The Oculus Quest 2 (and before it, the Oculus Quest) is one of the hottest VR headsets available on the market right now. Out of the box, the Quest 2 comes with everything you need to get started.
But after a bit of time with the headset, you might be wondering what other add-ons or accessories you can buy to improve your experience and make things a bit smoother. We’ve gathered together some of the best Quest add-ons and accessories right here, ranging from cords to cases and beyond.
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Travel/Carry Case
One of the most notably absent items from the Oculus Quest 2 box is any form of portable storage for the headset. Given that you can damage the headset or scratch the lenses by leaving them exposed, getting a case to hold your Quest 2 is an absolute must.
You have some options and we’ve found that the official case sold by Facebook is very sturdy and worth recommending (check out our review) as long as you like the soft exterior design that resembles an egg. Alternatively, we also recommend this case from JSVER for Quest 1 and this case from Zaracle for Quest 1 or Quest 2. Our staff has tried both of these cases and were very happy with them as cheaper options.
Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
It is a real shame a cleaning cloth isn’t included when you buy Oculus Quest or Quest 2 since some other headsets ship with it. Cleaning the lenses (here’s a guide for best cleaning practices) can have a dramatic effect on your VR experience and Oculus recommends wiping the lenses down with a dry optical lens microfiber cloth starting from the center of the lens and wiping gently in a circular motion outward. Facebook says alcohol-based wipes and cleaners are not recommended for use on the lenses.
The lenses can be damaged by alcohol, so users should opt to use a dry microfiber cloth instead. If a smudge is being stubborn, though, users can dab a small amount of water on the cloth as well, according to Facebook, but alcohol should not be used on lenses at all. We haven’t tested these particular lens cloths, but there are many available and this 6-pack from Amazon looks like a good start.
VR Power Battery Pack/Counterweight
The VR Power acts as a counterweight and battery pack for the Quest and Quest 2. Strapping onto the back of the headset, it improves comfort by balancing the weight distribution, while also charging the headset while in use. This lets you stay in VR for much longer than you would with the standard Quest battery, and we were considerably impressed in our full review based on time with it in a Quest 1. It may be the best option if you’re looking for a Quest battery pack.
The VR Power is available from Rebuff Reality for $60, but will often be back-ordered due to high demand. If you have a Quest 2, just make sure you configure the velcro correctly for the slightly different headstrap design.
There is also the official Elite Strap with a Battery Pack from Oculus, but there have been issues with those straps breaking so it’s hard to recommend them.
VR Ready PC
This might be the most unconventional accessory on the list, but a VR-ready PC is truly one of the best (and most expensive) Oculus Quest 2 accessories you can buy. A VR-ready PC will allow you to play PC VR content (like Half-Life: Alyx and Skyrim VR) on your Oculus Quest or Quest 2 when connected via a USB cord. You can also use Virtual Desktop and other wireless solutions, but that might not be as comfortable or reliable as the wired experience.
Most VR-ready PCs composed of high-end or common components used for gaming rigs should work with Oculus Link, but you can double check by comparing your proposed parts or your existing rig against this Link compatibility list from Oculus.
For example, this iBUYPOWER PC from Amazon meets VR requirements and is available with a white-on-black design that would match a Quest 2 nicely.
Oculus Link-Compatible Cable
One of the best features of the Oculus Quest 2 is the ability to play PC VR content on your Quest through Oculus Link, which works by connecting your Quest to a VR-ready PC with a USB cord. While you remain tethered to your computer, you can enjoy high fidelity PC VR content on the Quest, essentially allowing you to have the best of both VR worlds.
You can use a variety of different cables with Oculus Link. Facebook sells its own high-quality, thin and flexible 5 meter optical USB 3.0 C to C Oculus Link cord, which is available for $79 on the Oculus Store.
Alternatively, any USB 2.0 cord or higher will work (Oculus do note that ‘your performance can be improved when switching to a USB 3.0 connection’, but don’t give any more specifics beyond that). We’ve written about this $20 PartyLink cable that works well, and Facebook also officially recommends this $13 Anker cable as an alternative to their first-party option.
However, realistically any 2.0 or higher cable from a reliable brand should work fine. You can even use the included USB C cable that comes with the Oculus Quest 2, if you want, but it’s pretty short. If you do use this cable though (or any cable that is USB C on both ends), you may also need to buy a USB C to A adapter to plug it into your computer if it doesn’t have a native USB C port onboard. The adapter will need to be USB 2.0 specification or higher as well.
Rechargeable Batteries
The Oculus Touch controllers use one AA battery each, so if you use your Quest a lot, you’re going to go through batteries over time. To save some money long-term, and help the environment, it is worth investing in some quality rechargeable AA batteries.
A pack of 4 rechargeable AA batteries and accompanying charger is only around $14 on Amazon, but there is also a newer kind of rechargeable battery that is even more convenient because each battery plugs directly into a micro USB cable to recharge. If you combine the latter with the device charger below, you’ll have an all-in-one charging station for your Quest coming from just one wall outlet.
Multi-Device Wall Charger
The Oculus Quest comes with a wall socket to charge your device, but if you want to charge several things at once, we recommend this multi-device wall charger from Anker. Not only does it have a USB C port, allowing you to use the long 5m cable that’s included with the Quest, but it has 4 additional USB ports as well.
If used in combination with the USB rechargeable batteries above, you would be able to use one outlet to recharge your Quest and controllers at the same time.
Chromecast
The Chromecast is a device that allows you to send and play media on your TV from other devices, such as your mobile phone. In this case, a Chromecast will allow you to cast the view from your Oculus Quest and Quest 2 onto your TV, so others can watch what’s happening in VR on the TV.
This is a must-have accessory for demoing your Quest, as it allows others to watch what you do in VR and also allows you to watch and instruct others who might be new to the system, as they try it out. You can also pair it up with an HDMI splitter and a capture card to livestream your Quest 2 footage anywhere you want like Twitch or YouTube. You can use your phone or tablet for this as well, of course, but in our experience a TV provides a better viewing experience for multiple people than crowding around a mobile device.
There are two kinds of Chromecasts, the Chromecast and the Chromecast Ultra. The only difference between the two is that the latter allows you to play 4K content. The Quest is not a 4K device, so you probably won’t see any difference when casting the Quest, but if you have a 4K TV then you’re probably better off getting the Ultra so that you can get the most out of other Chromecast media as well.
The Chromecast is typically available for around $35, and the Ultra for $70. For more information on how to use your Quest with your Chromecast, see here.
VR Cover Accessories
VR Cover is a company that’s been around for some time and known for making accessories designed to make headsets feel more comfortable against the face as well as improve hygiene. We tested their Quest-specific covers and some people on-staff love the added comfort and cleanliness, but some others don’t think it makes the Quest 2 that much more comfortable. That being said, it is good to have these on hand if you plan on exercising and getting sweaty with the Quest – you’ll be able to to quickly swap out the covers when things start to get a bit slippery.
They also have newer, cheaper silicone covers now that slide right over the original face pad easily. They also have new headstraps and controller grip covers as well.
Lens Cover
The lenses are one of the most vulnerable parts of the Quest headset — they can be permanently scratched and direct sunlight can be magnified through them, resulting in burnt screen pixels. If you’re looking for something to fit securely into the headset, protecting the lenses, then maybe try this lens protector from Orzero. UploadVR staff reported it works well for the Quest (and even other headsets) and protects the lenses from dust. You may have to turn the headset off fully when not in use, or change its settings, if the lens protector activates the headset’s proximity sensor.
The Orzero VR Lens Protect Cover is available for $10.99. At the very least they’re good to have on the lenses when you put them in a case so nothing shifts or moves around onto the lenses when transporting.
AMVR VR Stand And Headset Display
This stand is a great option if you want to both display and store your Quest somewhere central in your house, potentially even next to other gaming consoles or your TV. Some of our staff members tried out the stand and were suitably impressed. It can hold your Quest in the center, with the Touch controllers hanging to the side ready to be grabbed. It works for other headsets as well.
The stand is available on Amazon for $25.99.
Earbuds or Headphones
All Oculus Quest and Quest 2 headset include an audio system that releases sound from the head strap area. This system works decently because you don’t have to position anything inside or over your ears to hear immersive sound. Still, a lot of detailed sounds are lost with this system. Did you know, for instance, there are ambient sounds in the home area of Oculus Quest? You might not hear that with the out-of-the-box audio experience on Quest.
For $49, Oculus sells official wired headphones that come in two completely separate pieces with very short cords. There are headphone jacks on both sides of the original Quest 1 so these headphones are ready-built to plug into both of these ports and provide you a more private and immersive sound experience. Or, grab these cheaper ones from Kiwi for $20 for Quest 1.
If you have a Quest 2, we recommend these $20 earbuds from Amavision instead, they’re designed so that the left ear cord is shorter since it’s closer to your ear.
If you’re looking for something to cover your ears in a more comfortable way, you can try out some over-ear headphones that clip onto the Quest 2 strap. They’re available from MYJK on Amazon for $43.
Or if you want to go the fancy route, Oculus partnered with Logitech to release a full-on headset specifically for the Quest 2 that delivers high-quality sound with totally encapsulating over-ear headphones. You can get it from the Oculus website for $100.
Hand Straps
This style of strap modification accessory for the Oculus Touch controllers make them a little bit more like Index Controllers – they’ll stay secured to your hand even if you’re not gripping them. They’re not near as comfortable as the Index controllers but still useful so you’re not constantly actively holding something.
The Kiwi Design Knuckle Straps are available for $19.99, however we’ve also heard good things about the AMVR versions for $30 too. There are plenty of straps in this style available on Amazon.
Have you found any other accessories that improved your experience with Oculus Quest please share in the comments. This article was originally published on June 5, 2020, and updated with new accessories on August 15, 2020, then updated again with more Quest 2-specific recommendations on March 10th.
Source: Best Oculus Quest 2 Accessories And Add-Ons (Spring 2021)
