Varjo VR-2
The Varjo VR-2 and VR-2 Pro are professional PC-powered virtual reality head-mounted displays developed by Varjo Technologies. Announced on October 8, 2019, these second-generation headsets improved upon the Varjo VR-1 with enhanced optics, full 90Hz refresh rate, and reduced pricing while maintaining the revolutionary Bionic Display technology.[1]
| Varjo VR-2 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC-Powered VR |
| Platform | SteamVR |
| Creator | Varjo |
| Manufacturer | Flex |
| Announcement Date | October 8, 2019 |
| Release Date | October 2019 |
| Price | VR-2: $4,995 + $795/year, VR-2 Pro: $5,995 + $795/year |
| Website | https://varjo.com |
| Versions | VR-2, VR-2 Pro |
| Requires | High-end PC |
| Predecessor | Varjo VR-1 |
| Successor | Varjo VR-3 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro (64-bit) |
| Storage | |
| SD Card Slot | No |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual OLED displays per eye (Bionic Display) |
| Subpixel Layout | RGB |
| Resolution | Focus: 1920×1080 per eye, Context: 1440×1600 per eye |
| Pixel Density | 60+ PPD (focus area), 14 PPD (periphery) |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz (both displays) |
| Persistence | Low persistence |
| Precision | Sub-pixel precision |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 87° |
| Horizontal FoV | 87° |
| Vertical FoV | N/A |
| Visible FoV | 87° |
| Rendered FoV | 150° |
| Binocular Overlap | less than 85% |
| Average Pixel Density | N/A |
| Peak Pixel Density | 60+ PPD |
| Foveated Rendering | Yes (dynamic with eye tracking) |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Improved hybrid optics |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 58-72mm (software adjustment) |
| Adjustable Diopter | No |
| Passthrough | No |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | SteamVR 1.0/2.0 |
| Tracking Frequency | 1000 Hz |
| Base Stations | Required |
| Eye Tracking | Yes (20/20 Eye Tracker) |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | Yes (VR-2 Pro only, via Ultraleap) |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | 6DOF |
| Positional Tracking | 6DOF |
| Update Rate | 1000 Hz |
| Tracking Volume | Up to 10m × 10m |
| Play Space | Room-scale |
| Latency | less than 20ms |
| Audio | |
| Audio | 3.5mm jack |
| Microphone | Yes |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Yes |
| Camera | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0+ |
| Ports | 1× DisplayPort 1.4, 1× USB 3.0+ |
| Wired Video | DisplayPort 1.4 |
| Wireless Video | No |
| WiFi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Power | External power adapter |
| Device | |
| Weight | 905g (headset + headband) |
| Material | Aluminum, plastic |
| Headstrap | Professional headband |
| Haptics | No |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | Eye tracking sensors, hand tracking (Pro) |
| Input | Compatible with SteamVR controllers |
| Compliance | CE, FCC |
| Cable Length | 10 meters |
History
Following the successful launch of the VR-1 in February 2019, Varjo rapidly developed its second-generation products based on customer feedback. The VR-2 series addressed key limitations of the original while expanding market reach through lower pricing and improved compatibility.[2]
The VR-2 series launched in two variants:
- VR-2: Standard professional model at $4,995
- VR-2 Pro: Enhanced model with Ultraleap hand tracking at $5,995
Both models required a $795 annual software subscription, representing a significant price reduction from the VR-1's $995 yearly fee.
Technical Improvements
Enhanced Bionic Display
The VR-2 series retained the dual-display-per-eye architecture but with significant improvements:
- Improved Optical Combiner: Better blending between focus and context displays
- Full 90Hz Refresh: Both displays now run at 90Hz (up from 60Hz focus display)
- Enhanced Calibration: More precise color matching between displays
- Reduced Visible Boundaries: Improved transition zones between display regions
Display Specifications
- Focus Display: 1920×1080 OLED per eye at 90 Hz
- Context Display: 1440×1600 OLED per eye at 90 Hz
- Peak Resolution: Over 60 pixels per degree (PPD) in focus area
- Peripheral Resolution: 14 PPD in context area
- Field of View: 87° horizontal
- Color Gamut: >99% sRGB coverage
Hand Tracking (VR-2 Pro)
The VR-2 Pro integrated Ultraleap (formerly Leap Motion) hand tracking technology:
- Tracking Volume: 1 cubic meter
- Frame Rate: 120 fps hand tracking
- Latency: <30ms total system latency
- Accuracy: Sub-millimeter fingertip precision
- SDK Support: Native Ultraleap SDK integration
Software Ecosystem
Native Compatibility
The VR-2 series expanded software support:
- Full SteamVR compatibility (1.0 and 2.0)
- Native OpenXR support
- Autodesk VRED integration
- Unity and Unreal Engine plugins
- Prepar3D for flight simulation
- VBS Blue IG for military training
Varjo Software Suite
- Varjo Base: Core runtime and settings management
- Varjo Analytics: Eye tracking data collection and analysis
- Varjo Workspace: Virtual desktop environment
- SDK: Comprehensive development tools for custom applications
System Requirements
Improved optimization allowed for slightly lower minimum specifications:
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X or better
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 or Quadro RTX 4000 or better
- Memory: 32 GB RAM minimum
- Ports: DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0+ Type-A
Professional Features
Eye Tracking Enhancements
The 20/20 Eye Tracker received software improvements:
- Dynamic Foveated Rendering: Real-time performance optimization
- Automatic IPD Detection: Software-based interpupillary distance adjustment
- Gaze Analytics: Professional heat mapping and attention analysis
- Multi-User Calibration: Quick switching between operators
Enterprise Management
- Fleet Management Tools: Deploy settings across multiple headsets
- Usage Analytics: Track headset utilization and user patterns
- Remote Support: Technical assistance through Varjo support team
- Priority Updates: Early access to software improvements
Industry Applications
Automotive Industry
Expanded adoption by automotive manufacturers:
- BMW for design validation
- Ford Motor Company for assembly line training
- Volkswagen Group for virtual showrooms
- Volvo Cars for safety system development
Architecture and Engineering
- Foster and Partners for architectural visualization
- Arup Group for structural engineering review
- Bentley Systems integration for infrastructure design
Training and Simulation
- Lufthansa Aviation Training for pilot training
- Saab Group for military vehicle simulation
- Medical institutions for surgical training
Manufacturing and Quality
Production continued with Flex Ltd. with improvements:
- Enhanced quality control processes
- Reduced manufacturing tolerances
- Improved cable durability
- Better weight distribution in headband
Market Reception
Critical Response
Professional reviews highlighted improvements while noting remaining limitations:
Improvements over VR-1:
- Full 90Hz refresh eliminated motion artifacts
- Better display blending reduced visible boundaries
- Lower price point expanded accessibility
- Hand tracking (Pro model) enabled new interactions
- Broader software compatibility
Continuing Limitations:
- Weight remained unchanged at 905g
- Field of view still limited to 87°
- High system requirements
- Subscription model deterred some customers
Sales Performance
While specific sales figures were not disclosed, Varjo reported:
- 40% growth in enterprise customers
- Expansion to 34 countries through channel partners
- Increased adoption in aerospace and automotive sectors
Variants and Editions
VR-2 Standard
- Professional VR headset
- Eye tracking included
- Full software suite access
- $4,995 + $795/year
VR-2 Pro
- All VR-2 features
- Integrated Ultraleap hand tracking
- Additional SDK access
- $5,995 + $795/year
Legacy and Discontinuation
The VR-2 series was discontinued in December 2020 with the announcement of the Varjo VR-3, which addressed the primary limitations of weight and field of view. Varjo committed to supporting VR-2 customers through 2023, honoring existing subscriptions and providing security updates.
The VR-2's success in reducing costs while maintaining quality established Varjo's trajectory toward more accessible professional VR. Technologies refined in the VR-2, particularly the improved optical blending and hand tracking integration, became standard in subsequent models.
Technical Innovations
The VR-2 pioneered several technologies:
- Improved Optical Combining: Reduced visible boundaries between display zones
- 90Hz Bionic Display: First to achieve full refresh rate in dual-display system
- Integrated Hand Tracking: Native support for natural interaction in VR
- Dynamic Foveated Rendering: Real-time GPU optimization based on gaze
See Also
References
- ↑ "Varjo". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varjo.
- ↑ "Twice the Performance, Half the Price – See How the New Varjo XR-3 and VR-3 Improve from Earlier Varjo Headsets". Varjo. December 1, 2020. https://varjo.com/blog/twice-the-performance-half-the-price-%E2%80%AFsee-how-the-new-varjo-xr-3-and-vr-3-improve-from-earlier-varjo-headsets/.
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