VR’s popularity started picking up with the release of the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Those headsets had to be connected to a computer, so potential buyers are wondering if the Oculus Quest 2 needs a PC to play games as well. The answer to that question is actually more complicated than expected.
Does the Oculus Quest 2 need to be connected to a computer?
The Oculus Quest 2 is a standalone device. So, unlike the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive series of headsets, it doesn’t require a PC. The only other device users need is a smartphone, but that’s only really needed when users turn it on for the first time.
The Quest 2 has an internal Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 System on a Chip inside of it which comes with 6 GB of RAM and an Adreno 650 GPU, which is enough to power an impressive array of games. Players can download games and apps designed specifically for the Oculus Quest 2 via the Oculus Store, or by sideloading, and these are run entirely on the headset.
However, even though the Oculus Quest 2 doesn’t need to be connected to a PC to run games and apps, it doesn’t mean you’re not able to do so. The Quest 2 can be used as a fully-featured PC VR headset through the Oculus Link function. Users can connect the headset to a computer via a USB-C cable (or USB-A to USB-C) or through Wi-Fi and play games from Steam and the PC version of the Oculus Store. Games played through Oculus Link on a high-end PC are often superior to the native Quest 2 versions, and all the functionality, including inside-out tracking, works flawlessly.
The Oculus Rift 2 is one of the most versatile VR headsets to date. Whether players plan to use it on its own or connected to a PC, it’s our current recommended HMD.
