Source: Nick Sutrich / Android Central
Best answer: No, a PC is not required to operate the Oculus Quest 2. However, when you plug it into a PC, it opens an entire library of PC-only content.
The independent miracle
The Oculus Quest 2 is designed to be played alone, anywhere, anytime. Thanks to a powerful custom chipset for mobile processing in Quest 2, there is no need to establish a Quest 2 PC connection. This processor can recreate virtual worlds in a way that feels real to the person wearing the headset. The four cameras on the outside of the Quest 2 headset can see the world and map it in 3D space, track your movements in VR and translate them into the virtual world in a meaningful way. This means that you don’t have to connect additional cameras or light boxes like with other VR systems.
The cameras also track these Oculus Touch controllers via a multitude of LEDs in the controller’s ring, thus enabling fast and precise movements that make you feel like you are moving your virtual hands (or weapons) exactly as you move your real ones Hands and arms. Some experiences don’t even require controllers as these cameras can also track your hands, making the virtual interaction seem even more realistic.
The battery in the Oculus Quest 2 can be recharged via a USB Type-C port on the side and lasts 2-3 hours per charge. That means you can take it off the charger and play in at least 2 hours of VR gameplay before having to recharge it. The best Quest 2 batteries keep the action going even longer. Perfect for socializing in VR that you might lose yourself in for hours!
If you are concerned that the Oculus Quest 2’s graphical quality will affect the graphical quality, then you shouldn’t do so. While games for Quest and Quest 2 are a bit simpler visually than the best looking PC VR games, it’s unlikely that you will be pulled out of a virtual world just because the visual quality isn’t right. Even some of the best indie games with stylized and simplified graphics look amazing in VR, and a lot of it is thanks to the fact that VR headsets like the Quest 2 trick your brain into believing that you are actually in the world are that you see.
Add a PC for more content
While the Quest 2 is a pretty ideal VR system on its own, playing SteamVR on a Quest 2 – or one of the many great Oculus-exclusive PC VR games like Lone Echo or Stormland – opens the gates to even more impressive virtual ones Worlds. As you’d probably expect based on the pedigree of PC gaming over the past few decades, PC VR games are often more detailed, can run at higher frame rates without sacrificing detail, and may even have more interactive, immersive worlds.
The best SteamVR games prove this in many different ways, and you’ll find that many of the games you can buy on Quest 2 are Crossbuy compatible, which means the same game can be played on a PC with improved graphics.
While Oculus originally required a USB cable to connect your Quest 2 to a PC and run it in wired mode, the official launch of Oculus Air Link means you can now play PC VR games over your home’s Wi-Fi network can play – provided you have a fast router that is. We recommend using one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers for the best experience here as the Oculus Quest 2 supports 1200Mbps wireless connections to a Wi-Fi 6 router for a clear, lag-free wireless VR experience made possible.
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Protect your Oculus Quest 2 from sweat and dirt with these face covers
The standard Oculus Quest 2 face surface has plenty of foam padding. However, this material is a magnet for sweat, bacteria, and acne-causing dirt. Yuck! For this reason, we recommend investing in one of these leather, silicone, or flannel face covers that are easy to remove and clean, making your VR game worry-free and more hygienic.
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