Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition
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| Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition | |
|---|---|
| |
| 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 |
| Announcement Date | November 27, 2023 |
| Release Date | November 27, 2023 (orders opened); XR-4 Series shipments from December 2023 |
| Price | US$9,990 (launch price); pricing on request since the October 2025 refresh |
| Website | https://varjo.com/products/xr-4 |
| Versions | Original model (2023); refreshed XR-4 Series (2026) model |
| Requires | Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11 PC with an NVIDIA GPU, DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-C (10 Gbps) |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11 (host PC) |
| Display | |
| Display | 2x 3.59-inch Mini-LED with local dimming |
| Resolution | 3840×3744 per eye (4K×4K) |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz (75 Hz selectable) |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 120° × 105° |
| Horizontal FoV | 120° |
| Vertical FoV | 105° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Custom full-dome aspheric lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 56-72 mm (automatic) |
| Passthrough | Color (2× 20MP cameras, gaze-driven autofocus), 22 ms latency |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | Inside-out; optional SteamVR (outside-in); ART and OptiTrack supported |
| Eye Tracking | Yes (200 Hz) |
| Hand Tracking | Yes (integrated camera-based tracking, beta since Varjo Base 4.10, April 2025) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | DTS 3D spatial audio, integrated speakers, 3.5 mm jack |
| Microphone | Dual noise-canceling microphones |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort, USB-C |
| Device | |
| Weight | 665g (headset), 356g (headband); 1021 g total |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | 300 kpix LiDAR (7 m range, 30 fps), RGB ambient light sensor, 200 Hz eye tracking cameras |
| Input | Varjo Controllers (powered by Razer), hand tracking |
The Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition is a high-end enterprise mixed reality head-mounted display developed by Varjo and announced on November 27, 2023. It is a variant of the Varjo XR-4 that adds passthrough cameras with gaze-driven autofocus, which Varjo describes as the world's first gaze-driven XR autofocus camera system.[1] Varjo rates the passthrough at up to 51 pixels per degree (PPD), compared with the roughly 60 PPD that it says the human eye can discern.[1][2] Varjo positions the Focal Edition for pilot training and other cockpit-based use cases, where the wearer has to read and operate physical instruments, labels and controls at arm's length.[3][4]
The Focal Edition launched at US$9,990, compared with US$3,990 for the fixed-focus XR-4.[5] Varjo refreshed the XR-4 Series in October 2025 with passthrough changes aimed at cockpit trainers, and as of September 2026 the Focal Edition is still listed among Varjo's current headsets, sold through Varjo's sales team with pricing on request.[6][7][8]
History and development
Varjo is a Finnish company that makes enterprise VR and XR headsets. The XR-4 series was announced in late 2023 as the successor to the Varjo XR-3, with higher-resolution passthrough and a lower starting price. When it announced the series, Varjo stated that over 25% of Fortune 100 companies were using its technology, for applications including astronaut and pilot training, automotive production, medical work and 3D visualization for architects and designers.[3] CNBC reported that the XR-4 started at US$3,990, against a starting price of US$6,495 for the XR-3.[9]
The XR-4 Focal Edition is one of three variants in the XR-4 series:
- XR-4 - Base model with fixed-focus passthrough cameras ($3,990 at launch)[5]
- XR-4 Focal Edition - Gaze-driven autofocus passthrough ($9,990 at launch)[5]
- XR-4 Secure Edition - TAA-compliant and assembled in Finland, for government and enterprise customers with strict security requirements[7][3]
In Europe, The Ghost Howls reported the Focal Edition's launch price as EUR 9,990.[10] Road to VR reported that the Secure Edition would be offered in both a standard and a Focal configuration.[11]
Announcement and launch
Varjo announced the XR-4 series, including the Focal Edition, on November 27, 2023. According to the announcement, the Focal Edition "has all the features of the XR-4 but offers the gaze-directed autofocus cameras and further optimized camera resolution for pilot training and other cockpit-based use cases." The headsets were available for enterprise orders immediately, with first shipments of the series starting in December 2023.[3] Varjo Base 4.0 (Beta), released on December 20, 2023, was the first version of Varjo's desktop software to support the XR-4, XR-4 Focal Edition and XR-4 Secure Edition.[12]
Software licensing change
Varjo introduced a paid Varjo Base Pro tier effective March 25, 2025. Varjo Base Pro costs US$2,500 per year per headset or US$5,000 for a perpetual license. It covers advanced mixed reality features such as chroma key, developer access to the passthrough cameras, passthrough post-processing shaders, 3D reconstruction and programmatic control of camera settings, as well as third-party tracking systems, motion platforms and eye tracking uses beyond foveated rendering. The requirement applies to newly purchased headsets; existing owners keep their current features.[13]
2025 refresh
On October 8, 2025, Varjo announced a refreshed XR-4 Series for cockpit trainers, vehicle simulators and ground training systems. Varjo said the refresh brought "optimized autofocus passthrough cameras" that let pilots interact with real maps, checklists and avionics inside real cockpits, as well as hand occlusion, a night mode, a redesigned headband and a front plate compatible with SteamVR tracking. The company guaranteed hardware and software support for the series through 2030 and moved to pricing on request.[6] Varjo closed its online store on October 8, 2025; businesses now buy headsets through its sales team.[8]
In a November 2025 blog post, Varjo's chief product officer Patrick Wyatt described the Focal Edition changes in more detail. On the first Focal Edition the vertical passthrough field of view was limited and a "black notch" was visible in the lower area; on the refreshed model the passthrough window was shifted down so that it covers the bottom half of the display. The passthrough cameras were tilted down by 10 degrees so that cockpit dials and instruments, which sit slightly below eye level, fall into the sharpest area. Varjo also enlarged the high-resolution passthrough region and made it follow the eyes about a third faster. A color change in Varjo Base 4.12 made green and white indicators easier to tell apart in passthrough.[14] Varjo's support site calls the refreshed units the XR-4 Series (2026); they require Varjo Base 4.13 or newer.[15]
In February 2026 Varjo added Integrated XR Systems, which bundle a headset with a certified workstation from SCHENKER or RAVE Computer, pre-installed software, licenses including Varjo Base Pro, extended warranty and support. Varjo priced the bundle at EUR 29,990 with the XR-4 Focal Edition, against EUR 24,990 with the XR-4.[16]
Design and hardware
Apart from the passthrough cameras, the Focal Edition shares its hardware with the fixed-focus XR-4.[3] Varjo's datasheet lists a total weight of 1021 g and connection through one DisplayPort and one USB-C cable.[17]
Display
The XR-4 Focal Edition features dual Mini-LED displays with 3840×3744 resolution per eye (approximately 4K×4K). Display specifications include:
- 200 nits brightness
- 96% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage (98% sRGB)
- Contrast of 1:10000 with local dimming
- 120° × 105° field of view
- Custom full-dome aspheric optics[18][17]
The panels measure 3.59 inches and run at 90 Hz.[17] Since Varjo Base 4.3 (June 2024) the refresh rate can be set to 75 Hz or 90 Hz. Varjo recommends 90 Hz for VR content and 75 Hz for mixed reality content; at 75 Hz the foveated focus area is larger and the Focal Edition's vertical passthrough field of view increases.[19][12] Automatic interpupillary distance adjustment covers 56 to 72 mm.[2]
Gaze-driven autofocus system
The defining feature of the Focal Edition is its gaze-driven autofocus passthrough system:
- Dual 20-megapixel passthrough cameras
- 200 Hz eye tracking drives camera autofocus
- Cameras focus on the exact object the user is looking at
- Achieves up to 51 PPD pixel density in passthrough
- Near-retinal resolution (human vision is ~60 PPD)
Varjo says this gives clearer passthrough, particularly for applications requiring reading text or examining fine details.[20][4]
In a May 2024 technical article, Varjo Technical Fellow Ville Timonen explained the design. Fixed-focus passthrough cameras need a small lens aperture so that the depth of field covers the whole operating range, for example from 20 cm to infinity, and Varjo says such optics reach their resolution limit at around 30 PPD. Variable-focus cameras can raise PPD at the cost of depth of field, which then has to be recovered by fast and accurate autofocus. The Focal Edition's aperture is roughly the size of a typical iris, so objects away from the fixation point blur in a way that resembles natural vision. The system tracks gaze at 200 Hz and combines it with the headset's LiDAR depth sensor to settle on the correct focus distance; in scenes such as looking between one's fingers, it picks the LiDAR samples that match the distance at which the eyes converge. Varjo says the focus actuators take less than a millisecond from end to end.[1]
Varjo's documentation puts the fixed-focus XR-4 at around 33 PPD in passthrough. Varjo says objects at arm's length and closer look slightly soft on the fixed-focus model, and recommends the Focal Edition for work that involves reading or handling physical objects at that distance, such as in certified cockpits, vehicle stations and maintenance rigs.[4] Varjo's datasheet gives the passthrough as 50 PPD peak (central focus) with a latency of 22 milliseconds.[17] Earlier coverage of the announcement gave the same 33 PPD and 51 PPD split between the two models.[11]
| Passthrough | Varjo XR-4 | XR-4 Focal Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Cameras | Dual 20 MP, fixed focus | Dual 20 MP, gaze-driven autofocus |
| Stated passthrough resolution | About 33 PPD | Up to 51 PPD |
| Near-field detail (arm's length and closer) | Slightly soft, per Varjo | In focus where the user looks, per Varjo |
| Launch price (US) | $3,990 | $9,990 |
The table follows Varjo's 2026 comparison of the two models and UploadVR's launch prices.[4][5]
The autofocus cameras need calibration. Varjo Base 4.3 added a manual recalibration option, and from Varjo Base 4.7 (February 2025) the cameras calibrate automatically. Manual recalibration is still available when the cameras do not focus correctly or the two cameras disagree; it uses a printed calibration sheet placed 50 cm in front of the headset. Users can also switch the autofocus to manual mode and set the focus distance in centimeters with a slider.[21][12]
Sensors
The headset's sensors include:
- 300 kpix LiDAR for depth sensing, with a range of 7 m at 30 fps[17]
- 200 Hz eye tracking cameras
- RGB ambient light sensor[2][17]
- Inside-out tracking cameras
Audio
- DTS 3D spatial audio system
- Dual noise-canceling microphones
- Integrated speakers
- 3.5 mm audio jack[3][17]
Tracking
The XR-4 Focal Edition supports hybrid tracking:
- Inside-out tracking for room-scale VR (no base stations required)
- SteamVR base station support for higher precision tracking
- ART and OptiTrack tracking systems are also listed as supported
- Hand tracking for controller-free interaction[17][2]
Varjo Controllers, powered by Razer, were included in the box at launch.[3] Built-in hand tracking arrived as a beta feature in Varjo Base 4.10 in April 2025. It uses the passthrough camera streams and the headset's time-of-flight depth sensor, and Varjo said it works on both the fixed-focus and the autofocus variants of the XR-4.[22]
Software and compatibility
The XR-4 series is compatible with major professional 3D platforms:
- NVIDIA Omniverse
- Unreal Engine
- Unity
- OpenXR
- Autodesk VRED
- Prepar3D
- Other enterprise applications
Varjo's software integrations page lists applications that support the XR-4 Series, including Autodesk VRED (from VRED 2025.1), Lockheed Martin's Prepar3D, Unity through the Varjo Unity XR SDK plugin, and SteamVR content.[23] At launch Varjo said the series was integrated into NVIDIA Omniverse and supported by more than 100 third-party applications and engines, including Unreal Engine and Unity.[3]
The headset is driven by a Windows PC running the Varjo Base software. Varjo's system requirements call for Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11, an NVIDIA graphics card (AMD graphics cards are not supported), one DisplayPort 1.4 or newer output and one USB-C port with at least 10 Gbps.[24]
Several Varjo Base releases included changes specific to the Focal Edition:[12]
| Varjo Base version | Release date | Focal Edition changes |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 (Beta) | December 20, 2023 | First support for the XR-4 Focal Edition; known issue that automatic focusing sometimes failed in one or both cameras |
| 4.2 | April 4, 2024 | Improved autofocus accuracy; more adjustment steps for manual focus distance |
| 4.3 | June 6, 2024 | Option to recalibrate the autofocus cameras; larger vertical passthrough field of view at 75 Hz |
| 4.5 | November 14, 2024 | Focus distance falls back to 50 cm when automatic focusing cannot be used |
| 4.6 | December 19, 2024 | Average autofocus latency improved by 40 ms; fixes for a vertical field of view reduced by about 3 degrees and for dark zones at the center of the view |
| 4.7 | February 19, 2025 | Automatic calibration of the autofocus cameras; better blending between the foveated focus and peripheral areas of passthrough (whole series) |
Varjo's release notes from this period also list a known issue in which automatic focusing may drift with use, and recommend periodic recalibration.[12]
Use cases
Varjo aims the Focal Edition at tasks in which the wearer must read and handle real objects at close range while seeing virtual content. Its main example is a mixed reality flight simulator with a physical cockpit, where pilots read instrument labels, operate switches and scan displays at different distances in one session. Varjo also lists vehicle stations and maintenance rigs, and says the fixed-focus XR-4 is sufficient when passthrough mainly serves as context around virtual content at medium to far distances.[4] The October 2025 refresh targeted cockpit trainers, vehicle simulators and ground training systems.[6] Varjo markets the TAA-compliant Secure Edition to government and enterprise customers with strict security requirements.[7][3]
The research software company iMotions lists the XR-4 Focal Edition as compatible with its VR Eye Tracking Module and its iMotions Lab platform for recording eye tracking data alongside other biosensors.[25]
Research use
The Focal Edition has been used as the headset in published human-computer interaction studies. Two papers from Birmingham City University researchers and collaborators, presented at the ACM CHI 2026 conference, used it in virtual reality road-crossing experiments on external human-machine interfaces (eHMIs) for automated vehicles. Participants walked on a Cyberith Virtualizer Elite 2, and the headset's built-in 200 Hz eye tracker recorded gaze and pupil data. One study, with 32 participants (16 deaf or hard-of-hearing), compared visual and auditory eHMI designs and used the headset's pupil diameter data to estimate workload.[26] The other, with 25 hearing and 11 deaf or hard-of-hearing participants, examined how background noise affects auditory eHMI signals.[27]
Reception
Press impressions of the Focal Edition's passthrough were mixed.
UploadVR's David Heaney tried the Focal Edition in a demo of about 45 minutes, published in August 2024. He called the headset's VR visual quality "nothing short of stunning" and noted that 51 PPD "is still far beyond any other headset you can buy". Its passthrough disappointed him: "Varjo XR-4's passthrough quality, despite its on-paper specs, felt overall worse than Apple Vision Pro." He wrote that "the detail and clarity just wasn't impressive, even in the autofocus region", pointed out that the autofocus adds US$6,000 to the price of the base model, and reported that depth and scale "were very off in the near-field", to the point that walking around in passthrough would have made him feel sick. To avoid distortion and uneven brightness in the periphery, he adjusted the eye relief to narrow the field of view to roughly that of a Quest 2.[28]
In a November 2024 post, the author of The Ghost Howls described trying the Focal Edition at Varjo's headquarters in Helsinki. The post said the autofocus lets the headset "provide a mesmerizing 51 PPD pixel density of the passthrough", that he could read a document with very small text, and that "I've never experienced a passthrough with such clarity." The author also noted that the sharp area was a small rectangular region with clearly visible edges, that there was a short lag before the cameras refocused when he moved his eyes to another object, and that some noise remained in the focus area. He suggested Varjo blur the edges of the high-definition area more and reduce the refocusing lag.[20] Varjo later made related changes: Varjo Base 4.6 cut average autofocus latency by 40 ms, Varjo Base 4.7 improved blending between the foveated focus and peripheral areas, and the refreshed Focal Edition enlarged the high-resolution region.[12][14]
Road to VR noted at launch that the XR-4, unlike the XR-3, carried no required annual support charge.[11] In March 2025 Varjo moved several advanced mixed reality features for newly purchased headsets behind the paid Varjo Base Pro license.[13]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ville Timonen (2024-05-16). "XR-4 Features Explained: World's First Gaze-Driven XR Autofocus Camera System". Varjo. https://varjo.com/blog/xr-4-features-explained-worlds-first-gaze-driven-xr-autofocus-camera-system. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "VR/XR Headset for Training and Simulation - Varjo XR-4 Series". Varjo. Varjo. https://varjo.com/products/xr-4. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 "Varjo Releases New XR-4 Series to Deliver Mixed Reality Experiences Indistinguishable from Natural Sight". Varjo. Varjo. 2023-11-27. https://varjo.com/news/varjo-releases-new-xr-4-series-to-deliver-mixed-reality-experiences-indistinguishable-from-natural-sight. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Valeria Acevedo (2026-05-18). "XR-4 or XR-4 Focal Edition? How to choose for your use case". Varjo. https://varjo.com/blog/xr-4-or-xr-4-focal-edition-how-to-choose-the-right-passthrough-for-your-use-case. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 David Heaney (2023-11-27). "Varjo XR-4 Promises Ultra High Resolution Passthrough". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/varjo-xr-4/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Varjo Launches Mixed Reality Headsets Purpose-Built for Training Across Air, Land, and Sea". Varjo. Varjo. 2025-10-08. https://varjo.com/news/varjo-launches-mixed-reality-headsets-purpose-built-for-training-across-air-land-and-sea. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "High-Resolution Virtual and Mixed Reality Headsets". Varjo. Varjo. https://varjo.com/products. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Varjo Webstore closing down October 8, 2025". Varjo. Varjo. https://varjo.com/webstore. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Ryan Browne (2023-11-27). "Finnish startup Varjo launches new $3,990 mixed-reality headset to take on Apple, Microsoft". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/27/finnish-startup-varjo-launches-3990-xr-4-mixed-reality-headset.html. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Skarredghost (2023-11-27). "Varjo announces XR-4 mixed reality headset with impressive resolution". The Ghost Howls. https://skarredghost.com/2023/11/27/varjo-xr-4-price-resolution/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Ben Lang (2023-11-27). "Varjo Reveals XR-4 Headset, Claiming Mixed Realty Visuals "indistinguishable from natural sight"". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/varjo-xr-4-announcement-specs-price-release-date/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 "Release notes - Varjo Base 4.7.1 and older". Varjo Support. Varjo. https://support.varjo.com/hc/en-us/varjo-base-release-notes-4.7.1-and-older. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 David Heaney (2025-03-18). "Varjo XR-4 To Require $2500/Year Subscription For Advanced Mixed Reality Features". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/varjo-xr-4-to-require-2500-year-subscription-for-advanced-mixed-reality-features/. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Patrick Wyatt (2025-11-24). "Why We're Refreshing the XR-4 Series for Mission-Critical Training". Varjo. https://varjo.com/blog/why-were-refreshing-the-xr-4-series-for-mission-critical-training. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "Setting up XR-4 Series (2026)". Varjo Support. Varjo. https://support.varjo.com/hc/en-us/setting-up-xr-4-series-2026. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "Varjo Launches Ready-to-Deploy XR Systems for Secure and Air-Gapped Environments". Varjo. Varjo. 2026-02-26. https://varjo.com/news/varjo-launches-ready-to-deploy-xr-systems-for-secure-and-air-gapped-environments. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 "Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition Key Technical Specifications". Azken (reseller-hosted datasheet). Varjo. https://www.azken.com/download/Datasheet_VARJO_XR_4_Focal_Edition.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "Varjo XR-4 Series Review: Next-Level Mixed Reality Headsets". XR Today. https://www.xrtoday.com/reviews/varjo-xr-4-series-review-next-level-mixed-reality-headsets/. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ↑ "Refresh rate - XR-4 Series". Varjo Support. Varjo. https://support.varjo.com/hc/en-us/refresh-rate. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Skarredghost (2024-11-21). "Hands-on: Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition takes passthrough to the next level". The Ghost Howls. https://skarredghost.com/2024/11/21/hands-on-varjo-xr-4-focal-edition/. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ↑ "Autofocus camera calibration - XR-4 Focal Edition". Varjo Support. Varjo. https://support.varjo.com/hc/en-us/autofocus-camera-calibration-xr-4-focal-edition. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Tarek Mohsen (2025-04-22). "Introducing Integrated Hand Tracking for Varjo XR-4 Series". Varjo. https://varjo.com/blog/introducing-integrated-hand-tracking-for-varjo-xr-4-series. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "VR Software with Highest Performance - Varjo Software Integrations". Varjo. Varjo. https://varjo.com/software-integrations. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "System requirements for XR-4 Series". Varjo Support. Varjo. https://support.varjo.com/hc/en-us/xr-4-series-system-requirements. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "Varjo XR-4 - Focal Edition". iMotions. https://imotions.com/products/hardware/varjo-xr-4-focal-edition/. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ↑ Wenge Xu, Foroogh Hajiseyedjavadi, Kurtis Weir, Chukwuemeka Eze, Mark Colley (2026). "Towards Inclusive External Human-Machine Interface: Exploring the Effects of Visual and Auditory eHMI for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People". Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '26). ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3772318.3790738. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ Wenge Xu, Foroogh Hajiseyedjavadi, Debargha Dey, Tram Thi Minh Tran, Mark Colley (2026). "Exploring the Impacts of Background Noise on Auditory Stimuli of Audio-Visual eHMIs for Hearing, Deaf, and Hard-of-Hearing People". Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '26). ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3772318.3791557. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ David Heaney (2024-08-06). "Varjo XR-4 Hands-On: Stunning VR Quality With Disappointing Passthrough". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/varjo-xr-4-hands-on/. Retrieved 2025-01-07.