Oculus Quest 2

Play games, watch shows and movies, surf the web, and much more in virtual reality from absolutely anywhere. The Oculus Quest 2 is an all-in-one wireless VR headset that doesn’t require any additional equipment. There’s no need to connect to a console or expensive gaming PC, nor are there any necessary cables, wires, or sensors to hook up. Simply slide your Oculus Quest 2 headset on and enter an amazing world of VR.

Oculus Quest 2 pushes the boundaries of VR comfort and accessibility

As an early adopter of VR headsets, I can’t believe how fast the technology is advancing. I recall my first experiences just a few short years ago. They were underwhelming affairs featuring cumbersome, uncomfortable headsets with bulky cables and unimpressive sensors.

I can see now that the Oculus Quest 2 is exactly the kind of VR headset I was wishing for at the beginning. This headset is lightweight, minimal, and, most importantly, comfortable, yet it still performs great. It took a few years, but the Oculus Quest 2 shows how we are pushing past the initial bumps and roadblocks of affordable and functional virtual reality and toward a bright future.

The Quest 2 features 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye, and a 72Hz refresh rate (with the option to bump up to 90Hz currently in beta). These aren’t the most high-end VR specs available. However, they are amazing when you consider the standalone nature of the headset. Furthermore, the whole package is incredible when you take into consideration the price range of the Oculus Quest 2 over more expensive VR rigs.

The only real downside in my opinion is the mandatory Facebook login the Quest 2 requires. Personally, I’m not a Facebook guy. Having to make a dummy Facebook account to use this VR headset bothers me more than a little. I wish there were a separate option, but sadly the two products are forever tied together.

Oculus Quest 2

Take VR with you anywhere you go

The most important feature of the Oculus Quest 2 is the fact that it’s a completely standalone product. There’s no PC or console necessary. The Quest 2 is its own gaming and entertainment hub. As Dr. Seuss might say, “You can play it here or there, you can play it anywhere”!

Since the Quest 2 works all on its own, it obviously requires onboard storage for games and apps. There are two different options here: a 64 GB model and a 256 GB model. Most games available come in around 2 – 6 GB, although some larger games (such as the recent Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners) can approach 12 GB or more in size.

This should mean that the smaller 64 GB model will be sufficient for most. It’s possible to download a healthy amount of content with this much space, especially if you tend to delete older games over time. However, if you intend to build a massive library that you always want available, the 256 GB model may be the choice for you.

Oculus Quest 2

Easy setup in a play area of any size

The Oculus Quest 2 is far and away among the easiest VR headsets to get up and running. Getting started is as simple as sliding the headset on and establishing your play area. Since the headset uses its own built-in cameras (instead of sensors), video passthrough allows you to see your surroundings even with the headset on.

There are essentially 3 ways to play—sitting, standing, or roomscale. When you enter VR with the Quest 2, you’ll essentially decide how you want to play, and the headset will assist you in creating a boundary. You’ll then receive a visual warning anytime you are in danger of exceeding the boundary, making it easy to maintain your space and not wander or bump into your surroundings.

Oculus Quest 2

The really amazing thing is that the Quest 2 will actually allow you to create a custom boundary. Instead of estimating the room or choosing from preset sizes, you can simply use the controller in passthrough mode to draw your own boundary on the floor. You’ll instantly have a play area that perfectly matches the room you are playing in.

The boundary system works so well and perfectly suits the portable functionality of the Quest 2. If you are sitting down, you can shift to a stationary boundary as well. Some games and apps are primarily designed for sitting, while others require roomscale movement. Check the details of any given app to see which modes it supports.

Oculus Quest 2

PC VR functionality via Oculus Link

While the Oculus Quest 2 functions on its own, it’s still possible to expand its use to a PC. This requires utilizing “Oculus Link”, which involves installing the Oculus App and connecting to your PC via the Oculus Link Cable (or a similar high-speed USB-C cable). Using this method, Quest 2 owners can access the Oculus Rift library in tandem with a VR-ready PC.

This is definitely important to me as I want to be able to play games from my Steam library with the Quest 2. Luckily, this is very much possible by connecting the headset to the Oculus PC App via Oculus Link and then downloading the “Steam VR” App from the Oculus Rift store.

Unfortunately, I do not have the official Oculus Link Cable for testing, but I was able to get up and running using the USB-C cable from my Nintendo Switch console. With little effort, I was soon playing Star Wars: Squadrons in VR via Steam. You can read more about the Star Wars VR experience in my Star Wars: Squadrons review!

Preparation for Oculus Link

While my Switch cable works well enough, I did encounter a bit of lag here and there. If you intend to use the Oculus Link feature regularly, I recommend either investing in the official cable (warning—it’s not inexpensive), or researching to ensure you obtain a third-party cable that meets the high-speed requirement.

Another aspect I noticed was that the built-in headphones weren’t quite loud enough in many instances when using Oculus Link—even at max volume. This was a quick fix, however, since the Quest 2 also supports external headphones via a 3.5mm headphone jack.

After plugging in my Beats Over-Ear Headphones (which fit comfortably over the Quest 2’s sleek design), the sound experience improved greatly, and I realized that this was my preferred audio solution overall—not just when necessary to bolster the weaker volume in link mode.

The Oculus Link 2 is one of the most accessible and streamlined VR options out there

As previously stated, my first impressions of VR were less than stellar. So much so that I haven’t given the technology much attention since those earliest days. However, the Oculus Quest 2 clearly demonstrates for me that VR is finally delivering the experience I was hoping for in the beginning.

The Quest 2 is so easy to use. It fits comfortably, offers a decent library of games and apps, and best of all it’s extremely portable. I love the fact that it delivers awesome VR anywhere without the need for a console, PC, or sensors. Not to mention that owners get all this at a much lower cost than that of high-end VR rigs.

I could do without the mandatory Facebook integration. However, I’m ultimately willing to curate a dummy account in order to enjoy the Quest 2 on its own, as well as in conjunction with my PC via Oculus Link. The Oculus Quest 2 is a fantastic choice for VR enthusiasts, casual users, and newcomers alike.

Oculus Quest 2 64GB VR Headset with Touch Controllers
Oculus Quest 2 256GB VR Headset with Touch Controllers

Dave Neufeld
Dave is an avid gamer, a musician/songwriter/recording artist, and an ardent reader with a degree in the Classics but a love for comics too. When he's not gigging with the band or pulling books at his local comic shop, he can usually be found gaming on any platform, from consoles to PC to his self-built personal arcade cabinet.

1277 COMMENTS

  1. This is my entry for the Oculus Quest 2 contest from Best Buy.

    I love the Oculus Quest 2’s easy setup in a play area of any size. I will use the Oculus Quest 2 for movies.

  2. The great resolution on the display and the comfortable lightweight is what I love about it. I would use the Oculus Quest 2 for gaming.

  3. I like the wireless ability of the new Quest 2 headset. I would really love to play Half Life: Alyx and Beat Saber!

  4. I love the blazing-fast processor and highest-resolution display. I’d use this for playing games and watching movies.

  5. I love that the Oculus Quest 2 is wireless and you can take it anywhere.
    I would love to play games on it!

  6. The Quest 2 sounds like a fun device. I’m keen on trying one out, and I also would like to introduce my family and friends to the current generation of tech in the VR space. I think the Quest 2 lends itself to sharing a VR experience with others due to its mobility relative to an exclusively-PC-tethered device.

  7. I’d like to use a Quest 2 to compare its capabilities to other virtual reality headsets on the market. From the hardware specifications, it appears the Quest 2 is one of the best values available at the moment. I appreciate the higher resolution and faster framerate supported by the Quest 2.

  8. I love that the Oculus Quest 2 is a self-contained portable VR system so that I don’t need to hook it up to my computer. I love to experience VR gaming for myself.

  9. I will use it for travelling to see so many places I can only dream to visit physically. I love how its wireless and can operate anywhere I go

  10. It has 50% more pixels than the original Quest so the pictures or images would be so realistic. I would use it for movies to get the best seat for the best picture.

  11. What I like about the Oculus 2 is an all-in-one wireless VR headset, simply wireless.
    I will use this for gaming. Me and my son will be having a good time.

  12. grandson would love it for gaming and I would love it for the ability it gives him to see things like space

  13. My nephew would love this. He can’t stop talking about it! He wants to play games and learn to program games in Virtual Reality. It’s great that it works without a computer. Please enter me in the draw.

  14. This review has me even more excited than I initially was for the Oculus Quest 2!

    As a big fan of science fiction I feel like I’ve been waiting my entire life for a VR experience that only the Oculus Quest 2 can deliver.

    Inferior devices produce a “screen door” effect that totally breaks the illusion of immersion. The visuals on the Ocukus Quest 2 sound truly transformative and awe inspiring.

    The roomscale option sounds incredible. Covid-19 has really exacerbated my wanderlust, and the Oculus Quest 2 –especially with its custom boundaries — will allow me to safely traverse virtual worlds from the comfort of my own home (no threat of walking into a wall or having a stranger cough on me? YES, PLEASE!).

    Good luck everyone. The future of VR truly has arrived with the Oculus Quest 2.

  15. I have an Oculus 2 and I love the resolution, that it’s wireless and all around so much fun. A client of mine, their son, asks me about it every time – he wants one more than anyone I know, He can’t stop talking about it! He wants to play games and learn to program games in Virtual Reality. It’s great that it works without a computer too. This would be so great for him!

  16. I used to have a PSVR, and I tried the first oculus quest, the controllers are such an improvement from the PlayStation move controllers, and the lack of cable running from your headset is awesome.

    I think the coolest feature of it though, is being able to take it into any room, and set it up in less than a minute by drawing your own play area is revolutionary for the technology, compared to other VR setups where you have to set up cameras and keep in a fixed play area like that.

    If I won this, I’d use it mostly for playing games. But being able to simulate a theatre view with a headset is cool too, so I wouldn’t limit myself to ONLY playing games with it.

  17. The new Oculus Quest 2 makes me wanna finally jump into VR. It has great graphics, no need for sensors around the room, and an optional PC connected cable. I love how this device does not require the sensors around the room allowing users to play anywhere and take it with them on the go. After reading your review I am even more excited as I did not realize there were so many boundary options! The create your own will be amazing and extremely useful.

    I will be using this to play games with my friends and hopefully convince them to invest in one as well so we can all play together. Currently we are playing Phasmophobia and I think a VR headset would take the game to the next level. I also can’t wait to play Beat Saber and Half-Life: Alyx!

  18. Love that the quest 2 has inside out tracking and is a hybrid standalone / pc vr system. I would use it mostly for gaming.

  19. love how you are not tied down with wires for it compared to the oculus rift s which we have and we would use it for gaming

  20. That customizable boundary is so hype. I’ve always been quite hesitant on grabbing one of these VR headsets since I’d probably smash my hand on a wall, or trip over something and break the headset.

    Stand-alone is also a nice feature. Who needs a 3090 am i right?

    • Games would be used for this mostly but I am really interested in the virtual work environments being built. A virtual desk with monitors surrounding you with all the things you want to see.

  21. I love how there is no need to have a computer or console in order to operate this, just your phone! That’s amazing!

  22. The portability of this VR is just awesome especially with the config and love the awareness camera to sense the surroundings. Also hooking up with the PC via cable to stream games is a good thought from oculus.

    Only downside I see is, there is no option to extend the memory. I would like to have library games. Also for some the Facebook login might be bothering but not for me.

    I would definitely love to play games on this console.

  23. I love how it can be used wirelessly. If I ever win one of these, I would definately experiment with them in my video game development projects. I’ve been learning how to code these past couple months and its my dream to become a video game developer

  24. I love how portable and easy it is to use and I would definitely use it for games – especially Beat Saber!

  25. I love the oculus because it allows for such creativity from developers with it being wireless and using it for gaming would be a blast.

  26. I have and love the Oculus Rift but to go wireless with the Oculus Quest 2 is a must for VR. I’d mostly use it for gaming but it would be cool to watch movies as well.

    • I have one and loving it. I can play my games wired, wirelessly at home or remotely from home! It’s awesome tech.

  27. I love the fact that it’s a stand-alone wireless product. I will use it to watch movies and shows.

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