Oculus Quest 2 vs PlayStation VR (PSVR)

Looking into getting either the new Oculus Quest 2 or the vested fan-favorite PSVR?

Both headsets have a lot going for them, but which one is the best for you?

Let’s take a quick look at the differences (and similarities) between these two headsets and dig down into which attributes make them such compelling pieces of VR hardware.

Hardware Specs

You’ll notice a  major discrepancy between the displays on the PSVR and the Quest 2.

Keep in mind, however, that the Quest 2 uses a weaker processor than the PS4/PS5.

In terms of PC VR, the Quest 2 supports the USB 3.0 Oculus Link cable, which does compress the image a little and that can reduce image quality.

However, the amount of compression that occurs is negligible and you likely won’t notice the difference if you were to compare the two headsets side by side.

As for how it stacks up against the PSVR, the resolution on the Quest 2 makes a big difference.

Naturally, you’re going to have a better display with the Quest since we’re comparing it to a four-year-old headset here, but the PSVR is still a great piece of hardware.

If you’re just playing the Quest 2 standalone, then you might even notice a higher visual fidelity on the PSVR thanks to the PS4’s processing capabilities, which certainly trump the Quest 2’s onboard processing chip.

Don’t count out those lenses on the Quest, though, because they come through in a big way nonetheless, especially when you’re playing Oculus exclusives.

On top of that, if you choose to connect the Quest 2 to a PC then you’re going to see a major difference.

The PSVR doesn’t even hold a candle – you’ll see why that’s funny when we get to the discussion on room tracking.

Performance-wise, you’re going to get more out of the PSVR than the Quest 2 if you’re just going to use it as a standalone headset.

So if you’re hoping to get into any high-end VR experiences then you might want to consider looking into PC VR as well.

Controllers

Given that PlayStation repurposed the PS Move controllers for the PSVR, you can probably already guess how well they work in VR.

They do what they’re meant to do, but don’t go expecting any miracles of the immersive kind.

On top of that, you’ll find that a lot of PSVR games just opt to use the PS4/PS5 controller anyway, so you’re losing even more immersion instead of gaining any with this headset.

Plus, be aware that motion sickness is a real possibility when using the regular PlayStation controllers, depending on how fast you get your VR legs.

With the Quest 2, on the other hand, you’re getting VR controllers that were specifically designed for that purpose and they’re probably the best controllers Oculus has released, besides maybe the original Rift controllers.

These controllers are a fair bit larger than those that came with the first Quest, and that’s a great thing because the extra space leaves your fingers some wiggle room so you don’t accidentally press buttons when you don’t mean to.

The buttons are a tad bigger as well, which helps a lot too.

They only come in all-white though, so you might find that the controllers start to look dirty pretty quickly depending on how much you use them.

Room Tracking

The tracking capabilities on the Quest 2 are fantastic compared to a lot of other VR headsets currently on the market, and especially when compared to the PSVR.

The Quest 2 comes with 4 onboard camera sensors that track your controllers and they’re pretty accurate, with almost no lag issues.

The PSVR headset has nine positional LEDs on its surface to help the PlayStation Camera track 360-degree head movement.

PlayStation repurposed the PS Move controllers for the PSVR, and these also work with the PlayStation Camera for tracking hand movement.

This system works well enough, but unlike other VR setups (as with the Quest 2) it relies on the visual light spectrum to work.

What this means is that it’s easy for interference to occur depending on the room.

For instance, any shiny object or a mirror can reflect the light back, which will disrupt the connection and prevent the headset and controllers from tracking properly.

In some more extreme cases, people have even complained that having any other lights on in the room will cause a disruption too and so they have to turn off all the lights if they want to play.

Comfort

One of the Quest 2’s biggest downsides is its headset design, and compared to almost every headset out there (except the first generation Quest) it comes second in terms of comfort.

At no point does this become more clear than when you try to wear it just after taking off the PSVR, which is one of the most comfortable headsets currently out there, next to the Rift S.

Sadly for the Quest 2, Facebook didn’t heed any complaints about the first headset as much as they probably should have and went with a slightly different but almost as uncomfortable design.

The main problem is that, since it’s capable of being a standalone headset, the Quest 2 is front-heavy, and you feel it.

The irony here is that the PSVR is actually about 100 grams heavier than the Quest 2, but it doesn’t feel like it thanks to the headset’s halo-like strap with the right cushions where it counts.

The velcro top strap and flexible side straps on the Quest 2 aren’t bad per se, but the result is that most of the headset’s weight rests squarely on your face and it can start to get uncomfortable after just a few minutes.

That issue can be solved if you decide to buy either the Elite Strap ($49 USD) or Elite Battery Strap ($129 USD with a Carrying Case bundled in) from Oculus, but that does mean you need to shell out extra money for a feature that should have been there in the first place.

Content Library

Right now, the content library of the PSVR trumps that of the Oculus Quest 2, but only by a bit.

You have to keep in mind, though, that the PSVR has been around since 2016, and in that time a lot of AAA and indie games have been created for it.

The Quest 2 relies upon the existing content that developers released for the Oculus Quest as well as several Oculus exclusives.

This includes a long list of PCVR games, as you can play pretty much anything that supports the Rift and Rift S.

That said, if you’re planning on just using the Quest 2 as a standalone headset then you lose out on a big chunk of games and apps via Steam VR.

No doubt, there are more games on the way for the Quest 2 as developers start integrating this headset into their development plans but for now, you’re might feel it’s pretty limited.

Especially when compared to the PSVR which has plenty of great titles ready to go.

Not to mention the PSVR exclusives, some of which are considered the best experiences you’ll get in VR.

Although you will be missing out on Half-Life: Alyx.

So you’ll need to weigh up which type of experiences you’re likely to want more of and see which headset will be able to give that to you.

Convenience & Mobility

Freedom of movement is one of the things that makes the Quest 2 such a compelling sell.

That is if this is something you’re interested in.

Next to other untethered VR headsets like the Oculus Go and Google Daydream, the Quest 2 dominates.

If you’re planning on just using it with a PC via the Oculus Link cable then this feature doesn’t matter all that much, but the ability to take it out and play anywhere is still always there if you want it.

With the PSVR, you’re stuck in whatever room you’ve got your PS4 set up in.

On the other hand, the PSVR does provide a somewhat more “inclusive” experience since everything you’re seeing can be watched on a TV linked to your PS4 too.

That way, even though you don’t have access to any “party” games as such, you can still have fun with a group of people while playing in VR.

Still, the PSVR requires some setup beforehand where, with the Quest 2, you can just put it on and get immersed in VR in an instant.

Storage

Something else to consider, if you’re just looking at using the Quest 2 as a standalone headset is its storage.

You get to choose between a 64GB and a 256GB headset.

The latter is $100 USD more expensive than the 64GB headset, though, so take that into consideration as well.

Sadly, that’s not a lot of space to work with, and you might find yourself having to start deleting games to make space sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, with the PSVR, you’ll have to rely on the available space on your PS4 (the standard comes with a 500GB hard drive) or PS5 (825GB SSD hard drive).

Given that you’re likely playing non-VR games on your PlayStation too, that space can get filled up fast.

However, you still have quite a bit more breathing room here than on the Quest 2.

That is if you aren’t planning on using the Quest 2 along with a gaming PC via the Oculus Link as well, which can provide you with a lot more storage space for games depending on your PC.

Price

Pricing, in this case, is greatly influenced by the setup you already have.

If you’ve got a PS4 or PS5 then the PSVR makes more sense since you’ve already got the hardware for it.

While you don’t need a PC to be able to play games on the Quest 2, which makes it such an affordable option, you will be missing out on a lot of quality AAA experiences.

So if you do want access to those PC VR titles then you’re going to need to invest in a gaming PC as well.

All of this means that, ultimately, you’ll have to weigh your budget up against the existing setup (or lack of one) you have.

All of that aside, the Quest 2 wins out in a straight-up price comparison because, even though both the Quest 2 and a PSVR are retailing for $299, you get to jump into VR straight away with the Quest 2 whereas you need a PS4 to use the PSVR.

Plus, some places – including the PlayStation Store – don’t offer a PSVR headset and move controllers alone – most of the time it’s sold as part of a bundle that jacks up the price.

Who’s the Winner?

Another downside to the Oculus Quest 2 – that you’ve probably heard people mention incessantly by now – is the mandatory Facebook account you’ll need to link to use it.

For someone who doesn’t have a Facebook account, or doesn’t want to link their personal account to their VR headset so Facebook can keep track of even more of their lives, it can be a major turnoff.

In the end, you’ll need to weigh how big of a downside that is for you (as this will be different for everyone) against how much more you want the Quest 2 than another headset like the PSVR.

Though at this point, it just doesn’t make sense to buy a first-generation VR headset anymore so if you’re really set on getting a PSVR then you might want to hold on for a bit and see if those rumors swirling around about a potential PSVR 2 has any merit.