New and improved
Oculus Quest 2
From $299 at Amazon
Pros
- Runs on new Snapdragon XR2 processor
- Has a 90Hz display
- Has 6GB of RAM
- Lighter than original Oculus Quest
- Cheaper than original Oculus Quest
- Option for up to 256GB of storage
- Supports all Oculus Quest games
Cons
- Only has one headphone jack
- Doesn’t work with some old accessories
- Lacks “true blacks” due to LCD
The Oculus Quest 2 is lighter and more powerful than its predecessor. With the Snapdragon XR2 processor, a new 90Hz display, and 6GB of RAM, the Oculus Quest 2 is the best way to experience the Oculus platform.
An aging headset
Oculus Quest
From $529 at Amazon
Pros
- Plays growing library of Oculus Quest games
- Has two headphones jacks, allowing more options
- Shows “true blacks” with OLED display
Cons
- Heavier than Oculus Quest 2
- Has processor that’s several years old
- More expensive than Oculus Quest 2
- Only has 4GB of RAM
- Max option of 128GB of storage
- Running out of stock
The original Oculus Quest was a great headset for its time, but it’s been passed in just about every way by its successor, the Oculus Quest 2.
The original Oculus Quest was a great headset for its time, and Facebook improved it across the board when designing the Oculus Quest 2. The Oculus Quest 2 is lighter, more powerful, and more refined than its predecessor. While the Oculus Quest 2 won’t have an exclusive library of games, at least for now, it is overall better than the original Oculus Quest in just about every way. On top of all the hardware improvements on the Oculus Quest 2, the new headset is also more affordable than the original Oculus Quest. The Oculus Quest 2 is available now, so now’s the time to decide if it’s worth upgrading to Facebook’s latest VR headset.
Oculus Quest 2 vs. Oculus Quest: Comparing the specs
Facebook improved the Oculus Quest 2 across the board compared to its predecessor. The Snapdragon XR2 processor is several generations newer than the Snapdragon 835 of the original Oculus Quest, and the 6GB of RAM of the Oculus Quest 2 helps the headset run smoothly.
All of those internal improvements add up. In our Oculus Quest 2 vs. Oculus Quest graphics comparison games were significantly better on the Oculus Quest 2. The Oculus Quest 2 yields better performance, sharper images, and all-around better-looking games. As more developers take advantage of the Oculus Quest 2’s hardware, games will perform and look even better on the new headset.
| Processor | Snapdragon XR2 | Snapdragon 835 |
| RAM | 6GB | 4GB |
| Display refresh rate | 90Hz | 72Hz |
| Pixels per eye | 1832×1920 | 1440×1600 |
| Hand controls | Two Touch Controllers | Two Touch Controllers |
| Storage | 64GB256GB | 64GB128GB |
| 6 degrees of freedom | Yes | Yes |
| Oculus Guardian tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Oculus Link support | Yes | Yes |
| microSD slot | No | No |
| USB-C storage support | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 503g | 571g |
| Color | White | Black |
| Starting Price | $299 | $399 |
In addition to improving the major hardware internals, Facebook also refined the design when making the Oculus Quest 2. The Oculus Quest 2 is lighter, has more ergonomic Touch Controllers, and supports accessories like the Quest 2 Elite strap.
Oculus Quest 2 vs. Oculus Quest: Pricing for your budget
The Oculus Quest 2’s price is one of the biggest surprises about the new headset. Rather than lining up with the launch price of the Oculus Quest, the Oculus Quest 2 starts at $299. With a starting price that’s $100 lower than the original Oculus Quest, it’s a lot easier to jump into the next generation of VR.
Widening the gap even further, if you’re willing to pay an extra $100 for an Oculus Quest 2 with more storage, you get a model with 256GB. The original Oculus Quest maxed out at 128GB but still cost $100 more than its 64GB variant. If you’re debating on if the extra cost is worth it, we have a full breakdown comparing the 64GB and 256GB versions of the Oculus Quest 2 to help you out.
Oculus Quest 2 vs. Oculus Quest: Shining display
The display of the Oculus Quest 2 is also significantly improved. While it only supported 72Hz at launch, the Oculus Quest 2 received an update with v23 that brought support for 90Hz. Pushing the refresh rate even further with update v28 to 120Hz in an experimental mode. The display of the Oculus Quest 2 also has significantly more pixels than that of the original Oculus Quest.
The display of the Oculus Quest 2 utilizes RGB stripe, which is the same technology that the Oculus Rift S uses. The result is a sharper looking display when compared to PenTile OLED displays. Even if the Oculus Quest 2 and Oculus Quest had the same pixel count, which they don’t, an RGB stripe display would still look sharper. The only drawback of the Oculus Quest 2’s display is that it is LCD rather than OLED. As a result, blacks aren’t as dark on the Oculus Quest 2.
Oculus Quest 2 vs. Oculus Quest: What about Facebook accounts?
The Oculus Quest 2 is the first headset from Facebook to require people to use a Facebook account. That’s considered a downside for some, but the original Oculus Quest will also require a Facebook account in the future to maintain full functionality.
Facebook is ending support for Oculus accounts on January 1, 2023. People will have an option to merge their Oculus and Facebook accounts before that date. If a person chooses not to merge their accounts, they can still use an older headset, “but full functionality will require a Facebook account,” according to Facebook. Facebook doesn’t fully explain what will happen if people don’t merge their accounts, but states that “some games and apps may no longer work.”
Oculus Quest 2 vs. Oculus Quest: A glowing library of games
The Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2 share the same growing library of games. At least for the foreseeable future, every game for the Oculus Quest will also work on the Oculus Quest 2. While the same games will be available on both the Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2, the games will look and perform better on the Oculus Quest 2.
Since the Oculus Quest 2 has better internals and a better display, games will run smoother and appear better on the newer headset.
Both headsets also support Oculus Link, allowing you to play PCVR games by connecting your VR headset to a gaming PC. Like native games, any title should look better on the Oculus Quest 2. While your gaming PC powers PCVR games through Oculus Link, the improved display on the Oculus Quest 2 will still result in better-looking gameplay.
If you prefer to play PCVR games on your VR headset without having to use any wires, you can use Virtual Desktop. Since the Oculus Quest 2 supports Wi-Fi 6 and has a better display, it also wins on this front over its predecessor. In
Oculus Quest 2 vs. Oculus Quest: Should you upgrade?
It’s not surprising that the Oculus Quest 2 is better than the Oculus Quest in just about every way. If the Oculus Quest 2 wasn’t better, that would be a reason for concern akin to the PS4 being better than the PS5 (it’s not, by the way). That being said, it’s nice that the Oculus Quest 2 is so much better in so many different ways.
The jump from the original Oculus Quest to the Oculus Quest 2 isn’t just about improving internal specs. Yes, the Oculus Quest 2 has a much faster processor, a better display, and more RAM, but it also has an improved design, better Touch Controllers, and support for more accessories.
Unlike laptops and phones, where buying an older model might save you some money and be worth it in terms of bang for your buck, the Oculus Quest 2 is better when it comes to price as well. The Oculus Quest 2 starts at $299, which is $100 cheaper than the original Oculus Quest. Even if you opt for the Oculus Quest 2 with 256GB of storage, it’s still selling for $399, which is the starting price of the original Oculus Quest.
The Oculus Quest 2 is better across the board than the original Oculus Quest, and those improvements come with few drawbacks. The Oculus Quest 2 is more powerful, lighter, more refined, and cheaper than the original Oculus Quest. If you love your original Oculus Quest and want to get an even better VR experience, the Oculus Quest 2 is worth the upgrade.
Easy, powerful VR
Oculus Quest 2 VR
From $299 at Amazon From $299 at Best Buy From $299 at Walmart
Gaming like you’ve never experienced before
Facebook has improved seemingly everything with the second-generation Oculus Quest, making this the VR console to get.
All-in-one VR
Oculus Quest VR
From $529 at Amazon From $380 at Walmart
A good headset that’s been surpassed
The Oculus Quest was a great headset during its time, but it has since been passed by the Oculus Quest 2. Unless you find an absolute killer deal on the original Oculus Quest, you should grab its successor.
