In-Depth Review: Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition Elevates Passthrough Technology

Yesterday, I had the chance to drop by Varjo and experience their Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition firsthand. Let’s dive into what left me so impressed about its passthrough clarity.

My Visit to Varjo

While in Helsinki for MatchXR, I couldn’t resist visiting Varjo, given it’s located here. During my visit, I explored several exciting demos, one of which I plan to detail in a later article. Toward the end of my tour, I was invited to try out a flight simulator set up in their demo room. Never one to decline such an opportunity, I donned the Varjo XR-4 headset and settled into the cockpit. This simulator wasn’t about dogfights or reenacting scenes from Top Gun; it was more about maintaining a stable flight as you might find in pilot training scenarios. Despite the straightforward expectations, I managed to crash the plane spectacularly (talk about having one job…).

In this mixed reality simulation, I had a clear view of the physical cockpit’s passthrough, while the skies around were a virtual environment, visible through the areas mimicking cockpit glass. The blending of reality and virtual elements was remarkably well done.

The Varjo XR-4

It wasn’t my first time with the Varjo XR-4. In fact, I shared my initial thoughts on it about a year ago. This device is aimed at enterprises and boasts an impressive resolution, with 3840 x 3744 pixels per eye, alongside a field of view of 120° x 105°. Such specs ensure that the dreaded screen door effect is non-existent, offering eye-popping visuals. It’s a perfect tool for industries where high-definition graphics are crucial, such as design firms.

Here’s a quick rundown of its specs:

• Display: Two mini-LED displays
• Resolution: 3840×3744 per eye
• 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 20MP
• Latency: ~22ms, with ongoing improvements
• LiDAR: 300k pixels, 7-meter range, 30 FPS
• Connectivity: 1x display port + 1x USB-C
• Audio: Spatial audio with integrated speakers + 3.5 mm jack
• Microphone: 2x integrated microphones with noise canceling
• Tracking: Inside-out + SteamVR support via a dedicated faceplate
• Controllers: Powered by RAZER™ Varjo controllers
• Weight: 1021g

Previously, I couldn’t test the passthrough effectively since I was using a preview unit. But now, with a production model in hand, I’ve gathered some firsthand experiences.

Varjo Passthrough and the Focal Edition

During my latest Varjo visit, I finally got to see what the XR-4’s passthrough could offer. If I’d tested it during the Oculus Quest 2 era, I might have declared it the best. However, given recent advancements like the Oculus Quest 3’s updates and the Apple Vision Pro’s exceptional definition, the XR-4’s passthrough felt standard for 2024—a bit noisy compared to peers, though it’s crucial to note that I didn’t conduct side-by-side tests.

This was my initial impression, at least, until the flight cockpit demo. Between digital crashes, the Varjo team handed me some papers filled with complex data, typically of interest to pilots. As I squinted at this intricate text, pretending to comprehend every detail, I was struck by an unexpected realization: the clarity in reading such minuscule text with the XR-4 was quite remarkable.

This clarity is attributed to the Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition’s Autofocus feature. The headset intelligently uses eye tracking to direct the autofocus of its 20 MP cameras to the object of your focus. So, when I examined the paper, the cameras adjusted to focus precisely on it, enhancing clarity significantly. The passthrough cameras functioned as an extension of my eyes, delivering an astounding 51 PPD pixel density for the passthrough—nearing the 60 PPD considered as retina resolution.

I found the experience surprisingly close to natural sight. I could read even the smallest labels in the cockpit, no matter their position, without needing to turn my head. Such an elegant solution indeed, although not without its quirks.

Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition Hands-On

The high-resolution magic doesn’t encompass the entire view—merely a small rectangle where your focus lies. You start to notice this bounded area, where definitions are razor-sharp compared to the surroundings. Furthermore, switching your gaze introduces an irritating lag before the focus locks onto new objects. This latency, though brief, detracts from a seamless experience, and some noise in the focused area kept the illusion from feeling entirely real.

Varjo could benefit from softening these focus boundary edges and striving to minimize focus lag. Despite this, the definition achieved is undeniably in a class of its own, leaving me thrilled about future potential in passthrough technology.

Final Thoughts

Testing the Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition was quite enlightening, hinting at what future passthrough capabilities in mixed reality might achieve. With such high-caliber clarity and eye-driven focus, tasks across various sectors could become entirely immersive, without ever needing to remove the headset. Now, if only this level of performance was available at a less eye-watering price than €10,000…

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