I purchased the Oculus Quest 2 ($299 version) last month with the intention of returning it. I’ve had the first Oculus Quest a couple times, and ended up returning it because it just wasn’t worth $399. It was short-term fun that never lasted.
What’s changed? Well, besides the price, a lot. First of all, the Quest 2 provides a more comfortable fit. Some people have complained about the cheap head strap, but it works a lot better than many say it does. Of course, you can also buy the Elite Strap but may not find a need for it.
The biggest change, as mentioned in my first impressions review, is the (1832×1920 pixel resolution per eye) screen resolution. Many of the experiences look so much better without the screen door effect. Now that many software titles have upgraded to the hardware-capable 90Hz refresh rate, there is less motion sickness.
Some have criticized the controllers, but I think they are just about perfect. They are somewhat larger, but this is great for people whose hands are larger than average since the grip becomes tighter and easier. The AA batteries seem to last a lot longer than they did in the original Quest.
Using the Quest 2 for cardio workouts is what has really pushed the device over to the “worth-it” meter for myself. The gyms in Los Angeles are still closed, and playing Beat Saber, perhaps the most popular VR game out right now, has been a great substitute. Best of all, there is now a Multiplayer mode.
Beat Saber provides a great cardio workout.
I’ve lost five pounds in the past two weeks, and I can guarantee you that most of that is because of this simple but extremely exciting game. But it’s not the only one. Holopoint is another great game that has been carried over to the Quest 2 from the early VR days. Like Beat Saber, it’s not visually stunning, but it’s dizzying and a lot of fun.
Holopoint looks elementary but is very exciting.
The ultimate reason for keeping the Quest 2 comes down to watching movies using Netflix or Bigscreen VR. With the new screen resolution, one doesn’t need a big screen 4K television anymore. The Quest 2 now provides a viewing experience that’s the closest to a theater substitute that you can get. And from the looks of things, it doesn’t look like movie theaters will open in masse anytime soon.
The Oculus Quest proved that VR is not over. The Oculus Quest 2 now proves that instead of being over, VR is now mainstream.
