The new Varjo XR-3 and VR-3 headsets feature automatic physical IPD adjustment with eye-tracking and foveated rendering, and that’s just for starters.
The enterprise-level headsets also include inside out tracking (but you can use SteamVR base stations too). There’s even Ultraleap hand tracking. All that comes together with Varjo’s (pronounced var-yo) latest dual resolution “bionic” display. The company pitches it as having a “Focus area (27° x 27°) at 70 PPD uOLED, 1920 x 1920 px per eye” with a “Peripheral area at over 30 PPD LCD, 2880 x 2720 px per eye.” The XR-3 also features LiDAR and stereo RGB video passthrough said to be running at 90 Hz.
Varjo XR-3 And VR-3 Announced
What’s that LiDAR being used for? Varjo says its depth awareness will help enable the “seamless merging of real and virtual for perfect occlusions and full 3D world reconstruction.” The combination may power some of the best mixed reality experiences possible today; we’ve been very impressed by Varjo’s tech in the past — but we haven’t had a chance to see the new headsets yet.
XR-3 is available for pre-order now with plans to ship in “early 2021”. It is only available to enterprise buyers priced at $5,495 together with a Varjo Subscription “to replace the previous software and support services” priced at $1,495 for one year. That’s a pretty significant price cut from the original XR-1, which sold at around $10,000 (there was never an XR-2).
The VR-3 ditches the mixed reality features (like LiDAR) to bring the price down to $3,195, plus subscription.
The new XR-3 and VR-3 are likely competing against HP’s upcoming Omnicept edition of the Reverb G2 in 2021. HP’s headset, though, turns its sensors inward for facial tracking. XR-3 looks designed to understand its environment in ways other headsets can’t yet.
Varjo representatives said the company employs around 130 people now, with large teams working on software.
Varjo XR-3 Technical Specifications:
Display & Resolution:
Full Frame Bionic Display with human-eye resolution.
Focus area (27° x 27°) at 70 PPD uOLED, 1920 x 1920 px per eye
Peripheral area at over 30 PPD LCD, 2880 x 2720 px per eye
Colors: 99% sRGB, 93% DCI-P3
Field of View:
Horizontal 115°
Refresh rate:
90 Hz
Mixed reality:
Ultra-low latency, dual 12-megapixel video pass-through at 90 Hz
XR Depth:
LiDAR + RGB fusion, 40 cm–5 m operating range
Hand tracking:
Ultraleap Gemini (v5)
Comfort & Wearability
3-point precision fit headband
Replaceable, easy-to-clean polyurethane face cushions
Automatic IPD 59–71mm
Weight
594 g + headband
Connectivity
Two headset adapters in-box
Two USB-C cables (5 m) in-box
PC Connections: 2 x DisplayPort and 2 x USB-A 3.0+
Positional Tracking
SteamVR™ 2.0 tracking system
Varjo inside-out tracking utilizing RGB video pass-through cameras
Eye tracking
200 Hz with sub-degree accuracy; 1-dot calibration for foveated rendering
Audio
3.5mm audio jack with microphone support
Varjo VR-3 Technical SpecificationsDisplay & Resolution
Full Frame Bionic Display with human-eye resolution.
Focus area (27° x 27°) at 70 PPD uOLED, 1920 x 1920 px per eye
Peripheral area at over 30 PPD LCD, 2880 x 2720 px per eye
Colors: 99% sRGB, 93% DCI-P3
Field of View:
Horizontal 115°
Refresh rate:
90 Hz
Hand tracking:
Ultraleap Gemini (v5)
Comfort & Wearability
3-point precision fit headband
Replaceable, easy-to-clean polyurethane face cushions
Automatic IPD 59–71mm
Weight
558g + headband
Connectivity
Two headset adapters in-box
Two USB-C cables (5 m) in-box
PC Connections: 2 x DisplayPort and 2 x USB-A 3.0+
Positional Tracking
SteamVR™ 2.0 tracking system
Eye tracking
200 Hz with sub-degree accuracy; 1-dot calibration for foveated rendering
Audio
3.5mm audio jack with microphone support
