Which Oculus Quest 2 storage size should you get?
- Cheaper
- Has enough storage for most users
- Supports all the same features and games as 256GB model
- Not enough storage for hardcore gamers
- Deleting games deletes save data
- No microSD slot for expandable storage
The 64GB variant of the Oculus Quest 2 supports all the same features and games as the version with larger storage. It has enough space for many users but will fill up if you're a hardcore gamer. Its lack of a microSD slot makes storage limitations a more significant issue.
Extra roomOculus Quest 2 256GB
- Lots of room for games
- More affordable than the competition
- Significantly more expensive
- No microSD slot
This version of the Oculus Quest 2 sports 256GB of storage, which would likely take close to 100 Quest 2 games to fill up. You'll have plenty of space for downloading personal files and videos to the headset as well, though it still doesn't have a microSD slot. Beyond that, this version has no exclusive features that the 64GB lacks.
Oculus Quest 2 64GB vs. Oculus Quest 2 256GB: Pricing and availabilityChoosing between the Oculus Quest 2 64GB vs. 256GB? Both variants support the same features and have the same library of games. The only difference is the amount of storage available and the price of each device. The Oculus Quest 2 is available now starting at $299. Even though you probably won't find the Oculus Quest 2 at a discount anytime soon, it's a good deal thanks to its relatively low starting price and solid VR performance.
By contrast, the $399 Oculus Quest 2 with 256GB storage will attract VR power users that plan to buy dozens of games and download custom content. Even though there's just a $100 difference between the two, most Quest 2 owners end up buying a lot of accessories, particularly the Elite Strap, carrying case, and headphones. Add in sales tax, and an upgraded Quest 2 bundle can get fairly expensive.
On the other hand, neither headset has expandable storage, so you're stuck with what you pay for. The last thing you want is to choose the 64GB model, only to run out of space and regret your choice. So we'll remove any uncertainty and help you weigh the pros and cons of staying small with 64GB or going big with 256GB.
Oculus Quest 2 64GB vs. Oculus Quest 2 256GB: What's the difference?
The 64GB and 256GB Quest 2 headsets have the same graphics, operating system, Quest 2 gaming library, and tech features. The form factor is also the same, so they work with the same Quest 2 accessories. They're even the same colors. The only difference is the amount of storage available and the price.
| Category | Oculus Quest 2 64GB | Oculus Quest 2 256GB |
|---|---|---|
| Hand controls | Two Touch Controllers | Two Touch Controllers |
| Storage | 64GB | 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 |
| Price | $299 | $399 |
The 64GB model is closer to 50GB once you subtract pre-installed software, but that'll still take you a long way.
Each headset should perform identically in virtually any scenario. The only exception would be if you filled your 64GB model to above 99% capacity; as with any drive, there can be a dip in performance if you have no space left over. If you experience that, though, you can just delete a game to solve the problem.
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 First Steps of Oculus Quest 2 experience, though you can delete it (freeing up 758.8MB) once you're done. In practice, you get a little over 50GB of actual storage with the 64GB Quest 2, or about 245GB with the 256GB Quest 2.
Oculus Quest 2 64GB vs. Oculus Quest 2 256GB: Game sizes, game saves, and multimedia
You can store custom content and media on the Oculus Quest 2, but most users will only store official games directly on the device. 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.
Most Oculus Quest 2 games only take up 1 or 2GB of storage, but big-name releases like Vader Immortal and Walking Dead demand lots of hard drive space.
Looking at some of the best Oculus Quest games, the vast majority are 2GB and under, with popular games like Beat Saber (643MB), Pistol Whip (1.8GB), Echo VR (650MB), Rec Room (1.7GB), and SUPERHOT (1.96GB) 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: Star Wars: Tales From the Galaxy's Edge is 5.69GB and Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is 8GB, for example. And game sizes will grow if you sideload custom content, like if you download custom Beat Saber songs.
Even taking larger games into account, you can probably fit around 15 to 25 Quest games on the 64GB Quest 2 with the available space, which will be more than enough for most people who aren't dropping boatloads of cash on VR games. And if that space runs low, you can delete older games to make room for newer ones, then redownload them later if you want to pick it up again.
64GB owners can uninstall games to make room, but this will likely cause you to lose your in-game progress permanently.
Keep in mind that there is a significant downside to deleting games to make room for new ones. Oculus doesn't partition save files, nor does it require developers to save users' data in the cloud. So if you delete a game, you'll very likely lose all your data. It's a frustrating oversight for any gaming console in 2021, and it's one reason to consider the 256GB Quest 2. Your old games can sit there indefinitely, waiting for you to revisit them.
For anyone planning to play PC VR games on the Quest 2 via Oculus Link, don't worry: these game files live on your PC. Games like Half-Life: Alyx, which are too massive for the Quest 2, won't take up a single megabyte on the headset itself. In fact, anyone who buys the 64GB Quest 2 could deal with limited storage by buying the PC version of games and keeping them housed on your computer's SSD instead.
Your final consideration should be if you plan to download copies of films, TV shows, music, or other multimedia to your Quest 2, so you can watch it in VR. Unlike Quest 2 games, which are optimized to take up as little room as possible, these files will often be pretty massive and will quickly fill up a smaller hard drive. We're pretty sure this applies to a fairly niche crowd, as most users will just stream content on the best media apps for the Oculus Quest 2 like YouTube, Prime Video, and Netflix without downloading it. But if you do plan to download your personal content, strongly consider the 256GB Quest 2.
Oculus Quest 2 64GB vs. Oculus Quest 2 256GB: 64GB is enough (for most)
We appreciate that Facebook upped the storage maximum for the Oculus Quest 2 when compared to the original Oculus Quest, which maxed out at 128GB. Spending $100 for an extra 192GB of storage is a genuinely good deal, and one worth considering since some enhanced Quest 2 games can fill up the 64GB model fairly quickly.
Despite that, most people will do just fine with the cheapest Oculus Quest 2, and shouldn't feel pressured to upgrade unless you truly plan to buy a lot of games. Generally speaking, Quest 2 games can be a little expensive, and purchasing enough to fill hundreds of gigabytes will probably cost you as much as the headset.
So long as you're willing to uninstall games when you're running out of room, the 64GB Oculus Quest 2 is the better bargain. In our Oculus Quest 2 review, we praised it for its amazing performance at such a low price. Spending extra for storage, without any other performance boosts or features, just isn't the best investment for most buyers.
Enough for mostOculus Quest 2 64GB
$299 at Amazon$299 at Best Buy$299 at Oculus
Budget-friendly with enough storage for many users
The 64GB version of the Oculus Quest 2 supports all the same features and games as the larger version. While it's unfortunate that there isn't a microSD card slot, it has enough space for users who only keep specific games on their device at a time.
Room to work withOculus Quest 2 256GB
$399 at Amazon$399 at Best Buy$399 at Walmart
Enough storage for a larger library
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.