Only recently announced, there are still a few weeks before the Oculus Quest 2 is ready to make its commercial debut. However, reviews for the new VR headset are already starting to come in, painting a picture of what fans can expect when it releases to regular consumers. But with the first Oculus Quest selling out regularly, the follow up has a lot to live up to.
Launching on October 13, the Oculus Quest 2 starts at $299, a significantly lower cost than its predecessor. The Quest 2 boasts numerous improvements to both the headset itself and the Oculus Touch controllers, making it more competitive in a growing market of virtual reality devices. The main draw to the Quest 2, however, is its standalone design, with the headset being completely self-contained, shirking the requirement of a beefy gaming PC to run.
Players still have the option, of course. Oculus Quest 2 supports Oculus Link, allowing it to be connected to a PC and play Oculus Rift games, but a PC connection isn't necessary for the device to function. For those that have limited space, an underpowered PC, or no desire to mess around with cables, the Quest 2 may seem an appealing option. So far, critics seem to agree that it's an improved device, though there are some major asterisks to keep in mind.
Samuel Gibbs (The Guardian)
"The Oculus Quest 2 is very much what the world of virtual reality needs right now. It is a cheaper, lighter, more comfortable and simpler VR headset that is genuinely great."
Jess Grey (Wired)
"The Quest 2 is the best Oculus headset by far. At about $300 when it hits shelves October 13 (you can preorder it), with top-notch tethered and untethered VR capabilities, the Oculus Quest 2 delivers on the promise of VR in ways other headsets never have, and that’s exciting for the future... Unfortunately, the Oculus Quest 2 also requires a Facebook account. Like Instagram, Oculus was one of those companies owned by Facebook that had often escaped the (well-warranted) criticisms leveled at its corporate parent."
Sam Machkovech (Ars Technica)
"Last year, I was charmed enough by Quest 1's frictionless path to standalone 6DOF, and relieved enough by its distance from full Facebook integration, to easily recommend the system as a viable VR option. This year, I cannot say the same. The hardware ships with zero brand-new features, particularly built-in wireless VR support, and it scrapes away many of the prior model's gains in VR quality-of-life tweaks. Too much annoying stuff gets in the way of Quest 2's improved power and improved screens, and that's before even uttering the dirty F-word."
Will Greenwald (PC Mag)
"The Quest 2 is an upgrade in every way, with a lighter design, a sharper display, and a faster processor, all at a more affordable price than the original. For $300, it's the best all-in-one package for using VR, with optional accessories for PC tethering and to double the battery life of the headset. That makes it the best VR headset at this price by far, and our Editors’ Choice."
Whitson Gordon (IGN)
"The Quest 2 improves over its predecessor in a lot of little ways, with a few small drawbacks like the enlarged controllers and cheaper strap. But its wireless nature, ease of use, and accessible price still make it a killer VR headset."
While the device still isn't perfect, critics seem to mostly agree that it's an improved device over its predecessor. The main complaint stems from Oculus' Facebook integration, which has remained a heavily criticized move since its announcement. Still, it's difficult to argue against the Quest 2's lower price point and improved resolution, so fans that are willing to accept Facebook's increasingly tight grip on the platform may find something to love here.
Battery life was also a consistent criticism for the device, though, so that's another thing for fans to keep in mind. Players should only expect about 2-3 hours before the Quest 2 needs a recharge, though typical VR gaming sessions are a fair bit shorter than gaming on a traditional console due to eye strain and motion sickness, two issues VR companies have had difficulty solving.
If it's anything like it's predecessor, the Quest 2 may have limited availability. However, the headset is launching in close proximity to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nvidia's new graphics cards. It's one of the most crowded markets for hardware that the games industry has seen in years, so Oculus may have a slower start, considering how much dedicated gamers are already spending this season.
Oculus Quest 2 launches on October 13.