Pre-orders for the new Oculus Quest 2 ship this month.
Oculus
For those who pre-ordered it, Facebook’s long-awaited Oculus Quest 2 will finally hit their doorsteps next month (the headset itself on October 13th and the elite bracelet and battery accessory on October 16th). While I will have to wait until then to do a full check on the device, I wanted to give some thought and why I think users should go for the 256GB version over the 64GB version. As a VR enthusiast, I wanted to share some perspectives that could help the VR curious consumer take a more educated leap. Let’s take a look.
Storage, storage, storage
First and foremost, consumers should understand that the 256GB model of the Oculus Quest 2 at $ 399 is a formidable bargain considering that it is only $ 100 more than the 64GB model at $ 299. For comparison, last year’s 64GB Quest model sold for $ 399 while the 128GB model sold for $ 499. In other words, this year’s model quadruples the storage for $ 100 – a breeze if you actually use that device and want to buy apps and games for it. It’s also important to note that none of Facebook’s Oculus Quest headsets have expandable memory. When it comes to VR, 64GB is good for nothing but that particular price tag of $ 299.
To further illustrate this point, here’s an anecdote: I currently own the first generation Oculus Quest, which I’ve had for over a year. With all the apps and videos I have installed on the device, I already have up to 62 GB. That said, if I want to install more applications or download more videos, I have to uninstall something first. Take it from me – you’ll want that extra storage.
In addition, the new Oculus Quest 2 has a resolution 50% higher than the original Oculus Quest, which means that the applications and textures are larger and the resolutions of the video files are higher. This results in larger files, which means the new Quest 2 will likely need 20 to 30% more storage space than the original Quest. Instead of the 64GB device, I would have liked Facebook and Oculus to deliver a 128GB standard headset and the 256GB version as expanded capacity. That said – I understand 64GB is helping Facebook hit the golden price of $ 299.
Unfortunately, if you want to buy the 256GB model now, you’re already out of luck. It sold out just a day after it was announced – a great win for Oculus, but likely an indicator that the company was misjudging the initial demand from us enthusiasts. The company will likely have to place a larger order by the time the headsets hit people’s homes next month.
The final comment I have now is that you should seriously consider ordering the Elite strap accessories for your 256GB model. Any reviewer who got their hands on the Quest 2 for review says the Elite harness is a must have. I pre-ordered the version of the Elite strap with the battery, which extends the battery life of the headset and relieves the strain on my neck. On the original quest, I noticed stress after 2 consecutive hours in VR – this accessory, if reviewers believe, should allow me to have much longer VR sessions without that stress. The extra weight of the Battery Elite Sling (321g) doesn’t seem to intuitively help the neck load, but some of the neck load is due to the unbalanced weight on the front of my face. Having a weight in your back can help balance it out. The 321 g Elite belt with battery counteracts the Quest 2, which at 503 g is already lighter than the 571 g of the original Quest.
Wrap up
The new Quest 2 looks like an amazing piece of hardware and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. However, storage space will be a major concern for 64GB users and they should expect to have to regularly delete apps and videos to make room for new content. Nowadays, most smartphone providers even ship with at least 128 GB if the device does not have any expandable storage functions. The new Google Pixel 4a for $ 349 comes with 128GB standard. This should be the minimum for any device that is evolving (yes, Apple, that includes you). Sure, the Quest isn’t a content creation device yet. However, it is not known which apps could find their way to the Quest 2 as it has a Qualcomm XR2 processor and is effectively as powerful as the fastest smartphones on the market. Stay tuned for more coverage in the coming weeks.
Disclosure: My company, Moor Insights & Strategy, like all research and analyst firms, provides or has researched, analyzed, advised and / or advised many high-tech companies in the industry, including Qualcomm. I do not hold any equity positions in companies listed in this column.
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