Oculus Quest 2 128GB
The Goldilocks size
The 128GB Oculus Quest 2 supports all the same features and games as the larger storage version. Since Oculus upgraded the base model from 64GB to 128GB, it's easy to recommend the more affordable Quest 2 as the ideal model.
For
- Cheaper
- Supports all the same features and games
- Runs all original Oculus Quest games
Against
- No microSD card slot for expandable storage
Oculus Quest 2 256GB
More space to explore
The Oculus Quest 2 with 256GB of storage gives you enough room for 20 to 50 Oculus Quest games before running out of space. There's enough space where you can download a movie for offline viewing, but don't go crazy with that since there's no microSD card slot. Beyond that, this version has no exclusive features.
For
- Even more room for games
- Extra space for media storage
- Runs all original Oculus Quest games
Against
- 33% more expensive
- No microSD card slot for expandable storage
Stuck between the Oculus Quest 128GB vs. 256GB? Both variants support the same features and have the same library of games, so the only difference is the amount of storage available and the price of each device.
Oculus Quest 2 128GB vs. Oculus Quest 2 256GB: Pricing and availability
Meta originally sold the Oculus Quest 2 in 64GB and 256GB variants. Last August, it discontinued the 64GB version and launched a new 128GB version at the same price point: $300. The 256GB version remains at $400.
Quadrupled storage for just $100 extra used to be a more tempting upgrade. Double the storage for that price bump, on the other hand, isn't as good a deal as before.
The more affordable Oculus Quest 2 128GB hits the sweet spot between the deficient 64GB model and the behemoth 256GB drive most Quest owners will never fill, making it the best version for most people in my mind.
128GB offers plenty of room for folks that don't plan on having more than 20 to 30 games installed at a time. It's hard to justify shelling out $100 for extra storage you likely won't need, when you can use that money to upgrade your Quest in other ways, like buying a better strap, cover, case, or headphones.
That said, gamers who want to future-proof their console should at least consider the 256GB version. These days, many of our favorite Oculus Quest 2 games now tend to land somewhere around the 8-12GB range, and some people use their Quests to store local copies of movies or custom content. For hardcore VR gamers, the extra space may be worth it.
The Quest 2 doesn't support expandable storage at all. If you choose the 128GB version, you may have to manage your storage space more closely so you don't run out. So let's make sure you don't have any buyer's remorse.
Oculus Quest 2 128GB vs. Oculus Quest 2 256GB: What's the difference?
The Oculus Quest 128GB vs. 256GB headsets have the same graphics, operating system, gaming library, and tech features. The form factor is also the same, meaning they look and weigh the same. They're even the same color — white. The only difference is the amount of storage available and the price.
| Category | Oculus Quest 2 128GB | Oculus Quest 2 256GB |
|---|---|---|
| Hand controls | Two Touch Controllers | Two Touch Controllers |
| Storage | 128GB | 256GB |
| 6 degrees of freedom | Yes | Yes |
| Oculus Guardian tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Oculus Link support | Yes | Yes |
| microSD slot | No | No |
| USB-C storage support | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi 6 | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud storage | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $299 | $399 |
Both headsets boast the same specifications, so they perform identically in nearly any scenario. The only exception would be filling your 128GB model to above 99% capacity, which could cause issues when saving games. This once happened to me while playing Jurassic World Aftermath on the original 64GB model, which corrupted my save file because it didn't have enough space to write the entire save.
Like any gaming console, the Oculus Quest 2 uses up a healthy chunk of its storage for required software: 11.3GB, to be exact. Plus, it comes pre-installed with a few demos and tutorials, but I uninstalled those to free up a few hundred megabytes. In practice, you get just over 116GB of actual storage with the 128GB Quest 2, while the 256GB Quest 2 ships with a gargantuan 245GB left for games, experiences, and movies.
One more note: Oculus has been rebranded as "Meta," so you'll now see the Meta Quest 2 on storefronts. Aside from the name change, there's literally no difference between the Meta Quest 2 and Oculus Quest 2.
You can store custom content and media on the Oculus Quest 2, but most users will only store official games directly from the Oculus Store. So to decide how much space you actually need, think about how many games you plan to buy and the average game sizes for each.
Original Oculus Quest games only took up about 1 to 2GB of space, but recent games have significantly bumped that size up to 8 to 12GB or more.
Looking at some popular Oculus Quest 2 games, many of the classics are 2GB and under, with popular games like Beat Saber (1.4GB), Pistol Whip (1GB), Echo VR (1GB), Rec Room (1.7GB), and SUPERHOT (2.1GB) only grabbing a small portion of storage space.
On the other hand, newer games made with the Quest 2's enhanced graphical power tend to be a bit larger, like Contractors (11GB), Resident Evil 4 VR (8.8GB), and Medal of Honor (44GB).
As of mid-2022, if you downloaded the 40 top-selling Quest games — not counting the absurdly large Medal of Honor — it would take up 107GB. That would leave you about 10GB of hard drive space on the Oculus Quest 2 128GB headset.
Of course, this doesn't take DLC into account, nor all the free games available to download. But in general, you would truly have to spend hundreds of dollars on the largest Quest 2 games to fill up the 128GB headset; even then, you'd likely have about 30-45 games downloaded before you had to uninstall some to make room for more. I can guarantee if you buy that many games, you'll find at least a few that end up disappointing you, so you won't mind deleting them.
I originally bought the 64GB model, and did run out of space, forcing me to delete games once I finished them. But that happened in part because I get to review so many Quest games sent to me directly from developers. And even with that limited space, I could fit about 15 games on average. The newer 128GB model has proven more than enough for my needs.
The Quest finally got a cloud save system that will keep players from losing their save files when games are uninstalled.
Up until recently, uninstalling a game deleted your save data permanently, which made us recommend the 256GB model. But now the Quest uses a cloud save system to preserve your save data automatically. You can delete games off the 128GB Quest 2 without fear, then redownload them later if the mood strikes.
The only difference with the 256GB version is that you're less likely to have to delete those games in the first place, saving you time.
If you plan to download hard copies of films, TV shows, music, or other multimedia to watch on your Quest 2, that's another story. Deleting and managing storage for custom content is much more of a hassle. And high-quality video content, especially if it's 4K, tends to take up several gigabytes of space for each show or movie, so your 128GB Quest 2 will fill up faster than the 256GB Quest 2.
We're pretty sure this applies to a niche crowd. I personally stream content on the best media apps for the Oculus Quest 2 like YouTube, Prime Video, Vudu, and Netflix, without bothering with custom media files. But if you plan to download personal content, strongly consider the 256GB Quest 2.
Oculus Quest 2 128GB vs. Oculus Quest 2 256GB: 128GB is best for the average gamer
Folks planning on playing mostly Quest-native games on their Oculus Quest 2 shouldn't have a problem running out of storage any time soon. With enough space to comfortably fit at least 30 games at a time, the 128GB Quest 2 is an excellent choice for anyone looking to get the best-priced version of Meta's latest VR headset. And it's the headset I chose for myself, with no regrets.
If you're concerned about running out of room, keep in mind that you can also avoid any storage issues by playing PC VR games. SteamVR and Oculus Rift game files are stored on your PC, so massive experiences like Half-Life: Alyx don't take up a single megabyte on the headset itself. Thanks to wireless Air Link, you can enjoy amazing graphics without tethering yourself to your computer.
Plus, since you'll be saving $100 by opting for the less-expensive 128GB Quest 2, you can pick up a few of the best Oculus Quest 2 accessories to enhance your headset's comfort and keep the battery lasting longer.
For about the same price as the storage upgrade, you could buy the Elite Strap with Battery instead, doubling your battery life and greatly improving the comfort of the headset. Or, a great Wi-Fi 6 router will make the biggest difference if you're looking for a wireless PC VR experience, as apps like Virtual Desktop and Oculus Air Link can deliver a near-perfect wireless experience on fast networks and powerful PCs.
Oculus Quest 2 128GB vs. Oculus Quest 2 256GB: 256GB is the best choice for power users
While it's great to have double the storage for extra games, the number of people who might need this storage — and are willing to pay $100 more to get it — is probably pretty low. Even as a daily VR gamer with a large library of games, I've never found myself in need of 256GB.
That said, if you consider yourself a power user that wants to download as many cool games as possible without ever worrying about storage space, the 256GB model could be a good fit for you. Otherwise, stick to the 128GB model and save some money to spend on games and accessories.
Oculus Quest 2 128GB
The best fit for most
The 128GB Oculus Quest 2 supports all the same features and games as the larger version. Since Meta doubled the amount of storage of the original Quest 2 release without raising the price, it's hard to argue that you'll need anything more.
Oculus Quest 2 256GB
Room to work with
This version with a larger storage capacity will be able to keep more games and media on your device at once. While it still doesn't have a microSD slot, it can store multiple games and several larger media files.
