Verdict
The Meta Quest 2 is the honest value VR headset you may purchase , with a wireless connection and incorporated bit removing the need to spend magnanimous on a gaming personal computer or console .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Meta Quest 2 may not be the best VR headset in terms of spec , but it collide with a unadulterated balance between approachability and performance to make it a more feasible choice for most people than aVive CosmosorPlayStation VR 2headset .
The biggest merchandising full stop here is the fact it apply a wireless design and an internal processor , with no need to tether to a potent cabinet or PC for play VR games . Not only does this make the headset more approachable to the masses , but also depress the overall required price .
And while fierce contender have appear in recent years , including thePico 4 , few headsets can vie with Meta ’s ever - grow library follow acquisitions of the studio behind Beat Saber , Iron Man VR and the Resident Evil 4 interface .
With the Quest 2 entering its third yr , and aQuest 3expected to arrive before the end of the class , is it still worthy of a place in ourbest VR headsetranking ? Here are my thoughts .
Price and Availability
The Meta Quest 2 originally arrived in memory board back on the 13th of October and is available to buy right now .
It originally launched with a £ 299/$300 starting monetary value for the 128 GB contour . At this cost point , the Quest was an absolute steal .
Unfortunately , Meta has since decided to increase the price . You ’ll now have to give at least £ 399/$400 for the Quest 2 , which symbolise a £ 100/$100 price hike . As a result , the Meta Quest 2 is n’t such a great bargain anymore , but it ’s still one of the most low-priced VR headset on the marketplace .
It may be worth checking out the slimly more expensive 256 GB modeling instead . Meta is currently sell it for £ 429.99/$429.99 .
Specs and Performance
The Meta Quest 2 is more potent than its predecessor , have a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 C.P.U. and 6 GB RAM . That ’s still nomadic - grade public presentation , so do n’t gestate the novel Quest to be capable to head for the hills more demanding games , such as Asgard ’s Wrath andHalf - Life : Alyxwithout being plug into a gaming personal computer .
However , there are still lots of enceinte secret plan than can prevail on the Quest , with the extra grunt secure a smoother public presentation and bring forth more pixels to take advantage of the 1832 x 1920 per - heart resolution – that ’s a higher pixel count than the more expensiveVive Cosmosand Oculus Rift S VR headset .
In - plot macrocosm straightaway depend astute , make it more hard to see those immersion - shattering screen door effects . The odd game , such as Thumper , still sees a bite of pixelation among all the hypnotic visual gist , but the like of Beat Saber , Robo Recall and Tetris Effect all appear striking with smart colours and clear detail .
That screen resolution is n’t quite as telling three years by and by . The Pico 4 now offers a 2160 x 2160 resolution per eye , while the PlayStation VR 2 flaunts a 2000 x 2040 resolution per eye as well as an OLED screen for punchier color . But while it ’s no longer a key strength of the Quest 2 , it still offers sharp enough screen timber to foreclose me from calling it a weak point .
The Quest 2 is also adequate to of plug into a gaming PC via the Oculus Link cable system ( sold separately for £ 89 ) , which is basically just a 5 - metre USB - snow to USB - C connector . You have to verify your gambling PC or laptop has a USB - coulomb interface , but if it does , you ’ll realise accession to a immense library of VR games that are too demanding for the Quest when manoeuver independently . Asgard ’s Wrath looked incredible with the Quest 2 , with a cleanly smooth carrying into action .
Meta has ameliorate the performance of the Quest 2 since its release too , upping the 72fps refresh rate cap to an impressive 120Hz . This mean supported games will be subject of presenting smoother move , which not only looks better but also reduces the likelihood of causing movement nausea .
Meta has cranked up the max storage choice to a whopping 256 gigabyte . The base 128 GB pick should be plenteous enough for the majority of players though , as most games and applications take up less than 1 GB of blank , while Robo Recall is one of the most demanding at just 3.51 GB . That said , the Mary Leontyne Price divergence between the two conformation is n’t large at all .
Like its predecessor , the Meta Quest 2 boast inside - out trailing , which mean it can chase after your movement without the demand for outside sensors . It ’s amazingly accurate too , with even the slender head act record with pinpoint truth . I still ca n’t get over how easy this headset is to fix up – literally pull it over your face and you ’re good to go .
There are two options for play : room - scale and stationary . The former offers the best experience by far , give up you to move around and dodge incoming enemy attacks , but not everyone has the required 6.5 ft x 6.5 foot floor space for this . Fortunately , most games support a stationary mode , so you’re able to still play even if you have modified space . In - game boundaries pop up if you do get too close to a collision , forbid you from smashing into a wall or a TV .
The Quest 2 also back hired man tracking , which intend you technically do n’t demand the bundled accountant to recreate select game . While the applied science indisputable is telling , it ’s not quite exact enough to offer the same immersive experience as controllers . I commend stand by to accountant for now , but the prospect of being able to use your hand is certainly exciting .
The Meta Quest 2 is lacking a few lineament that you’re able to get with the newMeta Quest Promodel ( such as eye trailing , sundry realityand colour passthrough ) , but I do n’t think they ’d offer a substantial enough improvement to apologise the supernumerary cost – at least not for the average gamer . But that could interchange when the Meta Quest 3 potentially found after this twelvemonth . We do n’t have a go at it what sorting of upgrades to ask just yet , but it does mean you ’re probably best off waitress a few months before making a final decision .
The only area that Meta has n’t improved substantially is the shelling life . The headset lasts just over 2 hours of game time ( and around 3 hour for video content ) , which is more or less the same stamina as the original headset . you’re able to get just longevity with rival headsets , such as the Pico 4 .
you may technically keep playing with the headset plugged into a power informant , but the bundled charging cable is far too short . You could grease one’s palms your own USB - C to USB - light speed charging overseas telegram ( the Oculus Link cable television service is a good outcry ) , but it feel like a gratuitous additional disbursement .
Design
Initially , the Meta Quest 2 does n’t look staggeringly dissimilar from its predecessor , other than the new white-hot paint job that Meta hopes will draw in a wider audience . Meta claim there are no current plans to relinquish alternative colour selection , and such a prospect seems very unlikely now , with theQuest 3set to launch in 2023 .
Take a penny-pinching expression at the Quest 2 and you ’ll notice a duet of subtle design tweaks . It ’s now slightly smaller and 10 % faint than the original headset . It can still make your question and neck to ache after prolonged utilisation , but the trimmed - down design is nevertheless very welcome .
The newer Pico 4 headset flaunts an even lighter purpose at 295 grams , which is almost half the heft of the Quest 2 . This shows that there ’s hatful of way for melioration .
The strap has also seen a couple of changes , as there ’s now only one velcro hold , control you do n’t need to make as many adjustment when swapping between player . The flexible straps lodge various head shapes and size of it , although Meta will also be selling strap supplement for those who ca n’t line up a good paroxysm with the nonremittal design .
I ’m not the big fan of the straps , as they ’re gentle to slip out of place and can sometimes grok into your head . The Pico 4 ’s plastic headband with a telephone dial to adjust the fit provides a far more well-heeled experience .
Two speakers are built into the sides of the headset and can be cranked up surprisingly flash . The point is fairly impressive and the positional audio recording help you to determine exactly which steering gunfire and come near footsteps are coming from . The built - in speakers lose a little with bass - heavy music and levelheaded effects , but you could plug in some earpiece via the 3.5 mm jack or connect Bluetooth buds to repair that .
The only other port on the headset is the USB - C expansion slot for saddle . There are very few physical button on the headset , with the loudness command found on the underside and a power button on the rightfulness .
late Quest owners will observe there ’s no physical IPD slipper . or else , you could just deplumate on the center cups to toggle between three predetermined positions . I in person found the default setting perfectly comfortable , but it ’s still good to see Meta allowing for some customisation .
Controllers
Meta claims it has “ completely redesigned ” the Touch Controllers , although I ca n’t see many major change from the old pair .
They feel slightly orotund now , while the rearward and side triggers boast more change of location for more satisfying pressure . Haptic feedback has also been repositioned for improved ducking . Otherwise , these new controllers experience very conversant .
That ’s no bad thing , though , as the Touch Controllers are fantastic . The button placement sprucely serve to copy real - life hand movement , such as squeezing a gun trigger , giving your friends a thumbs up or catch a clump . The buttons experience heavy to press too and are all easy to reach .
I am a little miffed that the controllers still utilize AA batteries , rather than being rechargeable via USB - C , but the batteries come pre - installed and last for long time . I ’ve been play on the Quest for countless hours so far , and the control are showing no signs of run out of juice .
For comparability , the PlayStation VR 2 controllers can be recharged via USB - C , but only last 4 and one-half hours on a single explosive charge . I do n’t think there ’s a clear winner for either approach .
The controllers also turn on as soon as you get into the headset . late VR experiences have been an absolute pain in the ass to set up , forcing you to change state on every twist separately , so having all the Quest hardware springiness into natural action simultaneously make the whole mental process significantly easier .
Games and Apps
The Meta Quest 2 has memory access to all of the same games and app as the original headset , and all of your buy software package should transmit over with your profile if you ’re upgrading .
The original Quest had a superb line - up of game when I reviewed it back in 2019 , include Beat Saber , Moss , Robo Recall and Superhot VR . It was a delight to revisit these gems , particularly Beat Saber , which has only got skillful thanks to the unexampled music pack from the likes of Green Day , Imagine Dragons and Linkin Park .
Since 2019 , an teemingness of newfangled game has arrived on the platform , resulting in an even broader library with pleasingly wide-ranging experience that will appeal to masses of all age . Among Us VR and Resident Evil 4 are perfect examples and primal rationality why I ’d commend the Quest 2 over rival headset , such as the Pico 4 .
The Walking Dead : Saints and Sinners will scratch that zombie - polish off itch , Cook - Out is a scrumptious cookery co - op venture , and Pistol Whip is an addictive rhythm - base gun for hire . You ’ve also got the amazing Echo VR , which is fundamentally PvP online multiplayer volleyball in zero sobriety . It ’s a surreal experience and one of the best showcases of VR ’s voltage .
If that ’s not enough , you’re able to corrupt the Oculus Link cable to hook the headset up to your gaming microcomputer and play game such as Asgard ’s Wrath and Lone Echo . It ’s even possible to get at SteamVR , which means the ilk of Half - aliveness : Alyx and Skyrim VR are on the menu .
The only major VR games that the Quest ca n’t run are exclusive for the PlayStation VR 2 , so you sadly wo n’t be able to experienceHorizon Call of the Mountainor Gran Turismo .
While the Meta Quest 2 ’s priority is unquestionably gaming , there ’s also plenty of social - based experiences , fitness apps and video capacity from the likes of Oculus TV and YouTube VR . Rec Room is one of the standout societal apps , allowing you to take on up with your admirer , customise your in - plot hubs and challenge Friend to various games , including paintball and laser ticket .
I ’m still not convinced about Mark Zuckerberg’sMetaversevision , as the Quest 2 is a long way from becoming the determinate political platform for social interaction online . But if you ’re into gaming , it ’s still a great way to spend a few hr having a laugh with a chemical group of friends .
Latest Deals
Should you buy it?
The Meta Quest 2 is one of the only headset that can function both severally and connected to a bet on PC ( with the required cable television service ) , ensuring a immense and wide-ranging library of game from both Meta ’s own digital fund and SteamVR .
While the Meta Quest 2 is capable of hooking up to a gaming PC with the Oculus Link , it excels most when used independently . If you require a VR headset that toy nicely with gaming PCs , look at theVive Cosmos .
Final Thoughts
The Meta Quest 2 is an excellent all - in - one VR headset , achieve a perfect symmetricalness between accessibility and carrying into action .
It does n’t proffer quite as good note value as when it first launched , following a price hike and the egress of new challenger , such as thePico 4and thePlayStation VR 2 . But with an splendid VR plot program library , the Meta Quest 2 remains the absolutebest VR headsetoption for the average person who lacks a luxuriously - powered PC .
That said , it ’s deserving taper out that the Meta Quest 3 is expect to arrive in 2023 , so it may be better to hold back a little longer before charge yourself to a leverage .
Trusted Score
How we test
When test a VR headset , we check that to try out a variety of games and apps . We evaluate various aspects , such as the design , filmdom timber , bombardment life and the feature set .
FAQs
Yes , we think it ’s the best - value VR headset you could buy , and it declare oneself quite a little of experiences to absolve the cost .
play is the elementary office of the Quest 2 right now , but it can also be used to get at societal and physical fitness apps .
Not just yet , although we ’re expecting one to come afterward this year .
