Virtual reality seems to be the future of gaming. But taking the next step into the future of technology can be daunting, especially when there are so many great VR headsets out there. The two most popular VR headsets on the market are the PS VR and the Meta Quest 2 (formerly known as the Oculus Quest 2).
These are probably one of your options if you want to get into VR. So if you can’t decide between the two, here’s a detailed comparison to help you figure out which headset is best for you.
Design
Several small design elements make a big difference between the PS VR and Meta Quest 2.
Wired vs. Wireless
The first and biggest difference is that the PS VR has a wired connection that you can plug into your PlayStation. The cord is very long, which gives you a lot of freedom of movement, but you can still get caught up in it, especially while playing a fast-paced FPS game.
The Meta Quest 2, on the other hand, is its own console with the computer in the headset. This eliminates the need for cables, giving you more freedom while gaming. You can rotate 360 degrees as much as you want without worrying about tripping over cords.
The downside of a wireless VR headset is battery life. The Meta Quest 2 has approximately 2 hours of playtime. And as they say, time flies when you’re having fun. Since the PS VR connects directly to your PlayStation, it draws power from it, allowing you to play indefinitely.
controllers
The ability to do a full 360-degree turn may sound like a given when playing in VR, but that’s not always the case. The PS VR controllers have brightly colored glowing balls on them, which follow the camera for movement. Think of them as a lightsaber, but without the danger, and instead of a blade; It’s a ball.
As the camera tracks these glowing balls to find the location of your controllers, if you don’t look at the camera or put your hand behind your back, the camera will lose sight of the light. This can cause some malfunctions at very inopportune times.
The Meta Quest 2 controllers work very differently. It uses an inside-out tracking system; the controllers and headset are equipped with infrared LEDs. The headset continuously uses these lights to triangulate the movement of the controllers.
Since the Meta Quest 2 uses the headset to track the controllers, they’ll always be in range, even if you’re doing those 360-degree spins we discussed earlier.
One incredible feature that the Meta Quest 2 has that the PS VR doesn’t is hand tracking. The Meta Quest 2 can track the movement of your hands, down to every finger, eliminating the need for controllers. There are already many games available that support hand tracking, with many more on the way.
Comfort
The PS VR has a padded halo that easily adapts to the shape of your head. Since the PS VR doesn’t contain a lot of hardware, it is well balanced. This, combined with the adjustable halo strap, makes the PS VR extremely comfortable.
Since the CPU of the Meta Quest 2 is in the headset, it is considerably heavier. The standard Meta Quest 2 uses an elastic band to attach to your head, which is not very comfortable or sturdy.
You can buy an Elite Strap add-on, which is an adjustable plastic halo similar to the PSVR. This makes the headset significantly more comfortable, but costs an additional $49.
Another thing to note when choosing a VR headset is whether you wear prescription glasses or not. The PS VR has enough space for your face and your glasses, so you don’t have to worry about that. However, the Meta Quest 2 is much smaller and doesn’t offer much room to move your glasses.
You can combat this problem by purchasing prescription lenses that attach to the inside of the headset. This solves the problem, but it is yet another add-on that you must purchase separately and should be included in the total price of the product.
Internal specifications
| PS VR | MetaQuest 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen type | OLED | LCD |
| Resolution (per eye) | 960×1080 | 1832×1920 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Field of view | 96 degrees | 97 degrees |
OLED screens are widely regarded as superior to LCD in that they can turn off pixels when not in use. This provides deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. But despite having an LCD screen, the Meta Quest 2 is undeniably superior in terms of graphics.
The Meta Quest 2 also fixed one of the issues facing VR headsets; the screen door effect. The screen door effect is a grid-like pattern that covers the screen and is quite noticeable in the game. This effect is significant in PS VR, but is more or less nonexistent in Meta Quest 2.
The Meta Quest 2 is far superior to the PS VR in terms of graphics, which isn’t surprising considering the PS VR is four years older.
Safety
We’ve all seen the videos of VR users throwing themselves off a virtual shelf into the unforgiving embrace of a wall or even their TV. So what has been done to combat this problem in VR headsets?
The only safety features the PS VR has are the controller wrist straps and the cord that connects you to your PlayStation. There are no sensors or anything like that to warn you that you’re millimeters from hitting your TV in the face, and spatial awareness is difficult when you’re in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
The Meta Quest 2’s solution to protecting you and your belongings is the built-in Guardian mode. Guardian mode allows you to outline your playing area before you start playing. The headset warns you when you leave this boundary, so you can come back safely before catapulting your mother’s favorite vase off the shelf.
Since the Meta Quest 2’s camera is built into the headset, you can tap the side to activate the camera to get a sense of your surroundings. This is much more convenient than taking off the headset, as in the case of the PS VR.
Spell
Games are undoubtedly the essential feature of any game console. You could have the best features the world has ever seen, but they would be pointless without games. The good news is that both headsets have a robust library of games.
The PS VR has a special section in the PlayStation Store that is filled to the brim with exclusive games to play on your PS VR, including exclusive games that you can’t get anywhere else. It’s hard to argue with the PlayStation library. They are a huge company with the resources to constantly release new games on each of their available systems, which is exactly what they do.
The Meta Quest 2 has its own store where you can buy VR games. It lacks some incredible exclusive titles available for the PS VR, but it has a few exclusive titles. Furthermore, there are some games available in both libraries.
In addition, the Meta Quest 2 also has a Virtual Desktop where you can stream from your computer. This allows you to play an unlimited number of games on the Meta Quest 2, use your browser or even watch movies.
Prices
Now that you’ve got all the info on the PS VR and Meta Quest 2, the last thing that matters is the cost. The price of these two consoles used to be quite comparable. But from August 1, 2022, the price of the Meta Quest 2 will increase by about $100 due to increased production costs.
This puts the Meta Quest 2 at $399 for the 128GB version and $499 for the 258GB version. This price is for the standard version of the Meta Quest 2, excluding any additional costs for the Elite Strap or prescription lenses.
The PS VR, on the other hand, comes in at around $349 and usually includes a game. The PS VR is cheaper than the Meta Quest 2, but you also have to keep in mind that it requires a PlayStation. If you don’t have a PS4 or PS5, the PS VR will be significantly more expensive.
Hopefully you have found your choice in our comparison. The Meta Quest 2 is a next-gen console with superior graphics and specifications. The PS VR is showing signs of age and will soon be replaced by the PSVR 2, but is slightly more affordable as long as you have a PlayStation 4 or 5 and still have a great VR headset.
It is ultimately up to you! Will you opt for the Meta Quest 2 or will you wait and see what the PS VR 2 has in store?
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