ryzen 5 1400 3.4GHz or better |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 10GB | 10GB |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics 620 or greater | Nvidia GTX 960/965M/1050 or AMD RX 460/560 or better |
| Display Driver | Windows Display Driver Model 2.2 or later | Windows Display Driver Model 2.2 or later |
| Monitor | External or integrated VGA (800x600) monitor | External or integrated VGA (800x600) monitor |
| USB | USB 3.0 Type-A or Type-C (with adapter), minimum 900mA power | USB 3.0 Type-A or Type-C (with adapter), minimum 900mA power |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 4.0 |
Better Specifications
When Microsoft revealed Windows MR in December 2016, Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo were already signed on to build headsets, and they all share relatively similar specifications. Samsung, however, didn’t announce its participation with Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality platform until October 2017, but the company brought its A-game when it finally did join the Mixed Reality mix. Samsung disregarded Microsoft’s “Spectrum of HMD Design Freedom” and went for a higher specs altogether. Of all the Windows Mixed Reality devices, the Samsung Odyssey boasts the most premium features. Really, it's in a class of its own.
Most Windows MR headsets feature a pair of 1,440x1,440-resolution displays, whereas Samsung’s displays feature 1,440x1,600 pixels. Also, other Windows Mixed Reality headsets feature LCD panels, while Samsung employs its own AMOLED tech for richer colors and deeper blacks. And Samsung’s Odyssey is the only Windows Mixed Reality HMD with adjustable lens spacing and integrated headphones and a microphone. Samsung is also the only Windows Mixed Reality hardware partner that put the extra effort into refining the motion controllers to make them more comfortable and more robust. Let’s take a closer look.
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