Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Meta - Quest 2 (128GB) | Valve - Index |
|---|---|---|
| Field of view | 97 ° | 130 ° |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 144 Hz |
| Standalone | true | false |
Between the Quest 2 (128GB) and Index, the Quest 2 (128GB) comes out ahead in standalone, while the Index wins on field of view / refresh rate. Overall, the Quest 2 (128GB) scores 73.3 and the Index scores 65.4 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Quest 2 (128GB) edges ahead on the Mars Score (73.3 vs 65.4), but the 7.9-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the Quest 2 (128GB) if you care most about standalone. The biggest gaps in its favor are standalone. The single most decisive one: Standalone: true (vs false).
Pick the Index if the display is what you stare at all day — refresh rate, brightness, or sharpness is where the difference will be most visible. Its strongest claims are field of view, refresh rate. The single most decisive one: Field of view — 34.02% more. 130 ° vs 97 °.
Both ship with comparable eye tracking, color passthrough, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Quest 2 (128GB) is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Meta - Quest 2 (128GB) or Valve - Index?
Meta - Quest 2 (128GB) leads the current Mars Score by 7.9 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare refresh rate, field of view, standalone against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Meta - Quest 2 (128GB) if…
Meta - Quest 2 (128GB) has the measurable edge on is standalone.
Choose Valve - Index if…
Valve - Index has the measurable edge on fov deg, refresh rate hz.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Meta - Quest 2 (128GB) wins
- ▲Standalone: true (vs false).
Why Valve - Index wins
- ▲Field of view — 34.02% more. 130 ° vs 97 °.
- ▲Refresh rate — 20.00% more. 144 Hz vs 120 Hz.
Spec comparison
Display
| Spec | Meta - Quest 2 (128GB) | Valve - Index |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution per eye | 1832x1920 | 1440x1600 |
| Refresh rateⓘ | 120 Hz | 144 Hzlead |
| Field of view | 97 ° | 130 °lead |
| Panelⓘ | LCD | LCD |
Tracking & Audio
| Spec | Meta - Quest 2 (128GB) | Valve - Index |
|---|---|---|
| Inside-out tracking | truelead | false |
| Eye tracking | false | false |
| Face tracking | false | false |
| Color passthrough | false | false |
Compute
| Spec | Meta - Quest 2 (128GB) | Valve - Index |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone | truelead | false |
| Battery | 2.5 hlead | 0 h |