On paper, the PlayStation VR stands tall next to its two PC-based competitors, the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Here are the specs we're most interested in:

Single 5.7-inch AMOLED display with 1920 × 1080 resolution (960 × 1080 per eye)

Approximately 100º field of view

Refresh rate up to 120 Hz

Six-axis inertial measurement system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer)

Headset weight: 610 g

The PlayStation VR differs from its competitors with its headband-and-hanging-visor, rather than the (previously standard) goggle configuration.

The standard PS VR comes with headset, mini-PS4 processor unit, headphones, and several numbered cables to connect it all.

Sold separately (or included in the bundle edition) are the (very necessary) camera and (optional) PlayStation Move sticks.

Time for a brief look at the external bits before we crack the PS VR open.

Lacking the "strap it to your face" build, the PS VR has a sliding headband (not unlike the Oculus CV1) with a wheel for fine tightening to ensure a snug fit.

Sony's unique hanging visor design presents an all-new solution to the problem of adjusting eye relief. Just hold the button (above the cute PlayStation button symbols) and slide the "scope" forward or back to change the focus.

The PS VR lenses are actually totally conventional, no Fresnel (Vive) or hybrid-Fresnel (Rift CV1) lenses here.

The scope relies on a rubber mask, rather than goggle foam and a tight fit, to block light. As a bonus, it's probably more washable than foam.

With the user-replaceable rubber shield peeled away, we're treated to simple JIS screws (Phillips' pointed-headed cousins) holding the scope together.

We gleefully pry the futuristic plastic trim (and LED diffusers) away with our trusty opening pick.

And peeking out just behind, we've found the first of the 9 position-tracking LEDs. Soon.

Trim bits removed, we're able to detach the front panel of the visor unit to reveal a sea of flex cables and components.

Pulling off the top panel reveals the metal rail that the visor unit slides on when adjusting eye relief.

Unlike the Rift and Vive, which rely on invisible IR light for position tracking, the PS VR uses visible light LEDs, in that iconic PlayStation blue.

We peel up the first of these LEDs, but can't separate them yet—they're part of a larger assembly, containing all 7 of the headset's lights.

After teasing the first bit free, we go for gold and take out the entire insectile LED assembly cable.

Capitalizing on their existing technology, Sony chose to use visible light LEDs and the PlayStation Eye camera for position tracking.

This system is most similar to the Rift CV1, with a pattern of light on the headset scanned by a stationary receiver. The Vive, on the other hand, uses IR receivers on the headset, reading from a pair of stationary emitters.

Remember that slick scope adjustment button a few steps ago? Here's the adjustment it allows—up close and personal! Oooh, springy.

Eye relief is the distance between your eye and the plane of the display. A large adjustment range means that users can fit glasses under their headsets with ease.

Two cables remain before we're able to separate the saucer section headband.

This wide, reinforced connector makes us think display cable—and we're not too far off, as this is for HDMI-in and an AUX connector.

The second cable, a tiny 4-pin job, powers the remaining LEDs, located on the back of the headband.

Tucked away ever so slightly between the lenses we find some hidden electronics.

On the one side, a lone IC: Bosch BMI055 IMU

On the reverse, what looks like an infrared rangefinder, composed of an emitter and a receiver.

The motherboard is free from the headset! Here's what we found:

Toshiba TC358870XBG HDMI interface bridge

Nuvoton NUC123SD4SN3 NUC123 series ARM Cortex-M0 microcontroller

ROHM BD2802 RGB LED driver (x3)

Wolfson WM1801G (likely an audio codec, as found in the DualShock 4 controller)

Parade Technologies PS8203 3.0 Gbps HDMI level shifter

Texas Instruments S1L 621 APGH (likely a power supply module for the AMOLED display)

Rohm BR24T16-W 16 Kb Serial EEPROM Memory

What we thought might be a wee speaker grille is actually for a sizable microphone mounted under the visor.

The single display is mounted to the lens assembly with a few screws and two clips, quickly unclipped by a spudger.

With the Samsung-manufactured AMOLED display freed, we throw it on the table for a closer look.

While the Rift and Vive utilize two separate displays and some complex IPD (interpupillary distance) adjustment mechanisms, Sony chose to simplify everything with a single display and digital IPD.

Sony's been touting the subpixel matrix in this display, so we decided to whip out our microscope and take a closer look.

On the left we have a traditional LED-backlit IPS display from an iPhone 6s.

And on the right is PS VR's AMOLED display featuring a hexagonal subpixel matrix, consistent with other Samsung-made OLED displays found in their flagship smartphones.

A soft rubber gasket cushions the display against the lens assembly, and seals dust out of the clean-room optics chamber.

The lenses are glued in place in their frame, but with a bit of encouragement (e.g. some heat and a good push) they pop right out.

These are 14 mm thick conventional lenses, with no Fresnel stepping, and a smooth dome shape. That means the lenses are quite a bit thicker than the Fresnel lenses in the Vive and the hybrid Fresnel lenses of the Rift.

Time to tackle that headband!

First up, we pop out the squishy headband cushions. No glue or screws here, so fret not, sweaty friends. The prospect of future cushion swaps look good.

We have nice little counterweights on either side of of the adjustment knob to offset the scope's display and lens mass. There's just a dab of glue and some clips holding them in place, so they're easily scooped out.

Because these weights are purely for balance, let's take them out and then compare across the big three, to see who could make the lightest headset. Removing their 95 g puts the PS VR at around 515 g. That puts it right between the Vive's 563 g and the Rift's 470 g.

Last out of the headband, the pair of "back up" lights.

These are the two LED assemblies that allow the position tracking system to keep an eye on you when you're looking over your shoulder, keeping the in-world feel alive.

Before we leave the headband for dead(band), we pop open the band adjustment mechanism.

A spring-loaded pinion gear assembly rotates against two racks that spread or contract, tightening or loosening the band.

A locking mechanism built into the gear assembly prevents the band's adjustment from slipping while you're swinging your head around in the zone.

We move on from the headset to the miniature PlayStation that Sony graciously included with the PS VR at no extra charge.

It comes equipped with three HDMI ports (one for the PS4 to send video to the unit, and two to send video back out to the TV and headset), a USB port, a proprietary AUX socket, and a barrel jack for DC power.

We crack it open and find the insides are encased in metal. Not helping your case that this isn't actually a tiny PlayStation, guys.

While we're here, we stumble upon a cute little brushless fan! Definitely something warm going on in here.

We pop the board out of the box and peel a beefy aluminum heat sink from the processor-side of things.

According to Sony, this box isn't packing any graphics processing chops. Instead, it handles PS VR's 3D audio processing and can simultaneously direct video to your TV and headset.

We're just itching to see what powers this puppy.

What's inside the box?

Marvell DE3214-B0 Armada 1500 Pro 4K SoC

Samsung K4B2G1646Q-BCMA 256 MB DDR3 SDRAM (4 chips for 1 GB total)

ADV7626 HDMI 2:2 cross point transceiver (x2)

On the reverse:

Samsung KLM4G1FE3A-F001 4 GB eMMC flash SSD

Marvell 88E8087-NMN2 (likely a USB Redriver)

Marvell Power Management

That's how the virtual cookie crumbles!

For your dining pleasure we have a deconstructed PS VR headset

And for dessert: a PS VR Processor Unit!