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Varjo XR-3

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Varjo XR-3
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 December 1, 2020
Release Date December 2020
Price $5,495 + $1,495/year subscription
Website https://varjo.com
Versions XR-3, XR-3 Focal Edition
Requires High-end PC
Predecessor Varjo XR-1 (Developer Edition)
Successor Varjo XR-4
System
Operating System Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
Storage
SD Card Slot No
Display
Display uOLED (focus) + LCD (peripheral)
Subpixel Layout RGB
Peak Brightness 150 nits
Resolution Focus: 1920×1920 per eye, Context: 2880×2720 per eye
Pixel Density 70+ PPD (focus), 30+ PPD (periphery)
Refresh Rate 90 Hz
Persistence Low persistence
Precision Sub-pixel precision
Image
Field of View 115°
Horizontal FoV 115°
Vertical FoV N/A
Visible FoV 115°
Rendered FoV 115°
Binocular Overlap less than 85%
Average Pixel Density N/A
Peak Pixel Density 70+ PPD
Foveated Rendering Yes (dynamic)
Optics
Optics Aspheric lenses
Ocularity Binocular
IPD Range 58-73mm (automatic adjustment)
Adjustable Diopter No
Passthrough Yes (12MP RGB cameras + LiDAR)
Tracking
Tracking SteamVR 2.0, Inside-out (beta)
Tracking Frequency 1000 Hz
Base Stations Optional
Eye Tracking Yes (200Hz)
Hand Tracking Yes (Ultraleap Gemini)
Rotational Tracking 6DOF
Positional Tracking 6DOF
Update Rate 1000 Hz
Tracking Volume Up to 10m × 10m
Play Space Room-scale
Latency less than 20ms (VR), less than 20ms (passthrough)
Audio
Audio Off-ear speakers (37mm drivers)
Microphone Yes
3.5mm Audio Jack Yes
Camera 2× 12MP RGB, 2× LiDAR depth sensors
Connectivity
Connectivity DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C 3.0
Ports 1× DisplayPort 1.4, 1× USB-C 3.0
Wired Video DisplayPort 1.4
Power External power adapter
Device
Weight 594g (headset only)
Material Magnesium alloy, plastic
Headstrap 3-point precision fit headband
Haptics No
Color Black
Sensors 200Hz eye tracking, IMU, depth sensors
Input Compatible with SteamVR controllers
Compliance CE, FCC, TAA-compliant option
Cable Length 5 meters

The Varjo XR-3 is a professional PC-powered mixed reality and virtual reality head-mounted display announced on December 1, 2020, by Varjo Technologies. Building on the Varjo VR-3 platform, the XR-3 adds advanced video passthrough capabilities with 12-megapixel cameras and LiDAR depth sensing, enabling seamless transitions between virtual and augmented reality.[1]

History

The XR-3 succeeded Varjo's experimental XR-1 developer kit, representing the company's first production mixed reality headset. Development focused on achieving photorealistic passthrough quality with accurate depth perception, targeting industries requiring seamless AR/VR switching such as automotive design, medical training, and aerospace simulation.[2]

Key innovations included:

  • Industry's first VR headset with integrated LiDAR
  • Highest resolution passthrough cameras in mixed reality
  • Real-time depth-based occlusion
  • Seamless VR/AR switching capability

Technical Specifications

Mixed Reality System

The XR-3's passthrough system represents a significant advancement:

  • RGB Cameras: Dual 12-megapixel sensors
  • Frame Rate: 90 fps video passthrough
  • Latency: Sub-20ms glass-to-glass
  • Field of View: Matches 115° display FOV
  • Color Accuracy: 94% sRGB in passthrough mode

LiDAR Depth Sensing

First-of-its-kind integration in VR/AR:

  • Technology: Time-of-flight LiDAR sensors
  • Range: 0.5m to 5m depth sensing
  • Resolution: 640×480 depth map
  • Frame Rate: 30 fps depth updates
  • Accuracy: ±5mm at 1m distance

Display Technology

Identical to VR-3 base specifications:

  • Focus Display: 1920×1920 micro-OLED per eye
  • Context Display: 2880×2720 LCD per eye
  • Virtual Resolution: 70+ PPD center, 30+ PPD periphery
  • Refresh Rate: 90 Hz

Mixed Reality Features

Video Passthrough Quality

The XR-3 achieved unprecedented passthrough fidelity:

  • Chroma Keying: Real-time green screen removal
  • Exposure Control: Automatic HDR adjustment
  • White Balance: Scene-adaptive color correction
  • Distortion Correction: Minimal warping artifacts

Depth-Based Occlusion

LiDAR enables realistic object interaction:

  • Pixel-Perfect Occlusion: Virtual objects behind real objects
  • Hand Occlusion: Natural hand-over-virtual interactions
  • Dynamic Meshing: Real-time 3D environment reconstruction
  • Collision Detection: Physics-based AR interactions

XR-3 Focal Edition

Special variant with experimental features:

  • Varifocal Cameras: Motorized focus adjustment
  • Gaze-Directed Focus: Camera focus follows eye gaze
  • Extended Depth Range: 20cm to infinity focus
  • Research Applications: Vergence-accommodation studies

Software Capabilities

Varjo Reality Cloud XR

Cloud-based mixed reality platform:

  • Remote Rendering: Stream XR content from servers
  • Multi-User Sessions: Collaborative AR experiences
  • Persistent AR: Save and share AR annotations
  • Cross-Platform: Works with other Varjo headsets

Development Tools

  • XR SDK: Unified API for VR/AR switching
  • Depth API: Direct LiDAR data access
  • Chroma Key SDK: Custom background removal
  • Unity XR Plugin: Native mixed reality support
  • Unreal Engine Integration: Blueprint-based XR tools

Professional Software Support

System Requirements

Higher than VR-3 due to passthrough processing:

Industry Applications

Automotive Design

Revolutionary workflow capabilities:

  • Clay Model Overlay: Virtual designs on physical models
  • Ergonomics Testing: Real driver with virtual interior
  • Color Matching: Compare virtual and physical materials
  • Design Reviews: Stakeholders see AR annotations

Major adopters:

Medical Training

  • Surgical Planning: 3D models overlaid on patients
  • Medical Education: Anatomy visualization on cadavers
  • Remote Assistance: Expert guidance via AR
  • Therapy Applications: Mixed reality rehabilitation

Institutional users:

Aerospace and Defense

  • Maintenance Training: AR work instructions
  • Cockpit Design: Virtual controls in real cockpit
  • Mission Planning: Terrain visualization
  • Simulation: Mixed reality flight training

Key customers:

  • Boeing: Assembly line training
  • Lockheed Martin: F-35 maintenance
  • Various defense contractors: Classified programs

Advanced Features

200Hz Eye Tracking in XR

Enhanced for mixed reality:

  • Vergence Tracking: Measure eye convergence
  • Depth Estimation: Gaze-based distance calculation
  • Attention Analysis: Real-world fixation mapping
  • Calibration Transfer: VR calibration works in AR

Ultraleap Gemini Hand Tracking

Optimized for mixed reality:

  • Wider Tracking Volume: 160° × 160° coverage
  • Better Occlusion: Handles real object interference
  • Lower Latency: 15ms hand detection
  • Gesture Library: Pre-built XR interactions

Inside-Out Tracking (Beta)

Experimental markerless tracking:

  • 4 Tracking Cameras: Separate from passthrough cameras
  • SLAM Algorithm: Simultaneous localization and mapping
  • Hybrid Mode: Combine with base stations
  • Persistent Mapping: Remember room layouts

Variants and Configurations

XR-3 Standard Edition

  • Full mixed reality capabilities
  • 12MP passthrough cameras
  • LiDAR depth sensing
  • $5,495 + $1,495/year

XR-3 Focal Edition

  • All standard features plus:
  • Varifocal camera system
  • Gaze-directed autofocus
  • Research-grade eye tracking data
  • Custom pricing

XR-3 Secure Edition

  • TAA/BAA compliant
  • Offline operation mode
  • Secure boot process
  • Government/defense only

Market Reception

Critical Response

Professional reviews highlighted breakthrough features:

Strengths:

  • Best-in-class passthrough quality
  • LiDAR depth unprecedented in VR/AR
  • Seamless VR/AR transitions
  • 115° FOV matched VR mode
  • Lighter than expected (594g)

Limitations:

  • High system requirements
  • Expensive subscription model
  • Limited passthrough FOV vs human vision
  • Tethered operation only

Industry Impact

The XR-3 influenced mixed reality development:

  • Established LiDAR as essential for professional AR
  • Proved high-resolution passthrough feasible
  • Accelerated enterprise XR adoption
  • Set new benchmark for AR/VR switching

Technical Innovations

Photorealistic Passthrough Pipeline

  • ISP Integration: Custom image signal processor
  • Temporal Filtering: Reduced video noise
  • Chromatic Correction: Lens aberration compensation
  • Dynamic Range: 12-stop exposure latitude

Real-Time Depth Processing

  • GPU Acceleration: CUDA-optimized depth maps
  • Sensor Fusion: Combine LiDAR with stereo depth
  • Predictive Filling: Interpolate occluded areas
  • Edge Detection: Sub-pixel boundary accuracy

Manufacturing and Quality

  • Helsinki Production: In-house manufacturing
  • Sensor Calibration: Individual unit optimization
  • Burn-In Testing: 48-hour stress tests
  • Quality Metrics: <2% RMA rate reported

Legacy and Future

The XR-3 established Varjo's leadership in professional mixed reality:

  • First production headset with LiDAR depth sensing
  • Achieved "good enough" passthrough for professional use
  • Validated mixed reality for enterprise workflows
  • Influenced competitors toward higher-quality passthrough

The XR-3's success directly led to:

  • Varjo XR-4 development with improved cameras
  • Industry shift toward depth-sensing AR
  • Increased enterprise XR investment
  • New mixed reality use cases

See Also

References

  1. ↑ "Varjo Launches XR-3 and VR-3 Headsets to Bring the Next Generation of Immersive Technology to Every Workplace". Varjo. December 1, 2020. https://varjo.com/press-release/varjo-launches-xr-3-and-vr-3-headsets-to-bring-the-next-generation-of-immersive-technology-to-every-workplace/.
  2. ↑ "Varjo Announces XR-3 and VR-3 Headsets – Specs, Price, Release Date". Road to VR. December 1, 2020. https://www.roadtovr.com/varjo-xr-3-vr-3-announcement-specs-release-date-price/.

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