Virtual Reality headsets have become one of the most successful gaming peripherals of the last decade. With millions of units sold the last couple of years alone, they became a new and immersive way to play videogames.
When it comes to these headsets, there are two big types, standalone and PC powered.
PC powered headsets are connected directly to your computer. They rely on it for their power source and quite a bit of their computing power. The Rift S is probably the most well-known example of this type of headset.
Standalone headsets don´t require any additional hardware, for they can function on their own. Carrying an internal battery and processor, they don´t need external help to run VR apps. The most powerful of these platforms from Oculus is the Quest.
As a side note, the Quest can download the Oculus Link to enable it to connect to your PC. If so, it partially becomes a PC powered headset. However, it might not work as your computer needs to be up to the task, to find if it is, read our article here.
With that in mind, which is better for you? The Quest or the Rift S? Let´s find out:
Oculus Quest vs Oculus Rift S Infographic.
Conclusion
Both the Quest and the Rift S are good VR headsets. If you are looking for a great experience, they each have their fair share of great offerings.
You can get both these headsets for around 400 dollars, so, since the price isn´t the issue, which one should you buy?
For those who are only interested in VR mostly for gaming and already have a powerful PC, the Rift is an ideal choice, as it does have slightly better specs and it is specialized for playing video games.
The Quest is a jack of all trades. On its own, it can provide a pretty well-rounded VR experience, although it lacks the variety of games that the Rift has access to.
With the help of the Link, however, you can connect your Quest to your PC and give it access to everything the Rift could play, making it a much more versatile platform.
Which one do you think is better? Let me know in the comments. If you are interested, we also have an infographic comparing the Rift and the Go, the Quest and the Index, and the Rift and the PS VR.
2020 Update: As of October 2020, both these headsets are discontinued and you can only buy them secondhand. In addition, you will need to log-in with your Facebook account.
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