OPINION: Due to the current chip scarcity, finding all of your chosen Christmas gifts this year will be difficult, but if you can get one, the Oculus Quest 2 is the perfect gift for anyone.
Video games have shown to be fantastic means of escaping the daily grind and stepping into the shoes of someone completely different from ourselves. But putting on an Oculus Quest 2 is nothing compared to the surreal aspect of console escapism. You literally enter a new world and leave this one.
In terms of games, we propose Resident Evil 4 VR as the first title in your Oculus library. Resident Evil 4 has a new perspective, switching the action from third to first-person, making the scares even scarier.
If you thought Resident Evil was scary before, wait till you're surrounded by enemies and forced to physically reload your rifle with the Touch Controllers. The Quest 2 shines in low-key games that are both pleasant and easy to get into.
A basic replica of the popular miniaturized game with amazing dynamics is Eleven Table Tennis. You'll get sucked in by the appeal of table tennis without the hassle of chasing stray balls. Not only can you play games in VR, but you can also watch videos on YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
360-degree travel movies are fantastic for allowing you to travel the world from your living room. It's almost as if you're watching a movie on your own private cinema screen at home.
With the potential to enjoy entertainment and gaming in new ways, I can't think of a greater tech gift this year than the Oculus Quest 2. If the family dinner turns awkward, you can always put on the headset and pretend you're on a rollercoaster instead. What could be better?
Our review of the Meta Quest 2 Virtual Reality headset and why we think it's the best option for you or your family.
CLICK HERE AFTER YOU PURCHASE YOUR QUEST 2 TO RECEIVE A $60 CREDIT IN THE OCULUS STORE!
$60 Oculus Store Credit
The Oculus Quest 2 is a stylish virtual reality headset. The heavy googles are replaced by a light and comfy headset that is just 10% lighter. A simple strap and four camera sensors on the headset give it a clean and straightforward design that looks good on a desk or installed on the head. Quest 2's light gray tone makes it easy on the eyes.
Button and port placement helps maintain the headset's seamless design. To charge and listen to music, there is a USB-C port and a headphone jack on the left side of the headset. There is no longer a need for the switch at the bottom of the Oculus Quest 2 to modify the lens spacing.
In VR, the Oculus Quest 2 felt light and comfy even when I wore it for almost an hour. The headset's adjustable elastic bands helped me to achieve the perfect fit for my head. Warning: I concluded a long play session with a massive red indent on my forehead, so check your Oculus Quest 2 before you dive in.
Oculus Quest 2 features |
OVQ2 |
Snapdragon XR2 |
1832 x 1920 per eye |
64GB, 256GB |
RAM 6GB |
Battery life 2 - 3 (rated) |
7.5 4 5.2 |
1.1 lb |
Like the original Quest, the Oculus Quest 2 is an all-in-one VR system that doesn't require any extra sensors or cameras. The setup process is quick: put on the headset, activate your account using the Oculus mobile app, and set up your play area.
You can use your Oculus Touch controllers to draw a playspace to prevent banging into walls and furniture. To create my Guardian area, I simply painted a rectangle in my living room using the headset's Passthrough+ cameras. The Oculus Quest 2's Passthrough+ mode reduces the depth discrepancy encountered in other passthrough cameras, and it worked well in my testing environment.
If you leave your Guardian border, the headset automatically switches to Passthrough mode, allowing you to see your surroundings. With a fast tap on the side of the headset, you can also select Passthrough mode, which is great for times you need to check in with the real world.
Oculus recommends a 6.5 by 6.5-foot space for room-scale VR, which allows for more active experiences. Don't have much room to play? You can also set a fixed border to play with the Oculus Quest 2 when seated or standing.
Note: You'll need a Facebook account to utilize Oculus Quest 2. New Oculus users must now log in via Facebook. Existing Oculus users can use only their Oculus accounts until January 1, 2023, when they must integrate Oculus and Facebook accounts. Oculus announced this move for simplicity and privacy, but it's worth noting if you don't use Facebook for personal or security reasons.
Below are the LOWEST prices you will find for the Quest 2 and the most popular accessories.
FaceBook has worked hard to improve the Oculus Quest 2, with the latest v28 version offering some substantial upgrades.
You may bring your workstation into Oculus Home VR by placing a virtual desk on top of your existing one. A Bluetooth keyboard can be used with the Quest 2. But there are two big changes.
The first adds a 120Hz refresh rate option to the Quest 2's default 90Hz. It'll only function with supported programs, but should speed things up.
The second important update is wireless gaming PC connectivity through Air Link. Air Link is now in a “Experimental” beta stage and can be used to stream games without the Oculus Link cord. Remember that a strong Wi-Fi connection is required to get the most out of it. As a result, the Link cable may be preferable for those with poor internet connections.
Rumor has it that the Oculus Quest 2 will be able to run Android apps, expanding its potential utility even further. But VR on Android has had mixed results, so don't get too excited.
The Oculus Quest 2 comes with new Oculus Touch Controllers for enhanced gesture tracking. The controllers have two shoulder buttons for firing weapons and grabbing objects, two clickable analog sticks, and two face buttons. Use the supplied wrist straps to keep them from flying away during a frantic lightsaber battle.
In a range of games and experiences, I found the Oculus Quest 2 controls to be comfortable and intuitive. I had little issue snagging simple headshots in Pistol Whip, and cutting away at color-coded blocks in Beat Saber thanks to the rhythm-action. I was able to feel the distinct buzz of an ignited lightsaber in Vader Immortal, and keep track of my progress in Tetris Effect with a modest pulse that matched the in-game soundtrack.
I'm sad that the Touch Controllers aren't USB rechargeable. After several weeks of use, both of my controllers indicate full battery capacity on my Quest interface. The controllers are rated to last 30 hours on a single charge.
For menu navigation and some games, the Oculus Quest 2 has hand tracking. It's nice to have the option, but I had problems getting my pinch-to-select movements to register as I walked around the Oculus home screen.
Hand tracking is presently only available in a few Quest apps, and it was clunky in those I tried. However, I struggled to control hand-supported games like The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets.
Below are the LOWEST prices you will find for the Quest 2 and the most popular accessories.
The Oculus Quest 2 now boasts a Snapdragon XR2 chip, giving it a performance boost over its predecessor. The Quest 2's 6GB RAM sets it apart from the first Quest's Snapdragon 835 CPU, which was developed for smartphones rather than VR headsets. The Oculus Quest 2 runs far smoother than the original VR headgear, allowing for quick menu navigating. Thankfully, I didn't experience any lag while playing games and downloading other titles.
Games like Beat Saber and Pistol Whip performed smoothly and looked great. That said, I wouldn't compare them to an Xbox One X or PS5, let alone a powerful gaming PC. But the games I played had enough color and texture to keep me engaged. And there were no problems or framerate drops to interrupt my VR experience.
NVIDIA's Oculus Rift
Game titles for the Oculus Quest platform range from new takes on popular AAA franchises to thrilling independent titles that take advantage of the Oculus Quest 2's VR capabilities.
In Superhot VR, I felt like I was in a surreal sci-fi action movie as I controlled time and blasted bullets back at foes.
I loved Vader Immortal, a first-person action-adventure game that had me creeping around imperial castles and fighting with lightsabers. And I enjoyed Pistol Whip, a neon-drenched arcade shooter with throbbing EDM soundtrack.
Tetris Effect is already one of my all-time favorite games, but seeing it in 3D on the Oculus Quest 2 made it even better. With Moss, you can move obstacles with your hands while controlling an adorable mouse with your joysticks.
Resident Evil 4 VR will have The Mercenaries mode as free DLC in 2022.
The Quest 2 is also a great multiplayer machine, allowing you to play with pals virtually at a time when meeting in person is tough. An enjoyable multiplayer experience with a friend in Path of the Warrior VR, while Eleven: Table Tennis VR did an excellent job adapting my mediocre table tennis skills to the virtual world.
With the $79 Oculus Link connection (which is ON SALE for $31.99, you can connect your Oculus Quest 2 to a VR-ready PC and play games like Half Life: Alyx, Star Wars Squadrons, and Fallout 4 VR. While it's a shame that some of the top VR titles aren't pre-loaded on Quest 2, the Oculus Link basically turns your Quest into an Oculus Rift for less than $399.
The Oculus Quest 2 is more than a gaming device, with fascinating apps for watching videos and collaborating with people. I was mesmerized by the hypnotic percussion of the Blue Man Group when I watched their virtual concert in the Oculus TV app.
The Oculus TV software also allowed me to experience a virtual rollercoaster, which made me almost faint until I remembered I was at my computer. An excellent virtual workspace for papers and 3D models is provided by Spatial. Meanwhile, the Virtual Desktop program let me operate my Windows 10 PC in VR.
Below are the LOWEST prices you will find for the Quest 2 and the most popular accessories.
CLICK HERE AFTER YOU PURCHASE YOUR QUEST 2 TO RECEIVE A $60 CREDIT IN THE OCULUS STORE!
$60 Oculus Store Credit
Audio Oculus Quest 2
Using the Oculus Quest 2's built-in positional audio blows my mind every time. The headset's built-in speakers deliver clean, powerful music with remarkable directionality. I could readily identify enemy fire while blasting away in Pistol Whip, and I could hear adjacent bees and birds buzzing and chirping.
The Oculus Quest 2 offers a 3.5mm port for connecting any headphones for more immersive sound. But the headset's built-in audio is magical, adding to its portability.
The Oculus Quest 2's built-in microphone also worked nicely. I had no trouble coordinating with a friend in Path of the Warrior, and his Quest 2 voice sounded sharp and clear.
Battery life for Oculus Quest 2
The Oculus Quest 2 has a battery life of 2 to 3 hours, depending on how you use it. In my tests, I only had to plug in the Quest 2 every few days while utilizing it in tiny pieces. After several hours of gaming on a fully charged Oculus Quest 2, I found the battery was roughly 50% depleted.
In Oculus Quest 2:
The Oculus Quest 2 reminds me of the first time I picked up a Nintendo Switch or an iPhone. The Oculus Quest 2 eliminates past barriers to entry into virtual reality, such as the requirement for a powerful PC and a slew of wires and sensors, and bundles a ton of fantastic experiences into a streamlined gadget.
Below are the LOWEST prices you will find for the Quest 2 and the most popular accessories.
CLICK HERE AFTER YOU PURCHASE YOUR QUEST 2 TO RECEIVE A $60 CREDIT IN THE OCULUS STORE!
$60 Oculus Store Credit
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