The short answer is no. There is only one difference between the Oculus Quest 2 and the Meta Quest 2. It has nothing to do with price, resolution, refresh rate, features, accessories, storage, battery life, comfort quality, or other technical specifications. It’s only a name change. The only real differences between the Oculus Quest 2 and the re-branding were changes to the software’s logo and name.
The physical device is identical to the original and re-branded versions. The same storage options are available at the same prices. On both VR headsets, you can play all of the best VR games either standalone or by tethering to a PC. The re-brand is merely a name change.
However, if you’re interested in the popular virtual reality headset, let’s get into some specifics, shall we?
Oculus Quest 2 vs Meta Quest 2: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Meta Quest 2 | Occulus Quest 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Name: | Meta Quest 2 | Oculus Quest 2, now Meta Quest 2 |
| What It Is: | Standalone VR Headset | Standalone VR Headset |
| Primary Use: | VR gaming, spatial computing, remote work, social media | VR gaming, spatial computing, remote work, social media |
| Conceived: | October 13, 2020 | October 13, 2020 |
| Initial Release: | October 13, 2020 | October 13, 2020 |
| Technical Committee: | Meta/Facebook/Oculus | Meta/Facebook/Oculus |
| Influential Developers: | Luckey Palmer, Meta | Luckey Palmer, Meta |
| Open Format?: | No | No |
| Technologies Influenced: | VR Gaming, spatial computing, remote work | VR Gaming, spatial computing, remote work |
What is Meta Quest 2?
Facebook will change in November 2021. The company had grown far beyond simply operating one of the world’s most popular social media websites. Facebook has acquired and developed social media applications in every genre. They had also prioritized the development of the Oculus Labs Quest product line. With so much experience, the company renamed itself Meta.
The branding change was intentional and meant to represent a new direction for the company that focused on the Metaverse rather than just Facebook. Outside of flat screens, their primary device for accessing the Metaverse is the Oculus Quest 2. As a result of the new brand name, Oculus Quest 2 was renamed Meta Quest 2. Read Also; Amazon Echo Show’s Coolest Features
What is Oculus Quest 2?
The Oculus Quest 2 is a stand-alone virtual reality headset. Oculus founder Luckey Palmer created the original Oculus VR headset lineup. It began with the Oculus Rift series and progressed from a line of VR headsets that needed to be tethered to a VR-ready PC to standalone VR headsets with the Quest series.
Early mobile implementations were created as part of a project in which Facebook collaborated with the Oculus team and Samsung to create the Samsung Gear VR. Specific Samsung smartphones could be used as a VR headset with a single remote control for selection and movement thanks to these phone accessories. The Gear VR was a huge success as a test device and inspired Oculus Go’s development.
Meta Quest 2 vs Oculus Quest 2: Specs
- Name: Meta Quest 2, formerly Oculus Quest 2
- Operating System: Quest System Software based on Android 10 source
- SoC (System on a Chip): Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2
- Storage: 64 GB (discontinued in July 2021), 128 GB, or 256 GB
- Memory: 6 GB
- Display: 1,832 x 1,920 per eye @ 120 Hz, LCD
- Graphics: Adreno 650 (~1.2 TFLOPS)
- Sound: Two built-in side-mounted speakers, 3.5mm audio jack
- Input: 6DoF (6 Degrees of Freedom) inside-out motion tracking, hand tracking, Oculus Touch controllers, Bluetooth, microphone
- Cameras: Four infrared cameras
- Connectivity: USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Battery Life: Two to three hours
- Weight: 503g (17.7 oz)
- Online Services: Oculus Store, Steam VR (through Oculus Link to VR-ready computer)
- Price: $299 for 128 GB, $399 for 256 GB
The specifications for each device are the same because, aside from a logo and a name change, they are the same. All improvements to the Meta Quest 2 are also available on the Oculus Quest 2. As the software is updated, the only distinction between the two is the physical logo on the front of the device. Read More; Apple VR/AR Headset — Everything We Know So Far
Oculus Store and Steam VR
The Meta Quest 2 comes with a standalone Oculus Store preinstalled on the VR headset. It can also be connected to a PC via Wi-Fi or USB-C to access titles from the PCVR Oculus Store and Steam VR. With the Meta Quest 2’s growing support for Open XR APIs, you can play anything that has a VR option. Read Also; Meta Quest 3 — Everything We Know So Far
Accessories
The list of aftermarket parts and customizations that can be used with the Meta Quest 2, and thus the Oculus Quest 2, continues to grow dramatically. The device did not undergo any physical changes as a result of the brand change. All accessories are interchangeable, including head straps, wrist straps, stickers, protective coverings, and interfaces.
Meta Quest 2 vs Oculus Quest 2: Pros and Cons of the Brand Change
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| Facebook has social baggage that cannot be ignored. The global impact of Facebook cannot be overstated. | The abrupt name change was interpreted as a somewhat deceptive move by Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. |
| Oculus had been absorbed into Facebook for quite sometime before the name change. The founder of Oculus, Luckey Palmer, has also been separated from Facebook. The advancements in standalone VR are almost purely the result of Facebook’s direction. The new brand name helps to distinguish Facebook’s VR headset from others. | Brand names can take time to be used, and the old brands often have true consumer loyalty. |
| Meta is a name for the underlying information or data about everything. The Metaverse is a 3D spatial computing method for interacting with such metadata. | As a brand, Oculus is the biggest name in VR innovation. The removal of the Oculus brand could be interpreted as a sign of change in how VR is aimed to be designed. As a devoted following has primarily funded VR with strong ideas of how it should be handled and improved, the change in direction is striking to some. |
Meta Quest 2 vs Oculus Quest 2: FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is Meta Quest 2 just a name change for the Oculus Quest 2?
Yes. While Facebook’s rebranding to Meta is significant for social media, it has only resulted in a logo and name change for Quest 2. There is no distinction between the two devices. There are no pros and cons to consider other than whether you prefer the name Meta to Oculus. They have the same features and access to the best VR games.
Is there a visual difference between the Oculus Quest 2 and the Meta Quest 2?
Aside from a name change, the original version has received a new logo corresponding to the Meta brand name changes.
Which is better, the Oculus Quest 2 or the Meta Quest 2?
More nostalgic VR players may prefer to keep the Oculus logo on the outside of their headsets. However, there are no performance differences between the original and re-branded versions of Quest 2. With only superficial similarities to a new brand, you can be confident that the Meta Quest 2 has the same resolution, refresh rate, features, battery life, and comfort as the Oculus Quest 2.
