Exploring the Varjo XR-4: Revolutionary Mixed Reality Experience and Hands-On Review

My Visit to Varjo

I experienced a plane simulation in mixed reality. I could see the pilot cockpit in passthrough vision. The virtual environment appeared through the cockpit’s transparent glass. The mixed reality simulation provided a great experience.

Varjo XR-4

I previously tried the Varjo XR-4 and shared my impressions last year. This headset is a solid option for enterprises. It has a high resolution of 3840 x 3744 per eye and a 120° x 105° field of view. The XR-4 effectively cancels the screen door effect and offers high-definition visuals, ideal for design firms.

Here are the specifications:

• Display: Two mini-LED displays
  • Resolution: 3840×3744 (each)
  • Refresh Rate: 90 Hz
  • Contrast: 1:10000
  • Luminance: 200 Nits
• Lenses: Custom, variable resolution, full-dome, aspheric optics
• FOV: 120° x 105°
• Passthrough:
  • Cameras: 2 x 20Mpx
  • Latency: ~22ms
  • LiDAR: 300-kilo pixels, 7-meter range, 30 FPS
• Connectivity: 1x display port + 1x USB-C
• Audio:
  • Speakers: Spatial audio + 3.5 mm jack
  • Microphone: 2x integrated microphones
• Tracking: Inside-out + SteamVR support
• Controllers: Varjo controllers (powered by RAZER™) included
• Weight: 1021g

This time, I tested the passthrough of the production unit. It performed well. Compared to the Oculus Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro, it feels like a typical high-definition passthrough for 2024. I found it slightly noisier than its competitors.

During the flight demo, an employee handed me sheets of small text relevant to pilots. Initially, I struggled to focus but eventually noticed I could read the small text clearly through the passthrough. The quality surprised me.

Varjo Passthrough and the Focal Edition

I learned that the Varjo XR-4 features a Focal Edition. This version offers crisp passthrough due to an autofocus feature. The eye tracking directs the cameras to focus on what the user looks at. This resulted in an impressive 51 PPD pixel density, close to natural vision.

I could read cockpit details easily. The clarity was striking, allowing me to focus on different objects without moving my head. However, the high definition only covers a small area, and there is a noticeable lag when shifting focus. There is also a slight noise in the focus area.

Improvements are needed to reduce the focus shift lag and blur the edges between high-definition and standard vision. Nonetheless, the clarity of the passthrough is remarkable.

Final Considerations

Trying the Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition showed me the future potential of passthrough in mixed reality headsets. With its clarity, it may allow users to perform tasks seamlessly while wearing the headset. I look forward to seeing this technology become more affordable.