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 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.
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1277 COMMENTS

  1. My son has an oculus Quest and I would use this to keep in touch with him when I am away from him at work at the fire station. He loves his Quest and I would love to meet up with him online so that he can show me around his “Rec Room” and other online apps or games.

  2. I love that it’s wireless so its gonna be easy to move with it. Looking to use it for gaming . Cant wait.

  3. So cool! Thanks Best Buy! Worlds of possibilities explode from here! I love the crisp visuals but mostly I just love the idea of making the impossible, possible. So cool!

  4. I wouldn’t advise using a dummy account if you already have a Facebook account. You can possibly get your account banned which means you won’t have access to your games.

    Facebook purchased Oculus back in 2014 I believe; so it’s strange that people have this weird objection to using a facebook account.

    The quest 2 is great …btw!

  6. This could be a Pandemic dtress buster..would love to win for the Family..Oculus Quest 2 …No More comlications..just Simply the game on.

  7. Seen in few places and never had the privilaged to oen one..would love to win for the Family..Oculus Quest 2 …No More comlications..just Simply the game on.

  9. My favourite feature is how it is a wireless unit and delivers seamless VR capabilities. I can’t wait to have my son try this out and experience the wonders of VR!

  11. I like that it is wireless and like the option to hook it up to a pc. Star Wars would be a cool
    Game to play.

  13. Love that this is wireless! Used something similar at my job where it played a video, you felt like you were actually in space. Watching movies and gaming on this would be unreal !

  14. The immersive experience would make it a blast for Beat Saber, and it’ll help me with weight loss at the same time!

  15. I love the fact that it’s wireless, the headsets I’ve used in the past were limited by their need for a connection. Also when you needed to buy an expensive gaming PC just for VR it put me and I’m sure a lot of others off. But not anymore. I’d use it for gaming. Anytime I’ve used a VR headset the experience has been amazing. It would be so much fun to try it with family over the holidays.

  16. Wireless and updated resolution of 1832 x 1920 pixels Is freakin phenomenal.
    My most used application would be the bigscreen for movies and can’t wait to get my feet wet with VR gaming.

  18. I would love to play in a virtually immersive environment without the worry of cables and I would definitely use this for gaming!

  19. I love the freedom from wires and cables that the Quest 2 gives you! It’s unlike anything else in the VR space right now and would love to experience both movies AND games on such an amazing platform!

  21. Both my boys are on the spectrum. They come into their own with technology like the Oculus Quest 2. It would be greatly enjoyed by both.

  22. I love the fact that the Oculus Quest 2 is a wireless solution, which would be incredibly convenient (I’ve tried the HTC Vive, and was always getting caught in the cables). My primary purpose for use would be gaming – Half Life Alyx is simply stunning and I can’t wait to give that another go

  24. Look, Mom . . . no wires or cables. This is the most fascinating and advance feature of this Oculus Quest set that I am excited to try when doing gaming in VR.

  27. I Like the 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

  28. My son or daughter would love to try this Oculus Quest 2. The wireless setup would definitely make the experience less restrictive and immersive. They would use it for gaming.

  29. I love that it’s a wireless device. My son has been wanting one of these so bad for his gaming. I would love to see what this would be like to watch movies on.

  30. I Have always loved the Idea of VR but I never had a PC powerful enough to run one. I love that the Quest 2 is a stand alone VR and I got to try one recently since a few of my friends got one this year. I would love to win this so I can finally join my friends in these VR worlds!

  31. I would love to try the Occulus Quest 2 with my kids. I love the lack of cables and that you can just immerse yourself into the game or movie. Sounds amazing!

  33. The oculus quest 2 is exactly what I think of when I think about virtual reality. No cords or cables, vr anywhere anytime. I would mostly use the quest to play games and get myself more active by playing those games. I would want to use the new fitness tracker to set goals for myself, and have a new fun way to get some cardio in. Along with that I would probably watch some movies or youtube as well. It would be nice to get that movie theater feel when currently it isn’t possible to go to one. Overall it looks like quite the amazing product that is my definition of next-gen gaming.

  34. I love that this is a standalone product. I think VR is so cool. I would use this for everything I can, especially watching movies.

  35. The high resolution check! wireless check! Fast refresh check! It is where vr should be. I want link it to my pc fire up microsoft flight simulator 2020 and fly up mount everest… how cool!

  36. I will definitely be playing some of my favorite games that have been ported over to VR such as Fallout 4 and Skyrim. As much as you don’t need a PC to use these I’ll still use the capability to do so.

  37. This looks like so much fun for the whole family! I would use it to watch movies and my husband and kid would definitely use it for gaming.

  38. It’s interesting how we can immerse ourselves into games or experiences now. A great way to learn when we’re stuck inside during the winter!

  39. Wireless and standalone, this is the next step in truly immersive VR experiences, definitely excited for the next generation of Oculus headsets!

  40. My love for this system would be that it is something my mentally challenged friend loves! I’m currently enrolled in the education field of my university and I want to write my dissertation on students on the spectrum. A surprisingly insightful research topic has been mentally challenged children and VR. My friend loves using my Quest 1 because it makes him “Feel so free”. He struggles with social interaction and other environment related encompasses so using the headset is a good decompressor for him, makes him relax and gives him a break from how overwhelming his life can be. He loves Moss and the Job Simulator series, I would love to surprise him with a headset of his own. Me being a broke grad student, I cannot afford another headset so, here I am!

  43. What struck me the most is the fact that you don’t need any PC or console are really nice, I could easily use it everywhere in my house and in my own backyard even! I also really love the fact that it can be used as a media tool to watch movies, concerts. It really helps to see the outside world considering the pandemic we all go through. Be safe everyone! Lastly, I love the fact that backward compatibility! It’s really cool to enjoy older games because they often have a different feeling! I would mainly use it for two things gaming and testing. I’m pretty much an avid gamer but also I’m a junior software programmer fresh out of school! I would test my games on the oculus to have the perfect feeling of the user! One of my actual dreams is to create my own apps and videogames!

  44. The Oculus Quest 2 sounds amazing and I would love to win one. I played a VR game in the arcade once with my family and it was so much fun.

  49. I love the complete emersion into game play.
    I will def be using it for gaming but would also try watching movies with it.

  50. No attached cable really improved the experience! I would probably used for movies but will try a few games as well!

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