Posted: 2024-05-15 04:00:00

The Apple Vision Pro shows promise, but its high price makes it inaccessible to many. Our current overall favorite VR system, the Meta Quest 2 is a much more affordable option. At $299 for the basic 128GB model, it's 10 times cheaper than the new Apple spatial computer. The Meta headset also comes with everything you need to travel into the world of virtual reality. To help you make the most of your headset, we've rounded up some of the best Quest 2 accessories, including floor mats, battery packs, head straps and more.

Below, you'll find our top picks for the best Meta Quest 2 accessories and bundles designed to offer you the most immersive VR experience. Most I've tried myself, including the Quest 2 Elite Strap, various carrying cases, a VR mat, wrist straps, prescription lenses, a sweat mask, weighted gloves, external battery packs and a generic Oculus Link VR cable version. A few selections are highly rated by buyers online. I'll add more accessories for your Quest 2 VR headset and update this list as I try them out.

Read more: Best VR Games and Experiences on Quest and Quest 2

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

If you're looking for a little protection for the Quest 2 head unit (yes, people have been known to drop them), a face cover will help. The Kiwi comes in translucent or black colors.

Best Buy

If you're looking for a more comfortable gaming experience, upgrading to an Elite Strap is the way to go. I initially bought a knockoff Esimen accessories bundle. That's all been fine, but I will say the official Elite Strap version is superior; it's not twice as good, but it's a bit of an upgrade over the knockoff. You just have to pay a premium for it. 

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

If you're hardcore about your VR gaming, you know that it's a bummer to have to stop gaming because your battery is dying. That's where a setup like the Bobovr M2 Plus Head Strap Twin Battery Combo comes in. You get a head strap plus two batteries and a docking station, so you can charge one battery while using the other. It's one of the best and most ergonomic Quest 2 external battery setups we've seen, and it's a good deal if you're looking to upgrade the stock Quest 2 head strap and also add some extra battery life.

The batteries dock and adhere magnetically to the back of the head strap and essentially double the battery life of the Quest 2. If you don't want the dock and second battery, you can buy the base Bobovr M2 rig for a little more than $50 (the batteries also charge via USB-C). 

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

This case is compatible with the Meta Quest Elite Strap as well as the Kiwi Design head strap, Bobovr M2 head strap M2 (see above) and other Bobovr head straps. I have another Esimen case that's missing the bulge on top and it's held up well over time. This case is one of the few case options for those that buy the Kiwi or Bobovr head straps.

FramesDirect

You can certainly play with the Quest 2 while wearing glasses, but it is more comfortable without. That's where a set of prescription lens inserts comes in.

Oculus has partnered with FramesDirect to provide such Rx inserts, with prices starting at $80 for the VirtuClear inserts. There are other Oculus VR Rx lens inserts out there, including ones from VR Lens Lab and WidmoVR, but I've only tried the VirtuClear lenses. They work well and are easy enough to remove so someone who doesn't require glasses can play. 

Meta

There are plenty of carrying cases for the Quest 2 that cost around $25 and are quite decent, but the Oculus-branded version is arguably the best. It's protective, relatively lightweight and sleek-looking. The only drawback is its cost, which is around $60, although you can sometimes find it on sale for less. 

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to the official Meta Quest 2 Carrying Case, the Syntech Hard Carrying Case is a good alternative for just over half the price. 

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

We're finally starting to see some true-wireless earbuds for the Meta Quest 2, and the Anker Soundcore VR P10 is officially compatible with the console. It comes with a USB-C dongle that you plug into the Meta Quest 2's USB-C port and which streams audio to the buds. They can also be used as Bluetooth earbuds, and there's a companion app that allows you to put the buds into Meta Quest 2 mode (work with the dongle). It can be a little tricky to set up, but I got it working after a couple of attempts.

Once connected, the buds work well although, I wouldn't say the sound quality is great, which may have more to do with the Quest 2's hardware (and how it outputs audio) than the buds. These are a way to get private sound (when you raise the volume of the Quest 2's external speakers, people in the room can hear the audio) and avoid having all the wires. They are cheaper than some of the wired solutions out there from Logitech, for example.

David Carnoy/CNET

Owning a "VR" mat is good because it provides some padding for your feet during VR workouts and also sets a boundary that you can feel (the mat is raised a bit off the floor so you can sense when you're stepping off it and know to recenter yourself). This provides as much padding as a thick yoga mat. 

I've used one from Supernatural that sells for $42. It seems to be very similar to the popular Proxi-Mat Space Station Theo mat that you can find at Amazon for around $50 (its price seems to fluctuate a bit). Both are 35 inches in diameter. 

Amazon

The Quest 2 has a couple of excellent table tennis games that are already shockingly realistic (I play Eleven Table Tennis). If you want to add even more, turn your Quest controller into what feels like a real ping-pong paddle with a paddle grip. The weight balance is a little different, but it's close enough to give you the sensation you're truly holding a ping-pong paddle. It's a little hardcore, but it's a must-have if you play a lot of virtual table tennis.

David Carnoy/CNET

If you don't want to wear full-size headphones while playing, the Logitech G333 VR gaming earphones are a good alternative. They come with a custom-length short cord (and Velcro strap) designed for Quest 2 headsets. 

The cord leading to the right bud is longer so you wear that cord behind your neck, which allows you to leave them hanging when you don't have the buds in your ears. While they're nothing too fancy as far as earbuds go, they do have a sturdy cord and feel sturdy overall, and they're well-designed for Oculus Quest 2 use. They deliver solid sound if you get a tight seal (a few different-sized tips are included).

There are plenty of cheaper earbuds options for the Quest 2, but I haven't tried them. Some don't seem as durable as the Logitech G333.

Amazon

The Anker Charging Dock for Quest 2 is exactly what it sounds like. It's a resting place for your Quest 2 head unit and controllers when you're not using them, and includes rechargeable batteries for your controllers as well as a USB-C cable and power adapter (you plug the cable into the dock).

The dock also comes with a little magnetic USB-C adapter that you plug into the USB-C port on the Oculus headset. You then dock the head unit and the integrated magnetic charger connects to the adapter.

I was able to charge the Quest 2 headset even with an elite head strap on it, but you have to take off any grips you might have on the controllers to charge those.

David Carnoy/CNET

Quest 2 controllers use AA batteries, which can last a reasonable amount of time, but if you play a lot, they do require replacement more regularly. That's why it's a good idea to get a set of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which charge faster and last longer than the NiCad and NiMH rechargeable batteries of yesteryear. Who needs to put more dead disposable batteries out in the world?

Pale Blue rechargeables come in packs with as few as four batteries or as many as 12 (various battery types are available). The batteries charge via Micro-USB and the included cable charges up to four batteries simultaneously. It takes about two hours to get a full charge. Some competing models have moved to USB-C charging, and Pale Blue may do that in the future. Currently, only its rechargeable D batteries charge via USB-C.

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

External battery packs are a popular accessory for the Quest 2 and there's no shortage of them out there. This model from Moolechi costs a little more than some but has a higher percentage of positive reviews than some of the cheaper batteries that clip onto the side of your Quest 2's head strap (this has a mounting rail system that allows you to slide it on and off easily enough).

It's a 5,000-mAh battery and basically doubles the battery life of your Quest 2. The LED is just for show, but it does add a little flair to your console and lets you know the battery is working. While this battery lists for around $30, you can often pick it up on sale.

Amazon

I haven't tried this Quest accessories combo out yet, but it gets high marks on Amazon and seems like a good way to attach an external battery (not included) for extended gameplay sessions. 

There's a magnetic docking area on the back of the comfort strap. You simply stick the adhesive metal plate onto any external battery and the battery then sticks to the comfort strap. While there are now plenty of battery options for the Quest 2, this is more of a DIY solution for those who already have a battery pack they want to bring to the charging party.

Amazon
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