Which XMG laptops are compatible with VR headsets? Complete overview over compatible modelsA complete overview of which XMG laptops are compatible with which VR headsets (both in terms of ports and GPU power) can be found here:XMG VR Headset Compatibility OverviewThis table is always kept up to date and can be used directly to make purchasing decisions. The following sections explain additional background as to why some laptop models are compatible and some are not.SegmentationVR headsets can be roughly divided into two categories: Wireless headsets, which can be connected to the PC via radio Wired headsets with HDMI or DisplayPort cables Wireless headsetsA good example for a wireless headset is the Oculus Quest 2, which can be connected to a PC or laptop via Air Link using a WLAN router in the 5GHz spectrum. We can confirm that this connection works with all XMG laptops - regardless of whether they use a hybrid graphics solution or not.The HTC Vive Wireless Adapter, on the other hand, does not work on laptops because it requires a full-sized PCI Express slot of a desktop PC. An external PCIe connection via Thunderbolt is not possible with this solution (presumably for latency reasons).Wired headsetsWired headsets require HDMI or DisplayPort outputs which are directly connected to the dedicated graphics card. This also includes adapter solutions like TPCAST, which take an HDMI or DisplayPort signal and forward it over the air.Such headsets are compatible with all XMG laptops, except a few specific, four older models. Firstly: XMG CORE 14 (L20) XMG FOCUS 15 (M21) XMG FOCUS 17 (M21) In these three models, the HDMI/DisplayPort outputs were connected to the Intel graphics unit, which in turn was connected to the dedicated graphics via NVIDIA Optimus (MSHybrid).XMG NEO 15 (E22)In this model, HDMI was connected to the dedicated graphics card, but the DisplayPort via USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) came from the integrated graphics, following NVIDIA Optimus.This hybrid graphics technology works smoothly for gaming on external monitors and all sorts of professional applications. But it does not work for VR headsets. Rather than simply identifying themselves as external monitors to the operating system, VR headsets require a tighter, direct connection to the dedicated graphics card.All other XMG models are not affected by this restriction - they have both HDMI and DisplayPort wires directly to the dedicated GPU. This applies from mid-2022 (M22) at the latest to all XMG laptops introduced since then.DisplayPort via USB-C vs. dedicated Mini DisplayPortAside from the previously mentioned considerations, there is also a key difference between laptop series that are suitable for wired Virtual Reality: Some models output DisplayPort only via USB-C or Thunderbolt. Other models have a classic Mini DisplayPort output in addition to the USB-C port. In both cases, the DisplayPort signal may come from the dedicated GPU (dGPU), but the physical connector and the underlying circuits differ.There are passive adapters that can losslessly pass the DisplayPort signal from USB-C to the DisplayPort connector of a VR headset. However, it's important not to cut corners on quality when purchasing such adapters. Here are our recommendations: For laptops with a USB-C port: Cable Matters Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort 1.4 - adapter For laptops with a Mini DisplayPort port: Cable Matters USB-C to DisplayPort 1.4 - adapter With these two adapters, we and our customers have been able to get almost every VR headset running on USB-C or Thunderbolt ports, as long as those ports are connected to the dGPU. Exceptions can be found in the compatibility table linked above.Mini DisplayPort is alive!Even if your desired VR headset can be adapted to USB-C/DP without issue, it is still worth considering laptops that include a Mini DisplayPort connection. This port is at least as capable as USB-C or Thunderbolt, but it is also less complex.USB-C is designed to handle multiple functions beyond just DisplayPort, which means the circuits behind the USB-C port—controllers, handshakes, re-timers, drivers, firmware—are more complicated than those of a simple Mini DisplayPort output. While USB-C usually works fine, edge cases (such as very long cables or highly interference-prone headsets) can sometimes cause sporadic issues.If we discover (or receive reports about) specific problematic headset-laptop combinations, we list them as "incompatible" in our reference table.With a laptop that includes a Mini DisplayPort, you can generally expect fewer compatibility issues in such edge cases. Whether a laptop includes Mini DisplayPort can be found in our reference table and in the data sheet of the respective model.From the archivesAnother well-known but now mostly forgotten exception was the HP Reverb G1 (predecessor of the G2). This 2019 VR headset was incompatible with USB-C/DisplayPort adapters because it required a 3.3V power source over DisplayPort. This rather outdated 3.3V signal (pin 20 on DisplayPort) is not implemented with USB-C. USB-C is designed for 5V, but the G1 wants 3.3V - no more, no less.Virtually all other wired VR headsets we know of draw their power from their own power supply or from a 5V source via a secondary USB-C or USB-A cable. However, the Reverb G1 went a bit of a special route at the time (2019) and was thus not compatible with laptops that provided DP only over USB-C. It is very much unlikely that future headsets will go this 3.3V special route again - after all, running VR headsets on gaming laptops has become more and more common and is therefore also taken into account during the design stage of new headsets.