Varjo's Auto-Focus XR-4 Mixed-Reality Headset Boasts Specs to Rival Apple Vision Pro
The Finnish startup's latest hardware pushes the boundary on how external cameras might mix reality, but in a PC-tethered design.
Varjo's XR-4 Industrial Mixed-Reality Headset
Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset pushes the boundaries on headset resolution and camera quality for AR and VR, but Varjo, a Finnish tech startup, has already released a new industrial mixed-reality headset for PCs that promises even higher headset resolution and a multifocal passthrough camera.
The Varjo XR-4, available in December, is designed specifically for industrial use and aims to make mixed reality and actual reality indistinguishable.
Varjo's previous headsets have already demonstrated high-resolution display quality and high-end passthrough camera-based mixed reality features, similar to what Apple is aiming for with Vision Pro.
Enhancements and Tethering
The Varjo XR-4 headset is not standalone and requires tethering to a powerful PC to function properly. However, the newest version of the headset, XR-4, has its own controllers and no longer needs external Steam VR base stations for full motion 6DoF tracking.
The XR-4's field of view is larger than before, with 120 degrees horizontal and 105 degrees vertical. It boasts a pixel resolution of about 4K per eye and uses Mini-LED displays with 200 nits of maximum brightness.
Additionally, Varjo's lidar sensors have been upgraded to deliver 8x resolution, offering better scanning of objects or hands into VR and more accurate layering of mixed reality into real-world captures.
Price and Future Implications
Varjo's hardware and software are primarily used for training and design purposes, such as designing cars with clients like Volvo or creating flight simulators with the US Department of Defense.
However, the XR-4 headset comes with a hefty price tag. The regular XR-4 version is priced at $3,990, while the auto-focus Focal Edition costs $9,990. These prices do not include the PC required to run the headset.
Despite the high cost, Varjo's technology sets the stage for a new landscape of high-end mixed-reality headsets that could shape the capabilities of future consumer devices. The author looks forward to trying out the XR-4 and comparing it to the Apple Vision Pro.
