When the Oculus Quest 2 first launched in October 2020, it supported a base 72Hz refresh rate, with the 90Hz rate - now the default - being supported as an experimental feature.
90Hz is already a pretty high refresh rate, with the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch having a refresh rate of 60Hz, allowing up to 60FPS gameplay.
However, it seems that Facebook is not simply content with 90Hz, and may be planning to update the Quest 2 to support 120Hz in the future.
120Hz refresh rate given a 'thumbs up'
As reported by RoadtoVR, Andrew "Boz" Bosworth, the VP of Facebook Reality Labs, recently took part in an Instagram Q&A in which he responded to several queries about the Virtual Reality headset.
When asked about 120Hz support on the Oculus Quest 2, Bosworth gave "a literal thumbs up" in response, suggesting that the headset should receive a refresh rate upgrade in the future.
As to when this update will release, we're not sure. Bosworth gave no further details on the 120Hz upgrade. Given a previous Quest 2 update made 90Hz the default from 72Hz, there is a precedent for upgrading the refresh rate. As with the 90Hz update, we'd expect this feature to first appear as an 'Experimental Mode' on the Quest 2.
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What will the 120Hz update do?
With a 120Hz update, Oculus applications would technically be able to run at up to 120FPS, giving Quest users smoother gameplay compared to the current 90Hz rate.
However, it's not exactly that simple. Given that the most powerful consoles and gaming PCs often struggle running games at a stable 120FPS, there is a question as to whether the Oculus Quest 2's mobile chip could cope or take advantage of the 120Hz refresh rate, aside from when connected to a PC via Oculus Link.
There's also the Oculus Quest 2's battery life. Currently, the Quest 2 has a battery life of around 2 or 3 hours depending on how it is used. With a higher refresh rate, the headset's battery could drain even faster.
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