Hey friend! Are you considering buying a shiny new VR headset this year? If so, I highly recommend snagging the now iconic Oculus Quest 2.
Even 3 years after launch, the Quest 2 remains the undisputed king of bang for buck in immersive computing. While competitors like Pico 4 and PSVR 2 have grabbed some headlines recently, I still firmly believe the Quest 2 offers prospective buyers the single best deal on both price and performance.
Let me convincingly explain 6 compelling reasons why I think you should secure an Oculus Quest 2 in 2023 while this overall package remains unbeaten…
Self-Contained All-In-One Design You Can Take Anywhere
Do you want cutting edge virtual worlds without needing extra expensive hardware? The Oculus Quest 2 delivers exactly that – no wires, no gaming PC, no limits. Everything critical fits inside the modern style distressed white plastic chassis around your head.
Just pick it up to instantly access over 500 apps and games on the go thanks to mobile processing and battery built right in. The Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 gives it comparable power to flagship phones to drive two 1832×1920 LCDs at speedy 72/90/120 hz rates for gloriously smooth motion. No lags or next gen graphics sacrificed.
That onboard processor shows how far mobile silicon has come to enable legitimate gaming and applications that previously mandated beefy desktop computers. Such engineering marvels represent the future of computing.
Storage options also satisfy with fast 128GB and 256GB UFS 3.1 memories to install plenty of immersive entertainment. You‘ll never even come close to using it all up!
Factor in convenient touch controllers connecting via WiFi direct, inside-out tracking to map environments for safety, and Bluetooth for audio. Everything integrates together for a put on and play solution anywhere with some space like a basement, backyard, school gym or hotel room. No installs or setup besides pairing to WiFi and setting Guardian boundaries. So effortless!
For only $399, that simplicity coupled with power opens VR to the mainstream. Of course such ambitious packing has some expected compromises on battery life up to 2 hours and guardian tracking range maxing around 25×25 feet. But clever design largely masks mobile limits for 90% of use cases. Give me the freedom to game or create untethered over higher fidelity tethers anytime.
I‘m confident the Quest 2 proves standalones are the ultimate future of spatial computing thanks to chips now providing console-quality immersion without restrictions. And at literally half or a third the cost of alternatives too! We owe thanks to Qualcomm pushing mobile power so fast and Facebook subsidizing costs at a loss to accelerate adoption. More people in VR cultivates innovation across everything from training simulations to fitness.
Software & Platform Support Second to None
But what good is slick hardware without compelling games and apps? Software makes or breaks platforms after all.
Well with over 15 million units sold as of January 2023, developers clearly see the writing on the wall about where eyeballs and revenue exist. The Quest 2 enjoys the industry‘s strongest third party support by far thanks to those tasty install figures now surpassing even the leading consoles!
Numbers tell the story of red hot momentum:
- 170 million app installs in 2022 alone!
- 700+ titles on the Quest Store as of February 2023. Hundreds more in development or ports likely
- Monthly releases continue rising to over 60 new apps/games in January
- $1.7 billion spent on Quest content in 2022
Popularity means every hot headset release like Among Us VR, NFL Pro Era, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinner Chapter 2, and Beat Saber ports arrive same day on Quest 2 alongside more powerful but lower volume platforms. You‘ll never feel left out of blockbuster events or killer deals.
More importantly, sheer output coupled with curation gives the Quest 2 library both breadth AND depth. Flagship names get the glory but don‘t sleep on creative indies pushing gameplay innovation on thinner budgets. I discover fresh unexpected delights weekly even years later as a platform vet. Accessibility also encourages more niche experiences to cultivate passionate audiences skippable ports overlook. Variety is the spice of life!
While PSVR 2 will undoubtedly capture more AAA focus thanks to Sony subsidies, remember devs optimize Quest 2 versions for its unique features too instead of just direct ports. Comfort options, onboard audio, hand tracking, and Guardian safety allow for bespoke accommodations setting some titles apart rather than purely higher poly counts on tethers. Clever trade off assessment, I say!
Check the trailers for a sample of sizzling titles setting the Quest 2 apart with features simply not reproducible on flatscreens. These represent the gold standard of immersive interactions only possible when designers code ground up for VR:
Beat Saber‘s addictive rhythm slashing melds music and motion like no other medium.
Walkabout Mini Golf brings playgrounds to life with fun physics and creative courses.
Simply put, the Oculus Quest 2 delivers arguably VR‘s best balance of both marquee names and hidden niche gems you won‘t find anywhere else thanks to accessibility encouraging innovation. Strong present and future support means endless immersive experiences await.
Unmatched Price to Performance Ratio
Let‘s cut to the economic chase – no device packs more impressive specs and features per dollar than the Oculus Quest 2 by considerable magnitude. This budget buy over delivers advanced capabilities companies charge twice as much to match. Talk about ridiculous value!
The original $399 and $499 MSRPs stood way below comparative headset pricing alone, much less needing add on gaming computers. Factor in rampant deals dropping 128GB and 256GB models under $350 and $430 respectively makes not buying one financial insanity. Seriously, please show me another untethered standalone at those costs doing what Quest 2 achieves!
Heck, rewind just 6 years to 2016 when the wired original Oculus Rift demanded $599 simply for some screens, sensors, and controllers. Adjusting $599 for inflation to 2023 dollars equates over $740…before you pay $800+ more for a gaming PC and cables! Yet here arrives a wireless all-in-one solution with better resolution, tracking, and controllers for literally hundreds less. Absolutely bonkers savings and advancement in a few generations.
Let‘s get specific with a handy features comparison chart:
| Headset | Release Date | Price | Resolution Per Eye | Refresh Rate | FOV | Controllers | Cable | PC/Console Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oculus Quest 2 | Oct 2020 | $399 | 1832×1920 | 72/90/120hz | 90° x 104° | ✅ | ✅ (optional) | ❌ |
| Oculus Rift S | March 2019 | $399 | 1280×1440 | 80hz | 94° x 105° | ❌ | Required | $1000+ gaming PC required |
| HTC Vive Pro 2 | June 2021 | $799 | 2448×2448 | 90/120hz | 94° x 105° | ❌ | Required | $1000+ gaming PC required |
| Valve Index | June 2019 | $999 | 1440×1600 | 80/90/120/144hz | 94° x 105° | ✅ | Required | $1000+ gaming PC required |
| HTC Vive Focus 3 Business | June 2021 | $1299 | 1832×1920 | 90hz | 100° x 110° | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Playstation VR | Oct 2016 | $399 | 960×1080 per eye | 90/120hz | 94° x 105° | ❌ | Required | PlayStation 4 or 5 |
| Playstation VR2 | Feb 2023 | $599+ | 2000×2040 per eye | 90/120hz | 94° x 105° | ✅ | Required | PlayStation 5 |
As the chart shows, BY FAR the Quest 2 gives buyers the most features, performance, and convenience for an untethered experience costing hundreds less than the majority of alternatives even years later. Only the aging original PSVR barely competed on cost but couldn‘t match freedom or visuals. Yet Sony still charges $200 more for its successor!
And remember – those PC and PS5 VR comparisons require hauling around and setting up expensive boxes to even function. I‘d gladly take 10-15% lower fidelity renders not needing separate systems taking up space. Untethered questing beats tripping over cords in confined play spaces anyhow!
When combined with frequent sales under $350, choosing the Quest 2, especially as an entry level VR buyer, remains a literal no brainer decision supported by overwhelming evidence. Specs and price clearly prove its outstanding value. I cannot overstate just how insanely impressive what Quest 2 delivers per dollar spent still beats almost anything else available. If money matters at all, this device should rank at the very top of shopping lists.
Seamless High-End PC VR Capabilities Too!
Now what if I told the already incredible standalone Quest 2 doubles as a cutting edge tethered headset for gaming PCs as well? It‘s true! Connect the same headset to a compatible computer using an accessory USB-C cable to access an entirely separate ecosystem of titles optimized for worlds more graphics power. Talk about getting two high performing headsets in one for the price of a single gadget!
Technically the Quest 2 always had this clever capability via Oculus Link software built right into the operating system. But relatively few owners realized or utilized it since the main appeal lies in untethered mobile play. However overlooking PC ties represents tremendous hidden value.
With a simple USB accessory cable connected to a gaming desktop or laptop rocking modern graphic cards like Nvidia 3000 or AMD 6000 series, the Quest 2 taps into the massive Steam and Oculus Rift libraries too. Why spend $600-1000 extra on dedicated wired headsets when the Quest 2 displays and tracks just as well? You literally double available software across mobile and PC ecosystems while rivals remain confined.
That means enjoying VR masterworks with jaw dropping fidelity like Half Life Alyx and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. Drive bleeding edge gameplay experiences demanding high specs unavailable to standalones among AAA franchises like Resident Evil, Skyrim, and No Man‘s Sky. The processing potential outmuscles native Quest 2 power by magnitudes for photorealistic worlds and physics.
Granted smooth PC VR requires at least an RTX 2070 or Radeon 5700 class system and some know how installing software and cables. So I only recommend pursuing the advanced Link route for gamers already owning decent gaming desktops or laptops. No need purchasing expensive new hardware unless you want to.
But folks meeting that existing high performance hardware criteria get tremendous future proof value basically adding a Rift 2 headset for free! The same Ampere and RDNA2 architecture GPUs driving displays today will continue handling next gen titles on ever improving Quest headsets for years. Talk about maximizing investments already made!
For existing PC gaming enthusiasts with the equipment, passing on a $399 wireless VR solution perfectly capable of tapping into cutting edge tethered experiences makes zero sense. Grab the Anker 16 foot link cable and unlock a whole additional realm of elite immersion for literally hundreds less.
Comfortable Enhancements to Fit Anyone‘s Preferences
While other headsets often focus purely on specs, the Quest 2 team smartly addressed wearability and personalization too. Little touches making long VR sessions possible for more faces and play styles further cement its accessible value.
Far too many headsets kind of just assume one size fits all with minimal adjustments. But the Quest 2‘s back headstrap, facial interfaces, light blockers, and other accessories all customize the fit for ultimate comfort.
For example, the soft cloth strap included works perfectly fine but allows the front heavy headset to droop some over time. So I strongly recommend snagging the Elite Battery Strap with internal counter weights redistributing mass with a rotation wheel for ideal front/back balance no matter your head size. What a game changer for just $129 more!
The standard soft foam facial gasket works for most but feels irritating over time to some skins or glasses. Simple $30 swaps to leatherette, fitness, and other gasket materials create your perfect breathability and light seal. Protect those eyes from skin oil and outside glare!
Optional accessories like lens scratch protectors, over ear headphones, prescription lens inserts, carrying cases and more help build your ideal Quest 2 kit. Protect it from damage, block out noise for total immersion, and haul it safely for travel.
Don‘t most gadgets seem to only offer accessories as expensive add on upsells? I appreciate how essential Quest 2 attachments cost under $50 rather than premium taxing.
While companies endlessly chase higher resolutions and GPU outputs, remember human factors like security, sight lines, weight distribution, and light leakage determine long term enjoyment too. Kudos to the Quest 2 addressing wearability necessities up front.
Gold Standard Developer Support Unlocks the Future
Finally, investing in the Quest 2 buys you into an industry leading platform positioned to unlock VR/AR‘s disruptive future across entertainment, communication, creativity, and productivity thanks to continued investment.
Even with Apple glasses looming and rivals trying to chase Meta‘s lead, they face massive uphill battles developing the foundational software, app ecosystem, cloud infrastructure, and hardware supply chain efficiencies Meta built over the past decade across billions in R&D. That‘s why the Quest 2 costs so relatively little – manufacturing scale and selling the picks and shovels to others keeps subsidizing consumer costs. Competitors can‘t run such loss leading gambits without massive existing businesses to balance expenses.
Which translates into confidence the Quest 2 receives ongoing updates and support for years enhancing capabilities unlike abandoned first gen hardware attempts pre mainstream adoption. Remember Google Glass? Exactly. Software and community matter most anchoring an ecosystem.
Consider just themajor initiatives publicly roadmapped and secretly in development:
- Horizon – VR social networks with legs using life like avatars, spaces, and persistent identities
- Cambria – High resolution mixed reality productivity to replace monitors and phones
- World Beyond – Massive living gaming worlds supporting millions
- fitness – Gamification chasing real world movement detecting way more biometrics
- full self tracking hands – Controllers free manipulation via cameras and neural networks
- face/eye tracking – Expressions and focus enabling simulated emotional connections
- augmented reality maps/navigation – Contextual directions overlayed onto real settings
And that just scratches the surface of what I imagine sits on the Meta Labs cutting room floors! Veterans like search giant Google couldn‘t crack consumer wearables yet Meta continues pushing practical innovations thanks to VR/AR DNA.
Ask yourself – do you want amazing current experiences now with the promise of even greater future capabilities feeding steady progress? Or take risky bets on unproven newcomers struggling for the same app and technical foundations needing years more to cement? I know which horse I‘m still betting on for the win!
So don‘t just consider the Quest 2 simply as it exists today. Also recognize the immense organizational momentum backing its continued expansion towards unlocking spatial computing‘s potential in your lifetime.
Hop on this ride early to participate directly influencing an emerging medium‘s evolution. Passionate users cultivate the future we collectively imagine via feedback driving developers. Please join our exciting community!
Alright my pitch wraps up here. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to dig deeper into anything. Whether hardware specs or potential implications, I aim to provide every piece of context needed to decide if the Quest 2 makes sense for your interests today and tomorrow.
This remains the perfect time to dive into immersive worlds – I sure hope you‘ll be joining all of us pioneers soon!
