Varjo Aero

Varjo Aero
Basic Info
VR/AR	Virtual Reality
Type	Head-mounted display
Subtype	PC VR
Platform	SteamVR, Varjo Base
Creator	Varjo
Developer	Varjo
Manufacturer	Varjo
Announcement Date	October 21, 2021
Release Date	October 2021
Price	$1,990 (original), $990 (reduced 2023)
Website	https://varjo.com/products/aero/
Versions	Varjo Aero
Requires	High-end gaming PC, SteamVR Tracking
Predecessor	Varjo VR-3
Successor	Varjo XR-4
System
Operating System	Windows
Chipset	N/A (tethered PCVR)
CPU	N/A (PC-powered)
GPU	N/A (PC-powered)
Storage
Storage	N/A
Memory	N/A
SD Card Slot	No
Display
Display	Dual Mini LED LCD
Subpixel Layout	RGB stripe
Peak Brightness	150 nits
Resolution	2880 × 2720 per eye (5760 × 2720 combined)
Pixel Density	35 PPD (peak)
Refresh Rate	90Hz
Persistence	Low persistence
Image
Field of View	115° (diagonal)
Horizontal FoV	~115°
Vertical FoV	~115°
Average Pixel Density	~30 PPD
Peak Pixel Density	35 PPD
Foveated Rendering	Yes (eye-tracked)
Optics
Optics	Custom aspherical lenses
Ocularity	Binocular
IPD Range	57-73mm (automatic with eye tracking)
Adjustable Diopter	No (glasses compatible)
Passthrough	No
Tracking
Tracking	6DoF outside-in (SteamVR/Lighthouse)
Tracking Frequency	1000Hz (base stations)
Base Stations	Required (sold separately)
Eye Tracking	Yes (200Hz, built-in)
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	No
Body Tracking	Via VIVE Trackers
Rotational Tracking	Yes
Positional Tracking	Yes
Update Rate	200Hz (eye tracking)
Tracking Volume	Lighthouse 1.0/2.0 supported
Play Space	Roomscale
Latency	<20ms motion-to-photon
Audio
Audio	No built-in speakers
Microphone	No
3.5mm Audio Jack	Yes (integrated in headband)
Camera	No
Connectivity
Connectivity	DisplayPort 1.4, USB-A 3.0
Ports	DisplayPort 1.4, USB-A 3.0
Wired Video	Yes (DisplayPort)
Wireless Video	No
WiFi	No
Bluetooth	No
Power	USB powered
Battery Capacity	N/A
Battery Life	N/A (tethered)
Charge Time	N/A
Device
Dimensions	~200mm × 130mm × 110mm
Weight	487g (headset), 230g (headband)
Material	High-quality plastics, aluminum
Headstrap	Adjustable headband with counter-weight
Haptics	No
Color	White/Gray
Sensors	Eye tracking cameras, IMU, Lighthouse sensors
Input	SteamVR controllers (sold separately)
Compliance	FCC, CE

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The Varjo Aero is a professional-grade PC VR head-mounted display developed by Varjo, a Finnish company known for enterprise-focused "human-eye resolution" VR/XR headsets. Announced on October 21, 2021, the Aero represented Varjo's first attempt to bring their high-fidelity VR technology to a broader market beyond pure enterprise customers. Featuring dual mini LED LCD displays at 2880 × 2720 per eye (5760 × 2720 combined), 35 pixels per degree peak fidelity, a 115° field of view, and built-in 200Hz eye tracking with automatic IPD adjustment, the Aero offered near-professional-grade clarity at $1,990—significantly less than Varjo's enterprise headsets priced at $3,000-$6,000+. Though discontinued with the release of the Varjo XR-4 series, the Aero established that professional-grade VR clarity could be achieved at a price point accessible to serious enthusiasts and prosumers.

History and Development

Varjo Background

Finnish VR company founded in 2016:

"Human-eye resolution" VR goal
Enterprise-first approach
Professional simulation focus
Premium positioning

Previous Products

Varjo's enterprise lineup:

VR-1 (2019): First "Bionic Display" with micro-OLED focus area
VR-2 (2019): Improved VR-1
XR-1 (2019): Added mixed reality capability
VR-3/XR-3 (2020): Improved resolution and wider FOV
All $3,000+ with subscription fees

Aero Concept

Bridging enterprise and prosumer:

Lower price point target
No subscription required
Simplified design
Broader market appeal

Removing Enterprise Complexity

Streamlined from enterprise models:

No LiDAR camera system
No video passthrough
Single display technology (not bionic)
Reduced manufacturing cost

October 2021 Launch

Market positioning:

$1,990 price point
No annual subscription
SteamVR compatibility
Enthusiast and prosumer target

Design Philosophy

Professional Clarity for Prosumers

Bringing enterprise quality down:

Near-professional visual fidelity
Accessible price (for Varjo)
Enthusiast-friendly platform
No subscription model

Mini LED Technology

Cost-effective high quality:

Mini LED approaching OLED performance
Better than standard LCD
Local dimming capability
Lower cost than micro-OLED

Eye Tracking Standard

Built-in eye tracking:

Automatic IPD adjustment
Foveated rendering
Analytics capability
200Hz precision

Modular Approach

Flexible configuration:

No built-in audio
No controllers included
No base stations included
User provides ecosystem

Display Technology

Mini LED LCD Panels

Advanced display technology:

Resolution: 2880 × 2720 per eye
Total: 5760 × 2720
Technology: Mini LED backlight with LCD
Brightness: 150 nits

Mini LED Benefits

Display advantages:

Better contrast than standard LCD
Local dimming zones
Approaching OLED blacks
Good HDR performance

Pixel Density

High clarity metrics:

Peak: 35 PPD
Average: ~30 PPD
Sharp text readability
Near-retinal clarity in center

Refresh Rate

Standard VR timing:

90Hz fixed
Low persistence
Smooth motion
Consistent experience

Optical System

Custom Aspherical Lenses

High-quality optics:

Custom-designed lenses
Minimal distortion
Edge-to-edge clarity
Professional grade

Field of View

Wide viewing area:

Diagonal: 115°
Horizontal: ~105°
Vertical: ~105°
Competitive with consumer headsets

No God Rays

Clean visual experience:

Aspherical design benefits
Minimal glare
Clean high-contrast images
Professional quality

Eye Tracking

Built-In System

Integrated eye tracking:

Frequency: 200Hz
Accuracy: Sub-degree
Technology: IR-based
Always available

Automatic IPD

Convenience feature:

Range: 57-73mm
Automatically detected
No manual adjustment needed
Accurate positioning

Foveated Rendering

Performance optimization:

Eye-tracked foveated rendering
Significant performance gains
Full resolution in gaze area
Reduced peripheral resolution

Applications

Eye tracking uses:

Performance optimization
Research and analytics
Training assessment
Attention studies

Tracking System

SteamVR Lighthouse

External tracking required:

Base stations not included
Lighthouse 1.0/2.0 compatible
Sub-millimeter accuracy
Room-scale support

Base Station Requirements

Additional purchase:

Minimum 2 base stations needed
Valve or HTC stations
Significant additional cost
Standard SteamVR setup

Controller Compatibility

SteamVR ecosystem:

Controllers not included
Valve Index controllers recommended
VIVE Wand compatible
Any SteamVR controller works

Audio

No Built-In Speakers

Modular audio approach:

3.5mm jack in headband
BYO headphones
High-quality audio possible
User choice

Physical Design

Premium Build

Professional construction:

High-quality plastics
Aluminum accents
Premium feel
Durable materials

Headband Design

Counter-weighted comfort:

Adjustable headband
Rear counter-weight
Good weight distribution
Extended wear comfort

Weight

Reasonable for specifications:

Headset: 487g
Headband: 230g
Total: 717g
Well-balanced

Active Cooling

Thermal management:

Active fan cooling
Sustained performance
Audible but not loud
Prevents throttling

Connectivity

Cable Requirements

Wired connection:

DisplayPort 1.4
USB-A 3.0
Single cable from headset
Breakout to dual connection

PC Requirements

High-end specifications:

Recommended GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3080 or better
Minimum GPU: RTX 2080
High resolution demands
Eye-tracked foveated rendering helps

Software Platform

Varjo Base

Varjo software:

Device configuration
Firmware updates
Performance settings
Analytics tools

SteamVR Integration

Gaming platform:

Full SteamVR compatibility
Steam library access
OpenVR support
Standard game support

No Subscription

Unlike enterprise Varjo:

No annual fee
One-time purchase
Software included
Updates provided

Use Cases

Flight Simulation

Ideal application:

High resolution for instruments
Wide FOV for situational awareness
Text readability
Professional quality

Racing Simulation

Sim racing benefits:

Sharp distant detail
Good peripheral vision
Eye tracking potential
Enthusiast favorite

Professional Visualization

Enterprise-lite applications:

Design review
Architectural visualization
Engineering simulation
Training development

Prosumer Applications

Advanced users:

Content creation
VR development
Research
High-end gaming

Pricing History

Launch Price

October 2021:

$1,990 USD
No subscription required
Base stations/controllers separate
Competitive for specifications

Price Reduction

September 2023:

Reduced to ~$990-$1,000
50% price cut
End-of-life clearance
Exceptional value at reduced price

Discontinuation

XR-4 series replacement:

Varjo XR-4 launched
Aero discontinued
Successor positioning
Technology advancement

Comparison with Competitors

Feature	Varjo Aero	HP Reverb G2	Pimax 8K X
Price	$1,990 (original)	$599	$1,299
Resolution/eye	2880×2720	2160×2160	3840×2160
PPD	35 (peak)	~22	~20
Eye Tracking	Yes (200Hz)	No	Optional
FOV	115°	~98°	Up to 170°
Tracking	Lighthouse	WMR	Lighthouse

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths

Exceptional visual clarity
Built-in eye tracking
Automatic IPD
No subscription fee
Professional build quality

Limitations

High price (at launch)
No audio included
No controllers included
No base stations included
Discontinued product

Legacy

Market Position

Proved prosumer viability:

Professional quality achievable
Price reduction expanded access
Enthusiast validation
Bridge to consumer

Successor Development

Led to XR-4 improvements:

Lessons applied
Cost optimization
Feature refinement
Continued prosumer interest

Technical Specifications Summary

Specification	Details
Display	Dual Mini LED LCD, 2880 × 2720 per eye
Total Resolution	5760 × 2720
Pixel Density	35 PPD (peak)
FOV	115° diagonal
Refresh Rate	90Hz
Eye Tracking	Yes (200Hz)
Tracking	SteamVR Lighthouse
Audio	None (3.5mm jack)
Weight	717g (total)
Original Price	$1,990
Reduced Price	~$990
Status	Discontinued

References