Is the Meta Quest 2 Still Worth Buying? Pros and Cons 2026

Meta Quest 2 is a virtual reality headset developed by Meta, a company formerly known as Facebook Reality Labs. The Meta Quest 2 is the successor to the original Quest headset and was released in October 2020.

Do You Need a PC to use Meta Quest?

The Meta Quest 2 is an all-in-one device that does not require a PC or any external sensors to operate. It uses inside-out tracking to map the user’s environment and controllers for interaction. The headset features a resolution of 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye, a refresh rate of 90Hz, and a field of view of 100 degrees.

The Meta Quest 2 is primarily designed for gaming, but it also has applications in education, training, and other areas. It runs on the Oculus platform, which provides access to a wide range of games and apps.

What is The Meta Quest 2 Used For?

The Meta Quest 2 VR headset offers a wide range of possibilities for entertainment, education, and other applications. Here are some of the things you can do with Meta Quest 2:

Gaming

The Meta Quest 2 is primarily designed for gaming, and it offers a vast library of games and experiences on the Oculus platform. You can play games ranging from action and adventure to puzzles and simulations.

Among the most popular games for Meta Quest 2 are Beat Saber, The Walking Dead, Resident Evil, and SuperHot.

Related articles: 10 Games Meta Quest 2 Owners Should Download First

10 Free Games Meta Quest 2 Owners Should Download First

Socializing

The Meta Quest 2 allows you to connect with friends and family in virtual reality. You can meet up with people from around the world and engage in activities like watching movies, playing games, and chatting. Apps like Netflix, Meta Quest TV, Youtube, or Prime Video are available to fill your free time with quality movies.

Related articles: 10 Free Apps Meta Quest 2 Owners Should Download First

10 Apps Meta Quest 2 Owners Should Download First

Learning and training

The Meta Quest 2 has educational and training applications, such as language learning, virtual field trips, and professional training.

If you want to explore places on this planet that you only dream of going to, explore distant planets, or even go back in time, a VR headset gives you that possibility.

Related articles: 10 Free Apps Meta Quest 2 Owners Should Download First

10 Apps Meta Quest 2 Owners Should Download First

Creating content

The Meta Quest 2 offers tools for creating your virtual reality experiences, such as sculpting, painting, and animating. You can also use it for creating 3D models, videos, and other media.

Whether you want to excel in pottery, redecorate your home the way you want, or paint like Picasso, Meta Quest has a multitude of such apps in the library to fill your free time.

The Meta Quest 2 VR headset can be a valuable tool for engineers in a variety of ways, such as Virtual prototyping, Virtual training, Collaborative design, or Simulation and analysis.

Related articles: 10 Engineering Apps Meta Quest 2 Owners Should Download First

Fitness

The Meta Quest 2 can be used for fitness applications, such as virtual reality workouts and fitness games. Apps like FitXR – Box. HIIT. Dance. Sculpt. Combat., LES MILLS BODYCOMBAT, or Creed: Rise to Glory are just some of them.

Related articles: 10 Free Apps Meta Quest 2 Owners Should Download First

10 Apps Meta Quest 2 Owners Should Download First

Meta Quest 2 Technical Specifications

Display

Resolution: 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye

Refresh rate: 60, 72, 90 Hz

Glasses Compatible

Fast-Switch LCD Display

Field of view: 100 degrees

Audio

Built-in speakers with 3D positional audio

Built-in microphone

3.5mm headphone jack

Tracking

Inside-out 6DoF (degrees of freedom) tracking

4 built-in sensors on the headset

Controllers

2 Touch controllers are included, with improved ergonomics compared to the previous version.

Processor of a Meta Quest 2

Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Platform & 6GB RAM

The heart of the Quest 2 is the Snapdragon XR2 (Gen 1), a chipset custom-built for virtual reality rather than just smartphones. This processor represented a massive generational leap, offering roughly 2x the CPU and GPU performance of the original Quest.

Visual Fidelity: The XR2 enables the headset to drive its “nearly 4K” display (1832 x 1920 pixels per eye) at smooth refresh rates of 90Hz and even 120Hz in supported titles. This reduces motion sickness and makes visuals crisper.

AI & Tracking: The “XR” in the name stands for Extended Reality. This chip includes a dedicated engine for handling tracking algorithms. It processes input from the four external cameras in real-time to track your head and controllers with sub-millimeter precision, and even enables hand tracking without controllers—all without draining the battery excessively.

6GB RAM: The jump to 6GB of RAM (up from 4GB in the previous model) is critical. It allows developers to use higher-resolution textures, enables the headset to keep the operating system snappy while a game is running, and supports more complex game environments with more interactive objects.

Storage of a Meta Quest 2

Available in 128GB and 256GB

Since the Quest 2 does not have a microSD slot for expansion, your choice of storage is permanent. The operating system occupies over 10GB, meaning effective space is lower than advertised.

128GB Model: This is the “sweet spot” for most users. Standard VR games like Beat Saber or Superhot VR are relatively small (often under 2GB). You can store dozens of these titles simultaneously. However, major AAA titles like Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond can take up over 40GB alone, which would dominate a significant chunk of this drive.

256GB Model: This is ideal for “power users” who want to keep a massive library installed without uninstalling/reinstalling, or for content creators who record high-resolution gameplay footage directly to the headset. It is also recommended if you plan to store 3D movies locally on the device for travel.

Battery of a Meta Quest 2

Lithium-ion Polymer (3640 mAh)

The internal battery is designed to balance weight and duration. A 2–3 hour window is the standard expectation:

Gaming: Expect closer to 2 hours for graphically intensive native games (like Resident Evil 4) that push the XR2 processor hard.

Media: You can squeeze out closer to 3 hours when watching Netflix or YouTube VR, as these tasks are less demanding on the GPU.

Charging: The headset charges via USB-C and takes approximately 2.5 hours to go from 0% to 100%. Many enthusiasts extend this runtime by using “battery head straps” (like the Elite Strap with Battery) which can double the usage time and act as a counterweight to improve comfort.

Connectivity: The Wireless Bridge

Wi-Fi 6 & Bluetooth 5.2

Bluetooth 5.2: While the controllers use a proprietary low-latency connection, the Bluetooth radio allows you to pair standard peripherals. You can connect Bluetooth headphones (though there may be slight audio lag in fast games), gamepads (for Xbox Cloud Gaming or Android apps), and even keyboards/mice for productivity work in apps like Immersed or Horizon Workrooms.

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): This is arguably the most transformative feature for PC gamers. Wi-Fi 6 allows for faster data throughput and, more importantly, lower latency and better traffic management. This enables Air Link and Virtual Desktop to stream high-end PC VR games from your computer to your headset wirelessly with near-zero lag, assuming your router is close by.

Dimensions

Headset: 222mm (8.8″) x 450mm (17.7″)

Weight: 503g (without controllers)

Accessories for Meta Quest 2

Elite Strap with Battery

This accessory provides extra support and comfort for the Meta Quest 2 headset, and includes a built-in battery to extend the device’s battery life.

Carrying Case

A carrying case can be purchased to protect and transport the Meta Quest 2 headset and accessories.

Prescription Lens Inserts

Prescription lens inserts can be custom-made and inserted into the Meta Quest 2 to provide a more comfortable and clear viewing experience for users who wear glasses.

VR Cover

A VR cover can be placed over the face cushion of the Meta Quest 2 headset to provide extra hygiene and comfort for users during extended use.

Those are just a few of the accessories that can upgrade your Meta Quest 2, you’ll find more in the article below.

The Cons of The Meta Quest 2

While the Meta Quest 2 VR headset is a highly regarded device, there are some potential drawbacks and limitations to consider. Here are a few potential cons of Meta Quest 2:

Limited battery life

The battery life of the Meta Quest 2 can be limited, especially when using more demanding apps and games. The Elite Strap with Battery accessory can help extend the device’s battery life, but it does come at an additional cost.

The estimated battery life of the Meta Quest 2 is:

• 2-3 hours for more demanding apps and games
• Up to 4 hours for less demanding apps and games
• Up to 2 hours for video playback

The battery life can be extended by using the Elite Strap with Battery accessory.

Limited processing power

While the Meta Quest 2 is a standalone VR headset, it is not as powerful as a high-end PC-based VR system. This can limit the graphics and performance of some apps and games.

Limited storage

The base model of the Meta Quest 2 has only 64GB of storage, which may not be enough for users who plan to download a lot of apps and games. The higher-capacity 256GB model is more expensive.

Limited field of view

Some users may find the field of view on Meta Quest 2 to be somewhat limited, which can detract from the immersive experience.

Limited app selection

While Meta Quest 2 has a growing selection of apps and games available, the selection is still somewhat limited compared to other VR platforms. Additionally, some popular VR apps and games are not available on the Meta Quest 2 due to hardware limitations.

Heat and discomfort

Some users have reported experiencing discomfort or even pain after extended use of Meta Quest 2, especially when playing more demanding apps and games. The device can also become hot during extended use, which can be uncomfortable.

 

Meta Quest 2 vs. Quest 3

While the Quest 2 remains the best budget entry point into VR, the Quest 3 is a comprehensive upgrade that shifts focus from strict Virtual Reality to Mixed Reality (MR).

Optics and Visual Clarity The most visible improvement is the switch from Fresnel lenses (Quest 2) to Pancake lenses (Quest 3).

Meta Quest 2: The Fresnel lenses are thicker and have a smaller “sweet spot,” meaning things can look blurry if the headset isn’t positioned perfectly. They also suffer from “god rays” (glare) in high-contrast scenes.

Meta Quest 3: Pancake lenses allow for a 40% slimmer optic profile and provide edge-to-edge clarity. The resolution is also roughly 30% higher, making the “screen door effect” (seeing pixel gaps) almost invisible compared to the Quest 2.

Performance and Power The Quest 3 runs on the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, which delivers more than 2x the GPU processing power of the Quest 2’s Gen 1 chip. This isn’t just about speed; it allows the Quest 3 to render higher-resolution textures, dynamic shadows, and complex lighting that the Quest 2 simply cannot handle.

The “Killer Feature”: Passthrough This is the defining difference.

Meta Quest 2: Features grainy, black-and-white passthrough used mostly for setting up boundaries.

Meta Quest 3: Boasts full-color, high-fidelity passthrough with depth sensors. This enables Mixed Reality, where virtual objects interact with your physical room (e.g., zombies breaking through your actual walls).

The Quest 2 is an excellent dedicated VR console for the price. However, the Quest 3 is a future-proof device that offers a significantly sharper image and unlocks an entirely new category of Mixed Reality experiences.