If you’ve decided to buy the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset, the next decision you need to make is whether to opt for the 64GB ($299/£299) version, or the larger 256GB ($399/£399) version. A decision made tougher by the fact that there is no way to increase storage later. Neither model comes with a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
Both variants support the same features and have access to the same library of games. The only difference is the amount of storage space available. A $100 premium for the larger model represents a 33% increase on its initial purchase price, but does it represent a valuable investment?
The Quest 2 only came out in October 2021, so don’t expect to find any discounts coming up anytime soon. Its owners, Facebook, have also recently confirmed that there are no plans to release a Quest 2 Pro, or even a Quest 3 anytime soon – at least not in 2021. So with development of the next generation still some way off, the longevity of the current model is strong. Expect your Quest 2 to be Oculus’ flagship model until at least mid 2022.
At $299 the 64GB represents huge value for gamers and VR enthusiasts alike to get into the world of virtual reality at a relatively low price point. As a standalone unit you are good to go straight from unboxing, there’s no need for a high end PC here.
Size matters
You’ve probably noticed many times before that the advertised storage capacity of a device doesn’t accurately reflect the amount of storage space that is actually available for you to store your new games and apps on. The pre-installed software and firmware comes in at around 11Gb (11.3GB, to be exact). Meaning our 64GB model is actually closer to 53GB and the 256GB model down to around 245GB. Future updates may be even larger.
With the ever increasing size of many new Quest games it makes sense to get the largest storage size you can afford. The average game is about 2GB, obviously varying game to game. This means that the smaller 64GB model will store about 25 average sized games, factoring in the firmware. Some of the newer games; The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners (12GB), Myst (9.5GB), Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge (5.7GB) are going to fill this space up pretty quickly.
Gamers looking to purchase some of these newer, much larger games, will likely begin to run out of room after installing fewer than just 10 Quest games on the 64GB model Quest 2 before running out of space. Most games are still under 3GB, but they are getting bigger.
Don’t forget to factor in game saves too. Oculus doesn’t partition save files, nor does it require developers to save users’ data in the cloud. So while a game may take up 2GB in storage, the save files for that game will run into 000s of MB too. If you run your Quest at full capacity, you may find yourself in a game but unable to save due to insufficient storage space.
Price/value
There is no doubting that the Quest 2 64GB is very attractive at $299/£299 – especially as adding Oculus Quest 2 accessories into the equation soon mounts up. The fact that you cant expand the storage capacity of the Quest 2 however, means there’s no way to solve a low storage problem. That is, without deleting content. This is more of an inconvenience than a problem, except for when the game we have to remove doesn’t support cloud saving. Deleting a game from the Quest 2 without it also deletes the save data, meaning if you reinstall the game later on, you have to start fresh.
If you’re someone who sticks to a small library of apps then this might not be an issue. But if you’re someone who likes to try a lot of games then you’ll find yourself spending a lot of time deleting and reinstalling games – not to mention having to go through the tutorials again (as some wont let you skip). Is $100 worth the extra time you’ll be spending doing that?
One big reason to consider the 256GB Quest 2 over the smaller 64GB model is that your games can sit there indefinitely, waiting for you to play them again.
That being said, less internal storage isn’t a concern for any gamer who will primarily be using their Quest 2 to play SteamVR. Since these games are stored on the PC rather than the headset, storage isn’t a problem. If you are going to play PC VR much more than you will be using the Quest as a wireless headset, then the $100 saving makes sense for you.
Oculus Quest 2 64GB vs Oculus Quest 2 256GB: What’s the difference?
Regardless whether you opt for the 64GB or 256GB Quest 2, the headsets will have the same level of graphics, operating system, Quest 2 game library, and other features. The form factor is also exactly the same too. The 256GB model is no larger in the physical sense, so it will work with the same Quest 2 accessories. They’re also only available in the same color – white. The only difference is the amount of storage available and obviously, the price.
Oculus Quest 2 64GB vs Oculus Quest 2 256GB: Multimedia
We’ve mentioned gaming, and while that may be the primary use for your Quest 2 device, you can store so much more than just videogames.
Custom content and media will likely take up some of your precious storage space too. If you plan to download films, TV shows or music to your Quest 2 (so you can watch them inside VR), you’ll need to factor this in too. Most people will only want to store the content if they plan on using the Quest 2 offline, in an area outside of an available internet connection (WIFI). Video, especially if its in 4k resolution, will take up several GB per file. A 64GB Quest 2 will fill up very quickly, while a 256GB Quest 2 will take quite a bit longer until it runs out of space. Fortunately, if you don’t need to store your videos on your device you can steam them on the many media apps, such as Netflix VR or Amazon VR.
Oculus Quest 2 64GB Best for: PC gamers and casual gamers
If you’re planning on using your Quest 2 primarily as a headset to play PC VR games on, then the amount of storage space you’ll need is less of a concern. The 64GB version is likely to be your best bet here. Since services such as SteamVR will mean games will be stored on your PC, you don’t need the storage space on the Quest. You will need a powerful PC though.
The benefit for PC VR gamers is that the Oculus Quest 2 is still a cheap headset to use for entry level PC VR gaming, compared to other headsets. You’ll also retain the option to go wireless if you want to game on the move. If you do buy the 64GB Quest 2 you could even buy the PC version of the game and store it on your PC. You wouldn’t need to store it on the headset itself, but you would be tethered. That is, unless you use an app like Virtual Desktop, or Oculus’ new Oculus Link capability.
To enjoy a good wireless experience with PC VR you will need to have a fast internet connection and a good Wi-Fi 6 router. Since you’ve saved $100/£100 by buying the smaller model, you can put it towards a new router as it will make the biggest difference in the quality of the connection.
With all that said, if you are just looking to get into the VR gaming at a low price point, the Oculus Quest 2 64GB is a still good choice. If you upgrade your strap and maybe buy a battery pack too, it can start getting expensive. Plus with a smaller capacity, you will likely spend less of your cash on games you don’t play often.
Oculus Quest 2 64GB vs Oculus Quest 2 256GB: Everyone else
If you want to have a truly wireless experience that the Quest 2 was made for, then you should choose the 256GB Quest 2 if you have to money. The original Quest maxed out at 128GB, which even then wasn’t enough for some people, so its nice to see Facebook respond with a higher storage option this time around. The decision would be much harder here if the choice was 128GB or 256GB though.
If you’re also someone who like to record a lot of gameplay videos, to show friends or upload to YouTube, you’ll be grateful of the additional space. Likewise, if you travel a lot, you may want to store more content on your Quest 2 so you can take it with you.
Not many people say that they regret buying the bigger model, but people do often regret buying the smaller one. The laborious task of deleting games to make room for new ones, only to have to reinstall them later to play again, outweighs the cost of the additional storage. The exclusion of any kind of expandable memory option is a sticking point for many.