Oculus Quest 2 and Rift S are two similar yet very different VR headsets. Both are by the famous VR brand Oculus and have the same price. But that is what confuses most people. If they are from the same brand and cost almost the same, then which one should you choose? For that, it is important for you to know the difference between Oculus Quest 2 and Rift S.
With the launch of these two products, there will be plenty of questions about their similarities and differences, especially since they share quite a few similarities between them. Choosing one between them might get very confusing for you, especially if you are new to the VR world.
Thus, to help you understand the difference between the Oculus Quest 2 and Rift S we are writing this guide. In this article, we will outline some of the most important differences between the Oculus Quest 2 and Rift S, so you can decide which product might be right for you.
Similarities And Differences Between Oculus Quest 2 And Rift S
1. Resolution
When it comes to VR devices, Resolution is very important. Both devices use AMOLED displays. This means they can produce darker blacks and brighter colors than you’ll find on their other headsets. But while both have a resolution of 1,280×1,440 per eye, that’s where the similarities end.
When used with tracking equipment (which costs extra), Rift S users can walk around an area of up to 5,000 square feet compared to just 3.5 by 3.5 meters for Quest 2 owners (albeit in a smaller space). This is a major difference between both devices when it comes to resolution, and it also affects gaming as well.
One downside of that Quest 2 headset is that it only has 6 degrees of freedom (6DOF) controllers instead of room-scale sensors on Rift S.
2. Tracking Area (Standing vs. Room Scale vs. Seated)
As we’ve covered before, whether you plan to use a standing or room-scale play area can dramatically impact how much fun you’ll have with your VR games. Oculus Quest 2 is for standing-room-only. It has no tracked controllers that allow room-scale tracking like its cousin, the Oculus Rift.
Thus, if you are not looking for something that involves room-tracking or if you’re looking to spend some time in gaming land. But don’t have space that will let you rearrange your furniture to strap on a VR headset, then an all-in-one headset like Quest 2 may be just what you need.
But some people find it more fun to have a larger area to cover and enjoy the room tracking feature in VRs for those Rift S is a great option. However, it all comes down to everyone’s preference and what they find more suitable for their needs.
3. Price
Oculus Quest 2 retails for $399, which is the same as Rift S, which is also currently being sold for $399. However, when the Rift S came to the market, it used to cost a lot more than its current pricing.
Both HMDs feature a slightly lower-resolution display than their PC counterparts. Still, these headsets should offer an experience comparable to what you’d get from a high-end gaming PC in terms of raw performance.
The 6DOF controllers included with both devices can also be purchased separately for $99 (each). A final point worth mentioning is that Quest does not require an external tracking system. It features six degrees of freedom (6DOF) out of the box.
On the one hand, you don’t have to worry about setting up multiple base stations around your room, it’s ready to go right out of the box. This means that there is no difference between Oculus Quest 2 and Rift S when it comes to pricing. Thus, a difference in the budget should not be an for you when it comes to choosing one from these options.
4. Games Available
While both devices support a handful of popular games at launch, each headset features unique launch titles. The Quest 2 had over 50 games at the time of its launch, while Rift S only got 25 games while its launch.
Of course, these numbers could have grown later when both headsets hit shelves, but initially, there was a major difference between the game availability of both devices. Some of our favorite games available for each device include Beat Saber, Superhot VR, and Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series, among many others.
One notable difference is that some older Oculus titles like Robo Recall no longer feature Touch or even Vive support. Though they will still run on either headset with a gamepad in hand. However, there is a difference in the amounts of games you can play on these devices. But regardless of the device, you will get an impressive gaming experience which makes both devices worthy of purchasing.
5. Platform Requirements
Before you even think about buying an Oculus headset, make sure your computer is up to snuff. You can also use a laptop for VR but make sure you have everything it needs to run VR games. Depending on which one you choose, either has a specific set of hardware requirements that may not be compatible with all computers (though more than enough are).
Since neither of these headsets has a built-in display, your computer will act as a screen and processor. You’ll need something powerful enough to handle graphics rendering while outputting in 3D.
Look for a device with a decent graphics card and processor so that your VR applications can run efficiently without any delay or lag. If your PC doesn’t meet or exceed these requirements, there’s little chance that it’ll work with either of these headsets.
6. Battery Life
There is a major difference in the battery when it comes to both of these devices. The original Oculus Quest 2 has about 2-3 hours of battery life, making it possible to take it with you on a short trip. However, if you plan on playing for more than that, you’ll want to stay near an outlet which is not something most people appreciate.
However, when it comes to Rift S, its controller can last for 2-3 days on a complete charge, which is impressive. On the one hand, Quest 2’s battery life is not as long as some other headsets out there. But on the other hand, it’s going to be used primarily at home, so charging won’t be necessary very often.
If you do have some downtime or are traveling without your charger handy, I recommend pairing your VR headset with a Bluetooth controller. Using one eliminates any interruption in gameplay caused by having to recharge or locate your charger stored.
7. Cross-buy Compatibility
The new headset will allow users to link their existing PC-based games and apps with their new headsets to access everything in one place. However, previous Oculus headsets (like the original Rift) won’t be compatible with its successor.
Likewise, if you want to get your hands on a Quest 2 VR headset, you’ll need to buy an entirely new system for it. The current version of Oculus Go won’t work with future versions of either headset. And that doesn’t just mean swapping out some cables. It means needing two separate PCs to run them.
8. Game Library Size
The most significant difference between Quest 2 and Rift S is that Rift comes with a PC attached to it. This allows users to play games on higher settings. Furthermore, there will be more available games for higher settings on PC than on Quest due to VR’s increased popularity among developers.
However, since Quest does not have a computer attached to it, it also has some plus sides: You don’t need to buy another computer as you would with a rift. You also can take it anywhere without fear of damaging your laptop. Additionally, Quest has five cameras tracking instead of 3.
9. Additional Features
Oculus Quest 2 is a standalone VR system with 6DoF controllers and full room tracking. The new headset, called ‘Rift S,’ adds a higher resolution display, improved optics, eye-tracking, and an expanded field of view. And yes, that’s right: it’s lighter than before.
This makes more sense when you realize that they also added a small fan to keep things cool. But don’t worry it doesn’t sound much louder than your air conditioner. Oculus Quest 2 is your only option if you’re looking for something genuinely mobile (really mobile).
It’s also important to note that both headsets will use SteamVR games. But not all SteamVR games will work on both headsets there may be issues with game performance or other technical problems which make them incompatible.
Finally, these two devices run entirely different operating systems, Quest runs on Android while Rift S runs on Windows 10. So, if there’s a game or app you want for one device but not another, then there’s nothing stopping you from getting both.
Which Should You Buy For Your Needs?
The two devices may look alike, but there’s much more going on behind the scenes. Given their similar hardware, price tags, and target markets, you probably wonder which device is suitable for you.
The good news is that both headsets offer great experiences. But you’ll want to consider certain factors before making your purchase, including cost, portability, and compatibility.
Both devices are considerably less expensive than their full PC counterparts. However, if you already own a VR-capable computer (Oculus Rift or HTC Vive), it might be hard to justify spending additional money on new hardware.
Are There Any Other Factors To Consider When Choosing Your VR Headset?
We’ve established that you can either go with an all-in-one device like Oculus Quest or a PC-based option like HTC Vive or PlayStation VR. But which one should you choose? To break it down, let’s start by examining other factors in your decision.
Note: For simplicity’s sake, we’re focusing on comparing only full VR headsets, not glasses like Microsoft HoloLens or mixed reality (MR) devices such as Lenovo Mirage Solo. Or standalone augmented reality (AR) devices such as Microsoft HoloLens and Lenovo Explorer.
The main reason for keeping AR out of our discussion is simple: It doesn’t work quite yet. Now moving on to the factors that you should consider. Keep in mind to look for the right resolution, suitable pixel per degree, the field of view, and refresh rate.
There are other factors as well that you should consider. Thus, research them before getting your hands on any VR device.
Does Your Computer Meet The Minimum Requirements?
Suppose you’re going to use Bluetooth to connect your Oculus Touch controllers (required for playing games). You’ll need an Intel Core i3-6100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 or a better processor. You’ll also need at least 8GB of RAM, a USB 3.0 port, and a USB 2.0 port.
You’ll also need Windows 10, 4 GB of RAM, and one USB 3.0 port with Bus Power on each controller (an additional USB 2.0 port might work but is not officially supported). Moreover, it comes in handy if your laptop comes with an HDMI port, as it allows you efficient connectivity.
Having solid storage, a decent GPU, and a powerful processor makes your VR applications run pretty efficiently. Thus, make sure that your system requirements match your VR devices for you to enjoy them effortlessly.
Conclusion
It isn’t easy to conclude here because, as it turns out, Quest 2 is not very different from Rift S. Sure, we can talk about differences in resolution and display technology here. But ultimately, you’re looking at two nearly identical products.
The most notable difference is Quest 2 being wireless that’s a big deal for convenience. Still, otherwise, there aren’t any game-changing features here that make one worth buying over another.
All the differences and similarities are mentioned above in this article so that you can understand which device is most suitable for you. Thus, learn about the difference between Oculus Quest 2 and Rift S and purchase the best device for your needs.
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