Varjo Announces its High-End Aero Headset
Varjo has already cut a niche for itself as the maker of high-end virtual reality headsets. The company has today announced the Varjo Aero, its latest headsets targeting small businesses and wealthier XR enthusiasts willing to cough out $2,000 for an XR headset.
https://twitter.com/varjodotcom/status/1451245028207177731
The Varjo Aero has been described as a pared down version of its latest headset and provides a beastly resolution of 2880 x 2720 making this a powerhouse mixed reality headset. Its fidelity is industry-leading and it also includes many advanced features for a lower, but still eye-wateringly expensive, price for many VR enthusiasts. This will make the Varjo Aero a more attractive proposition to wealthy VR enthusiasts and even small businesses looking for a more accessible XR headset.
Varjo already has some of the most advanced virtual reality headsets in its product lineup. Many of these are priced in the region of $3,200 to $5,500 and an additional $800 to $1,500 in annual fees. The company’s high-end headsets are often used by many Fortune 500 companies.
Through Varjo Aero, the company is aiming to bring into the market a more affordable headset that will also be an attractive choice for small businesses and the better-heeled virtual reality enthusiasts. At $2,000, this is not a cheap VR headset. Unlike the other high-end Varjo headsets, there are no annual fees. However, this price does not factor in the cost of the SteamVR Tracking base stations and controllers.
The Varjo Aero is just like the company’s newest XR-3 headset but it lacks the ‘bionic display’ (that offers a retina resolution at the center of the field of view). It also does not feature the advanced passthrough AR capabilities found in the XR-3 headset.
Although it lacks the bionic display, the Varjo Aero still provides a stunning 35 PPD with its aspheric lenses that offer optimal clarity as well as the largest sweet spot that you will, presently, ever find in any virtual reality headset, apart from the high-end Varjo headsets.
Varjo announced that the orders for the Varjo Aero start today with shipments expected by the end of the year.
The full specs of the Varjo Aero are as follows: –
| Resolution | 2,880 x 2,720 (7.8MP) per-eye, mini-LED LCD (2x) |
|---|---|
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz |
| Lenses | Aspheric |
| Field-of-view (claimed) | 134° diagonal, 115° horizontal (at 12mm eye-relief) |
| Optical Adjustments | IPD (automatic motor driven) |
| IPD Adjustment Range | 57–73mm |
| Connectors | USB-C → breakout box (USB-A 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4) |
| Cable Length | 5m |
| Tracking | SteamVR Tracking 1.0 or 2.0 (external beacons) |
| On-board cameras | 2x eye-tracking |
| Input | None included (supports SteamVR controllers) |
| Audio | 3.5mm aux port |
| Microphone | None (supports external mic through aux port) |
| Pass-through view | No |
| Weight | 487g + 230g headstrap with counterweight |
