Previously, if you had the will to purchase expensive VR-specific hardware along with a powerful personal computer to match, then you had the chance of enjoying a high-performing and fully immersive VR experience.
For such enthusiasts, VR had become a regular part of their gaming experience.
However, for most average tech consumers—with the exception of people who have an endless supply of wealth reserved only for their entertainment needs and plenty of space in their room/house—the VR dream had remained a dream, just out of reach.
It’s a similar story for Oculus Quest, the fourth consumer headset launched by the Facebook-owned company.
Since Oculus’ customers are largely gaming enthusiasts, rather than casual or beginner users, Quest is still a high-end device tailored for a niche market. Despite the VR industry’s steady growth over the past few years, the market still hasn’t met mass adoption—at least not yet.
Still, Oculus Rift has generated solid sales numbers since its release in May, with some estimates indicating over 1 million units are expected to be sold in 2019.
Price
You should expect to pay around $399 for the 64 GB version of Oculus Quest. If you want to have a go at the 128 GB version, then prepare to spend around $499.
That may sound like a lot but considering that Oculus Go can cost you either $249 or $199, it is reasonable.
Also keep in mind that the Oculus Rift headset costs $399 now, a welcome change from the $599 price tag during its 2016 launch.
Of course, if you are new to the VR gaming experience, then you may not give the price of this product much value.
Our suggestion for new users who aren’t quite sure how much they should expect to pay is to first research all of the major options available in the market. Then weigh up different headsets against other VR headsets and entertainment devices.
If we go by current prices, then the price you will have to pay for Oculus Quest is almost equivalent to the cost you will have to pay for a good 4K gaming console.
The PS4 Pro 1 TB costs around $399 as well.
So either you get yourself a high-end gaming console or an Oculus Quest—the choice is yours to make.
There is little doubt that the safer investment is a gaming console. But if you want a new experience and are ready to explore uncharted territory, then Oculus Quest is the way to go.
Specifications
- Weight: 570g (Oculus Rift weighs around 470g)
- Touch controllers (two of them)
- Hand tracking
- 6 degrees of freedom
- Depending on the type of game you are playing, the Lithium-ion battery has the capacity to last around three hours
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
- 4 GB RAM
- 72Hz refresh rate
- OLED display panel
- 1440 x 1600 per eye display resolution (the previous Oculus Rift offering had a resolution of 1080 x 1020 per eye)
Design
Perhaps the best part about Oculus Quest is that it is a completely standalone device. It has no wires, and there is no need for any user to purchase expensive additional accessories or fulfill time-consuming requirements.
With all of these things going in its favor, it is not hard to imagine Oculus Quest becoming a legitimate VR game-changer.
As for looks, Oculus Quest is well designed with a solid VR kit. It measures 120mm by 110mm by 90mm.
Not only is the overall product compact, but it is also light if you consider that it’s a standalone device.
The front of the VR headset comes with a black matte exterior and a logo saying “Oculus” near the top. The sides have a tough fabric covering.
In terms of the feel, it is similar to the older Oculus Go model. If you turn Oculus Quest over, you can find an inner lining of foam just around the goggles.
Very few of the VR headsets available in the market today are as comfortable or soft as this one.
Oculus Quest makes use of three, and rather thick, velcro straps to secure the product to the user’s head. There is one strap on the top and two on the sides. Users should not have a problem with adjusting these before they put the product on.
Keep in mind that during gameplay, the headset is bound to vibrate and move just a little bit. So you will need to tighten the headset before use.
All of the velcro straps have a rubberized attachment in the shape of a triangular headband. This covers the back portion of the user’s head.
This way, the headset should stay on your head securely even after hours of use.
Generally speaking, snug is fit enough. However, you will see a little bit of space leakage just around the area near your nose.
We’re not saying that it is comparable to Oculus Go or even some of the other headsets available, but it is not perfect either. You should not notice it unless you have been playing for a while.
Light leakage is something that does bother some people when they are experiencing video games via a VR headset as it can easily break the immersive effect.
Some users tend to forget its very existence. Others are not only not bothered by light leakage but welcome it as it helps them reorient quickly if they get motion sickness.
For you, things could be different. In the end though, all will come down to your own gaming experience and preferences.
In terms of weight distribution: Oculus Quest is built for three things.
- Looking down and up
- Turning (lots of it)
- Movement
You will feel a certain pressure close to the back of your head after you have used the product for an hour or so because of the straps. You might feel the same on your cheekbones as well. But if you remove your headset for a minute or so, the pressure should go away.
Coming to the sides of the VR headset, the Oculus Quest has three buttons and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Of the three buttons, two turn the volume up and down while the other powers the device on and off.
Pretty much like Go and Rift, Oculus Quest has a focal closer which is hidden right under the front of the VR headset. This gives the user the option of shifting the current focal distance between the present lenses.
The slider can provide the wearer with the added comfort and clarity that one needs to really enjoy VR gaming.
Battery
Oculus says users should expect the device to last anywhere from 2-3 hours if it’s fully charged. Of course, the actual charging time will depend on your activities (playing video games or watching videos).
So can you trust Oculus’ evaluation of 2-3 hours of battery life? We think so. Even if you play a lot of games, the device should continue to work for you well after two hours have passed.
Perhaps this is also a good time to mention that as you approach empty or low battery levels on Oculus Quest (for instance, close to 5%) you should notice slight glitches in frames. And no, having low battery levels is not going to stop your gameplay.
However, Oculus Quest tries its best to let the user know when it’s time to charge the device again.
We are aware though that for serious gamers, a battery life of two hours seems short. But again, the battery power is impressive considering that the Oculus Quest is totally standalone.
With that said, you should also not forget that newcomers to VR gaming will find it hard to go past even 30 minutes.
Practically speaking though, the short battery life might only become a problem for gamers who share the VR headset with multiple people who play regularly.
Wireless Charging
Currently, there is no option to wirelessly charge Oculus Quest. However, Oculus does try to help out users in the charging process by including a cable that’s 6 meters long (or around 20 feet).
Presumably, users can continue to play video games while the device is charging.
Of course, playing while charging would mean that you will be tethered just like before. But this time around, you will have the option of charging and then playing.
If you want to check the status of the battery, you can see it on Oculus’ smartphone app or simply move through the Oculus Home menu.
You should expect to spend around two hours to charge Oculus Quest to the maximum capacity.
For some context: Oculus Go took longer (around three hours), but we can’t say Oculus has improved in this aspect a whole lot.
User Interface
You have to use the controller to get any type of interface with the device. We believe the controllers are of good quality, with an ergonomic design.
Think of them as a newer and smaller version of the previous version of Oculus Touch controllers. But the Oculus Touch did not have a tracking ring on top of its controllers.
Available Accessories
The box for the Oculus Quest headset comes with the following:
- Power adapter
- Touch controllers
- Glasses spacer
- Charging cable
- Instructions
The glasses spacer comes as a very useful addition since a lot of people who use VR headsets with glasses find them necessary.
In short, if you wear glasses, you will need the glasses spacer to not have the headset sit on your head in an awkward manner.
As mentioned in the list, Oculus Quest also provides users with a total of two controllers.
Each controller has thumbsticks with multiple buttons at the top. There is also a grip button and a trigger button on the side and underneath, respectively.
You will need two AA batteries to power this VR headset. A pair of them comes in the box, so you should be good there.
User Reviews
Overall, most users who’ve shared their take in online forums feel that Oculus Quest is indeed well worth the money. The technology and price are a natural combination.
Some reviewers have mentioned in their posts that even though Oculus Quest is the more convenient VR headset option out of all VR options, it still offers users a first-generation VR experience.
Other users have pointed out that the screen could be less grainy and Oculus Quest should work on the comfort side of things a bit more.
Apart from that, the general consensus seems to be that it has a convenient tetherless design.
Not to mention, almost all have been surprised by the new inside-out tracking system which works pretty well on Oculus Quest.
Some users have appreciated the number of VR games that are available for Oculus Quest so early in its life cycle, while others have given it good marks for not requiring additional hardware to function.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Complete 6 degrees of freedom | The battery is good for only two hours |
| No wires | There is some light leakage |
| Can rival Oculus Rift in terms of performance | |
| Can accommodate the user in all room sizes |
The Bottom Line
Oculus has shown that it has truly embarked on a mission to develop VR and bring it to the masses. While many consumers are interested in VR and plan to be in the market for a VR headset one day, they’re not willing to settle with the requirements of current headsets.
In Oculus’ quest to increase the rate of VR adoption, they’ve released Quest. The product currently sits neatly in a fairly coveted sweet spot—it delivers a performance that can rival the PC-powered VR experience.
Just 12 months ago, a lot of people said that Oculus Go would go on to become the one product which would take VR to the mainstream.
However, the Quest edition actually ramps things up a lot more by offering a complete gaming system right out of the box.
It is at least as accessible as the Oculus Go version but adds features such as movement tracking to the mix, which clearly makes it the better choice of the two.
As for the display, we think that it can rival the Rift.
The price point is reasonable as well, and within a couple of minutes, the user can set it up and fit it in any sized room. There is no need to purchase any additional equipment with Oculus Quest.
