Following months of rumors, speculation, and various reports, Oculus finally announced this week that it will officially be releasing a second model of its highly-popular Quest VR unit. The appropriately-named Oculus Quest 2 is set to release next month and by all accounts, it looks like it could be drastically shaking up the entire virtual reality space once again. With a new look, increased specs, and a litany of new games coming to the platform, Oculus Quest 2 is poised to be the headset that many first looking to get into VR will likely have their eye on.
While a wide range of prospective VR purchasers may be looking to snag the Oculus Quest 2 for themselves though, there is one set of people in particular really need to give this headset a second look: fitness enthusiasts. And yeah, look, of course, we would say that since we’re the VR-dedicated fitness website. But if you have honestly been considering diving into the world of virtual workouts (or are looking for an upgrade to your current experience), the Oculus Quest 2 might be the new best option that is available.
Here are six reasons why we think the latest Oculus headset could be well worth your time and money purely to help keep yourself active.
Upgraded Specs
Perhaps the most noteworthy improvement that the Oculus Quest 2 has received compared to the iteration that came before it comes with how the overall specs of the headset have been improved. The Quest 2 now boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor which should allow applications to run better than they have previously. In addition, Oculus Quest 2 now boasts a higher resolution, with each eye lens receiving a 50% increase in pixel resolution. Given that one of the biggest downsides of the previous Quest is that it sometimes didn’t show off games at the highest fidelity (especially when compared to other VR headsets on the market), this improvement is perhaps one of the most sizable.
Speaking of size though, for those who are looking to utilize the Oculus Quest 2 for the purpose of working out, it’s worth noting that this new revision is also lighter. While it’s only 10% less hefty than the previous version, Oculus has still found a way to knock down its overall weight, which is great news for anyone planning to be quite active while wearing it. For anyone who already uses VR devices quite often, they’ll tell you that the less weight there is to the headset, the more intense your workouts typically are. That added weight just makes you sweatier and makes you fatigued more quickly, after all. Even if a 10% reduction in heaviness isn’t much, it’s still impressive that Oculus has continued to be able to shrink things even more.
And hey, if you’re someone who likes white devices rather than black ones, the Oculus Quest 2 comes in the former color. It’s not going to help you burn any additional calories, but I do have to admit that I find this color sleeker.
No Tether
Far and away the best quality of the original Oculus Quest is that it didn’t need any supporting platforms or wires in order to be able to be utilized. No need to connect to a PC or console, no need to set up cameras, and no need to place headphones around your ears — you could just strap it on and start playing. Fortunately, and surely as expected, that stays true with the Oculus Quest 2.
The newest take on the Quest remains totally wire-free and can be played anywhere, as long as it holds a charge. This means that for anyone looking to take the Quest 2 on the go or are simply looking to vary the places in their home space in which you can utilize it, you can still do exactly that.
As current Quest owners will surely evangelize about, the fact that no wires are needed makes working out with the VR headset so much easier. As someone who comes from a background of primarily using virtual reality platforms that are wired, it can get annoying very quickly. Being free of any surrounding wires at your feet allows you to focus so much more on your own exercises rather than subconsciously worrying that you’ll trip over something below you.
That being said, the Quest 2 also still allows you to connect to a PC if you so desire, too. The Oculus Link is still compatible with the Quest 2 and allows you to plug-in to your personal computing device to play certain games that you normally wouldn’t be able to play natively on the headset alone.
It’s also worth noting that the Guardian system that was previously able to be utilized with both the Rift S and the original Quest will still be compatible here with the Quest 2. So if you need to set up your own specific play area to ensure that you won’t begin to stray too far while being active, the Guardian system has got your back.
All in all, the Quest’s best quality, especially for those looking to use it on a daily basis to burn some calories, has transitioned over to the follow-up device, which is a godsend.
Added Fitness Accessories and Apps
Even though the current Oculus Quest is already well-suited to cater to those using it for fitness purposes, the Quest 2 looks to be doubling down on this area greatly. Oculus has announced that a number of new accessories and apps will be available when the Quest 2 releases later this year.
Likely the most notable of these new additions is that of Oculus Move. Announced this week alongside the new iteration of the Quest, Move will track your movement that occurs when you are playing games in VR. The system will give you feedback on your daily performance in addition to allowing you to set new goals and track them across various games that you might utilize. Move’s integration is meant to be seamless as well, meaning that you shouldn’t get too bogged down by endless submenus that will rip you out of your active gaming experience.
While Move is likely the biggest addition that will be coming to the Quest 2, Oculus is releasing a number of supporting products, too. The Oculus Quest 2 Fit Pack will be available alongside the launch of the headset next month and will include two different “facial interfaces” that are molded differently depending on what type of shape your face has. Each is also made out of foam materials that are a bit more breathable than normal, meaning that your headset shouldn’t get as sweaty when playing. The Quest 2 Fit Pack will retail for only $39 as well, which isn’t too shabby.
Third-party manufacturers such as VR Cover are already working on new foam replacement and facial devices for the Quest 2 as well. While no such release date has been announced yet, some of the latest improvements that VR Cover is looking to make to the design for its Quest 2 interface includes removable nose guard pieces and air vents on the inside layer.
Elite Strap For Active Users
While technically just another supporting accessory for the headset, the Elite Strap for the Oculus Quest 2 might be a must-buy item for anyone who uses the device quite often. One of the bigger complaints with the original Quest is that the platform’s native head strap wasn’t very snug and could often come loose after mere minutes of play — especially for those of us who hop, run, and make all kinds of other drastic movements on a regular basis. Luckily, the Elite Strap can eliminate these lingering problems.
For an additional $49, the Elite Strap improves not only the overall comfort of the Quest 2 when placed on your head, but it ensures that you can keep your balance as well. The device is meant to offset, to a certain degree, the front-side-dominant heaviness of the Quest 2 meaning that you won’t feel off-center when playing any longer. Considering how often those of us who utilize VR headsets like the Quest will be moving about while playing, ensuring that the equipment isn’t moving about constantly if quite important.
And if you’re looking to break the bank open a bit more, a second iteration of the Elite Strap is also available and comes with an additional battery. Retailing for $129, this version of the Elite Strap is said to nearly double the playtime in which you can utilize the Quest before needing to recharge it. If you know that you’re going to be away from home (or a power outlet) for long periods of time and you’re committed to getting in your workout for the day, this might be beneficial to you. Oh, and this version of the Elite Strap comes with a carrying case, too.
While yes, it does cost more money on top of the Quest 2 itself, this is one additional product that VR fitness users will want to take a careful look at. Even though there have been third-party contraptions like this on the market for quite some time, the Elite Strap comes straight from Oculus and looks as though it could be the best fix to help counter the Quest 2’s front-heavy nature and make it a more stable headset overall.
Games Library is Expanding Greatly
While Oculus might be knocking it out of the park with the design of the Quest 2 itself, the whole headset is somewhat moot unless there are great games to play on it. Fortunately, Oculus Quest 2 won’t be lacking in the games department for quite some time.
Here’s an extensive list of some of the new titles that Oculus has already announced that it is looking to make available on the Quest 2 in the future:
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
- Sniper Elite VR
- Myst
- Jurassic World Aftermath
- The Climb 2
- Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge
- Warhammer 40,000 Battle Sister
- Pistol Whip: 2089
- Population: One
As you can see, Oculus Quest won’t have any shortage of new games in the future. Not to mention, this slate above doesn’t even include new updates and content for existing fitness-focused games on the Quest such as:
- Beat Saber
- FitXR
- Supernatural
- Audio Trip
- Thrill of the Fight
- Knockout League
- Creed: Rise to Glory
- Ninja Legends
- Sword of Gargantua
- Vader Immortal
- Elven Assassin
- Pistol Whip
- Space Pirate Trainer
- Robo Recall
- Superhot
- Racket NX
- Sports Scramble
- Racket Fury
- Synth Riders
- Dance Central
- VZFit Play and VZFit Explorer
- Journey to the Gods
- Rec Room
- Apex Construct
If you’re someone who likes to vary which titles you play on a daily basis when working out, the Oculus Quest 2 is set to see its gaming collection growing even larger in the months and years ahead.
Low Price Seals the Deal
Last, but certainly not least, it’s really hard to beat the price point that Oculus has set for the Quest 2. The standard 64GB model of the Oculus Quest 2 will only retail for the insanely low price of $299, which is asinine for a VR headset. Conversely, the 256GB model will still retail for only $100 more at $399.
There’s no denying whatsoever that the virtual reality space is somewhat of an expensive one to integrate yourself in, but the way in which the Quest 2 undercuts a large portion of the market at this point is pretty wild. Popular competitors of the Quest such as the HTC Vive, Valve Index, and PlayStation VR all retail anywhere between $349 and $1000 depending on what you’re looking for. And even then, all of these devices need supporting platforms (PC, PS4, etc.) in order to even work.
Even compared to other fitness alternatives, the Oculus Quest 2 ends up being pretty darn cheap by comparison. Home workout equipment like stationary bikes, treadmills, or even free weights can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on what you’re buying and they typically only allow you to do very specific workouts. And even compared to the cost of going to the gym, that’s a fee that most have to pay in perpetuity every single month in order to be able to continue using the facility.
While yes, you will likely continue pouring money into the Oculus Quest 2 over the years as you purchase new games or subscribe to new services, this $299 point of entry is crazy low and shouldn’t be overlooked whatsoever. Not to mention, working out in VR is far more fun than any other way in which you could look to stay in shape, so the higher upfront cost is surely worth it.
By all accounts, the Quest 2 seems like a fantastic device and that looks to be doubly true for those of us in the VR fitness space. If you haven’t already made the Quest your go-to VR headset for all things associated with your physical health, the Quest 2 seems like the perfect time to take that plunge.
The Oculus Quest 2 will begin shipping out next month on October 13. If you’re interested in purchasing one of the devices right now, you can currently do so on the Oculus website.
