Oculus Quest 2 vs. Quest 3: A VR Headset Showdown

Developer: Meta (formerly Facebook)

Release Date:

• Oculus Quest 2: October 2020
• Oculus Quest 3: Fall 2023

Genre: Virtual Reality (VR)

Platforms: Standalone VR System

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has been pivotal in the evolution of VR technology through their Oculus Quest series. With the release of Oculus Quest 3 looming in fall 2023, it’s time to compare it with its predecessor, Oculus Quest 2, to highlight the advancements and changes in these revolutionary VR headsets.

Design and Comfort:

• Quest 2: Features a white plastic design with multiple tracking cameras on the headset. It uses fresnel lenses, providing a field of view of 89-96°.
• Quest 3: Boasts a 40% slimmer optic profile compared to Quest 2, thanks to the new pancake lenses. This contributes to a broader field of view of 110° and enhances visual clarity.

Performance and Specifications:

• Quest 2: Powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 chipset, with a display resolution of approximately 1832×1920 per eye and a max refresh rate of 120Hz.
• Quest 3: Steps up with a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, offering over twice the graphics performance. It features a higher resolution of 2064×2208 per eye and maintains the 120Hz refresh rate.

Features and Capabilities:

• Quest 2: Lacks depth sensing and has a lower angular resolution of 21 PPD.
• Quest 3: Introduces full-color passthrough with depth sensing, enabling a more accurate representation of the play space. It also has a higher angular resolution of 25 PPD.

Controllers:

• Quest 2: Utilizes Touch controllers with tracking rings.
• Quest 3: Features new Touch Plus controllers, ditching the tracking rings for more intimate interactions and allowing controllers to be used closer to each other.

Price and Storage:

• Quest 2: Launched at $300 for 128GB and $350 for 256GB.
• Quest 3: Will start at $500 for the 128GB base model.

Backward Compatibility:

Both Quest 2 and Quest 3 are backward compatible with the existing Quest catalog, ensuring a seamless transition for users upgrading their headsets.

Conclusion:

The Oculus Quest 3 represents a significant leap in VR technology compared to Quest 2. With its enhanced design, superior performance, and advanced features, Quest 3 is poised to redefine the VR experience. Whether you’re a VR enthusiast or a newcomer, understanding these differences is key to making an informed decision.