Varjo Aero

Varjo Aero
Basic Info
VR/AR	Mixed Reality, Virtual Reality
Type	Head-mounted display
Subtype	PC-Powered VR
Platform	SteamVR, OpenXR
Developer	Varjo
Manufacturer	Varjo
Announcement Date	November 27, 2023
Release Date	November 2023
Price	$3,990 (XR-4 Standard Edition, no subscription)
Website	https://varjo.com
Versions	XR-4, XR-4 Focal Edition, XR-4 Secure Edition
Requires	High-end PC
Predecessor	Varjo XR-3
Successor	?????
System
Operating System	Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
Storage
SD Card Slot	No
Display
Display	Mini-LED
Subpixel Layout	RGB
Peak Brightness	200 nits
Resolution	3840×3744 per eye
Pixel Density	51 PPD
Refresh Rate	90 Hz (120 Hz experimental)
Persistence	Low persistence
Precision	Sub-pixel precision
Image
Field of View	120° × 105° (H×V)
Horizontal FoV	120°
Vertical FoV	105°
Visible FoV	120° × 105°
Rendered FoV	120° × 105°
Binocular Overlap	105°
Average Pixel Density	51 PPD
Peak Pixel Density	51 PPD
Foveated Rendering	Yes (dynamic)
Optics
Optics	Dual-element aspheric lenses
Ocularity	Binocular
IPD Range	55-75mm (automatic adjustment)
Adjustable Diopter	No
Passthrough	Yes (20MP cameras + 300k LiDAR)
Tracking
Tracking	Inside-out (4 cameras)
Tracking Frequency	200 Hz
Base Stations	Not required (optional support)
Eye Tracking	Yes (200Hz)
Hand Tracking	Yes (integrated)
Rotational Tracking	6DOF
Positional Tracking	6DOF
Update Rate	200 Hz
Tracking Volume	7m radius
Play Space	Room-scale
Latency	~22ms (passthrough), less than 15ms (VR)
Audio
Audio	DTS 3D spatial audio headphones
Microphone	Dual noise-cancelling
3.5mm Audio Jack	Yes
Camera	2× 20MP RGB, 1× 300k LiDAR sensor
Connectivity
Connectivity	USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 compatible)
Ports	1× USB-C
Wired Video	USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode
Power	USB-C Power Delivery
Device
Dimensions	280mm × 140mm × 120mm
Weight	665g (headset only), 1021g (complete)
Material	Carbon fiber composite, magnesium
Headstrap	FlexFit ergonomic system
Haptics	No
Color	Black with carbon fiber accents
Sensors	200Hz eye tracking, 9-axis IMU, ambient light sensor
Input	Hand tracking, SteamVR controllers
Compliance	CE, FCC, IC, UKCA, TAA (Secure Edition)
Size	Adjustable (S/M/L cushions)
Cable Length	5 meters (16.4 ft)

The Varjo XR-4 is a professional PC-powered mixed reality and virtual reality head-mounted display announced on November 27, 2023, by Varjo Technologies. Representing the fourth generation of Varjo's mixed reality technology, the XR-4 series eliminated subscription requirements, introduced inside-out tracking as standard, and offered professional-grade specifications at a revised price point for its class.

History

The XR-4 development began in 2022 following feedback from Varjo XR-3 customers and success of the subscription-free Varjo Aero. Key development goals included democratizing professional mixed reality, aiming for high visual fidelity in both virtual and passthrough modes, and eliminating external tracking requirements.

Major Improvements over XR-3

• 51 PPD uniform resolution (vs dual-display system)
• 20-megapixel passthrough cameras (vs 12MP)
• Inside-out tracking standard (vs external base stations)
• Significant price reduction for the standard model with no subscription
• Passthrough resolution of 33 PPD (Standard Edition) or 51 PPD (Focal Edition)

Technical Specifications

Display Technology

The XR-4 uses advanced Mini-LED panels:

• Resolution: 3840×3744 per eye (14.8 megapixels total)
• Pixel Density: 51 pixels per degree (uniform)
• Panel Type: Fast-switching Mini-LED with local dimming
• Brightness: 200 nits sustained
• Contrast: 10,000:1 with local dimming
• Color Gamut: 96% DCI-P3, 98% sRGB

Mixed Reality Cameras

High-resolution passthrough system:

• RGB Cameras: Dual 20-megapixel global shutter sensors
• Passthrough Resolution: 33 PPD (XR-4 Standard Edition), 51 PPD (XR-4 Focal Edition, matching virtual content)
• Frame Rate: 90 fps with ~22ms latency
• Dynamic Range: 14 stops with HDR processing
• Low Light: ISO 25,600 equivalent sensitivity

LiDAR Depth System

Enhanced from XR-3:

• Resolution: 300,000 points (300 kpix)
• Range: 0.2m to 7m (extended from 5m)
• Accuracy: ±2mm at 1m distance
• Frame Rate: 30 fps depth updates (Note: some sources may vary)
• Coverage: 94° × 78° depth sensing FOV

Breakthrough Features

Gaze-Driven Autofocus (Focal Edition)

World's first XR autofocus system:

• Technology: Liquid lens with 200Hz response
• Focus Range: 20cm to infinity
• Eye-Coupled: Focus follows gaze automatically
• Latency: <5ms focus adjustment
• Applications: Aims to solve vergence-accommodation conflict

Inside-Out Tracking

Professional-grade markerless tracking:

• Cameras: 4× wide-angle tracking sensors
• Algorithm: Advanced SLAM with ML enhancement
• Accuracy: Sub-millimeter precision
• Range: 7-meter radius tracking volume
• Persistence: Remembers room layout

Integrated Hand Tracking

Built-in hand interaction:

• Technology: Computer vision with neural networks
• Fingers Tracked: All 10 fingers with 21 points each
• Latency: 11ms hand-to-photon
• Gestures: Library of standard XR interactions
• SDK: Direct hand data access for developers

Software Ecosystem

No Subscription Model

Following Aero's success:

• One-Time Purchase: Starting at $3,990 for XR-4 Standard Edition
• All Features Included: No feature tiers within an edition
• Free Updates: Lifetime software support
• Professional Tools: Full SDK access

Varjo Controller Software

New unified control system:

• Device Management: Configure all settings
• Performance Monitoring: Real-time diagnostics
• User Profiles: Save multiple configurations
• Cloud Sync: Settings backup and restore

Development Support

• Unity Plugin: Native XR-4 features
• Unreal Engine 5: Full integration with Nanite/Lumen
• OpenXR Extensions: Varjo-specific features
• NVIDIA Omniverse: RTX rendering support

Variants

XR-4 Standard Edition

Base professional model:

• All core features
• 20MP passthrough (33 PPD)
• 300k LiDAR
• $3,990

XR-4 Focal Edition

With gaze-driven autofocus:

• All Standard features plus:
• Liquid lens autofocus system
• 20MP passthrough (51 PPD)
• Enhanced eye tracking data
• $9,990

XR-4 Secure Edition

Government/Defense variant:

• TAA/BAA compliant
• Secure boot process
• Offline operation mode
• Manufactured in secure facility
• ITAR-free for international use

System Requirements

Minimum Specifications

• OS: Windows 10 version 20H2 or Windows 11
• CPU: Intel Core i9-11900K or AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (or comparable)
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, RTX 3080, RTX 2080 Ti, or NVIDIA RTX A5000 (or comparable AMD GPU)
• RAM: 32 GB DDR4-3200
• Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD
• USB: Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C with DP Alt Mode

Recommended Specifications

• CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4090 or RTX 6000 Ada
• RAM: 64 GB DDR5
• Storage: 2 TB NVMe Gen4 SSD

Industry Applications

Automotive Industry

Enhanced design validation:

• BMW Group: Full vehicle design in MR
• Stellantis: Global design collaboration
• Rimac Automobili: Hypercar development
• Polestar: Sustainable material visualization

Use cases:

• Design reviews with physical clay models
• Ergonomics testing with real drivers
• HMI development and testing
• Virtual showrooms with real products

Healthcare and Medical

• Cleveland Clinic: Surgical planning in MR
• Karolinska Institute: Medical education
• Brainlab: Image-guided surgery
• Siemens Healthineers: MRI/CT visualization

Applications:

• Pre-operative planning with patient data
• Medical device training
• Anatomy education with cadavers
• Rehabilitation therapy

Architecture and Construction

• Zaha Hadid Architects: Parametric design review
• AECOM: Infrastructure visualization
• Trimble: BIM integration
• Autodesk: Native Revit support

Defense and Aerospace

• Lockheed Martin: F-35 maintenance
• Saab: Gripen pilot training
• BAE Systems: Ship design review
• Various contractors: Classified programs

Market Reception

Launch Impact

The XR-4 announcement generated significant attention:

• Price Point: $3,990 for the standard edition was a notable reduction from the previous XR-3.
• No Subscription: Praised by enterprise customers.
• Feature Set: Considered comprehensive for its price in the professional market.
• Availability: Global launch in 40+ countries.

Critical Response

Professional reviews were generally positive, highlighting advancements:

• Road to VR: "The XR-4 redefines what's possible in mixed reality"
• UploadVR: "Professional MR at prosumer pricing" (Note: "prosumer pricing" is relative to the high-end professional market)
• VRFocus: "Inside-out tracking rivals base station precision"

Common Praise

• Passthrough quality is a key focus, with Varjo aiming for experiences "indistinguishable from natural sight," though user experiences may vary.
• Autofocus system (Focal Edition) "game-changing" for MR.
• Price/performance ratio considered strong for the professional segment.
• Ergonomics significantly improved.

Criticisms

• High PC requirements remain.
• No wireless option at launch.
• Hand tracking, while improved, may occasionally lose precision.
• Passthrough quality, while high, may not always meet the "indistinguishable from reality" claim under all conditions, according to some hands-on reviews.
• Limited battery for future standalone use (if such a version were developed).

Technical Innovations

CloudXR Integration

Streaming MR capabilities:

• NVIDIA CloudXR: RTX server rendering
• 5G Support: Ultra-low latency streaming
• Edge Computing: Local cloud deployment
• Multi-User: Synchronized MR sessions

AI-Enhanced Processing

Machine learning throughout:

• Passthrough Enhancement: AI upscaling and denoising
• Hand Tracking: Neural network gesture recognition
• Eye Tracking: Predictive gaze estimation
• SLAM: ML-assisted tracking robustness

Optics Engineering

• Dual-Element Lenses: Reduced aberrations
• Coating Technology: 99.5% light transmission
• Edge-to-Edge Clarity: <2% distortion at edges
• Pancake Design: Considered but rejected for quality

Manufacturing Excellence

Helsinki Production

In-house manufacturing advantages:

• Quality Control: 100% optical calibration
• Lead Time: 5-day average shipping
• Customization: OEM versions available
• Sustainability: Carbon neutral facility

Component Partners

• Display Panels: BOE (custom Mini-LED)
• Cameras: Sony (IMX sensors)
• LiDAR: Proprietary Varjo design
• Lenses: ZEISS (coating technology)

Competitive Landscape

Versus Apple Vision Pro

XR-4 Advantages: Higher virtual resolution, PC-powered performance for demanding applications, established professional ecosystem, potentially more robust tracking for certain professional use cases.

Vision Pro Advantages: Standalone operation, advanced consumer-facing OS and apps, highly integrated hand/eye tracking for its interface.

Versus Meta Quest Pro/3

XR-4 Advantages: Significantly higher resolution, professional-grade tools and support, superior passthrough fidelity (especially Focal Edition).

Quest Advantages: Standalone, much lower price, larger consumer content library.

Versus HTC Vive XR Elite

XR-4 Advantages: Higher resolution, generally superior passthrough quality, more advanced eye tracking.

Vive Advantages: Standalone option, lower price point.

Future Roadmap

While not officially announced, industry sources suggest:

• Standalone version in development
• Wireless adapter planned for 2025
• 8K per eye displays in testing
• AI copilot for enterprise applications

Impact on Industry

• The XR-4's launch influenced the mixed reality landscape:
• Set a new benchmark for professional MR features at its price point.
• Reinforced the demand for 50+ PPD for detailed professional use.
• Accelerated inside-out tracking adoption in the professional space.
• Validated the no-subscription model for enterprise hardware.
• Technologies popularized:
• Gaze-driven autofocus for XR (Focal Edition).
• 20MP+ passthrough cameras.
• 300k+ point LiDAR integration.
• Uniform high-PPD displays.

See Also

• Mixed reality
• Varjo Technologies
• Varjo XR-3
• Varjo Aero
• Apple Vision Pro
• LiDAR
• Inside-out tracking
• Foveated rendering
• TAA compliance