If you know anything about gaming, you’re no stranger to the name Oculus Quest 2. But you don’t have to be a high-functioning gamer to appreciate the allure of this device. In recent years, its popularity as a work or study assistant has grown, too. Whether you’re considering the Oculus Quest 2 for streaming movies, conducting business, or exploring iconic games, this guide delves into everything from its history to its various editions and where to buy them.

Five Facts About Oculus/Meta Quest 2

  • Only the best games in comfort are featured on the Oculus Store
  • Meta Quest 2 can be used standalone or as a PCVR headset
  • Meta Quest 2 comes in two storage sizes; 128GB and 256GB
  • Quest 2 beats out all existing headsets by direct comparison in 2022 by functionality, access, and performance
  • The Meta Quest 2 and Oculus Quest 2 are the same product with different branding

Oculus/Meta Quest 2: Specs

Operating System:Quest System Software, based on Android 10 Source
System on a Chip:Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2
Memory:6 GB
Storage:64 GB (discontinued in July 2021), 128 GB, 256 GB
Display:1,832 x 1,920 per eye @ 120 Hz LCD
Graphics:Adreno 650 (~1.2 TFLOPS)
Sound:2 side-mounted built-in speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth
Features:6 Degrees of Freedom (6DoF) inside-out tracking, four cameras, two motion and touch controllers with accelerometers and gyroscopes, hand tracking, a microphone
Battery Life:Two to four hours
Controllers:Oculus Touch
Camera:Four Infrared Cameras
Connectivity:USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Weight:503g (17.7 oz)
Accessories:Large third-party accessories market
Price:$299 for 128 GB model, $399 for 256 GB model
The Oculus Quest 2 simultaneously offers comfort and quality for your gaming experience.

Oculus/Meta Quest 2: Pros and Cons!

Pros!Cons!
Most price-accessible VR device on the marketShort battery life when using mobile (two to four hours)
Standalone operation (no computer or wires required)The stock strap works but doesn’t provide the most comfort
Can be used as a PCVR headset with wire or wirelesslyNo expandable storage slots
Inside-out tracking eliminates the need for light towers to trackThe headset is connected to Facebook/Meta account
The best games designed specifically for VR can be found in the Oculus store
Higher specs than all competitors in the same price range by comparison
Large third-party accessories market
Allows for portable VR experiences
Best games with comfort settings in VR headsets

There is much more that can be added to the pros and cons list, especially in direct comparison to other VR/XR headsets on the market. The Meta Quest 2 packs in enough features to easily beat out the competition, so far. These standalone devices are paving the way for a future industry that may treat these devices like consoles or smartphones. With Apple entering the VR headset arena, the definition of the best games, specs, comfort levels, and features are likely to drastically evolve. Even the Meta Quest 2 has gone from a solid reliance on the Oculus Touch controllers to supporting full hand tracking.

Quick Facts

Original price
$299, $399
Units Sold
10 million as of October 2021

Oculus/Meta Quest 2: Where to Buy

These days, there are two ways to get the products and services you want. The easiest method is to order online. It can be more cost-efficient and requires little to no work. However, you may be the kind of person who likes instant gratification. If so, you’ll want to head to your favorite retailer to pick one up. Here are a few stores that sell Meta Quest 2 VR headsets:

  • Best Buy
  • Target
  • Wal-Mart
  • GameStop
  • Meta Store
  • Microcenter

If you want to skip the line, you can go directly to any of these businesses’ websites to make the purchase or go directly to Meta. We would recommend that no matter where you choose to purchase, you should get a referral code from an existing owner of a Quest 2 headset. You’ll earn extra credit for your first VR game purchase.

The History of Oculus/Meta Quest 2: What to Know

Oculus was founded by Luckey Palmer, a VR enthusiast who began a Kickstarter to create a more comfortable VR headset for the future. The Kickstarter was a wild success and led to the creation of the first Oculus Developer’s Kit. In due time, Oculus gained ground among the gaming community as an innovator in the industry.

As VR/AR technology started to become more popular with the giants in the tech industry, Oculus gained the attention of Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook, Inc. Facebook purchased Oculus and the Oculus development became a part of Facebook.

Facebook decided that the best direction to take VR in was to begin to create a standalone experience. The first experiment in this arena was done in partnership with Samsung to create the Samsung Gear VR. While the Gear VR acted as a prototype, it did find uses across the country as an entertainment venue method.

The next step was to remove the need for a smartphone to power the device, thus the Oculus Go was born. However, it didn’t stand a chance against tethered VR headsets with two hand controllers and full body tracking. This led to the creation of the Oculus Quest with inside-out tracking and two Oculus Touch controllers. The feedback and use of the device quickly led to improvements that were added to the design of the next Quest 2 which launched after the release of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2.

Oculus Quest 2
The Oculus Quest 2 can be connected via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB-C.

Oculus/Meta Quest 2 Versions: Each Edition

Oculus Quest 2

The Oculus Quest 2 was released on October 13, 2020. It was a rather successful release with two versions for sale; a 64GB model and a 256GB model.

Oculus Quest 2 Refresh

By June 2021, Facebook decided to give the Quest 2 lineup a much-needed improvement to the storage by replacing the 64GB model with a 128GB model. They also lowered the price of the 256GB model by $100.

Meta Quest 2

In November 2021, Facebook had begun its rebranding into Meta. With this change, the Oculus brand name was retired and replaced with Meta. Quest 2’s with the Oculus branding stayed available on shelves well into 2022, but only alongside new products with the Meta logo.

The Public Response

VR has long had a trend of too much hype without delivering grand performance. For this reason, the Quest 2 had a rough start in sales. However, Meta placed a demo in every retail store they could make a deal with. The Oculus Quest 2 sales hinged on user trials. Once a customer played a game on the VR headset, they understood the value of the product. By the end of 2021, the Quest 2 had sold 10 million units worldwide.

Oculus Quest 2: Price, Specs, and if it’s Worth Buying FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What is Oculus Quest 2?

The Meta Quest 2, formerly known as the Oculus Quest 2, is a standalone virtual reality headset. It can be used as a VR computer as well as a gaming system. Meta advertises the VR headset as a way to access the Metaverse.

Who invented Oculus Quest 2?

The Meta Quest 2 has had a long development road that started with Palmer Luckey. In April 2012, Palmer Luckey founded Oculus and launched a Kickstarter campaign that made $2.4 million in sales. Luckey was an avid collector of VR headsets and even claimed to have one of the largest collections in the world. With so many existing examples of VR headsets at his disposal, he was able to tinker around with the design until he came up with the concept for Oculus VR at the young age of 19.

From there, the development kits were released which eventually lead to Oculus’ first consumer headset, the Oculus Rift. It wasn’t until the company was purchased by Facebook, Inc that the development switched from being centered around making VR headsets as computer peripherals to making VR headsets that worked standalone. On May 21, 2019, Facebook’s endeavor paid off with the release of the Oculus Quest 1. By October 13, 2020, Facebook released the Oculus Quest 2.

How long is the Oculus Quest 2 battery life?

The internal battery can last between 2 to 4 hours depending on how the headset is used. Like any standalone device, there are settings to adjust such as lighting and tracking options. A larger determining factor is what software is being used. A session of Meta Quest Browsers with three instances open for work will last closest to the 4-hour battery capacity. However, playing a graphic intention game like Resident Evil 4 VR will likely drain the headset in around 3 and a half hours.

In my experience, most players who fall in love with VR gaming will want to get a hold of a battery pack to extend the use time of their device. Some replacement head straps come with external batteries as well. The third-party accessories market for VR is big and growing.

Is the Oculus Quest 2 worth buying?

The Meta Quest 2 is a strong VR headset contender on the market. It stands alone as the only headset to be in the $300-400 range while being able to be used without another device. If you’re interested in spatial computing, VR gaming, VR social media, VR remote work rooms, and even AR experiences, the Meta Quest 2 is currently the king of the XR market. Its price to power ratio is amazing. The user experience is praised almost universally. The controls are smooth and allow for hand tracking, Bluetooth connections, sideloading, and much more.

If you’re still unsure if it’s the right thing for you, the best way to find out is to go to a place that offers live demonstrations near you. Once you put the headset on, you’ll know if it’s something you want.

Is the Oculus Quest 2 comfortable?

There are two types of comfortability when it comes to the Meta Quest 2 and VR as a whole. The first is physical comfort. The device has to feel natural on the head and has a smart, evenly distributed weight to prevent injuries. Every VR HMD has a different way to handle this. The Meta Quest 2 comes stock with a stretchable band that pulls the headset toward your face. It’s easily adjustable, but it is far from perfect. The band uses plastic bracers to hold the stretch in position. These bracers can snap if the head strap is constantly changed to fit a different head. This problem can be avoided altogether by purchasing a hard strap like the Meta Quest 2 Elite Strap, Kiwi Design Elite Strap, or the BoboVR M2 Pro head strap. These additions can make the headset the most comfortable there is along with the most powerful.

The second form of comfort to consider is VR visuals. Historically, VR headsets have given users motion sickness to a degree that is unique and has been named VR sickness. Getting rid of this sickness has been a key goal in the design of the Meta Quest 2. While first-time users can get a little dizzy when they begin, players gain their ‘VR-legs’ over time.

Is the Oculus Quest 2 better than the Oculus Quest 1?

The Meta Quest 2 is significantly improved over the Oculus Quest 1. The design, hand tracking, tracking devices, increased RAM, and the XR2 place the Meta Quest 2 leaps and bounds over its predecessor. While the Quest 1 still has its pros and cons, the Quest 2 is better in every way.

How much should I pay for an Oculus Quest 2?

New Meta Quest 2 systems should cost either $299 or $399 plus tax depending on your choice between the 128GB model and the 256GB model. Used systems often sell for around $200. Buyer beware, used VR headsets can be a risky purchase depending on the amount of use the device has seen and how well the device has been cleaned and maintained. I always recommend going new with VR headsets due to their personal nature.

How much storage does the Oculus Quest 2 have?

Meta Quest 2’s come with either 128GB of memory or 256GB of memory. On the product’s initial release, the lower-end model came with 64GB. Facebook, now Meta, decided that this would quickly be outdated and refreshed the lineup by doubling the memory capacity.

About the Author

History Computer Staff

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