Credit:
Reviewed / Marc Saltzman
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Meta hasn't had much competition with its virtual reality headsets and is still dominating the emerging market with the $299 Meta Quest 2 (formerly Oculus Quest 2), its "standalone" VR headset that doesn’t need to plug into a computer, console, or smartphone to download and run content. While there is a ton of content, Meta Quest 2's visuals are good rather than great, and battery life tops just a few hours.
And so, all eyes are on Sony's second-generation headset, the PlayStation VR2, which promises twin 4K OLED displays and features like eye tracking to improve performance and rendering, new Sense controllers for hand tracking, and haptic feedback. But at $550, and the required PlayStation 5 console (which starts at $400 for the digital version), it's a significantly greater investment.
PSVR 2 must be plugged into the PS5 to work, and it focuses on games exclusively as opposed to Meta Quest 2's vast library of other content. So, which one is for you?
The Meta Quest 2 delivers unbeatable value for an entry-level VR headset
Although it's PlayStation 5 only, the PS VR2 provides an immersive VR experience.
Price
The PSVR 2 also outputs to a display and external speakers.
At $299 (128GB version) or $349 (256GB version), the Meta Quest 2 is a standalone virtual reality headset that uses the integrated Meta App Store to download content. We've seen it drop as low as $249 for the 128GB version on Amazon
The PSVR 2, on the other hand, costs $550 and comes without any games, unless you opt for the Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle for $50 more. And a PS5 is required to play anything on the PSVR 2. Along with dedicated VR titles, some existing PS5 games like Gran Turismo 7, Hitman 3, Resident Evil Village, and No Man's Sky have gotten VR updates to make them PSVR 2 compatible. Both VR headsets ship with twin controllers and charging cables. The PSVR 2 also includes a pair of wired stereo headphones.
Our pick: Meta Quest 2
Hardware
The Meta Quest 2 offers access to a huge range of apps that’s only growing, all for under $400.
Available since October 2020 (as the Oculus Quest 2), the Meta Quest 2 is Meta's second-generation standalone virtual reality headset. It's compact, comfortable, and lightweight at 503 grams (17.7 ounces), with an adjustable fabric strap and optional foam glasses spacer in the box.
The dual LCD screens deliver 1832 x 1920-pixel resolution per eye, at up to a 120Hz refresh rate (after a software update), plus 6 degrees of freedom for inside/outside tracking, and two front-facing cameras with passthrough to see your surroundings.
The Meta Quest 2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor, with 6GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of non-upgradeable storage, depending on the model. (The average Meta Quest 2 game is about 1 gigabyte.) While powered by a mobile CPU and GPU, the Meta Quest 2 can also be connected to a Windows PC via a Quest 2 Link cable (and wireless options exist, too), for access to more than 1,000 PC-based VR titles in the Meta Quest Rift library. (Though the image quality drops because your gaming PC is compressing the image before sending it over the USB cable to your Meta Quest 2 headset).
Two Touch controllers are included, along with AA batteries. Along with Bluetooth 5.0 support, the Quest 2 includes a 3.5mm audio jack and integrated Wi-Fi (to access the store and play multiplayer games). The headset’s battery life tops 3 hours between charges.
The much newer PSVR 2, which debuted in February 2023, is a tad heavier at 560 grams (19.75 ounces), but uses dual OLED screens as opposed to LCD displays, and adds support for High Dynamic Range (HDR). Both contribute to much higher contrast levels, as well as better brightness and color accuracy. The PSVR 2 also enjoys a higher resolution of 2000 x 2040 per eye (4K as opposed to HD), for greater pixel density and detail, and a comparable panel refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The field of view is slightly better for the PSVR 2 at a wider 110 degrees, versus 100 degrees for Meta Quest 2.
Along with tactile feedback (vibration) support for added immersion, the PSVR 2 uses four embedded cameras on its surface, as well as the ability to track eye movement inside the headset (not just head-tracking) for added immersion. There's also a stereo headphone jack, like the Meta Quest 2.
One of the biggest differences between the headsets is the PSVR 2 connects to a PS5's front USB port via a USB-C cable that can’t be removed from the headset. While the long cable didn’t bother me—in fact, I forgot I was tethered to the PS5—there have been reports on Reddit and in the Reviewed office of players tripping over it. Since the PSVR 2 gets its power from the PS5 console, the headset itself won't run out of battery during gameplay as the Meta Quest 2 might.
Two orb-shaped PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers are included, each with adaptive triggers, analog sticks and buttons, finger touch detection, and haptic feedback.
Both the Meta Quest 2 and PSVR 2 controllers are comfortable to use and responsive, with a slight edge given to the PSVR 2 for some added touches to the immersion. Plus, the PSVR 2's Sense controllers are rechargeable, which makes it more convenient.
Each Sense controller should last 4 to 5 hours between charges but cannot be used while charging; there is a small USB-C port at the bottom of each controller, and if you want to plug them into your PS5’s USB port to juice up, but your console must be turned on.
There is a PSVR 2 Sense Controller Charging Station available from Sony, a cradle-like base to lock in your controllers when not in use, but it costs an additional $50.
Our pick: PSVR 2
Software
The PlayStation VR2 comes with wired earbuds and two Sense motion controllers.
Let's get an important distinction out of the way: the PSVR 2 is only for gamers, while Meta Quest 2 has a ton of non-gaming content to experience in virtual reality: mindfulness and meditation sessions; fitness workouts; 360-degree videos (from exploring dinosaurs to astronomy lessons to Cirque du Soleil performances); chat rooms; concerts, sports and other live VR events; painting simulations, and even therapy sessions.
In fact, the Meta Quest 2 now offers well over 1,500 titles in total if you also count downloadable content from App Lab for Quest, which allows developers to distribute indie games to the headset without going through Meta's official app store. As a gaming platform, there are some exceptional titles for Meta Quest 2, including Beat Saber, Population: One, Iron Man VR, Superhot VR, Moss and Moss: Book II, Resident Evil 4 VR, Walkabout Mini Golf, The Climb 2, Tetris Effect: Connected, Echo VR, A Fisherman's Tale, I Expect You To Die 2, and many others. There are some duds, too, of course.
Thankfully, Meta removed the annoying requirement to have a Facebook account to use the Meta Quest 2. The Meta Quest 2 companion app is quite good, allowing you to browse what's new at Meta App Store, install new games and other content via your smartphone, see what installed apps have updates, and things like the Meta Quest 2’s battery levels. Since the PSVR 2 is brand new, its catalog of games isn't too impressive.
But according to Sony, more than 100 games are in development. At launch, the best experience is undoubtedly Horizon Call of the Mountain, an immersive first-person spinoff based on the popular open-world Horizon series. While trying to stay alive in a post-apocalyptic future overrun by mechanized beasts, you'll climb mountains, swim underwater, fling arrows, dodge enemy strikes, and solve some puzzles. (While some people complained about motion sickness with this game, I didn't experience it.)
Fans of horror movies should step into Resident Evil Village, while racing fans can climb behind the wheel in Gran Turismo 7. The underrated No Man's Sky is also supported. Moss and Moss: Book II and Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge are also available for PSVR 2. Tentacular, Demeo, Cities VR, and Tetris Effect: Connected also serve as launch titles, as well as a small handful of others.
In other words, game selection is slim for the PSVR2 at this point, but wow are the experiences extraordinary, like Horizon Call of the Mountain. So, here's to hoping Sony and third parties will support the platform. We'll see how long it will take between good titles, too.
Fingers crossed this includes PSVR 2 updates to other console exclusives like God of War and Ragnarok, The Last Of Us, Marvel's Spider-Man, the Uncharted series, and Ghost of Tsushima—it would help justify the hefty price tag of the PSVR 2.
It should be noted that PSVR 2 games are not backward compatible with first-generation PlayStation VR titles.
Our pick: Meta Quest 2
And the winner is...
The PSRV 2 headset cost around $540 and the Meta Quest 2 headset ranges between $399 and $430.
Tie.
Comparing the Meta Quest 2 and the PSVR2 is a tale of two headsets.
On one hand, the Meta Quest 2 is a lot more affordable (including a recent drop in price to the 256GB model). It's fully wireless, has a ton of games to choose from as well as hundreds of non-gaming experiences, and can be connected to a gaming computer for even more PC VR content. Its versatility and huge catalog really help sell it.
But the PSVR 2's hardware is noticeably superior to the Meta Quest 2. Not just on paper either, after playing games like Horizon Call of the Mountain and Resident Evil Village for several hours, it's easy to see how Sony's offering leapfrogs the 3-year-old Meta Quest 2. Adding haptic feedback, eye-tracking, and other features not found in the Meta Quest 2, including extra sensations in its twin Sense controllers, amps up the virtual experiences.
The PSVR 2 is expensive, though, and you need a PlayStation 5. Game selection is also sparse at this point. In other words, the fact that both VR systems are sequels is where the similarities end. If you're a diehard PlayStation fan with deep pockets and are willing to take a leap of faith about its support, the PSVR 2 is simply the best VR headset out there today.
But for everyone else, the Meta Quest 2 is still the one to beat.
The Meta Quest 2 delivers unbeatable value for an entry-level VR headset
Although it's PlayStation 5 only, the PS VR2 provides an immersive VR experience.
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