Varjo VR-2

Varjo VR-2
File:Varjo VR-2 Pro.jpg
Basic Info
VR/AR	Virtual Reality
Type	Head-mounted display
Subtype	PC-Powered VR
Platform	SteamVR
Creator	Varjo Technologies
Developer	Varjo Technologies
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)
Chipset	N/A
CPU	Intel Core i7-8700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X or better
GPU	NVIDIA GTX 2070 or Quadro RTX 4000 or better
HPU	N/A
Storage
Storage	N/A
Memory	32 GB RAM minimum
SD Card Slot	No
Display
Display	Dual OLED displays per eye (Bionic Display)
Subpixel Layout	RGB
Peak Brightness	N/A
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	>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	<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
Battery Capacity	N/A
Battery Life	N/A
Charge Time	N/A
Device
Dimensions	N/A
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
Size	N/A
Cable Length	10 meters

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The Varjo VR-2 and VR-2 Pro are professional 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]

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

References

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External Links

[1] "Varjo". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varjo.

[2] "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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