Oculus Quest 2 vs. Pico Neo 2: which VR Headset is better?

Looking back over the past few years, with especially PC VR glasses, such as HTC VIVE (Pro) and Oculus Rift (S), have dominated the VR landscape. However, there seems to be a shift in this preference. More and more users are looking for the convenience of Standalone VR glasses. After all, with Standalone glasses you no longer need an external PC and no external sensors. You simply put on the VR glasses and you can immediately get started in the virtual world.

At the end of 2018, the first 6 DOF consumer standalone Headset was announced: the Oculus Quest. These goggles proved to be a huge hit and have given Virtual Reality a huge boost. A second version of these VR glasses has now been developed; Oculus Quest 2.

However, there are currently even more VR glasses competing to become the best "6 DOF Standalone headset". There is also the Pico Neo 2 (and Pico Neo 2 Eye) available. These VR glasses may not be sold to Consumers, but are very specifically aimed at the business market. In this blog we will therefore focus on the differences between the Oculus Quest 2 and the Pico Neo 2 Headset.

Specifications

First we with start a comparison between the hardware specifications of the two VR glasses:

Oculus Quest 2

• Screen type: LCD
• Resolution: 1832 x 1920 per eye
• Refresh rate: 72 Hz
• Processor: Snapdragon XR2
• Field of view: 100 °
• Weight: 503 grams
• Platform: Oculus Store
• Streaming: via Oculus Link cable with PC
• Conditions: required login with Facebook account

Pico Neo 2

• Screen type: AMOLED
• Resolution: 1920 x 2160 per eye
• Refresh rate: 75 Hz
• Processor: Snapdragon 845
• Field of view: 101 °
• Weight: 350 gram
• Platform: Pico Store
• Streaming: Wi-Fi streaming with PC
• Conditions: no sale to Consumers

First impressions

The first thing you'll notice when you first set up the Pico Neo 2 is the improved comfort. The Oculus Quest 2 has (just like the Oculus Go) an elastic band that keeps the Headset in place. The Pico Neo 2 comes standard with with a sturdy halo strap and dial so you can tailor the Headset to exactly the right fit. The battery of the Pico Neo 2 is also built into the halo strap, so that the total weight is also well distributed and the Headset is comfortable (also for a longer period of time). With the Oculus Quest 2 it is also possible to add a halo strap and a battery, but these must be ordered separately.

Image resolution

The image resolution of both the Oculus Quest 2 and the Pico Neo 2 are simply very good. The built-in processors (Snapdragon 845 with Pico Neo 2, Snapdragon XR2 with Oculus Quest 2) offer enough graphics power to display VR applications and content in a beautiful way. The graphics processor from Oculus Quest 2 appears to be somewhat stronger than the Snapdragon 845 used in the Pico Neo 2. You see this with particularly in demanding games such as Arizona Sunshine. The details, such as shadows, blood splatters and other things, look a little better on the X2. But this does not mean that the Snapdragon 845 also does a good job. In less demanding applications, such as Beat Saber or a self-developed training, you hardly notice a difference in the image resolution.

Controllers

Because the Controllers of the Oculus Rift S and the Oculus Quest are the same, many people are now familiar with with this design. The Quest Touch controllers are comfortable to hold and easy to use. But one of the drawbacks of these Controller is that, especially if you have no experience with VR, the Controllers are not very intuitive. For many new users it is difficult to keep their fingers in the right places and thus press the right buttons (think of the trigger on the side with which you can grab something). Pico Neo 2 therefore has a somewhat simpler design in mind. The Controllers have a straight shape and grip a lot more naturally. An additional advantage is that the Controllers of Pico Neo 2 can be charged via a USB-C cable, while the Oculus touch Controllers work on batteries. The disadvantage of the Pico Neo 2 controllers is that a lot less accessories, such as protective covers and docking stations, are suitable for it.

Characteristics

One of the main features of Pico Neo 2 is that it is designed for business users. In fact, Pico Interactive, the company behind Pico Neo 2, only offers the Headset for business users - and not for Consumers. You see this with name in two things: the face mask and the standard VR content. The Oculus Quest 2 has a much lower purchase price (already available from €349) and is specifically aimed at Consumers. Oculus does offer the option of concluding an "Oculus for Business" agreement, which allows companies and organizations to use the Headset in a business or commercial environment.

Pico Neo 2 comes standard with with a PU leather face mask. This mask is easy to wipe with with a cloth and therefore with you can switch between different users with peace of mind. Oculus Quest 2 comes standard with with a foam face mask. Although it is comfortable, it is more difficult to keep clean and you notice that sweat starts to absorb more quickly. Fortunately, there are plenty of accessories available to use the Quest 2 hygienically, such as a cotton or silicone mask.

Another important difference between Oculus Quest 2 and Pico Neo 2 is the software that is offered as standard. The Oculus Store is now full of with the best and newest VR games you can play. The Pico Store, on the other hand, looks very empty and deserted. Here the difference between the business product and Consumers product becomes clear: the "empty" Pico Store offers a lot of possibilities for using your own VR content and applications, and the overcrowded Oculus Store leaves little room for this. In addition, with Oculus Quest 2 it is mandatory to to log in with a Facebook account.

So which Standalone VR goggles are the best?

There is an easy answer to this question: are you a consumer? Then it is best to choose the standard Oculus Quest 2. The wide range of VR games, the powerful graphics processor to play games on, and the relatively low purchase price make the Oculus Quest 2 very attractive VR glasses for anyone who wants to gain a first VR experience or upgrade their current VR headset.

But are you a company and do you want to use the VR glasses for business or commercial applications? Then you with fit both glasses well. You can then choose to purchase the Oculus Quest 2 for Business variant, or to use the Pico Neo 2. Both VR glasses are a good choice - however, the Quest 2-for business feels just a bit better and more familiar because of the extensive software options.