Pico Neo 4 vs Meta Quest 2

But does the Pico Neo 4 possess the right specifications to become a real competitor to Meta? And perhaps more importantly, how does the software and games of Pico measure up? In this blog, we outline the similarities and differences between the Pico Neo 4 and the Meta Quest 2 and provide advice on the best VR headset.

On paper, the specifications of the Pico Neo 4 and the Meta Quest 2 appear very similar, but when the headsets are placed side by side, several differences become immediately apparent. For instance, the Pico Neo 4 is considerably smaller and slimmer than the Meta Quest 2. This is due to the unique lenses used in the Pico Neo 4. These so-called ‘pancake’ lenses take up less space than the fresnel lenses typically used in VR headsets. Thanks to this smaller form factor, the Pico Neo 4 looks considerably more streamlined than the Quest 2.

But that is not the only advantage the Pico Neo 4 holds over the Quest 2. The battery of the Pico Neo 4 is cleverly concealed at the back of the headset's strap. This design distributes the weight of the headset more evenly across the entire strap, reducing pressure on the face. In comparison, the Quest 2 can sometimes feel ‘top-heavy’, and users may notice red marks on their faces after removing the headset. With the Pico Neo 4, this is less likely to be an issue. Additionally, the overall weight of the headset makes a significant difference. The Meta Quest 2 weighs 470 grams (without the strap), while the Pico Neo 4 weighs only 295 grams (without the strap).

The Quest 2 has a display resolution of 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye, features one LCD screen, and utilises Fresnel lenses. The Pico Neo 4 boasts a resolution of 2160 x 2160 pixels per eye, comes with two LCD screens, and uses pancake lenses. As previously mentioned in this comparison, the pancake lenses of the Pico Neo 4 take up less space than the Fresnel lenses used in the Quest 2. Additionally, the Pico Neo 4 has a higher display resolution than the Quest 2.

Meta does not provide an official number of degrees for the field of view for the Quest 2, but it is generally measured at around 98 degrees. Pico states that the field of view of the Pico Neo 4 is 105 degrees. This means that you can see just a little more in your sight with the Pico than with the Quest 2, although the (approximately) 5-degree difference will not make a significant difference in practice.

Besides the different designs of the headsets, the Pico Neo 4 also features a new type of controller. While the controllers of the Quest 2 have a design that we are already familiar with, Pico has developed controllers whose appearance resembles a combination of the Quest and Valve Index controllers. These 'knuckle style' controllers have a sort of strap around the hands, ensuring better tracking of the hands and fingers. Additionally, the controllers are designed in such a way that they can come close to each other without any issues. Many VR controllers (including those of the Quest 2 and HP Reverb G2) have the problem that when the controllers are too close to each other, the tops of the controllers touch. Due to the smart new design, you are less likely to experience this issue with the Pico Neo 4 controllers.

A downside to these new types of controllers is that there are still relatively few accessories available for them. Because the Quest 2 controllers have been around for a longer period, there are many cases and other handy accessories available for them. But who knows, new accessories for the Pico Neo 4 controllers might soon be introduced - and naturally, they will be available at Unbound XR!

Passthrough enables you to look through the front cameras of the headset, allowing you to see the real physical environment around you. As a user, you can view your actual surroundings. This feature is primarily used when you want to set up your play area, but it is also very handy when you need to briefly return to the 'real world'. The Quest 2 is equipped with a grey-scale passthrough camera. This means that the image you see through the cameras is displayed in black and grey. If you intend to use this passthrough only for setting up the space, this is not an issue, but for other purposes, it is nice to have some colour. The passthrough cameras of the Pico Neo 4 do have colour this time. Although the quality of the cameras is not yet at the level of 'human eye resolution' (like the Varjo XR-3, for example), it is still a significant improvement over the Quest 2.

The Pico 4 comes standard with a reinforced head strap and a battery located at the back of the headset. The Quest 2, as many are aware, comes standard with an elastic strap, and you can optionally order an Elite strap (with or without a battery). However, the new design of the Pico 4 does have some criticisms and points for consideration.

• If your IPD is less than 62mm, the lenses will press against your nose, which can become quite uncomfortable.
• The optical system is mediocre, and there are performance issues because the Pico 4 renders more pixels with the same XR2 chip as the Pico 3.
• Positional tracking is still not up to par, which was already an issue with the Pico 2 and 3. Users even recommend waiting for software updates if you are sensitive to tracking quality, as these may hopefully resolve the issue in the future.
• Users have also reported experiencing motion sickness. This is likely related to issues with performance and tracking.

The Quest 2 also has its issues, largely due to its weight. The headset may droop on your forehead as a result. If you tighten the headstrap to counter this, there's a risk of getting headaches during prolonged use. Nevertheless, there are many accessories available for the Quest 2, making the headset very comfortable. Check out the Meta Quest 2 accessories.

The built-in processor in both headsets is the same. Both the Quest 2 and Pico Neo 4 use the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 (this chip is also used in the VIVE Focus 3). The Snapdragon XR2 is a powerful processor that enables high-quality gameplay for many games. Another crucial aspect of any game console is the availability of games. Meta has developed its own Oculus app store that features a wide range of VR games and applications. Previously, this was the major drawback of Pico: because they offered relatively few games themselves, it was not a logical choice for consumers to opt for Pico (business users can load their own applications). But fortunately, the Pico Neo 4 changes this. The game-bibliotheek has been significantly expanded and now offers almost as many games as Oculus (including some exclusive VR titles, such asJust Dance VR).

With the Meta Quest 2, it is possible to connect the headset to a computer using an Oculus Link cable and take advantage of the computer's power and games. With the Pico Neo 4, it is not possible to use an external cable. Pico relies entirely on wireless PC VR streaming. Therefore, with the Pico Neo 4, it is possible to use PC VR-games, but this will be somewhat less reliable compared to using the Quest 2 in combination with aOculus Link cabledoes.

The Pico Neo 4 and Meta Quest 2 are both excellent VR headsets. The best choice for you depends on your preferences and what you intend to use the headset for. The Quest 2 is available from €449 and the Pico Neo 4 is available from €429. The main difference between the headsets is that the Quest 2 can be connected to the PC with a cable. The Pico Neo 4 can only do this via WiFi streaming (which results in slightly lower image quality). Moreover, the Quest 2 currently boasts a much larger library with a wide selection of (exclusive) games, making the Quest 2 still the best choice for gamers. Finally, the Quest 2 is somewhat more comfortable to wear, better expandable with accessories, and leads to less nausea for sensitive users.