VR Playstation vs. Oculus Quest 2 We've got it. You've stuck in your house for months now. You tried to be nice, to wear your mask, to stay away from parties, to social distance. But enough of it already! You've got to SEE people. Interacting with something that isn't just another binge of a show that you barely like. You need a unique thing! Anything like the Oculus Quest 2 or the VR Playstation.
Virtual Reality may be exactly what you're looking for. Yeah, it's just more screens closer to your eyes, but it's a unique experience. You sound like you're in there (at least that is what they tell you). It's 3D, it's instant, and it feels more natural.
Oculus Quest 2 or Sony VR ?
Although the promise of VR might be more smoke and mirrors than something tangible, many people are hoping for something new this Christmas. With travel and social events off the plate for many, VR is a Christmas present looks pretty attractive. So, who are you going to get?
Author's Note: While the Playstation VR is getting long in the tooth (and the VR 2 has rumored), it is Oculus' biggest competitor. When the Playstation VR 2 released, we'll compare it again.
Resolution–Winner: Oculus Search
Although the graphics on the Oculus Quest 2 often criticized for looking primitive, it's not because of the display capabilities. The Oculus Quest 2 boasts 1832×1920 pixels per eye, while the Playstation VR only has 960×1080 pixels per eye. The Playstation uses the higher form of OLED display while the Oculus has LCD displays. The Playstation has a refresh rate of 90hz and the Oculus has a refresh rate of 70hz. The resolution tips things in favor of Oculus. The lower resolution of the Playstation VR means that some can experience a screen-door effect although that is less likely with the Oculus Quest 2. The Screen door effect is when you see the individual pixels.
Oculus Quest 2 or Sony VR ?
Controllers and Monitoring–Winner: Oculus Search
Playstation VR has ping pong controllers, while Oculus Quest 2 has more conventional VR controllers (with the protective rings around the controls). Although some complained that the Oculus controls are not quite ergonomic, almost everyone agrees that the Playstation VR controllers are not as reliable as the Oculus controllers. The Playstation VR needs not only controllers but also cameras for accurate tracking. This means that if you step out of the camera view, you lose tracking absolutely (the camera tracks the balls on the controllers).
They have widely praised the Oculus Quest 2 controllers for their accurate tracking. The Oculus Quest 2 also sports hand tracking without a joystick, a feature with mixed feedback. With the line of sight required by the Playstation VR, the controllers lose tracking much more often than the Oculus. Clearly, the Oculus is better off in the monitoring and control department.
Library–Winner: VR Playstation
By connecting to the Playstation, the VR headset has access to more and more known games than Oculus. We limited the Oculus Quest 2 to games developed specifically for the ecosystem of the Oculus. The Playstation has a library that is unlikely to equal Oculus. With Sony's gravitas, Playstation VR has access to games like Iron Man VR, something that Quest 2 can only dream of.
Oculus Quest 2 or Sony VR ?
Social–Winner: VR Playstation
Playing games is not necessarily a solo experience. People like to play with friends and family. Playstation VR, since it's linked to a Playstation console, has the power to let your friends/family see/hear what you're doing on your TV. Some games will add up to three controller players to your TV game.
The Oculus Quest 2 has no access to these social functions. There are some games that allow anyone on the phone to play with you when you're on Quest 2. Most "multiplayer" games require another Quest 2, account, and game version. There are developers experimenting with local multiplayer games, the Oculus Quest 2 has no way out of the box of tracking another Quest 2 in the same room.
Price–Winner of the Oculus Quest 2
Oculus Quest 2 and the Playstation VR headset have similar prices (depending on sales and other factors). Of course, you need a Playstation to use the Playstation VR. It released with the PS4 in mind, but now that the PS5 has shipped, Sony has made the camera adapter cable available for free. You just need to ask for one,
Oculus Quest 2 or Sony VR ?
The Oculus Quest 2 is a stand-alone device. This gives the Oculus a powerful advantage if all you want is VR. Many people purchase the Playstation console and only plan to install the VR adapter later. I cannot see the console as an extra cost (since they were going to buy one anyway). But if you're only interested in VR, Oculus Quest 2 is a hand-down winner.
VR Experience–Winner of: Tie
The question most people ask is which computer has the best experience. Looking at the Oculus Quest 2 and the Playstation VR, they're entirely different species. Playstation VR intended to be played while sitting. There are wires that connect you to the console, and there is a camera that needs to see the controllers in your hands. The Oculus Quest 2 is a standalone device with no wires to tie you to a location. That gives you full freedom of movement.
While many would say that the Playstation VR has a better VR experience because of the power of the Playstation console, someone can also plug the Oculus into a device to access its power. You're going to need a pretty heavy computer, but it's going to work. Here, if you already committed to having a Playstation, it makes sense to choose the Playstation VR. Most aim reviewers suggest that the Oculus VR experience is better overall. In the end, both of them are pretty cool.
Concluding
We're not here to tell you if the Oculus Quest 2 or the Playstation VR is the right one for you. That's the only decision you can make. You're going to hear some people argue for one VR solution over the other for several reasons.
One of the popular ones is that the Playstation VR is for "hardcore gamers" and the Oculus Quest 2 is for "casuals." They typically refer to access to games they want. The two VR solutions can be for any form of match. What's actually going to happen is that they want you to buy what they've got. They consider someone buying something else as a personal assault.
Ignore the crowds.
Look at all of them, look at how they used, look at how much they cost, and decide for yourself. Heck, if you already have a Playstation, buy both of them! Check it out and decide which one you like best. Tell us what decision you have taken and why in the comments!