Last Updated:
When it comes to self-contained, all-in-one, out-of-the-box functional VR headsets, Meta Quest 2 vs PSVR is the question you’ll have to ask yourself.
Yes, you can get a more comprehensive, immersive, and realistic experience from a full-on setup with motion-tracking cameras, body position trackers, and all that other stuff.
However, at that point, the cost grows huge and it’s simply not attainable for the majority of people. This means that it comes down to the Meta Quest 2 vs PSVR when you’re trying to pick up a new VR headset. Let’s see how these two great headsets compare.
READ MORE: Meta Quest 3 release date
Refresh rate
Both the Meta Quest 2 and PSVR have a native maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. However, just because the screens are capable of this refresh rate, doesn’t mean that every game runs at this speed. Unfortunately, it’s a bit more complicated than that.
The Meta Quest 2 only became capable of 120Hz after receiving the v28 software update in June of 2021, and many of its games still struggle to reach that threshold.
The PSVR by comparison relies on the power of the PS4 or PS5 console to drive the games. This means that the refresh rate of the game in question will scale with which console you’ve got. IF you’re using it with a PS5, you get higher refresh rates than you would with the PS4.
Resolution
The Meta Quest 2 vs PSVR battle gets a little simpler when it comes to resolution as there is a clear winner, making our job easier.
The PSVR has a resolution of 960 x 1080 per eye, whereas the Meta Quest 2 has a resolution of 1832 x 1920 per eye. Given that a higher resolution means a crisper and more defined image, the Meta Quest 2 wins this round.
This isn’t to say that the PSVR has a bad resolution, but for the sake of comparing the two, the Meta Quest 2 has an objectively better resolution.
FOV (Field of view)
FOV refers to how much of the image, in this case, the game world, that the user can see at any one time. Humans typically have a FOV of around 114 degrees. As the purpose of VR is to increase immersion and realism, the closer the headset can get to this value, the better.
According to various outlets, the Meta Quest 2 has a FOV of 89 degrees (+/- 4 degrees). Which is significantly less than the PSVR’s 100-degree field of view. This means that the PSVR has a closer field of view to the natural human eyes, making its experience closer to reality.
It’s worth noting here that you can adjust the FOV in-game, but this doesn’t change the actual maximum that the hardware is capable of. Instead, it sort of stretches the image to fit more within your view, albeit in a warped sort of way.
Comfort
VR headsets are heavy, there’s no getting around that fact. Additionally, most of the weight is at the front where the screens are, which means that a robust strap/mounting system is of utmost importance.
Annoyingly, this is one of those criteria that are so subjective that it’s almost not even worth talking about, but we’ll give you our insight anyway.
The Meta Quest 2 weighs in at 503g, compared to the 600g PSVR. This is unfortunate for the PSVR, as it has a less comprehensive mounting system with a less adjustable strap too.
Overall, the extra weight combined with the ergonomically unideal strap means that the PSVR loses this round.
Price
The Meta Quest 2 and PSVR both cost the same at ~$300. You’d think this would make this round a draw. However, we consider the Meta Quest 2 to be a superior value for money proposition as it can operate independently.
This contrasts with the PSVR as you need to have a PS4 or PS5 console for it to work, which can add between $300 – $500 to the price. When you factor this in, the Meta Quest 2 wins by a wide margin.
