The Quest 2 aftermarket is surprisingly crowded. I’ve replaced and upgraded just about every piece on my Quest, but I’m always on the lookout for more tweaks and improvements that can help the headset be more versatile and comfortable. KIWI design’s selection of Quest 2 accessories may look similar to some of the upgrades offered by Oculus directly, but I found quite a few advantages here over the competition. With a couple of unique design choices and an unbeatable price, KIWI design has quickly become my go-to for Quest 2 upgrades. If you’re looking to get more out of your headset, these are the KIWI accessories I would recommend.
I’ve been looking for something like the Controller Grips Cover for awhile now. I like the look of the Index controllers a lot and I’ve been interested in finding away to strap the Quest controllers to my hands in the same way. I saw a Tiktok video where a kid detached the wrist strap and knotted it around the ring at the top to create a hand strap, but my hands are way too big to make that work comfortably. Fortunately, KIWI’s controller grips are exactly what I’ve been looking for.
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The grips are silicone sleeves that stretch over the controllers and add an adjustable strap that wraps around your hand to prevent drops and throws. It’s a big improvement over the wrist strap for me because it makes the controllers much easier to put down and it holds them tight to my hands so I don’t accidentally chuck them when I’m in-game. The trade-off is that it’s harder to use your hands to check your phone or grab something IRL, but I’ve found that it’s easy enough to grab a controller with the opposite hand, even when it’s strapped in. The grip has a soft texture that’s nice to hold and it doesn’t obstruct any of the buttons at all. It also replaces the battery cover with a quick release, so it’s even easier to swap out batteries than before, which is a great touch. I wish the strap with a little stretchier so it was easier to position them in your hands, but overall I’m happy with the design and will definitely be using my controllers like this going forward.
I also tried out the Replacement Facial Interface and the Upgraded Elite Strap. The facial interface is a replacement for the stock Quest 2 face pad that adds much thicker padding and better light blocking around the nose. In terms of design and comfort, it’s nearly identical to the VR Cover version that Oculus sells (which I reviewed previously), and it doesn’t feel any different on my face at all. That said, if you don’t have an upgraded Facial Interface yet it’s an absolute must. The KIWI version is about the same price as the VR Cover version, but it also comes with a foam lens cover. If you’re ordering any other KIWI accessories, you should definitely include this if you don’t already have one.
The Upgraded Elite Strap looks almost identical to the Oculus branded elite strap, but unlike the facial interface, these accessories are not created equal. KIWI’s version includes an enlarged and cushioned head support as well as a padded head strap that makes it considerably more comfortable than the Oculus version. Not only does the extra padding make it more comfortable, it also helps the entire headset stay in position better. If not for the lack of extended battery, I would definitely switch to the KIWI version permanently. However, you need to be extraordinarily careful if you ever remove the Elite Strap from your headset. While switching back to my battery strap, I put too much pressure in the wrong place on the arm and snapped off a round pin that holds it together, permanently damaging the strap. It looks like I broke off a little plastic fin on the inside that was less than a mm thick. It’s a lot more fragile than it looks, so once you put it on I would recommend not taking it off.
KIWI designs’ Controller Grips Cover, Replacement Facial Interface, and Upgraded Elite Strap were provided to TheGamer for this review. Learn more about KIWI designs’ products on its official website.
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