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Pros
- + Sleek, comfortable design
- + Impressive game library
- + Intuitive controllers
- + Good price
- + Strong built-in audio
Cons
- - Controllers aren’t rechargeable
- - Link cable required for PC games
The Meta Quest 2 introduced VR to the general public with an inexpensive standalone headset at launch. The Meta Quest 3 may have surpassed it as the greatest VR headset we have ever tried, with the Apple Vision Pro coming in second. But even now, if you want to explore the realm of virtual reality, this is still a fantastic entry-level headgear.
There's a lot to enjoy, like the design that reduced weight and size compared to the original Quest and the better performance when it comes to playing the greatest VR games. It still maintains the Quest's recognizable standalone appearance, though, so you can play games, view TV shows and movies, and take advantage of realistic virtual reality experiences without being connected to a computer, console, or phone. If you'd like, you can also connect it to a PC to play Steam VR games, but it's not necessary.
There are several issues with the Quest 2; our biggest complaint is with the controllers, which run on AA batteries. Furthermore, even though it's one of the most adaptable gaming headsets, its graphics aren't the best. Nevertheless, we continue to believe that it is among the top VR headsets for the majority of users. Continue reading to discover why this VR headset remains one of the greatest choices for beginners.
Meta Quest 2: Affordable VR Experience Available Now!
The 128GB version of the Meta Quest 2 typically retails for $249 in the United States and £269 in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, Meta has positioned the Quest 2 as the entry-level model in a wider VR headset portfolio, and is charging for it appropriately, with the Quest 3 now being the top Quest headset.
After a few adjustments, this pricing puts the Quest 2 back at its initial price. Meta had to often offer the Quest 2 headset at a discount or in combination with games when it raised the headset's price to $399 / £399 for the 128GB model.
Meta Quest 2 Design: Sleek, Comfortable, and Innovative
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For a virtual reality headset, the Meta Quest 2 has a stylish appearance. The Quest 2 replaces the cumbersome goggles that come with VR headsets with a lightweight, comfy headgear that weighs 10% less than its predecessor. The headset's four camera sensors and straightforward strap give it a neat, minimalistic appearance that makes it look well both placed on the head and sitting on a desk. The Quest 2's light gray hue also helps to make it visually comfortable.
The connector arrangement and button sparseness of the headset contribute to its seamless appearance. The headset has a headphone jack and USB-C connector on the left for audio and charging, a volume control on the right bottom, and a power button on the right. The Meta Quest 2 eliminates the requirement for the switch that was located at the bottom of the original Quest by allowing you to manually squeeze or spread out the lenses with three different viewing settings inside the headset.
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Even after spending almost an hour in virtual reality, the Meta Quest 2 seemed light and pleasant to use at its small size of 7.5 x 4 x 5.2 inches and 1.1 pounds. I could easily forget I had a piece of plastic strapped to my face thanks to the ample foam padding, and the headset's elastic bands could be adjusted to fit my skull perfectly.
Note: Before you play, make sure your Meta Quest 2 isn't too tight. I ended a pretty lengthy play session with a hilariously enormous red imprint on my forehead. Alternatively, take into account some of the greatest Meta Quest 2 accessories to guarantee the most cozy fit.
See our advice on how to quickly and safely clean Meta Quest 2 lenses if you want to maintain the best possible viewing experience with Quest 2.
Meta Quest 2 Specifications
| Header | Meta Quest 2 |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 |
| Display resolution | 1832 x 1920 per eye |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Battery life | 2-3 hours (rated) |
| Size | 7.5 x 4 x 5.2 inches |
| Weight | 1.1 pounds |
Meta Quest 2 Setup: Quick and Easy Guide
Similar to the first Quest, the Meta Quest 2 is an all-in-one virtual reality system that comes with everything you need right within the headset and doesn't need you to set up any additional sensors or cameras. It just takes a few minutes to set everything up: place the headset on, set up your play area, then use the Oculus mobile app to activate your account.
The Guardian technology, which enables you draw a playspace with your Oculus Touch controllers to prevent running into walls and furniture, is used by Meta Quest 2 once more. I could easily create my Guardian environment by visually painting a rectangle in my living room, which the headset's Passthrough+ cameras allowed me to see clearly. Designed to lessen the depth discrepancy present in other passthrough cameras, the Meta Quest 2's Passthrough+ mode matched my real surroundings rather well in my tests.
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If you leave your Guardian border, the headset will immediately convert to Passthrough mode, enabling you to view any nearby objects right away. A fast touch on the side of the headset may also be used to switch between Passthrough mode and normal mode, which is useful for sometimes checking in with the outside world.
For room-scale VR, Meta suggests a 6.5 × 6.5-foot area that enables you to freely move around a virtual space for more engaging experiences. Lack a lot of room to play with? Additionally, you may create a stationary border so that you can play Meta Quest 2 while seated or standing in one place. You can cast your Meta Quest 2 to a TV if the space where you set everything up has a TV.
Meta Quest 2: Controllers and Hand Tracking Explained
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Better gesture tracking is made possible with a revised Oculus Touch Controller, which is included with the Meta Quest 2. The configuration remains mostly unchanged: the scoop-shaped controllers are equipped with two shoulder buttons for actions such as shooting weapons and collecting items, along with two face buttons and clickable analog sticks on each controller. In order to prevent them from flying away during a heated lightsaber duel, you need also fasten them using the wrist straps that are included.
The controllers for the Meta Quest 2 are straightforward to use and pleasant to use in a range of games and scenarios. Pistol Whip's rapid triggers and precise motion detection made it simple for me to take headshots, while Beat Saber's rhythm action made it easy for me to cut away at color-coded blocks. Impressive is the haptic input on the controllers; in Vader Immortal, I could feel the exact buzz of an ignited lightsaber, and in Tetris Effect, a modest pulse matched the in-game music kept me on course.
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The fact that the Touch Controllers require AA batteries and cannot be recharged via USB rather disappoints me. Nevertheless, each controller only requires one battery, and after many weeks of use, my Quest interface indicates that both of my controllers' batteries are fully charged. On a single battery, the controllers are rated for about 30 hours of use.
With the use of hand tracking, you may also use your hands to play some games and browse the menus on the Meta Quest 2. Although I'm glad I have the option, I didn't find hand-tracking to be as user-friendly as I had hoped, and I had problems getting my pinch-to-select movements to work when navigating the Oculus home screen.
Hand tracking is presently only available in a small number of Quest applications, and in the ones I did try, the functionality was a bit hit or miss. I ultimately mastered the Spatial productivity app's menu navigation and document rearranging features, but I found it difficult to manipulate hand-supported games like The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets.
Meta Quest 2 Performance: Power and Precision Unleashed
Using a Snapdragon XR2 processor has improved performance for the Meta Quest 2 over its predecessor. The Quest 2 boasts a significant improvement in specifications compared to the first Quest, which was equipped with a Snapdragon 835 CPU—a processor better suited for smartphones than virtual reality headsets. This indicates that compared to the previous VR headset, the Meta Quest 2 operates much more smoothly and offers fast menu navigation. And happily, there was no lag when I played games and downloaded many additional titles at the same time.
Vader Immortal, Pistol Whip, and Beat Saber were among the fluidly operating and strikingly clear and crisp-looking games. Having said that, I wouldn't precisely compare them to what you would get out of a decent gaming PC, much less an Xbox Series X or PS5. However, the games I was playing had plenty of color and texture to keep me engrossed in the action. Also, there were no crashes or framerate drops that would have prevented me from enjoying the VR experience.
Meta Quest 2 Games: Diving into Virtual Worlds
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| Pistol Whip (Image credit: Cloudhead Games) |
The game catalog for the Quest platform is quite strong, ranging from fresh perspectives on well-known AAA brands to captivating independent games that fully utilize the VR capabilities of the Meta Quest 2.
The immersive time-bending shooting of Superhot VR and the rhythm-slashing game Beat Saber are highlights. The latter allows you to manipulate time and throw bullets back at adversaries, giving you the impression that you're in a hallucinogenic sci-fi action movie.
I was a huge fan of Star Wars, so I went crazy for Vader Immortal, a first-person action-adventure game that had me slyly navigating imperial strongholds and fighting fiercely with my lightsaber. To the beat of throbbing EDM music, I was destroying enemies and hitting headshots in Pistol Whip, an arcade shooter bathed in neon.
Although Tetris Effect is already one of my all-time favorite games, playing it in the fully immersive 3D world of Meta Quest 2 enhanced its already tranquil graphics. Additionally, Polyarc's Moss is a fantastic blend of classic controller-based platforming with deep virtual reality (VR) interaction, letting you use your joysticks to control an adorable mouse while moving obstacles with your hands.
Resident Evil 4 VR is another fantastic single-player game; in 2022, The Mercenaries mode will be included as free DLC.
Additionally, there is a game-changing program named OculusKiller that enables you to launch Steam VR straight into the Meta Quest 2 headset.
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| Moss (Image credit: Polyarc) |
Also, The Quest 2 is an excellent multiplayer device that lets you play in virtual environments with pals during a period when getting together in person is more challenging than ever. One of the funniest and most hilarious multiplayer experiences I've had in a long time is beating up evil people in the VR brawler Path of the Warrior with a friend. Eleven: Table Tennis VR does a great job of adapting my terrible table tennis abilities to the virtual world.
The $79 Link connection allows you to link your Meta Quest 2 to a VR-ready PC and play an even greater selection of VR games, such as Half Life: Alyx, Star Wars Squadrons, and Fallout 4 VR. This will allow you to expand the Meta Quest 2's game catalog even further. Although it's unfortunate that Quest 2 doesn't come with some of the greatest VR titles available, the Link connection essentially transforms your Quest into a less expensive PC VR headset.
Meta Quest 2 Apps: Exploring Boundless Possibilities
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The Meta Quest 2 is much more than just a gaming device because it has a wide range of productivity and entertainment apps that enable you view films and work creatively with others. I was enthralled with my surroundings as I watched a virtual performance by the Blue Man Group on the Oculus TV app (now the Meta Quest TV app) and virtually stood at the summit of Mount Everest in a 360-degree YouTube VR video.
I also got the opportunity to experience a virtual rollercoaster through the Quest 2 TV app, which had my heart racing and nearly had me pass out before I realized I was at my desk. An incredibly powerful virtual workspace for working together on documents and 3D models is offered by the Spatial app. In the meanwhile, I was able to utilize my Windows 10 PC in a virtual reality setting thanks to the Virtual Desktop software.
Meta Quest 2 Audio: Immersive Soundscapes at Your Fingertips
The positional audio integrated into the Meta Quest 2 isn't brand-new; it was already there in the Quest and Rift S, but every time I use it, it amazes me. Without the need for headphones, the headset's built-in speakers produce powerful, clear music with excellent directionality. While lounging in my home screen sanctuary, I could hear where the bees and birds were chirping, and while blasting away in Pistol Whip, I could readily locate enemy fire.
With its convenient 3.5mm connector, the Meta Quest 2 let you to connect any headphones you want for even more realistic music. Additionally, Meta and Logitech worked together to develop the Chorus, a pair of speakers that attach to the Quest 2's strap and produce immersive music while maintaining a slight sense of realism. However, the built-in audio on the headset seems magical and further to its grab-and-go appeal.
The built-in microphone on the Meta Quest 2 also performed admirably. Coordinating with a friend to take down enemies in Path of the Warrior was effortless for me, and his voice, having come from his own Quest 2, sounded clear and sharp.
Meta Quest 2 Battery Life: Long-lasting Entertainment On-the-Go
Two to three hours of battery life are estimated for the Meta Quest 2: two if you're playing games and around three if you're just viewing movies. Using the Quest 2 in modest doses and just needing to plug it in every few days, I found this to be mostly consistent with my tests. Upon completing many periods of gaming on a fully charged Meta Quest 2, I discovered that the battery had been depleted by around 50% by the time I ended.
Meta Quest 2 Accessories: Enhance Your VR Experience
The Meta Quest 2 headset has a decent selection of accessories available now that it has been out for more than two years.
These consist of better headbands, battery packs, third-party controllers, and the option to purchase a special connection to connect the headset to a PC for gaming.
If you decide to get the Quest 2, be sure to check out our list of the top Meta Quest 2 accessories for some really amazing improvements.
Meta Quest 2: The Ultimate VR Experience
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The gloriously straightforward "it just works" brilliance of Meta Quest 2 makes me think of my first experiences with the iPhone or Nintendo Switch. Similar to its predecessor, the Meta Quest 2 bundles a ton of amazing experiences into a stylish gadget that you can turn on at any time. It also removes the old barriers to virtual reality, such as the requirement for a powerful PC and a ton of wires and sensors.
The enhanced performance and design of the Meta Quest 2 may not be enough to convince you to switch from your current Oculus Quest headset if you currently have one. Furthermore, upgrading to the 256GB storage option or purchasing a Link cable might add up to the cost of the new headset. However, the Meta Quest 2's cost, game selection, and general usability make it the greatest starting point for virtual reality whether you haven't tried VR before or want to finally break free from tethering.