The Oculus Quest is a standalone VR headset, technically owned by Facebook.
Most VR headsets require a wired connection to a PC with a decent graphics card, however the Quest does not (at the expense of some graphics quality and being battery powered). In January 2020 Oculus released a 'Link Cable' which allows a PC to be connected should the use Quest, increasing the graphics capabilities.
To me this kind of mutes the complete freedom from cables that is the main draw of the Quest over other options as it re-applies the restriction in movement, but with it being an optional cable it does give people like the flexibility to choose between lower graphics w/complete freedom of movement, and better graphics (inc. more games) w/less freedom of movement.
The Quest runs on a modified Android OS, similar to how Amazon has modified it for the Kindle series. The Quest does not have access to the Google Play Store, instead being directed to Oculus's own app store.
The Quest can be set up using Oculus's very helpful app. This app also lets you connect the Oculus to new WiFi networks without needing to type the WiFi password using the VR headset interface - VR keyboards are so awkward to use so this is definitely a plus.
For pretty much everyone, 64GB is plenty right now. Games are not so big AND re-playable (See the Apps section) that you'll run out of space.
128GB is said to be better if you wish to watch 3D movies. Normally these would be copied to the Quest from a PC of some sort. It is very possible to set up a PC with a free DLNA server (media streaming on local wifi only), and use the Quest to play these movies over your local network. Additionally there is no native cloud saving for game data, so if you uninstall a game you are most likely to lose any progress in it (see the SideQuest section for a tidy way around this).
My opinion is that by the time games are large enough (almost all are less than 3-4GB right now), and have enough replay value that there's a reason to keep them installed, the next version of the Quest will be out. Save the extra £100 and spend it on accessories & games. If you can easily afford it though it will be slightly more future proof and open it up to watching locally stored movies without having to worry about space.
First thing - keep the cardboard screen protector! One of the things that can seriously damage any VR headset is sunlight hitting the lenses. They act as magnifying glasses and the resulting focused sunlight will burn the screens inside the VR headset. This is never covered by warranty, and is impossible to disguise as anything else. Make sure the lenses are covered ANY time the VR headset is not in use.
Secondly, only use a microfiber cloth to wipe the lenses. Don't use cleaning solutions. Read the user manual for confirmation.
So you've powered on the Quest - set up your guardian area. This is a safety area, you'll see blue grid-lines appear if you or your controllers get close to the guardian edge - they'll turn red as you hit it. If your headset goes past the edge then your UI will be replaced with a low-resolution pass-through camera feed.
You'll have the option to set up a standing or sitting guardian. For the initial setup it is worth sitting down. You can always clear previous areas and add more from the settings tab.
Set your guardian area up with surroundings in mind. Don't line it up to your TV, by the time the guardian can warn you that you're close to it, you'll have already hit it. Think of your guardian area more as an area for your feet and work out how close your feet can get before you're in arms reach of something. Some people add a notch into their guardian to help with being able to align yourself in the room.
My recommendation is that once you set a guardian up, explore the edges of it. Walk around the edge with your arm outstretched and see what you can reach. You can change the warning sensitivity grid of the guardian in the headset settings.
Go through the tutorial app. Let the Quest do any updates. Have a look through the settings tab. Try the Demos. Be mindful of your surroundings, it's very easy to forget where you are in the room or get your room orientation wrong.
Personally I make sure my Oculus pin is set and never bypassed. If you set the headset or app to 'remember' your pin to avoid having to enter it when making a purchase, then anyone you let use the Quest will be able to make purchases as well... Typing in a VR environment is a pain, but seriously, the PIN is four digits.
Also, set up the 2FA/MFA security option. This should be standard for ANY product or service that offers it.
Don't use power packs to charge the quest (this voids the warranty, and has very unique characteristics when it causes problems), and don't charge the quest while you use it as this will adversely affect the Quest's battery capacity.
Most people don't have issues when charging from a power pack provided it's a USB-C battery pack, the Quest is above 5% or so, and it's turned off; but it still voids the warranty, and has the potential to give you a very expensive brick.
Game data is not backed up to any Cloud area at all. If you uninstall a game you will lose your progress unless the developer has their own backup solution in place (or you use SideQuest to backup your game data before uninstalling). This is something I would love to see changed.
There is currently no multi-user setup in the Quest. If you let other people use it then their stats and game-play will be saved into your profile unless the app specifically has a multi-user option built into it (Beat Saber's 'Party Mode' as a very lose example).
One of the design faults with the quest is that it is very front-heavy, and the head-strap does not support this as well as it could. To get round this a lot of people add a counterweight to the back. This has been anything from a bag of coins/nuts/bolts etc., to a battery pack velcroed in place. You will find references to a 'Frankenquest' mod online. This uses an audio accessory for the HTC Vive VR headset that is unfortunately no longer in production, and due to its popularity in the Oculus world has become very expensive to find second hand.
Keep hold of the glasses spacer. It is absolutely required if anyone plays it while wearing glasses. The while glasses will fit in the Quest headset without the spacer, moving around in games WILL force the glasses to bump against the lenses, and the lenses are fragile enough that this impact will scratch them. There have been reports that even with the spacer glasses have damaged lenses on the Quest, so it may be advisable to get a glasses headband/strap that will actively keep them in place, rather than relying on the ear hooks alone.
When you buy accessories be VERY careful about making sure you get them for the Oculus Quest, and not the Oculus Rift. There are subtle differences in the controllers and headset that generally make form-fitting accessories incompatible. Other accessories may be cross compatible or even universal. Just be very careful. I made this mistake.
I have found AMVR to have the best price:quality ratio for accessories. If I've linked to things below it's either because I've bought it and recommend it, or it's a top recommendation from my own research and I intend to buy it soon.
This all being said - what I'd recommend to get, regardless of your preferred games, are:
More optional and game type specific accessories that I'd recommend:
There's loads of sites with app ranking and reviews etc. Play the demos that are available, read the reviews both on the Oculus page and on third party review pages. Watch YouTube videos of the games if you still aren't sure. And keep in mind that Oculus has a great refund policy - something like two weeks from purchase as long as you've played the game for less than either 30 minutes or two hours, I can't remember off the top of my head.
My personal favourite apps are:
Games I want to try when I get time:
While Pistol Whip has great reviews, I personally found the game play lacking and the graphics a bit too jarring.
Please research the game play before you buy a new game. Is it an open game with plenty of replay value, or is it a single story, or limited number of levels? Make sure you are happy with the cost when listed against the game type.
Typically I'll look at the game prices in terms of pints. Is the game worth me buying the developer that many pints for the enjoyment of the game play?
Alternatively look at it in terms of cinema pricing - a good film in the UK is £10 to £13, and you'll typically spend the same in popcorn and drinks. Lets say £25 for a normal cinema experience. Most films are around 2 hours long. Will you get that value of enjoyment out of the game? It's easy to look up roughly how long a fixed game will take to complete, and from there see if it's a similar value to a cinema night out. Of course, if you don't get snacks at the cinema than adjust accordingly.
VR will in most people cause some feeling of motion sickness. A lot of games have an 'easy feel' mode (instant transport/leaps instead of continuous walking etc.) to help reduce this, but it will still take getting used to.
Just remember that you will not get used to VR if you only play for 30-60 minutes every couple of days. It is not enough exposure for your brain to adapt. Play little and often (allowing time for more important duties and responsibilities of course). Also try different game types. Those with less movement will be easier on you when starting out.
SideQuest lets you access your Quest from your PC (with suitable USB cable connection).
To use it you'll need to register with Oculus as a developer (free), and enable development mode for your Quest from the Oculus app on your phone (go into the Quest device setting within the app).
Once connected you'll be able to install apps from the store built into SideQuest (Pavlov, Quake etc. - well worth a look!), sideload APK files, and most helpfully back up & restore game data.
It does have a file browser built in, but I found using Windows Explorer after opening SideQuest was an easier and more reliable route to transfer files. Please note that transferring an apk file is not the same as installing it.
It is possible to modify the Beat Saber app to allow third party songs, synced through www.bsaber.com.
The website contains the instructions, but in summary (for v1.7+, as of Feb 2020):
So, what's the ouch-factor on all this? (as of Jan 2020)
£400 for the 64GB Quest, about £100 for the 'required' accessories (not including AA batteries), an extra £30 ish if you want the saber handles new. Then the game costs - unless there's a sale, don't splurge on games. Get them as you feel you feel the need to play AND have the time to play. Beat Saber and Thrill of the Fight come to about £30 between them, and in my opinion is a good starting point.
£560. As the start.
All in all though, not bad at all for a standalone VR system. The PS4 and X-Box One are in the £400-£500 region, and the games typically more expensive. Not to mention far less portable.
If in doubt, see if you know anyone with a VR headset and ask for a go. The experiences are pretty standard among them from what I've read. Little differences in graphics quality and controller style, but close enough that you'll have a good idea of if it's for you.