Anyone in the market for a wireless VR headset should look first at the Meta Quest 2. It hits a nice sweet spot in terms of price, quality, and the availability of games and apps. For a limited time, between now and January 19, if you buy a Meta Quest 2, you’ll get an Elite Strap thrown in for free (see it at Amazon). Those usually cost $59.99, so it’s a nice value proposition.
Free Elite Strap with Meta Quest 2 Purchase
The Elite Strap is an add-on that makes using the Meta Quest 2 more comfortable. The standard Quest 2 uses fabric straps, so the headset feels a little front-weighted and possibly looser. The Elite Strap has plastic straps to hold it in place, plus a flexible rear brace that makes it stay more securely in place. It offers better balance for the device as well, and it has a wheel you can twist to tighten the headset on your head.
As for the current VR market, I’d say the Meta Quest 2 is still the best bet for most people. It’s cheaper than the upcoming PSVR 2, and you don’t need to connect it to a PS5 to run it. It’s way cheaper than the upcoming HTC Vive XR Elite. If you want to run more impressive games than the Quest 2’s hardware allows, like Half Life: Alyx, you can connect it to a gaming PC and use it like a regular VR headset.
It’s super versatile, comfortable, and priced a lot lower than most of its competition. You can check out our initial Meta Quest 2 review for more details.
The only real bummer is that the previous Meta Quest 2 promotions have ended. Over the holiday season, you could pick one up for $349.99 and it came with Beat Saber and Resident Evil 4. That promo is over, so there’s no longer a pack-in game. But getting a free Elite Strap is a good deal for anyone who missed out on the previous promo.
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.