Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition
| 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 |
| Release Date | November 2023 |
| Price | $9,900 USD |
| Website | https://varjo.com/products/xr-4 |
| System | |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | 2× Mini-LED LCD |
| Resolution | 3840×3744 per eye (4K×4K) |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 120° × 105° |
| Horizontal FoV | 120° |
| Vertical FoV | 105° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Full-dome aspheric lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 57-73mm (automatic) |
| Passthrough | Color (2× 20MP cameras, gaze-driven autofocus) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | Inside-out + SteamVR (hybrid) |
| Eye Tracking | Yes (200 Hz) |
| Hand Tracking | Yes (controller-free) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | DTS 3D spatial audio, dual noise-canceling microphones |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort, USB-C |
| Device | |
| Weight | 665g (headset), 356g (headband) |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | 300 kpix LiDAR, ambient light reconstruction |
The Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition is a high-end enterprise mixed reality head-mounted display developed by Varjo, released in November 2023. It is designed for professional training and simulation applications, featuring the world's first gaze-driven XR autofocus system that delivers up to 51 pixels per degree (PPD) passthrough clarity—approaching human retinal resolution. The Focal Edition is particularly optimized for training scenarios involving physical components and environments, such as cockpit training and remote medical procedures.
History and Development
Varjo is a Finnish company that has established itself as a leader in enterprise VR/XR headsets. The XR-4 series was announced in late 2023 as the successor to the Varjo XR-3, offering significant improvements in passthrough quality and a lower entry price point. Over 25% of Fortune 100 companies use Varjo headsets for applications including pilot and astronaut training, 3D visualization, and medical research.[1]
The XR-4 Focal Edition is one of three variants in the XR-4 series:
- XR-4 - Base model ($3,990)
- XR-4 Focal Edition - Gaze-driven autofocus passthrough ($9,900)
- XR-4 Secure Edition - TAA-compliant, Finland-assembled for classified environments
Design and Hardware
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
- 120° × 105° field of view
- Full-dome aspheric lenses for edge-to-edge clarity[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 51 PPD pixel density in passthrough
- Near-retinal resolution (human vision is ~60 PPD)
This system provides unprecedented passthrough clarity, particularly for applications requiring reading text or examining fine details.[3]
Sensors
The headset includes a comprehensive sensor suite:
- 300 kpix LiDAR for depth sensing
- 200 Hz eye tracking cameras
- Ambient light reconstruction cameras
- Inside-out tracking cameras
Audio
- DTS 3D spatial audio system
- Dual noise-canceling microphones
- Integrated speakers
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
- Hand tracking for controller-free interaction
Software and Compatibility
The XR-4 series is compatible with major professional 3D platforms:
- NVIDIA Omniverse
- Unreal Engine
- Unity
- OpenXR
- Autodesk VRED
- Prepar3D
- Hundreds of other enterprise applications
The headset works with NVIDIA professional GPUs and requires the Varjo Base software.[4]
Use Cases
The Focal Edition is particularly suited for:
- Flight Simulation: Cockpit training with readable instrument panels
- Medical Training: Remote surgical procedures and medical education
- Automotive Design: Design review and virtual prototyping
- Manufacturing: Assembly training and quality control
- Defense: Military simulation and training (Secure Edition)
Reception
Praise:
- Exceptional 51 PPD passthrough clarity
- Revolutionary gaze-driven autofocus system
- Lower price than previous XR-3 generation
- Comprehensive sensor suite
- Enterprise-ready out of the box
Criticism:
- Very high price point ($9,900)
- Some reviewers noted depth/scale issues in near-field passthrough
- Comparison to Apple Vision Pro mixed—better in some scenarios, worse in others
- Enterprise focus limits consumer appeal
"The autofocus feature provides mesmerizing passthrough clarity" - The Ghost Howls[3]
"Despite impressive specs, passthrough felt overall worse than Apple Vision Pro in some scenarios" - UploadVR[5]
See Also
References
- ↑ "Mixed Reality Headset for Professionals – Varjo XR-4 Series". Varjo. https://varjo.com/products/xr-4.
- ↑ "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/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "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/.
- ↑ "Varjo XR-4 - Focal Edition". iMotions. https://imotions.com/products/hardware/varjo-xr-4-focal-edition/.
- ↑ "Varjo XR-4: Stunning VR With Disappointing Passthrough". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/varjo-xr-4-hands-on/.