Varjo XR-4
The Varjo XR-4 is a professional mixed reality head-mounted display developed by Varjo, released in November 2023. The headset features crystal-clear 4K-per-eye mini-LED displays with 51 pixels per degree, 120° × 105° field of view (50% wider than predecessors), 200 Hz eye tracking, and 300 kpix LiDAR for advanced mixed reality. The XR-4 uses inside-out tracking and a fiber-optic cable for ultra-low latency. Priced at $3,990 (down from $6,495 for XR-3), it targets enterprise applications in training, simulation, and design visualization.
| Varjo XR-4 | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC VR, Enterprise VR |
| Platform | SteamVR, Varjo Base |
| Developer | Varjo |
| Manufacturer | Varjo |
| Release Date | November 2023 |
| Price | $3,990 USD (XR-4), $9,990 USD (Focal Edition) |
| Website | https://varjo.com/products/xr-4 |
| Predecessor | Varjo XR-3 |
| System | |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | 2× 4K Mini-LED LCD |
| Resolution | 3840×3744 per eye |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 120° × 105° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Aspheric lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Automatic adjustment |
| Passthrough | Color (dual 20MP cameras) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | Inside-out 6DoF |
| Eye Tracking | Yes (200 Hz) |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Audio | |
| Audio | DTS 3D spatial audio, noise-canceling mics |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Fiber-optic cable, USB-C |
| Device | |
| Weight | ~600g |
History and Development
Varjo announced the XR-4 in November 2023 as a significant upgrade to the Varjo XR-3, offering dramatically wider field of view, inside-out tracking (eliminating external base stations), and lower pricing. The headset marked Varjo's transition from dual-display (micro-OLED + LCD) systems to unified 4K mini-LED panels while maintaining near-retinal resolution.[1]
The XR-4 series includes three variants: the standard XR-4 for VR training, the Focal Edition with autofocus passthrough cameras, and the Secure Edition for classified government environments.[2]
Design and Hardware
Display
The XR-4 features advanced mini-LED technology:
- Dual 4K mini-LED LCD displays
- 3840×3744 resolution per eye
- 51 pixels per degree (PPD)—near retinal resolution
- 90 Hz refresh rate
- 120° × 105° field of view: 50% wider than XR-3
- 200 nits brightness (double previous generation)
- 1:10,000 contrast ratio with local dimming
- 96% DCI-P3 color gamut
- Full binocular range vision
- Day and night scenario support
Eye Tracking
Industry-leading eye tracking system:
- 200 Hz eye tracking frequency
- 300 kpix LiDAR camera
- Highly accurate gaze tracking
- Smooth eye movement capture
- Enables foveated rendering
- Automatic IPD adjustment
Passthrough and Mixed Reality
Advanced mixed reality capabilities:
- Dual 20-megapixel color cameras
- Industry-leading passthrough clarity
- Real-world instruments blend with virtual content
- LiDAR-enhanced depth sensing
- Chroma key support (requires Varjo Base Pro)
- Blend-control mask features
Connectivity
Premium fiber-optic connection:
- Fiber-optic cable: Thinner, lighter than copper alternatives
- More expensive than a Meta Quest 3 by itself
- Extendable to long distances without repeaters
- USB-C for power and data
- Ultra-low latency transmission
Audio
- DTS 3D spatial audio
- Integrated speakers
- Noise-canceling microphones
- Voice communication support
Comfort
- Automatic IPD adjustment
- Glasses compatible
- Designed for long-duration use
- ~600g weight
- Balanced weight distribution
Tracking
Inside-Out Tracking
Major change from previous Varjo headsets:
- No external base stations required
- Effortless setup and deployment
- 6 Degrees of Freedom
- Multiple camera array
- Supports SteamVR ecosystem
Optional External Tracking
- Compatible with SteamVR base stations (Varjo Base Pro required)
- Third-party tracking systems supported
- Enhanced accuracy for simulation
Model Variants
Varjo XR-4 ($3,990)
- Standard model for VR training
- Best-in-class visual fidelity
- Inside-out tracking
Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition ($9,990)
- Gaze-driven autofocus passthrough cameras
- Enhanced mixed reality integration
- Real-world object interaction
Varjo XR-4 Secure Edition
- Fully TAA-compliant
- Assembled in Finland
- For classified/air-gapped environments
- Government and defense applications
Software
Varjo Base (Free)
- Basic VR functionality
- SteamVR integration
- Standard features
Varjo Base Pro ($2,500/year)
- Advanced mixed reality features
- Chroma key
- Blend-control mask
- Developer camera access
- Third-party tracking support
- Required for full XR capabilities
System Requirements
- NVIDIA RTX 4070 or higher recommended
- High-performance PC required
- Business/Enterprise use only
- Varjo organization account required
Reception
Praise:
- Near-retinal 51 PPD resolution
- 50% wider field of view (120° × 105°)
- Inside-out tracking eliminates base stations
- 200 Hz eye tracking
- 4K per eye displays
- Lower price than XR-3 ($3,990 vs $6,495)
- Fiber-optic cable innovation
- DTS 3D spatial audio
- Professional build quality
- LiDAR depth sensing
Criticism:
- Still expensive at $3,990+
- $2,500/year subscription for full features
- Passthrough quality disappointing vs claims
- Enterprise-only—no consumer use
- Requires high-end PC
- Requires organizational account
- Some features locked behind subscription[3]
See Also
References
- ↑ "Varjo XR-4: Stunning VR With Disappointing Passthrough". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/varjo-xr-4-hands-on/.
- ↑ "Mixed Reality Headset for Professionals – Varjo XR-4 Series". Varjo. https://varjo.com/products/xr-4.
- ↑ "Finnish startup Varjo launches $3,990 XR-4 mixed reality headset". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/27/finnish-startup-varjo-launches-3990-xr-4-mixed-reality-headset.html.
- ↑ "Varjo releases high-end XR-4 mixed reality headset for $3,990". VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/games/varjo-releases-high-end-xr-4-mixed-reality-headset-for-3990/.