Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsIf it weren't for Facebook, it'd be 5 stars.
Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2021
The "new" 128Gb Quest 2 is a welcome increase in storage space over the prior 64Gb model, as the OS eats up a fair bit of space on that storage. Fortunately the apps and games are mostly small in install size.
For a standalone VR headset (with ability to connect to a gaming PC for PCVR), it does a fantastic job at bringing you this experience. However, the requirement for Facebook is a sour note to using it as it is tied to your real life social media account. You can make a alias for it though so other gamers don't see your real name.. but still, the writing is on the wall that this is for personal data collection while you use it. Take that for what it's worth, as the low cost is clearly subsidized from Facebook's personal data collection as the unit is sold at a loss otherwise.
The Pros:
-Small and portable.
-VR capability is great. It's not powerful to provide realistic graphics, but the games are really effective at giving you a sense of scale and being in the VR world. Framerates are fast and colors are vivid. It works great.
-Low cost compared to everything else on the market (which requires a PC - which this doesn't).
-Ability to cast gameplay to a chromecast type device for others to see.
-Install sizes are small (most),
Cons:
- Facebook required.
- The strap is uncomfortable and doesn't do a good job of keeping the weight off your face. It's essentially a fabric belt, so you'll want to invest in a better headband for more support.
- Battery capacity gives you about 2+ hours playtime so it's quite low. If you supplement with an external battery, the Quest will run off of that before it goes to it's own battery, so you'll want to invest in a battery pack for more playtime.
- Lenses have a small focal "sweet spot" and this coupled with the troublesome headstrap means that you will frequently adjust the headset to reduce fatigue to your eyes.
- Resolution varies in standalone games as the headset may need to lower resolution to allow for appropriate processing power - depending on the app. While the headset is "almost 2K per eye", there will still be some blur, and in some games, you will notice a fair amount if the game drops the resolution as needed. This is not a frequent issue, but I am mentioning it just in case some owners wonder why game X is clearer than game Y. Having said this, a number of titles have been patched for the higher processing power of the Quest 2's headset and do have increased resolution over the original Quest 1.
- The Oculus game store does not have big-discount sales like Steam or Playstation for their VR headsets. There is a daily deal and sometimes weekly deals with a couple of games in them, but the discounts range from about 9% to 30%. Overall, games on Quest 2 will cost you more to purchase as most will stay at full price.
In conclusion .. don't look at the small list of Pros as a negative as what it does, it does great and is well worth the cost. Just know that the cons show that it does have limitations so don't expect the moon, and the basic headset will likely need a better headband and external battery to get the best enjoyment out of it. It's a 5 star headset absolutely - but Facebook's requirement is something to understand, as if your account is ever banned on Facebook... you will lose all your purchases and the headset will become useless.
