Facebook leaks new Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset in promotional videos

The Oculus Quest 2 is likely to launch this month, lighter and more powerful than its previous incarnation

Adam Smith
Monday 14 September 2020 17:21 BST
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Facebook accidentally leaks Oculus Quest 2 trailer

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Facebook seems to have leaked its latest virtual reality headset, the Oculus Quest 2.

Numerous videos uploaded to Facebook’s Blueprint e-learning platform state that the new headset will be smaller and lighter than the original Quest.

Videos from Facebook only refer to the headset as “streamlined” and “light”, rather than giving detail about the device’s weight or other dimensions.

Inside will be Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 processor, which is designed for virtual reality hardware, as well as 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for games and apps.

As well as that, the Quest 2 will have an “almost 4K display”, which Facebook claims is “nearly 2K per eye”.

This is apparently nearly 50 per cent more pixels than the original Quest, which also had 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

The headset will also have 3D positional audio, which the company claims will bring greater immersion, as well as new controllers with “new ergonomics” for more comfortable use.

Some apps will require no controllers at all – only using the wearer’s hands to manage the software.

The Quest 2 will also be compatible with Oculus Link, which allows users to connect the device to a PC via a USB-C cable for more VR games.

The new virtual reality product is seemingly set for launch this month, with two live demonstrations of the headset set for 16 September and 17 September.

It is not yet known how much the headset will cost, but an erroneously uploaded Walmart listing claimed that its 256GB version would cost $399 (approximately £300).

Oculus users could previously use the headsets without linking them to their Facebook accounts, but this is no longer the case

The company will soon require all users to sign in with their Facebook account, making it compulsory from 2023.

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