Facebook Oculus Quest 2 VR Headset Latest Edition Leaks With 2K Per Eye Res. 6GB RAM, Latest Snapdragon XR-2 SoC
Facebook has long been rumored to be developing an advanced version of the Oculus Quest Virtual Reality (VR) headset. The second edition of the Oculus Quest has now leaked and looking at the specifications, it is clear that Facebook is serious about making serious strides into the world of VR.
The Oculus Quest 2 was to be officially launched at the Facebook Connect event, which was previously named Oculus Connect. However, a series of videos have offered extensive details about specifications, features, and variants of the Oculus Quest 2 standalone VR headset. Incidentally, the videos appeared on Facebook’s own Blueprint website, which hints the social media giant might have intentionally offered the information.
Facebook Oculus Quest 2 Standalone VR Headset Specifications, Features:
The Facebook Blueprint website revealed promotional videos, internal specifications, and more of the Oculus Quest 2 standalone VR headset. Only the final retail price and release date of the VR headset isn’t revealed. Interestingly, the Oculus Quest 2 is described as a smaller and lighter headset compared to its best-selling predecessor. However, Facebook has significantly updated its internal specifications. The Oculus Quest 2 VR headset now rivals many mid-range Android smartphones in terms of hardware.
The Oculus Quest 2 VR headset will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon XR-2 chipset. This is supposed to be a huge improvement over the original Quest’s Snapdragon 835. Qualcomm promises double CPU and GPU performance, 11x faster AI processing, 6x video resolution support, and 4x video bandwidth while using the Snapdragon XR-2 SoC.
The Oculus Quest 2 packs 6GB of RAM and an ‘almost 4K’ display. In technical terms, this translates to ‘nearly 2K per eye’. This is about 50 percent more pixels compared to the original model. Needless to add, the Oculus Quest 2 will be the highest-resolution headset ever made by Oculus. Rumors indicate the new VR headset will be available in a few iterations with varying onboard storage. There could also be a 256GB version. However, it is quite likely that Facebook will price the 6GB/256GB of Oculus Quest 2 standalone VR headset at a high premium.
There’s no confirmation about wireless cellular or 4G/5G connectivity. Additionally, previous rumors claimed the display would have a 90Hz Refresh Rate. However, there’s no indication about either of the features.
Apart from the improved hardware, the Oculus Quest 2 is reportedly smaller and lighter and the controllers have been made more comfortable owing to significantly reworked and improved ergonomics. Facebook is still allowing Oculus Link. This allows Quest users to play Oculus Rift games after they’ve connected their headset to a gaming PC.
Facebook Oculus Quest 2 Standalone VR Headset Launch Date, Expected Price And Conditions:
The Oculus Quest 2 is likely to be officially unveiled during the upcoming Facebook Connect. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16th, 2020. Neither the videos nor Facebook has offered any indication about the expected retail price of the Oculus Quest 2 standalone VR headset. However, previous reports indicate an introductory price of $299. Experts claim the price $299 price is for the base 64GB model, while the premium 256GB storage model could cost $399.
The “2K per Eye” VR headset resolution might sound high, but in reality, any headset worn close to the eye will require higher resolution for a crisp and fluid image without pixelation. Still, one of the most popular VR games, the ‘Beat Sabre’, could be even more engaging and playable with the new VR headset.
Facebook recently announced that it will shutter independent Oculus accounts, and in the near future, will only allow players to use the VR headset if they first create a Facebook Account. Strangely, rumors indicate Facebook might insist creation of accounts with actual or real names. If the rumors are true, this could become a privacy issue.
