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The PlayStation VR2 launched in the UK on 22 February, and kicks off a new generation of virtual reality gaming on PlayStation 5.
Our PS VR2 review called it “one of the best and easiest-to-use VR headsets you can buy today.” While the vertigo-inducing game Horizon Call of the Mountain is an instant highlight, we noted that the limited line-up of new launch games might fail to convince many people to drop £530 on the accessory on day one.
No matter how you slice it, that’s a lot to spend on a VR headset – particularly when you also need a PS5 console to plug it into – but the PS VR2 is a reasonably priced gadget. You’re getting PC-grade visuals and a premium VR experience for a fraction of the cost of, for example, the more advanced Meta Quest Pro (£1,499.99, Meta.com).
But let’s look at a similarly priced offering: how does the PS VR2 compare with the popular Meta Quest 2 (£399, Argos.co.uk)? The cheap and accessible VR headset from Facebook parent corp Meta is designed to be as simple to use as possible and doesn’t require a PC or games console to work, making it considerably cheaper overall.
So, what are the main differences between the Meta Quest 2 and the PS VR2? Let’s take a closer look.
PS VR2 vs Meta Quest 2: Specs
Both headsets are similar in some ways. They both use “inside out” tracking, meaning cameras embedded in the headset can determine your position in 3D space without the need for external sensors, which are fiddly to set up and calibrate.
But in almost every other regard, Sony’s VR headset is the more technically advanced of the two. It uses a pair of higher-quality OLED displays running at a higher resolution, and has a wider field of view, for a more immersive experience.
Here’s a rundown of the basic display specs.
PS VR 2
Type: OLED
Resolution: 2,000 x 2,004px per eye
Field of view: 110 degrees
Meta Quest 2
Type: LCD
Resolution: 1,832 x 1,920px per eye
Field of view: 90 degrees
The PS VR2 also adds haptic feedback in the sense controllers and inside the headset itself, plus eye-tracking, which lets you do things such as navigate menu screens just by looking at the option you want to pick.
One major advantage of the Quest 2 is that it’s truly wireless, whereas the PS VR2 must stay connected to your PS5 with a long USB-C cable, which could get tangled around your feet if you get a little too carried away.
The Quest 2’s lack of a tethering cable means it’s easier to fully throw yourself into games such as Superhot VR, in which you’re regularly spinning around, ducking and dodging bullets.
PS VR2 vs Meta Quest 2: Games
While Sony’s headset is the more technically advanced of the two, the Meta Quest 2 has been around longer and has built up a larger library of games.
Many of the PS VR2’s launch games are already available on the Meta Quest 2, with the notable exception of the Sony-published Horizon Call of the Mountain.
Because it draws on the processing power of the PlayStation 5 to produce more-realistic-looking graphics, the PS VR2 is capable of far more sophisticated and visually impressive games and VR experiences than the Meta Quest 2.
The Meta Quest 2 is an entirely self-contained and battery-powered device, giving it about as much processing power as your smartphone. That means more simplistic and cartoonish graphics. However, just as the PS VR2 connects to a PS5, the Meta Quest 2 can be connected to a sufficiently powerful gaming PC to unlock an even wider range of games and experiences, including VR games, such as Half-Life: Alyx,from other platforms.
The PS VR2 is limited to the games Sony makes available to buy on the PlayStation Store, with no plans to make the headset compatible with PCs or other storefronts.
PS VR2 vs Meta Quest 2: Price
The Meta Quest 2 costs £399.99 and comes with everything you need to start playing. The PS VR2 costs £529.99 and requires a PlayStation 5 (from £389, Argos.co.uk) to work.
That’s obviously a much bigger setup cost, if you’re starting from scratch, but if you’re already a PS5 owner, you could ceraintly be swayed by the PS VR2’s more advanced specs, its seamless connectivity with the console, and the promise of more exclusive first-party games to come.
Meta Quest 2
Display: LCD
Refresh rate: 90Hz
Resolution: 1,832 x 1,920px per eye
Field of view: 90 degrees
Wireless: Yes
Haptic feedback: Controllers only
Why we love it
Standalone, so doesn’t need a PC or console
Big selection of games to buy
Still great value for money
Truly wireless VR
Can still connect to a PC for high-quality graphics
Take note
2-3 hour battery life
Graphics in standalone mode are basic
As far as standalone virtual-reality headsets go, the Meta Quest 2 is certainly the most user-friendly. While other, more-powerful VR setups require a decently specced PC to run the most demanding VR games, the Quest 2 works as a standalone headset, so you can play games practically anywhere.
The headset itself comes with built-in tracking cameras, so you can move around a 3D space with precision. If you’re worried about bumping into furniture, the “guardian mode” allows you to outline a safe space on the floor, so, when you move toward the edge, a helpful grid can let you know when you’re about to reach out of bounds. It made it into our list of best VR headsets for a reason, and the Meta Quest 2 still remains the easiest way to enter virtual reality.
The PlayStation VR2 is Sony’s second-generation VR headset and follows 2016’s far clunkier and more cumbersome PS VR, which needed half a dozen cables, separate controllers and an external camera accessory before you could use it. This version is a vast improvement. It’s streamlined and plugs into a PS5 with a single USB-C cable, making it easier to pick up and play on a whim.
It uses two bright and high-contrast OLED displays running at 120 frames per second for a highly realistic VR experience, while the included sense controllers allow you to reach out and grab objects, push buttons, shoot guns and interact with the world using your hands. Haptic feedback in the controllers and the headset push the immersion even further, while eye-tracking tech means games can tell where you’re looking (and when your eyes are closed) at any given moment.
The main downside is that it needs a PlayStation 5 console to work, making it more than twice as expensive as some standalone headsets. There are also too few unique and exclusive games at launch. But for gamers already invested in the latest Sony console, and eager to be part of the company’s latest VR experiment, there’s no better choice of headset.
The PS VR2 is technically superior, but for now the Meta Quest 2 remains our recommended VR headset for anyone who wants to dabble in virtual reality without spending too much. Meta has relaxed its restrictive policies that required you to have a Facebook account before you could start playing, and there’s a generous and well-supported library of native games available to buy on the Oculus store.
The ability to connect to a PC and use the Meta Quest 2 to play SteamVR games such as Half-Life: Alyx is another huge bonus for the Zuckerberg-owned headset, allowing you to break out of the Meta ecosystem and take full advantage of your device.