VR Oculus Quest 2: What Is the Quest 2 and Why Is It Special?

The Oculus Quest 2 is a Facebook-owned type of VR headset that stands out from most other VR headsets in a few ways. The biggest aspect is the fact that it works entirely without cables. While other headsets commonly need to be wired to a computer, the Quest 2 doesn’t.

The good

It CAN be connected to a PC but it doesn’t require it. Options like the Oculus Link give users the opportunity to play PC-VR games on their device, but Facebook also offers a more than sufficient store filled with Quest-specific games. They can be purchased both on the device itself and on the mobile version of the shop.

Popular VR titles like BeatSaber are available on the Quest 2, and even offer a special mode that takes advantage of the headset’s ability to move through spaces without a cable tether.

The Quest 2 is also one of the more affordable headsets out there, and therefore appeals to a broad audience, and makes VR available to people who may not be able to drop a grand on, say, the Steam VR hardware setup.

The bad

That said, the Quest 2 does have some limitations as well. Hardware is one of them – because it doesn’t have the support of a computer, it is somewhat more limited in what it can offer in the way of graphics output and the like. Then there is battery life – obviously, the Quest 2 depends on a battery. While the capacity is decent, it’s not great, and for longer play sessions, players either have to charge it throughout or use a battery pack.

Then there is the available software – while there is a good variety, they all add additional costs to the headset. A game can easily cost up to $40 per title, so just picking up four or five games could nearly double the price of the initial purchase. The free games available are fun but don’t offer any sort of deep experience.

The verdict

Especially for VR newbies, and those wanting to try out a VR headset, the Quest 2 is a great choice. It’s affordable, and if you only want to play the odd round of BeatSaber or watch some Netflix in VR, the Quest 2 has everything you’ve ever wanted.

If you primarily want to play Steam-VR games, then the Quest can be used that way, but there are other headsets specifically dedicated to that purpose that may be more your thing.