Facebook Oculus Quest 2 Is Out – Reviews Are Mixed

The new Oculus Quest 2 is now available for about $300. In 2014 Facebook acquired the Oculus virtual reality company for $2 billion.

So in spite of a global recession caused by the Corona Virus pandemic, virtual reality gear seems to still be in high demand. Well people do need a distraction from the boredom of home isolating and a way to relieve the stress of this crisis.

And virtual reality is the way of the future. Gen Xers remember the first home video games which used small joy sticks and had poor graphics. Generation Y people grew up on the more advanced systems like the new Nintendo and Xbox. Now the millennials look upon such things as we look upon black and white silent movies.

Soon VR will be the only way to go with real life visuals and accessories which let you feel, smell and even taste everything. Soon enough there will be holographic technology like the holodecks that they have on Star Trek.

But if you do not have a Facebook account then don’t bother buying one. Oculus Quest 2 only works with a Facebook account.

Here are what the reviews are saying:

The New York Times says, “Compared with past virtual-reality systems, the Quest 2 is a breeze to set up. You simply download the Oculus app to your phone and log in with your Facebook account.” But the times reviewer lamented the lack of games available for the new system and said that he needed to spend another $110 on games to play. “

Tech Crunch says, “the new Quest 2 headset is a fantastic piece of hardware that showcases what a rewarding ecosystem can be built when you throw enough money and engineering talent at a dream. For all of the improvements that Facebook has driven to the Quest’s software since launch, I do still wish the platform was more diverse in its non-gaming offerings.”

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The Verge says, “The Quest 2 has the same basic features as the Quest. It’s a self-contained VR headset that doesn’t require a gaming PC or any external tracking sensors.”

“But the Quest 2 has some key upgrades as well. It’s got a much higher-resolution screen and a faster processor, as well as reduced weight and a more comfortable, optional head strap accessory. As a downside, it’s the first VR headset to require a Facebook account instead of a discrete Oculus account.”

The reviewer in Wired wrote of the changes from the first device saying, “The Oculus Quest 2 is smaller than the original Quest, a bit lighter, less front-heavy—that’s impressive considering the displays are higher-res than ever before. It doesn’t feel like you’re wearing your dad’s binoculars on your face anymore. The head strap is looser; it’s all fabric now instead of semirigid soft-touch plastic. It’s a change I have mixed feelings about.”

“The fabric straps are much more comfortable, and they’re a bit easier to adjust. Problem is, the previous version’s head strap was shaped to sort of cradle the back of your head—and it had a hole I could tuck my ponytail through. This new one doesn’t, so it tends to slide down your nose a little bit over time, like a pair of glasses. It doesn’t slide much, but it is noticeable if you don’t have the straps adjusted just right.”

Facebook boasts, “Quest 2 packs a suite of innovations to power the next generation of VR games and experiences. With the first Quest headset, we debuted a revolutionary all-in-one form factor powered by innovations like the Oculus Insight tracking system. With Quest 2, we’re taking things even further, starting with a multi-generational leap in processing power with the state-of-the-art Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ XR2 Platform offering higher AI capability, and 6GB of RAM. The new display features 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye—our highest resolution display yet. With 50% more pixels than the original Quest, everything from multiplayer games and productivity apps to 360° videos look better than ever.”