Unlike most gaming setups, the Oculus Quest doesnt really need to be inside to be played.
As long as there is sufficient surrounding light, you’re free to play with it anywhere!
Unfortunately, not all locations are equally suitable.
You probably know not to play with your headset in the pouring rain since it could damage the electronics.
You might be surprised to hear that bright sunlight can be bad for your equipment.
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What Do I Need to Lookout For?
The cameras on the outside used to orient you in the play-space and track your controllers are one.
The actual lenses on the inside of the headset are the other.
Both are prone to damage via sunlight, much faster than you might think.
This damage takes the form of burns on the screen, dead spots, and discoloration.
Particularly the lenses you look at the screen through pose a considerable risk.
They essentially function as a magnifying glass when you set the headset in the sun.
As the sun moves in the sky, this can lead to a burned streak on your headset screens.
The cameras on the outside are similarly (though less so) vulnerable.
They can be affected by a combination of heat and sunlight damage.
Even when inside, its possible for the sunlight to affect your lenses.
A window could easily let the sunshine directly into your headset if you dont store it correctly.
Unfortunately, filtering through a window wont mitigate the possible damage of sunlight.
So always keep your lenses away from windows, ideally in a suitable carry case.
Can I Not Use My Headset Outside?
If you often find yourself playing outside, youll definitely want to invest in one of them.
What Happens If It Does Get Damaged?
Thats why its essential to ensure you dont accidentally expose the lenses to sunlight.
It will affect the quality of what youre seeing.
Still, unless the damage is excessive, it wont affect the performance directly.
