October 07, 2024
First, it's price. The base model is a mere $299, which is extremely cheap. Next, it has full 6dof tracking, as well as motion-tracked controllers, AND pure hand tracking. So it's a fully capable headset.
Its resolution is 1832x1920 per eye. This is very good, few headsets top that. It has a 90hz refresh rate, which isn't the highest but is respectable. It's standalone, so you don't need a pc to play, and can operate completely untethered. No cord to tangle up in, no restriction on where you use it, this is very nice.
But if you do have a PC, you can also use it for PC VR. You can even use the virtual desktop to do so wirelessly, which every review I’ve seen has been very pleased with, even compared to wired options. This lets you retain many of the standalone advantages while still leveraging a PC's graphical power. There are wireless adaptors for other headsets that cost as much as the quest 2 does.
It gives you access to 4 markets for games. You have the quest store, with exclusive standalone titles. You have access to the Oculus Store, with their exclusive PC VR titles, as well as access to the side quest, with exclusive titles that aren't in the main quest store, as well as any PC VR options, like steam VR. In terms of access to games, Quest 2 is where it's at. You are basically only missing out on PSVR titles, which, well, you would need a PSVR headset for.
That said, there are some drawbacks:
The default strap is poor, at least for longer play sessions. There are numerous options for a more comfortable strap, but these will cost extra money (though potentially not a lot of extra money)
It's about 2.5 hours. You can play with a cable, but that loses the untethered benefits, or get battery packs, which cost money.
The default model is 64 G. Which is workable, but you may end up uninstalling things to make room for new stuff. The 254G model is another hundred.
If you get the upgraded memory and an elite battery strap, your cost is now about $520. Which isn't a bad price for a VR headset still.
It only has 3 settings for IPD. If these don't work for you, it may just be a bad fit. But if they do work, you won't be affected.
Which leaves the big one.
Facebook.
You must link your quest with your Facebook account, and consequently, let them track your usage. And no trying to cheat this with fake accounts, as they will bang you and remove all your games.
