Varjo VR-3

Varjo VR-3
Basic Info
VR/AR	Virtual Reality
Type	Head-mounted display
Subtype	PC VR, Enterprise VR
Platform	SteamVR, Varjo Base
Creator	Varjo
Developer	Varjo
Manufacturer	Varjo
Announcement Date	December 2020
Release Date	February 2021
Price	$3,195 (hardware) + $795/year (subscription)
Website	https://varjo.com/
Versions	Varjo VR-3
Requires	High-end PC (NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti or better), SteamVR base stations
Predecessor	Varjo VR-2
Successor	None announced
System
Operating System	Windows 10/11
Chipset	N/A (PC-tethered)
CPU	N/A (host PC)
GPU	N/A (host PC)
Storage
Storage	N/A (host PC)
Memory	N/A (host PC)
SD Card Slot	No
Display
Display	Dual micro-OLED (focus) + dual LCD (peripheral)
Subpixel Layout	RGB stripe (focus displays)
Peak Brightness	>100 nits (focus), >150 nits (peripheral)
Resolution	2880 × 2720 per eye (context), 1920 × 1920 per eye (focus)
Pixel Density	>70 PPD (focus area)
Refresh Rate	90Hz
Persistence	Low persistence
Image
Field of View	115° horizontal
Horizontal FoV	115°
Vertical FoV	115°
Average Pixel Density	~35 PPD
Peak Pixel Density	>70 PPD (focus area)
Foveated Rendering	Yes (gaze-driven)
Optics
Optics	Aspherical lenses with Bionic Display
Ocularity	Binocular
IPD Range	59-71mm (automatic)
Adjustable Diopter	No (glasses compatible)
Passthrough	No (VR-only)
Tracking
Tracking	6DoF (SteamVR Tracking 2.0)
Tracking Frequency	1000Hz (IMU)
Base Stations	Required (SteamVR 2.0)
Eye Tracking	Yes (integrated, 200Hz)
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	Yes (Ultraleap integration)
Body Tracking	Via SteamVR trackers
Rotational Tracking	Yes
Positional Tracking	Yes
Update Rate	90Hz
Tracking Volume	Room-scale (base station dependent)
Play Space	Roomscale
Latency	<20ms motion-to-photon
Audio
Audio	Integrated headphones
Microphone	Yes (integrated)
3.5mm Audio Jack	Yes
Camera	No (VR-only)
Connectivity
Connectivity	DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C 3.0, proprietary cable
Ports	Proprietary headset cable
Wired Video	Yes (DisplayPort 1.4)
Wireless Video	No
WiFi	No
Bluetooth	No
Power	Powered by PC via cable
Battery Capacity	N/A
Battery Life	N/A (tethered)
Charge Time	N/A
Device
Dimensions	Not specified
Weight	~558g (without headband), ~944g (with headband)
Material	Premium plastics, aluminum
Headstrap	Precision fit headband with counterweight
Haptics	No
Color	Black/Silver
Sensors	Eye tracking cameras, IMU, proximity sensor
Input	SteamVR controllers, enterprise controllers
Compliance	FCC, CE

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The Varjo VR-3 is a professional-grade virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Varjo, announced in December 2020 and released in February 2021 at a price of $3,195 for hardware plus $795 annual subscription. As the VR-only counterpart to the XR-3 mixed reality headset, the VR-3 delivers Varjo's revolutionary Bionic Display technology—combining micro-OLED focus displays with LCD peripheral displays to achieve human-eye resolution exceeding 70 pixels per degree in the foveal region. This enables professionals to read cockpit instruments, examine fine CAD details, and perceive visual fidelity indistinguishable from reality in the center of view. With industry-leading 115° horizontal field of view, integrated 200Hz eye tracking enabling foveated rendering, automatic IPD adjustment, and optional Ultraleap hand tracking integration, the VR-3 targets the most demanding professional applications: flight simulation, automotive design, industrial training, and research where visual clarity cannot be compromised.

History and Development

Varjo Vision

Company mission:

Founded 2016 in Finland
Human-eye resolution goal
Enterprise VR focus
Premium market position

Bionic Display Innovation

Technology development:

VR-1 introduction (2019)
VR-2 improvements
VR-3 refinement
Continuous advancement

December 2020 Announcement

VR-3 reveal:

Improved specifications
Wider FOV (115°)
Better resolution
Reduced weight and price

February 2021 Launch

Commercial release:

$3,195 hardware
$795/year subscription
Enterprise channel
Professional focus

Design Philosophy

Human-Eye Resolution

Visual fidelity goal:

>70 PPD in focus area
Read fine text naturally
Instrument legibility
Professional requirements

Bionic Display

Dual display system:

Micro-OLED focus area
LCD peripheral context
Seamless combination
Best of both technologies

Enterprise VR

Professional design:

Premium construction
Reliability focus
Support infrastructure
Deployment tools

VR-Only Focus

Immersive design:

No passthrough cameras
Full immersion
Lighter than XR-3
Lower cost than XR-3

Display Technology

Bionic Display System

Revolutionary approach:

Focus Display: 1920 × 1920 micro-OLED per eye
Context Display: 2880 × 2720 LCD per eye
Combined: Seamless optical blend
Technology: Proprietary optics

Focus Area Resolution

Human-eye class:

>70 PPD central
~35 PPD peripheral
Text legibility
Detail perception

Micro-OLED Focus

High-density core:

RGB stripe layout
Excellent contrast
Fast response
Premium quality

LCD Peripheral

Wide-angle context:

Full FOV coverage
Good resolution
Seamless blend
Complete immersion

Color Calibration

Professional accuracy:

99% sRGB calibrated
93% DCI-P3 coverage
Factory calibrated
Professional grade

Field of View

115° Horizontal FOV

Industry-leading:

Widest in class
Near-human vision
Peripheral awareness
Full immersion

Significant Improvement

vs Previous generation:

115° vs 87° (VR-2)
32% increase
Major advancement
Competitive advantage

Optical System

Aspherical Lenses

Premium optics:

Wide sweet spot
Minimal distortion
Clear edge-to-edge
Professional quality

Automatic IPD

Eye tracking integration:

Range: 59-71mm
Automatic adjustment
Per-user optimization
Eye tracking driven

Eye Tracking

200Hz Eye Tracking

Industry-leading:

Frequency: 200Hz
Technology: Integrated cameras
Sub-degree accuracy
Professional grade

Foveated Rendering

Performance optimization:

Gaze-driven rendering
Full resolution at gaze point
Reduced peripheral detail
Significant GPU savings

Research Applications

Scientific use:

Gaze data collection
Attention analysis
Training assessment
Behavioral research

Processing Requirements

High-End PC Required

Demanding specifications:

NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti minimum
RTX 3080 recommended
Quadro RTX 6000 supported
High-end workstation

GPU Power

Computational needs:

High resolution output
Foveated rendering helps
Professional graphics cards
Enterprise workstations

Tracking System

SteamVR Tracking 2.0

External tracking:

Base stations required
Sub-millimeter accuracy
Large volume capable
Professional reliability

6DoF Precision

Complete motion:

Position tracking
Rotation tracking
High accuracy
Low latency

Hand Tracking Option

Ultraleap integration:

Optional add-on
Gesture recognition
Natural interaction
Enterprise applications

Audio System

Integrated Headphones

Built-in audio:

Over-ear design
Spatial audio capable
Good isolation
Convenient

3.5mm Jack

Alternative audio:

External headphones
Custom audio
Professional options
User preference

Physical Design

Premium Construction

Professional build:

High-quality materials
Precision engineering
Durable design
Enterprise grade

Comfort System

Extended wear:

Counterweight design
Adjustable fit
Pressure distribution
Professional use capable

Weight

Substantial device:

~558g without headband
~944g with headband
Well-balanced
Counterweight helps

Connectivity

Tethered Operation

PC connection:

DisplayPort 1.4
USB-C 3.0
Power delivery
Proprietary cable

Software Platform

Varjo Base

Management software:

Device configuration
Display calibration
Eye tracking setup
Enterprise tools

SteamVR Integration

Content access:

SteamVR applications
OpenXR support
Enterprise apps
Custom development

Enterprise SDK

Developer tools:

Unity integration
Unreal Engine support
Native SDK
Professional tools

Enterprise Applications

Flight Simulation

Aviation training:

Cockpit legibility
Instrument reading
Realistic visuals
Training fidelity

Automotive Design

Vehicle development:

Full-scale review
Design validation
Detail assessment
Collaborative review

Industrial Training

Workforce development:

Procedure training
Safety simulation
Skill development
Assessment capable

Research