With the rise of virtual reality in the gaming world, more companies are producing their own versions of the headsets required to experience these games. However, not all virtual reality headsets are created equal, and some are better for certain people than others. Two of the most popular virtual reality headsets are the HTC Vive Pro 2 and the Oculus Quest 2. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages, and these can make the headset better or worse for you depending on your gaming needs. Today I’ll compare the HTC Vive vs Oculus Quest 2 to help you make the best choice.
The following article is an in depth comparison between the HTC Vive Pro 2 vs the Oculus Quest 2 / Meta Quest 2.
It will go over which headset is better overall, and why each individual headset is better for certain gaming and personal needs.
The VR Gaming Headset We Recommend
Our favorite all-in one Virtual Reality headset bundle is the Meta Quest 2 (formerly called the Oculus Quest 2).
Battle with friends, enjoy immersive live events, and exercise in exotic locations, all with the Quest 2 from Meta.
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Is Oculus Quest 2 Better Than The HTC Vive Pro 2?
This section of the article will analyze three different aspects of each of the headsets mentioned. The main differences of each one will be discussed, but both of these headsets are very popular and high quality.
Pros and Cons of The Oculus Quest 2
One advantage that the Oculus Quest 2 has is that it is significantly less expensive than the HTC Vive Pro 2.
The headset itself and everything that comes with it ranges from about 300 dollars to 570 dollars. The price depends on the size of the headset and where you purchase it from.
The Oculus Quest 2 comes in different data sizes, 128 gigabytes and 256 gigabytes. The smaller one is able to hold less game data, while the larger one can hold larger amounts of game data.
The option you choose will impact the price you pay here, so there’s really something for every budget, which is nice.
The entire Oculus Quest 2 set comes with:
- The headset
- A head strap
- A charging cable
- Two double A batteries
- A glasses spacer
- Two touch controllers
- Power adapter
Considering how many items you get along with the headset, the price of an Oculus Quest 2 is not too bad. When you also consider all of the features you get with the Oculus Quest 2, the price becomes even more of a bargain.
Feature Spotlight
Some of the features that set Oculus Quest 2 apart from the HTC Vive Pro 2 are the headset’s ability to translate your movements without controllers and the fact you can use the headset by itself without a PC.
The Oculus Quest 2 headset translates each move you make in the real world seamlessly into the virtual world. It’s ability to track where you are and what you’re doing in real time also helps you steer clear of any obstacles that could be in your environment, keeping you safe during gameplay. The Oculus Quest 2 can also translate your hand movements with and without controllers.
The controllers are designed to track each movement you make with your hands, so that each one appears in the game as realistically as possible.
The controllers also have a set of buttons that traditional gaming controllers have, so you can easily learn to play virtual reality games.
But the most unique feature of the Oculus Quest 2 is that you can play virtual reality games without having to use controllers at all.
The headset has a hand tracking feature that will track each movement that your hand snake and transport the movements into the game.
It allows you to pick up objects, navigate menus, and more without the need for a controller. To activate this feature, all you have to do is put the controllers down and turn on the hand tracking option in the settings menu.
Drawbacks to Note
Despite all of the features the headset has and its great price, the main con is that it doesn’t have any features that can help with eye exhaustion.
The Oculus Quest 2 only comes in one lens size, which can make wearing it for long periods of time difficult, especially for those with sensitive eyes.
Furthermore, it doesn’t have any features that allow you to adjust the visual settings. You can only adjust how clear the visuals are, but nothing else like how far the screen is.
Pros and Cons of the HTC Vive Pro 2
The HTC Vive Pro 2 is significantly more expensive. The headset alone costs about 800 dollars, while a full set costs about 1,400 dollars. The items you get in a full HTC Vive Pro 2 set include:
- The headset
- Audio cable
- Headphones
- Face cushion
- Cleaning cloth
- Power adapters for the controllers and headset
- 2 VIVE controllers
- Power adapters
- Mounting kit
Granted, you do get more in the HTC Vive Pro 2 set than in the Oculus Quest 2 set. But the difference in price also correlates to the features of the headset. Since the HTC Vive Pro 2 is more expensive, it stands to reason that it would have more features.
Feature Spotlight
A few of the key features it has include room scale tracking and ways to bring more of the real world into virtual reality. A room tracker is a feature where the headset is able to track the size of the room you’re playing in, and your movement in the room as you play.
In the world of virtual reality, this is an important feature that can keep you safe and prevent any injuries. The HTC Vive Pro 2 provides 360 degree consistent tracking of the real world and the virtual world, whether you’re standing or sitting while playing.
This allows you to see more of the virtual world while remaining safe in the real world.
A few of the visual features that the HTC Vive Pro 2 has are the ability to adjust IPD, high visual quality, and a 120 degree field of view.
IPD stands for interpupillary distance, or the amount of distance between your eyes and the headset screen. The closer the screen is to your eyes, the faster your eyes might get tired while playing.
Adjustability
Fortunately, the headset comes with a dial where you can adjust the distance between your eyes and the screen. This is meant to help minimize eye fatigue so that you can continue playing for longer periods of time.
Regardless of how far away the screen is from your eyes, the visuals on the HTC Vive Pro 2 are immaculate. At a refresh rate of 120HZ, the visuals won’t lag and will appear crystal clear no matter how fast you are moving through the world.
Lastly, the HTC Vive Pro offers one of the widest fields of vision in a virtual reality headset. Measuring at 120 degrees horizontally, the wide lens lets you see more of the virtual world and better aligns with the natural positioning of your eyes.
Drawback to Be Aware Of
The main con of the HTC Vive Pro 2 is how expensive it is. The price listed above also doesn’t include other features you can purchase, such as body tracking controllers and facial trackers.
But if you want a fully immersive virtual reality experience, then an HTC Vive Pro 2 and its features is the way to go.
Oculus Quest 2 Is Best For You If
The Oculus Quest 2 Headset is best for you if:
- You are on a budget
- You don’t have a PC to connect to
- You want to experience virtual reality without controllers
The Oculus Quest 2 headset is the best priced headset on the market. It will still give you a high quality virtual reality experience without breaking the bank, and you get all of the features outlined prior at no extra cost.
The Oculus Quest 2 also doesn’t require a PC (personal computer) to connect to. Some virtual reality headsets require you to have a PC set up with certain software that will help the graphics process efficiently.
But the graphics processor on the Oculus Quest 2 functions properly on its own, delivering high quality graphics that are comparable to the Xbox console.
There are no prior set up requirements that you need to complete to fully enjoy all that the Oculus Quest 2 has to offer.
Finally, the Oculus Quest 2 is the ideal headset for you if you want to experience virtual reality without having to use controllers.
The Oculus Quest 2 is the only virtual reality headset available with a controller free feature, where the headset itself tracks your hand movements and transfers them into the virtual world.
These and other features can make the Oculus Quest 2 the most ideal headset for your gaming needs.
HTC Vive Pro 2 Is Best For You If
The HTC Vive Pro 2 is best for you if:
- You want a fully immersive virtual reality experience
- You need adjustable visual settings
- You want to play virtual reality games wirelessly
The HTC Vive Pro headset offers a fully immersive experience with all of the extra gadgets and features you can get.
From trackers that record full body movements to facial recognition software that tracks each of your facial expressions, these features offer a fully immersive gaming experience.
However, it is worth noting that these features and gadgets cost extra, but they are well worth it if you’re looking to be fully immersed.
The HTC Vive Pro 2 also lets you adjust a significant amount of visual settings on the headset. This can be a vital feature if you suffer from vision issues but still want to play virtual reality games without your eyes getting tired.
The visuals are also very easy to adjust, with a dial on the side to bring the screen further or closer and a full menu that’s easy to navigate.
Lastly, the HTC Vive Pro is best for you if you want to play virtual reality games wirelessly. The headset does require a computer, but it can last for up to six hours unplugged if you want to play wirelessly.
Playing wirelessly can allow you to move around more without being confined to one space, making for a more realistic and comfortable experience.
If the heavy price tag doesn’t deter you, then the HTC Vive Pro 2 can be the best headset for your gaming needs.
Oculus Quest vs HTC Vive: Final Thoughts
Both of the headsets that were discussed in this article are very high quality and deliver immersive virtual reality gaming experiences.
You would get an immersive and entertaining experience if you chose either of them, but it’s still worth noting the specific features they each have to make the best decision for you and your gaming needs.
