Oculus Quest provides us with the feature to cast the content on another screen. To do that you need a TV (with or without built-in casting ability), a phone with the Oculus app installed, or Casting enabled on the headset itself. Since Samsung Smart TVs do not come with an inbuilt Chromecast application, we can use a Chromecast device for that.
See Also: Connect and cast Oculus Quest 2.0 to Apple TV
Oculus, a division of Facebook released its much-awaited VR (Virtual Reality) headset- Oculus Quest. And, since its launch in May of 2019, it has turned a lot of heads living up to its expectations. Moreover, it has made Virtual reality much more affordable and accessible. Moving on, Oculus Quest gets most of its features from its forerunner Oculus Go. Oculus Quest is a standalone device running an inbuilt Android-based OS. Consequently, it can run games and software wirelessly due to the internal sensors and a camera array present in the front of the headset. Thus, it boasts positional tracking with six degrees of freedom, thanks to its internal sensors.
Requirements to cast Oculus Quest to a Samsung Smart TV
To cast your Oculus Quest to Smart TV from Samsung you need the following things:
- A Samsung smart TV with HDMI port,
- A Chromecast device,
- strong Wi-Fi network and
- an Oculus Quest VR headset,
- a phone (optional)
Casting Oculus Quest to a Samsung smart TV
- First, connect your Chromecast to the HDMI port of your Samsung Smart TV.
- After that, connect your Chromecast and phone to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Install the Google Home app on your phone
- The Google Home will search for the available Chromecast devices.
- Click on your device and complete the setup.
- Connect your phone and the Oculus Quest headset to the same Wi-Fi network.
- It’s time to turn on the Oculus Quest headset along with your Samsung TV and start the Oculus app on your phone (Download Oculus app).
- At the top right of the app screen, there is a Cast icon shaped like a headset emitting Wi-Fi signals, tap on that icon to open the Oculus app.
- You might have to grant permission for local connectivity when you’re connecting it for the first time.
- Select your headset option from the “Cast From” section on the app. If more than one headset is listed, select your particular headset. Below that, in the “Cast To” section, select your Samsung TV or the Chromecast device. This might take a while. If you don’t find either of these in the list, make sure the TV is on and Chromecast is enabled, and then tap on “Tap to search for other devices”
Once both From and To options are selected, tap “Start” to cast the display to the Samsung TV.
You can also cast it directly from your Oculus Quest headset without using the phone.
- Turn on the headset and put it on. Use the controller to select “Cast to” under the “Utilities” pane on the right of the screen.
- A window pops up. Check the list of available devices and choose your Chromecast device connected to the Samsung smart TV to cast to and select “Next”.
- You will be notified with a pop-up notification “Headset Casting started”.
Casting your Oculus rift to Samsung TV without Chromecast app or Device (Mirroring)
- Connect the headset and TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Download the “Samsung Smart View” app on your phone.
- Open the Quick Panel on your phone by swiping down from the top of the screen.
- Look for the “Smart View” option and tap on it.
- Select your TV from the available list of devices.
- At times, you may need to enter a pin depending on the device.
- Select “Start Now” on the message that pops up saying “Start Casting with Smart View?”
- Now your phone is mirrored to your Samsung smart TV.
- Now open the Oculus Quest app on the TV.
Now, the phone is mirroring the Oculus Quest to your Samsung TV.in hindsight, there might be certain lag issues. For a better experience, you can use an HDMI cable to connect your phone to your Samsung TV.
Oculus Quest models currently on the market
Oculus Quest, launched in May of 2019, was discontinued in September of 2020. It was replaced by a better, inexpensive Oculus Quest 2.0 at an introductory price of $299 (inclusive of all required accessories).
Samsung TVs compatible with Oculus Quest
Almost all modern Samsung Smart TVs are compatible with the Oculus Quest VR headset. Here is a non-exhaustive list of Samsung Smart TVs.
- Samsung 55-inch LED Ultra HD (4K) TV (55NU6100)
- Samsung 50-inch LED Ultra HD (4K) TV (50NU6100)
- Samsung 43-inch LED Ultra HD (4K) TV (43NU6100)
- SAMSUNG The Serif Series 108 cm (43 inches) QLED Ultra HD (4K) Smart TV (QA43LS01TAKXXL)
- SAMSUNG Crystal 4K Pro 108 cm (43 inch) Ultra HD (4K) LED Smart TV (UA43AUE70AKLXL)
- SAMSUNG The Frame 125 cm (50 inches) QLED Ultra HD (4K) Smart TV (QA50LS03TAKXXL)
Alternatives to Oculus Quest VR headset
Oculus Quest 2.0 is one of the pocket-friendly and powerful VR headsets available in the market right now. The speed and efficiency are credited to the Snapdragon XR2 processor. Although it is affordable and fast, it still lags in certain departments, especially playing PC games.
Thus, it won’t hurt to explore some other options alternative to it. There are various headsets that not only pack in VR experience but have an AR angle to it along with PC games handling capabilities better than Oculus Quest.
● Valve Index is the most premium VR headset out there with a high-end VR experience. But, the price point can be seen as a demerit as it stands out high from the rest of the bunch. Additionally, it needs to tether with a PC with wires. So, if these two issues are not much to you, you will be bestowed with a 144Hz refresh rate, 130 degrees viewing angle and a state-of-the-art tracking system.
● HTC Vive Cosmos is arguably the best alternative to Oculus Quest due to the blend of reasonable price points and seamless features it packs in. It is compatible with HTC Vive wireless adapter and comes with internal sensors which are relatively easier to configure. Still, You will need a gaming PC to run it though which can be an expensive addition. Nonetheless, the modular feature of Vive makes it functional at different levels.
● Playstation VR is the most affordable on the list. Furthermore, the compatibility to a console brings the price down for the setup as Playstation is one of the most owned gaming consoles in the market. On the whole, if you own a Playstation 4, this is the VR you can opt for.
Things to do with the Oculus Quest and Samsung TV combined
1. Virtual tours can be fascinating and a good way to spend your indoor time during this pandemic. Oculus Quest offers a wide range of places to visit and explore. Moreover, you can wander around mystical lands which can be an enriching experience.
2. Gaming is the most sought-after reason for buying the Oculus Quest. So, all you can do is hook it up to your Samsung TV and play while others watch it on the TV and wait for their turn while watching how you fare in the game. No cheating!!!
3. Beat your fears using the Virtual reality experience. For instance, you might have some sort of phobias like height or darkness. Thus, you can find one of those related scenarios and try to live through it while knowing in the back of your mind that it is just a virtual experience. Moreover, you can boast about it by casting your journey on the TV while your friend and family root for you.
4. You can attend live concerts, meet with real famous people, or heck even mediate using your Oculus QUEST.
5. Listen to music, sculpt, paint, do whatever you wish to. Oculus Quest won’t pair with your TV won’t fail you with any of your experiences.
In the end, the VR experience has always been an enigma for people short on budget. But now with affordable machines like Oculus Quest and a streaming screen like Samsung smart TVs, it is becoming a household experience. Finally, in this pandemic when you need to stay inside, a VR headset can be one heck of a companion.
