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Getting torn to shreds in the Ars Technica review: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/09/review-we-do-not-recommend-the-299-oculus-quest-2-as-your-next-vr-syst

Getting torn to shreds in the Ars Technica review: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/09/review-we-do-not-recommend-the-299-oculus-quest-2-as-your-next-vr-system/ https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/09/review-we-do-not-reco... Even excluding the hard requirement on a Facebook account it seems there were a lot of compromises made to get the price down.

Jonanin 6y ago
There is something odd about this Ars review. It’s not the normal high quality review I expect from them. There is a lot of subjectivity and plain wrong things stated (like less IR sensors in the controller). The only legit criticisms I picked up are the IPD adjustment and the FB requirement.
- theptip 6y ago
  Plus the worse head strap and subjectively worse controller responsivity, though seems like some confusion on what is actually different vs. the gen 1 controllers. If it’s a lower refresh rate and Beat Saber plays worse, that’s a big deal. As you say it’s a subjective analysis so I’ll be looking for others to corroborate or clarify that point.
  - ilaksh 6y ago
    I asked Norm from Tested in his post-review AMA today if he also felt the tracking was worse in the Quest 2 and he said he did not feel that way. In the AMA he also said that the refresh rate was the same but had the option to go to 90 hz if developers programmer for it and the option was on.
- knodi123 6y ago
  They clarified the IR thing was something they were told, but which they later tested and found not to be the case. /shrug
rubicon33 6y ago
This review strikes me as weirdly biased. There's a TON to love about this headset. And the price point is simply amazing. Feels to me like the author had an axe to grind.
- Judgmentality 6y ago
  > There's a TON to love about this headset. And the price point is simply amazing. Like what? Genuinely asking - I've not tried it. I read that review though and while it certainly came across as negative he brought up a LOT of huge negatives (enough that I would never consider it) - but I'm still happy to hear what you like about it!
  - _iyig 6y ago
    1.5x the RAM and pixel count compared to the original Quest, for one. edit: and the 90Hz refresh rate upgrade from the first Quest’s 72Hz is nothing to sneeze at. Very perceptible immersion upgrade for many.
    - Judgmentality 6y ago
      Except the original had 2 screens and the new one has 1 screen - it seems like a questionable compromise (at least the Ars reviewer certainly hated it). But again, I've not tried it.
  - theptip 6y ago
    Better cpu and more pixels per eye would be the improvements that stood out to me. (Lack of display-per-eye might net out to neutral or even negative on the display though, especially if your IPD is not in one of the sweet spots).
    - seanmcdirmid 6y ago
      Also the display moved from OLED to LCD, which is going make darker scenes a bit harder. Wonder if they will move the UI to a lighter scheme to compensate?
fomine3 6y ago
It seems that ars' review is very biased to be bad compared to other reviews.
lancewiggs 6y ago
It's odd to the point of deliberate that the press release does not mention Facebook at all. If they truly believe it is a benefit then it would be mentioned. Rather we can infer that Occulus understands the issues with the hardline on Facebook login, and wish to avoid more backlash.
- exciteabletom 6y ago
  It does mention it on the product page[0] though. >Quest 2 requires your Facebook account to log in, making it easy to meet up with friends in VR and discover communities around the world. You can explore as yourself or choose a new name by creating a unique VR profile. [0] https://www.oculus.com/quest-2/ https://www.oculus.com/quest-2/
dayaz36 6y ago
Great review! As soon as I saw the price reduction I knew there were going to be huge compromises. Looks like I'll be sitting this one out. If FB want's to be the leader in VR, they need to get back to their roots the original Oculus team strived for - QUALITY.
adjkant 6y ago
> Even worse, if someone "near" you in an official Facebook VR space blocks or reports a user, even if you're just minding your own business, your behavior (including motions and speech) may be tracked by these same silent, invisible Facebook moderators. That data can be stored on Facebook's servers indefinitely without you being notified. Yikes
- cma 6y ago
  If you are mean in the wrong way in moment of passion after missing a putt in a game of minigolf in Facebook Horizons, your Facebook small-business page may be shut down. For many people this could remove their livelihood entirely. China's social credit system will need to keep pace or be horribly left behind.
  - TeMPOraL 6y ago
    Gotta love the XXI century. Here I thought Google was the most ridiculous: if you post too many emojis on a YouTube livestream, you'll lose access to GMail, Google Drive, and all other services that are quite likely running your digital life and are important for your livelihood.
  - neuronic 6y ago
    The answer is to stop relying on single large corporations for entire sections of your life without having alternatives present. This is incredibly fitting for r/ABoringDystopia.

Jonanin 6y ago

There is something odd about this Ars review. It’s not the normal high quality review I expect from them. There is a lot of subjectivity and plain wrong things stated (like less IR sensors in the controller). The only legit criticisms I picked up are the IPD adjustment and the FB requirement.

theptip 6y ago
Plus the worse head strap and subjectively worse controller responsivity, though seems like some confusion on what is actually different vs. the gen 1 controllers. If it’s a lower refresh rate and Beat Saber plays worse, that’s a big deal. As you say it’s a subjective analysis so I’ll be looking for others to corroborate or clarify that point.
- ilaksh 6y ago
  I asked Norm from Tested in his post-review AMA today if he also felt the tracking was worse in the Quest 2 and he said he did not feel that way. In the AMA he also said that the refresh rate was the same but had the option to go to 90 hz if developers programmer for it and the option was on.
knodi123 6y ago
They clarified the IR thing was something they were told, but which they later tested and found not to be the case. /shrug

rubicon33 6y ago

This review strikes me as weirdly biased. There's a TON to love about this headset. And the price point is simply amazing. Feels to me like the author had an axe to grind.

Judgmentality 6y ago
> There's a TON to love about this headset. And the price point is simply amazing. Like what? Genuinely asking - I've not tried it. I read that review though and while it certainly came across as negative he brought up a LOT of huge negatives (enough that I would never consider it) - but I'm still happy to hear what you like about it!
- _iyig 6y ago
  1.5x the RAM and pixel count compared to the original Quest, for one. edit: and the 90Hz refresh rate upgrade from the first Quest’s 72Hz is nothing to sneeze at. Very perceptible immersion upgrade for many.
  - Judgmentality 6y ago
    Except the original had 2 screens and the new one has 1 screen - it seems like a questionable compromise (at least the Ars reviewer certainly hated it). But again, I've not tried it.
- theptip 6y ago
  Better cpu and more pixels per eye would be the improvements that stood out to me. (Lack of display-per-eye might net out to neutral or even negative on the display though, especially if your IPD is not in one of the sweet spots).
  - seanmcdirmid 6y ago
    Also the display moved from OLED to LCD, which is going make darker scenes a bit harder. Wonder if they will move the UI to a lighter scheme to compensate?

fomine3 6y ago

It seems that ars' review is very biased to be bad compared to other reviews.

lancewiggs 6y ago

It's odd to the point of deliberate that the press release does not mention Facebook at all. If they truly believe it is a benefit then it would be mentioned. Rather we can infer that Occulus understands the issues with the hardline on Facebook login, and wish to avoid more backlash.

exciteabletom 6y ago
It does mention it on the product page[0] though. >Quest 2 requires your Facebook account to log in, making it easy to meet up with friends in VR and discover communities around the world. You can explore as yourself or choose a new name by creating a unique VR profile. [0] https://www.oculus.com/quest-2/ https://www.oculus.com/quest-2/

dayaz36 6y ago

Great review! As soon as I saw the price reduction I knew there were going to be huge compromises. Looks like I'll be sitting this one out. If FB want's to be the leader in VR, they need to get back to their roots the original Oculus team strived for - QUALITY.

adjkant 6y ago

> Even worse, if someone "near" you in an official Facebook VR space blocks or reports a user, even if you're just minding your own business, your behavior (including motions and speech) may be tracked by these same silent, invisible Facebook moderators. That data can be stored on Facebook's servers indefinitely without you being notified. Yikes

cma 6y ago
If you are mean in the wrong way in moment of passion after missing a putt in a game of minigolf in Facebook Horizons, your Facebook small-business page may be shut down. For many people this could remove their livelihood entirely. China's social credit system will need to keep pace or be horribly left behind.
- TeMPOraL 6y ago
  Gotta love the XXI century. Here I thought Google was the most ridiculous: if you post too many emojis on a YouTube livestream, you'll lose access to GMail, Google Drive, and all other services that are quite likely running your digital life and are important for your livelihood.
- neuronic 6y ago
  The answer is to stop relying on single large corporations for entire sections of your life without having alternatives present. This is incredibly fitting for r/ABoringDystopia.