If you search for cheap VR headsets, plenty of results come up under $100. But most require the use of a phone inserted into the visor or use cheaper components that are more likely to cause motion sickness or eye discomfort.
If you can stretch your budget to $300, Meta Quest 2 strikes a good balance between price and functionality. It supports more than 500 VR experiences, including many of the best VR games, and offers a Meta Quest+ subscription as a cheaper way to explore available titles. In our review, we rated it as the best VR headset for both beginners and experienced users. Still, there are some things you might not know, and we’re here to answer your burning questions.
Is Meta Quest 2 just for games?
Mark Zuckerberg’s vision of a metaverse future may have been absent so far, but there is some exciting non-gaming uses for virtual reality. In my time with a Meta Quest 2 headset, apps centered around fitness, streaming video and music stand out the most. There are 360-degree concerts that let you see the show from every angle, while fitness experiences like Supernatural track your hand movements and guide you through HIIT exercises.
Streaming apps like YouTube VR, Netflix, Pluto TV and MLB VR allow you to watch videos in a virtual environment. For example, Netflix shows a large screen in front of a sofa, where you can watch a show or a movie inside a cabin. MLB VR can also stream games in front of you while displaying stats, lineups and other information in your peripheral display.
Can you play Minecraft and Roblox on Meta Quest 2?
Minecraft and Roblox can be played on a Meta Quest 2, but neither is available in the Meta Store. Instead, you need to tweak a few settings to make them work; there are plenty of guides online to help you get started. However, Meta Store has a number of options across several genres. This includes casual games like Walkabout Mini Golf, Creed: Rise to Glory, Beat Saber and Among Us VR as well as more intense titles like Blade & Sorcery: Nomad, Battle Talent and Bonelab.
Can you use Meta Quest 2 in a small room?
Meta Quest 2 is self-contained, so once connected to Wi-Fi, it doesn’t need to be connected to a phone or PC. It comes with a built-in software store, hand tracking controllers and walk-through cameras so you can see the room around you while wearing the headset.
For smaller spaces, Meta offers Guardian, which lets you set up boundaries in VR that appear when you get close to the edge of a play area. Stationary mode creates a standard Guardian area of 3 feet by 3 feet, while Roomscale gives you a bit more playing space, up to 6.5 feet by 6.5 feet.
To configure or adjust Guardian settings, tap the logo on the right Touch or Touch Pro controller to pull up the universal menu. Mouse over the clock on the left side of the universal menu. When Quick settings appears, select it to open Quick settings panel. choose Guardianchoose Stationary or Room scaleand follow the instructions on the screen.
Can you connect Meta Quest 2 to a TV?
Watching someone flit around while wearing a VR headset can be fun, but to catch a glimpse of what they’re seeing inside their Quest 2, you’ll need to cast the screen to a computer, smartphone, or Chromecast-enabled TV . Download the Meta Quest app to your phone and make sure your phone and headset are on the same Wi-Fi network. Then tap the Cast button inside the app and select your TV. (Note: Closing the Meta Quest app will stop casting.)
What accessories do you need for Meta Quest 2?
The Meta Quest 2 comes with two Touch controllers, a charging cable and adapter, and a glass spacer. After a few years with Oculus – and now Meta – VR headsets, there are two types of accessories I recommend people consider initially.
The first is a better head strap. The elastic that comes with the unit is okay, but requires some fiddling. I found them like this KIWI Design Comfort Head Strap to be much more supportive. Plus, its adjustable dial makes it much easier to let other people try it.
Second, you’ll probably want a dedicated charging setup or space. The headset’s battery life is sufficient, but it needs to be charged regularly after use. I like the Anker Charging Dock, which can charge (and organize) the headset and two controllers. If the Anker one is too expensive, there are other headset holders available.
Do you need a Facebook account to use Meta Quest 2?
You don’t need a Facebook account to log in to your Meta headset, but you do need a Meta account. But if you’ve ever created an Oculus account before, the process gets a bit more complicated. Originally, when the Oculus-branded headsets arrived, you only needed an Oculus account to set up the headset and start using it. But Oculus accounts will be deactivated and deleted in early 2024, so if you have an old one you want to move to Meta, you should do it sooner rather than later.
Personally, I ran into a problem switching my Oculus account to a Meta account because I had merged my Facebook account at some point. If you encounter this issue, or a similar one, I found the only way to fix it was to chat with Facebook support and ask them to unlink my Oculus and Facebook accounts. That process took a few minutes and solved my login problems.
How to factory reset a Meta Quest 2
If your Meta Quest 2 is on the fritz, give it a factory reset to see if that fixes the problem. Note that this will delete account information, downloaded games and content from the headset, but you can re-download purchased content once it’s backed up and running.
To do this from the app, tap Menu > Devices and select your headset. Press on Headset Settings > Advanced Settings > Factory Reset > Reset.
To do it from the headset, make sure it’s charged to at least 50% and turn off your Quest 2. Hold down the power and volume (-) buttons at the same time until the home screen loads. Navigate to factory reset using the volume buttons and press the power button. Select Yes and press the Power button again.
Should you wait for the Meta Quest 3 headset?
Meta pre-announced its new Meta Quest 3 headset, which is expected to arrive in late September 2023. Details are scarce, but we do know that the Quest 3 will be 40% slimmer than the Quest 2, have color passthrough (instead of black) and white), and be more powerful.
The Quest 3 will also debut at $499. If money is a concern or deciding factor when purchasing a VR headset, the Quest 2 should be the obvious choice. We don’t know how long the Quest 2 will be supported, but it looks like Meta is taking a page from Apple and keeping the existing device around at a lower price to support an entry-level market. On the other hand, if the $200 price difference isn’t an issue, the Quest 3 will likely be an upgrade over the existing headset.
How does the Apple Vision Pro compare to the Meta Quest 2?
Apple finally made its long-rumored foray into the VR space this summer with the Vision Pro. It won’t arrive until 2024, and we haven’t put it through its paces yet, but expect a tech powerhouse with cutting-edge hardware. And the premium Apple experience doesn’t come cheap. The Vision Pro’s $3,499 price tag will likely deter most consumers, but that’s by design, at least for now. As such, the Meta Quest 2 is only vaguely in the same general category as the Vision Pro, but it’s certainly a cheaper alternative if you’re just starting to dabble in VR.
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