Go on a Quest
Oculus Quest 2: Everything you need to know!
The Oculus Quest 2 is here, and it's lighter, smaller, and more powerful than the original.
by Sean Endicott
The Oculus Quest 2 brings the latest and greatest virtual reality experience available. Without any cables tethering you, it allows you to immerse yourself in a wide range of virtual reality titles. The new headset features improvements across the board, making it lighter, smaller, and more powerful than the original Oculus Quest. The Oculus Quest 2 has a powerful Snapdragon XR2 processor, 6GB of RAM, and a screen with 50 percent more pixels than its predecessor. It can also be used as a headset for PCVR through Oculus Link, making it one of today's best all-around VR devices.
Order now
Oculus Quest 2
Grab one while it's hot!
The Oculus Quest 2 is selling just as quickly as its predecessor, so don't delay in picking yours up! Facebook has improved just about everything with the second-generation Oculus Quest, making this the VR console to get.
Oculus Quest 2
- Our review
- Price and availability
- Specs
- Design
- Controllers
- Accessories
- Games
- PCVR and Oculus Link
- Backward compatibility
- Facebook bans
- Keep it inside
Oculus Quest 2 review VR "leveled up"
This guide breaks down the Oculus Quest 2 from more of a technical level. It explains what you can and can't do with the headset, what specs power it, and how it compares to previous headsets. Our Oculus Quest 2 review, on the other hand, takes more of a hands-on approach, focusing on how all of those improvements and specs come together when you're actually using it.
In his review, our VR guru, Nicholas Sutrich, shares what earns the Oculus Quest 2 a near-perfect rating of 4.5/5. If you want the highlights, he praised it as a big step up on the original Quest in graphics, portability and display graphics, plus faster menuing and game downloads. In his mind, the main negatives were the short battery life and the new Facebook login requirement. Still, these didn't stop him from enthusiastically recommending it for VR veterans and newbies alike.
Oculus Quest 2 Pricing and availability
The Oculus Quest 2 started shipping on October 13, 2020. You can buy it now from several retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, or from Facebook itself.
The Oculus Quest 2 starts at $299, $100 lower than the original Oculus Quest. There are two storage configurations: the base $299 model comes with 64GB of storage, and there's a 256GB version priced at $399. If you need help picking the right amount of storage, make sure to check out our Quest 2 64GB versus 256GB comparison of the two headsets.
You can then check our best Oculus Quest 2 deals hub to see if there are any special discounts on the headset. We suspect this popular headset will rarely get discounts in its first year, but we'll call out any price drops or sales on popular accessories as they appear.
The Oculus Quest is available in the following countries:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
- United States
Oculus Quest 2 Specs
The Oculus Quest 2 has significantly better specs than its predecessor. It runs on a Snapdragon XR2 processor, which will help power some impressive VR experiences. The Snapdragon XR2 is three generations beyond the Snapdragon 835 that shipped with the original Oculus Quest.
| Category | Oculus Quest 2 |
|---|---|
| Display Type | RGB-stripe fast-switching LCD |
| Display Resolution | 1832 x 1920 per eye |
| IPD adjustment | Three distinct positions |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 |
| Memory | 6GB |
| Storage | 64GB or 256GB |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 LE |
| Ports | USB Type-C, 3.5mm audio jack |
| Audio | Built-in speakers, support for headphones |
| Headset Battery | Built-in rechargeable Li-Ion |
| Headset Battery Life | 2-3 hours |
| Controllers | Improved Touch Controllers |
| Hand tracking | Yes |
| Controller Battery | 1x AA per controller |
| Controller Battery Life | 4x the Original Oculus Quest |
| Dimensions | 191.5mm x 102mm x 142.5mm |
| Weight | 503g / 1.1lbs |
Facebook bumped up the Oculus Quest 2 across the board. It has 6GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.
The headset also has a display with around 50 percent more pixels than the original. That display has a refresh rate of 90Hz, but it's important to note that Oculus Link won't support 90Hz until Facebook ships an update in the future. Also, apps and games that run natively on the Oculus Quest 2 will run at 72Hz unless the 'experimental' 90Hz mode is enabled.
There's always a risk with modifying a device. If you're willing to do so, you can enable 90Hz on the Oculus Quest 2 for all games through ADB commands. If you have any hesitancy or don't want to risk anything, Facebook stated that 90Hz mode is on the way in the future, so you can wait for the official release.
Oculus Quest 2 Design
The Oculus Quest 2 looks superficially similar to the original Oculus Quest, but the design differences are significant once you dive down into the details. It swapped out the original black for a fully white headset, along with white Touch Controllers that feature black accents and buttons. Beyond the surface level, the Quest 2 is smaller and lighter than the original Oculus Quest.
Once you put on your new headset, you'll notice that the Quest 2 has a soft touch strap that should make it more comfortable to wear than the original Oculus Quest. You can also purchase an Elite Strap for the Oculus Quest 2, which reduces pressure from the front of the headset.
Both the Oculus Quest 2 and Quest 1 let you adjust the IPD for a clearer view but using very different methods. The Quest 2 lets you physically move the lenses between three IPD settings of 58mm, 63mm, and 68mm. Check our guide on how to adjust IPD eye distance on Oculus Quest 2 for more info on which setting you should use. The original Quest has a slider that lets you manually adjust the IPD anywhere between 56 and 70 mm.
The Oculus Quest 2 has a USB-C port and works with Oculus Link. That same port can also be used for charging from a plug or a battery bank. The headset has built-in speakers on its straps and a headphone jack on its body.
Oculus Quest 2 Controllers
The Oculus Quest 2 has improved Touch Controllers. The new Touch Controllers feature better ergonomics than those of the original Oculus Quest. They take design inspiration from the original Oculus Rift Touch Controllers.
In addition to feeling better in hand, the new Touch Controllers have some handy changes. They get better battery life, have enhanced haptic feedback, and a redesigned battery compartment compared to the original Oculus Quest's Touch Controllers. The new Touch Controllers also have a dedicated thumb rest.
We cover what's new with the Oculus Quest 2 controllers in more detail in our full breakdown. The long and short of it is that Facebook took lessons from all of its previous controllers and tried to bring them all to the new Oculus Quest Touch Controllers.
Oculus Quest 2 Accessories
We appreciate the affordable price for the Oculus Quest 2, but the headset doesn't ship with many peripherals besides the Touch controllers, charging cable, power adapter, and glasses spacer. Trust us when we say that you'll need to buy a few more accessories to get the most out of your headset.
For a broad overview, check out our picks for the best Oculus Quest 2 accessories. The most popular picks are the official Quest 2 Elite Strap for a more comforable fit and official Quest 2 carrying case for easier storage and protection from sunlight or travel damage. If you're looking for alternatives, these best Oculus Quest 2 cases should fit your needs.
Wondering if you should buy the Oculus Quest 2 Elite Strap? It's a fair question, as Oculus had to halt Elite Strap shipments after numerous reports of the straps snapping. Thankfully, Oculus claims they isolated and corrected the issue, and Elite Strap sales resumed in late 2020. Now we recommend you buy it if you're unhappy with the fit of the included Quest 2 strap, and you can follow our guide on how to install the Quest 2 Elite Strap once it arrives.
Quest 2 accessories can solve other inconvenient problems with the headset. We've been somewhat frustrated by its short battery life, so you may want to invest in one of our favorite Quest 2 battery packs to stretch out your VR play sessions. The provided USB-C charging cable is too short to keep plugged in. At the same time, you play and could yank and damage the headset (or your neck), so we found the best Oculus Quest 2 magnetic chargers and adapters that will let you stay plugged in but will harmlessly fall off the headset if you stray too far.
While the built-in speakers are great and support 3D spatial audio, you may want to buy one of the best Oculus Quest 2-compatible headphones for clearer audio that won't annoy other people in the room.
If you're someone who plans to use the Quest 2 as a regular exercise tool or just tend to sweat a lot, we highly recommend the VR Cover for Oculus Quest 2 in our review. It's more comfortable than the standard Quest 2 foam, ships with two swappable covers that can be removed and cleaned, and blocks out extra light from the nose gap.
Oculus Quest 2 Games
The Oculus Quest 2 can play all games from the original Oculus Quest. That means that every game confirmed for Oculus Quest will work on the new and improved Oculus Quest 2.
Developers can make games even better by enhancing them for the Oculus Quest 2. Doing so takes advantage of the headset's improved hardware and makes games quicker and better looking. In our collection of every game for the Oculus Quest 2 and Oculus Quest, we add a mark to every title that's been Oculus Quest 2 enhanced.
Enhanced or not, the Quest 2 has an excellent library of games, paid and free, for new owners to try. You can start with the best Oculus Quest games in 2021 or with the best free Oculus Quest games if you're hoping to be a bit thrifty while you figure out what you like.
If you have a friend with their own Quest, consider the best Oculus Quest multiplayer games for some virtual, long-distance competition and socializing. Or, if you're hoping to use your Quest as an exercise tool, these excellent Quest workout apps and games are where you should start.
The Oculus Quest 2 can also use Oculus Link, meaning you can play PCVR titles when the headset is connected to a PC with enough power to run PCVR. That will open up your Quest 2 to a variety of more powerful experiences that the mobile headset cannot fully handle. Another option is to sideload apps on the Quest 2, giving you access to titles designed specifically for the Quest 2 that Oculus (for whatever reason) didn't approve for sale. Feel free to check out our picks for the best-sideloaded games on the Quest 2, including plenty of free experiences and mods of old games like Half-Life and Quake.
Oculus Quest 2 PCVR and Oculus Link
The Oculus Quest 2 can play PCVR games in a few ways. The headset works with Oculus Link, allowing you to play PCVR games on your Oculus Quest headset when you connect it with a wire to a PC that can power PCVR. You can connect the Oculus Quest 2 to a PC with a USB-C cable with the correct specs, just like you can with the original Oculus Quest.
If you prefer a wireless setup, there's an app called Virtual Desktop that allows you to stream PCVR games to your Oculus Quest 2. To get the best experience with this setup, you'll want to invest in one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers for consistent streaming speeds, then follow along with our guide on how to play SteamVR on Oculus Quest 2.
In fact, Oculus Link has more of an emphasis on the Oculus Quest 2 than on the original Oculus Quest. Because Facebook is ending the Rift line of VR headsets, the Oculus Quest 2 with Oculus Link support will be the way to play PCVR games on Oculus hardware from now on.
Oculus Quest 2 Backward compatibility
Yes, the Oculus Quest 2 is backward compatible with Oculus Quest games. Facebook confirms that all games for the original Oculus Quest will work on the Oculus Quest 2. Many of the games will look better on the Oculus Quest 2 than on its predecessor, but at least for now, the two devices share a game library.
Unfortunately, the Oculus Quest 2 is not backward compatible with Oculus Go games. Several dozen Oculus Go games work on the original Oculus Quest, but they will not work on the Oculus Quest 2.
Oculus Quest 2 Facebook accounts and bans
Unlike the Oculus Quest, which lets you use a standard Oculus account to play games, the Quest 2 requires a Facebook account to use. That means if you ever decide to delete your Facebook account, you will lose access to all your purchased Quest games associated with that account. That's something all Quest 2 owners will have to come to terms with.
The greater problem for some users is that Facebook account bans make your Quest 2 completely unplayable, and it's not always clear what will lead to a ban or suspension. For what to do if your Oculus Quest 2 Facebook account gets banned, the linked guide will walk you through the support ticket process.
Oculus Quest 2 Keep it out of the sun
You should not use the Oculus Quest 2 outside. Sunlight can and will easily damage the headset's display. The Oculus Quest has lenses that allow you to immerse yourself into VR, which is great, but they also act as magnifying glasses for sunlight. If sunlight hits the lenses on the Oculus Quest 2, it can burn the display inside the headset.
In addition to sunlight being harmful to the Oculus Quest 2, moisture in the air can also damage the headset.
Apart from all of the safety-related reasons to keep your Oculus Quest 2 inside, the headset also might not work that well if you do take it outside. If sunlight is too bright, the cameras on the outside of the device can have a hard time tracking Touch Controllers.
An exciting time for VR
The Oculus Quest has moved VR forward during its run. The original Oculus Quest brought standalone VR to new levels and improved significantly over time thanks to new features and software updates.
The Oculus Quest 2 continues that journey with improved internals, a refined design, and a fresh new color. Facebook bumped up the internals, reduced the headset's size, and improved things across the board compared to the original.
Whether you are coming from the original Oculus Quest or considering jumping into VR, the Oculus Quest 2 is a good bargain. With a starting price of $299, it's one of the most affordable ways to get into VR.
The future of VR
Oculus Quest 2
Grab one while it's hot!
The Oculus Quest 2 is selling just as quickly as its predecessor, so don't delay in picking yours up! Facebook has improved just about everything with the second-generation Oculus Quest, making this the VR console to get.
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