Way overpriced, enthusiast headset. No human eye resolution field(!!) and many lacking features like refresh rate, FoV, wireless option, audio/mic solution, separate controller/stations etc. 2500-3000€ for what? A joke.
Can you do a screen shot comparison in DCS of the Aero and VR3? With the removal of the additional lens from the VR3, how does the Aero produce a clearer picture?
Damn, they made this QUICK! I bet they had expected a lot of people would love the VR3, so they had this planned as backup just in case. Very excited to see more on this headset.
VR3 Has been around a while (I tried one at a trade show in 2019), I imagine they've been pushing the VR3 lately to get people familiar with the company before they release this. Seriously impressive HMD *EDIT - It was a VR2 I tried, my mistake*
I was so hyped after seeing the Varjo VR3. Thought the may have improved it even more or made a cheaper version at around 1000€ Then it showed a good headset for 3-4 times the price tag of comparable headset with useless premium features like the auto IPD adjustment, while getting rid of the human eye resolution, no hand tracking, no pass-through and bad sound/mic solution. My personal letdown this year. I got higher hopes in lynx for now..
@@DKTronics70 human earns about million dollars in his lifetime on average. And that just earnings without investment earnings so please tell me if flight simulator is someones top3 hobby how he cant spend that kind of money on it?
This video is so incredible....3 times during this video, you said something - and i had a question...and its like you read my mind and answered it. Specially when you said Varjo got rid of most of the barrel distortion - i was like "how did they do that?" and you immediately went into it.
Shows how hard it is to make large fov headset, nobody does it but Pimax…immersion is clarity plus fov! We need both for that truly immersive experience!
@@BalkanBiker yes but sound doesn't need to really be tackled by the VR company imo. Stereo sound handled on default windows drivers is more than capable of offering incredibly immersive experiences.
For those wishing to know about using glasses this is the answer from Varjo "So yes with our headsets you can wear your glasses however not all glasses fit. For instance I have a really wide pair on lenses on one set of frames and can't use them comfortably in the headset however my other pair with standard frames fits just fine."
When you transitioned to the Visual segment, it took me until the little headset movement for me to realize that we are looking through the lenses. My goodness, that is mad clear.
It's amazing showcase for what the future of consumer VR will look like. In the past every advance one company has made has been copied by others, so I have no doubt most of this stuff will be available for fraction of the cost in a year or two and might even because standard for VR in not too distant future. Thank you Varjo for an amazing opening and pretty much single-handedly showing that we can finally say 2nd generation of consumer VR is here!
I wish but I highly doubt it. The premium segment will stay premium for quite a while. The average consumer isn’t enthusiastic enough to care about Mini LEDs and ultra high resolutions. Especially with the current hardware shortages, the system required to run this headset will probably cost too much to be considered standard anyway. Mobile processors won’t be fast enough. If you want to get this high quality you better start to save some money. That’s what I’ll do.
mini leds aren't a VR innovation, all of the display technology comes from the display industry and TVs. lenses could be copied but there are downsides to each of these technologies. foveated rendering is something that can be hard to implement well, eye tracking is expensive to start off with and requires R&D because obviously varjo won't just give their tracking algorithm and code out for their competitors. This tech will not likely be standard for the next 3-5 years.
As an 8KX owner, Pimax needs to figure out how to deliver. As much as I need and want them to deliver the 12K, I can't hope but feel like this is actually just an interest free loan to buy then time to 'figure it out'. I've never had to tinker with a headset to get and maintain operation as I have with my 8KX.
@@BFMwithStackhouse Woah. Yeah I have no experience with PIMAX but I've heard recently they have issues. It is launching in another year's time so I guess for now the Varjo Aero will be the one sold.
Heyo, two things i'd really like to see you do with this headset. 1 - Test out the VR-Ears with it, as this seems like a perfect headset for it. 2 - Do a through the lens comparison with the VR-3, so that we can actually see what we are missing from not getting the focus displays. (especially the vision test in the hmdtest enviroment)
@@buzzow there actually is a boom mic attachment offered with the VR ears. Also the rubber inserts that come with the VR ears are pretty much Universal. You could definitely get it attached.
I have a Varjo XR-3, and I agree with everything said about the headstrap - it's my biggest physical complaint about the device, it's really hard to get comfortable (though, this headset is quite a bit lighter than the XR-3, which should help). The visuals are sheer amazeballs, my virtual desktop looks like a *real physical monitor*, but of course, my headset has that focus display which makes it even higher resolution where you are looking.
Thanks for the detailed review. $2000 for a low FOV and low refresh rate. Not worth it at all. But hopefully some headset with this will come along soon.
Goat headset but I kind of wished it didn’t have automatic IPD adjustment it just feels like over engineering and wonder on how much weight and price could be knocked off by doing so!
How big of an issue was the audio? The microphone and headphone quality is the only thing making me hesitant about buying this headset, I have a microphone and headphone thing that I can connect to my headset but it requires an USB port to plug in, is there one available? Deciding between this and the valve index, if u respond thank you very much it’s very appreciated 🙏😄
Thanks for the review!! I was so excited about a consumer version of the Varjo, but this price and feature point was a big disappointment. The display look amazing, and I'd even have considered paying for it if there was nothing else that needed to be added, but it's already at an extreme price without having to buy the required extras.
Well it was obvious that this level of visuals would be super expensive. I'm lucky to already have great audio to go with this. Just need those controllers, but Steam controllers were the best anyway.
At 2400 €+ I'd expect 120Hz, 100+ FoV, better audio/microphone solution, internal tracking and wireless functionality ON TOP of their slightly better visuals. Removing their human eye resolution field killed it for me, not even the ridiculous orice, they claim to be consumer oriented...
Maybe in the next gen the displays will be so much better it wont make sense in gen 2. If it was any other company this price would be unacceptable even with the eye tracking and micro led backlight.
@635574 next gen doesn't matter. Only thing that matters is what they offer now for the asking price. And it is pretty bad compared to Oculus Quest, the soon coming Quest Pro, Lynx headset and multiple competitors. It is not IF it was another company, but BECAUSE it is this company. Getting rid of the most impressive resolution feature and still demanding the extra premium price is absurd. @Przemek I read it is 90Hz (in another comment). But even if it had 200Hz refresh rate the price wouldn't be justified imo. It is like an apple product but with far worse specs compared to what they ask for in return. Consumer market? All they did was sell a more widely accepted version of their 3rd gen without anual subscription fees..
@@shuflie you don't understand he's simply saying he got the graphics card but it's not supported for the ultimate VR headset which means it's worthless owning it for himself.
Isn't only 35ppd only half the clarity of the vr3 (that has 70ppd) and therefore no longer human eye resolution? How does the clarity compare between the two in reality? I think I'd have preferred true human eye resolution and lost the auto ipd..Thank you
Sebastian. Subscribed based on how well this informative review was. Truly amazing! Also, given that my system is a beast, combined with your thorough coverage of the Aero, I just ordered it. I also had to get the base stations. Gulp.
Is there something in the software for adjusting for prescriptions (people who wear glasses), otherwise, those people will have to wait for prescription inserts manufacturers to make some for this HMD, and from my experience with Inserts, they will reduce the FOV by a little bit and add just a little glare (light bouncing between the HMD lenses and the inserts). Very much looking forward to Varifocal lenses! :)
I won't even look the whole video before writing the comment - I'm absolutely buying it as my first vr with index controllers and tracking stations. I feel that it will blow my mind and open me so many incredible possibilities to live another many lives as I did with video games through years but on a completely different level of expirience. I love this world where in the grey Noname city you can spend free time so incredibly interesting!
Just put in my order! although I do wish it had vive pro 2 level of FOV the displays seem like they will easily make up for that. upgrading from a reverb g2
Looks great, however if I jump from my VP2 (which I’m a fan of), I lose wireless and my head strap/audio comfort. Damn. Can my senheiser in ear momentum 2 blue tooth’s work or have to be wired? Hmmmm I think I’ll wait until Index 2 to make a decision!
@Marco Bruckner no I don’t think it’s worth it for me. No audio or wireless doesn’t make this headset worth it for what we have IMO. SEB on MRTV does a great review on the website advising people if it’s worth upgrading depending on which headset you have.
@@lonewolfsky4816 tbh im more excited about that they ruined me with their 160 horizontal fov on my 8kx,i cant go back to 100 fov it looks like im watching trough a binocular
Ooooooh baby!!! I want one of these! What a pleasure! I’ll have to get my brother to buy himself one when it launches so I can visit him every day! Lol
I am so excited to see this. Not that I would lay down $2 grand, but the fact that given a couple years, I am very hopeful. Like when cell phones first came out. Big and bulky, years later, slim and affordable and far more powerful.
Hi Sebastian, sorry for the naïve question, but Varjo Aero has natively the Z axis for the backward and foreward movements of the head, or does it need some additional base station like the first pimax? Since I only do flight simulation, I'm not interested in touch controls... Thank you.
Using a pimax 8kx and avid simer. Thanks for the detailed review. While I am very interested in the visuals, I got used to a great FoV and audio solution. I am really on the fence with this one...my 🧠 says no but my ♥ may at some point push me over the edge....
@@Cazanu417 indeed each headset has its pros and cons, but varjo even keeps adding new features to already purchased headsets, dynamic foveated rendering its giving its first steps and they already had improved other things
O no i'm gonna be so tempted by this headset! I really need to wait and see what valve is doing tho!!! I don't see a wire but it has to be wired right?
Fantastic. However, I would have thought that they could have implemented some kind of manual IPD adjustment to keep the cost down. If the headset measured the IPD and displayed it to the user, then have the user manually adjust the IPD to match that measurement. They could even have a "double-check" feature to ensure that it was correct. It would save on weight also. I don't have any VR. So this solution, for me, would cost almost $3k. And that doesn't include the upgrades to the PC that would be required. I want it, but that's a bit much.
I see this headset being fairly priced. If you think about the items needed for the headset. Displays - A replacement phone display/screen can cost around 300$ and headset need 2 displays. The Lenses - Lenses are always pricey Think Glasses, or Camera Lenses. Then you got the software and hardware for the Eye tracking. So for the Very best "consumer" Headset the price seems ok.
Can I use base station 1 with this Varjo? Or does it have to be base station 2? In an earlier version, much earlier, they said that it had to be Base station 2, and four of those as well. that was from Mike at VR oasis when he found one of the earlier version
Looks good but that FOV is still terrible when compared with the Pimax 8KX. What it does have going for it is the auto IPD adjustment and the lenses but is that worth ditching my Pimax? At this point I’m not convinced.
Please make a direct comparison to G2! I just got my G2 to finally work after an extremely frustrating year of calling tech-support over and over. And I’m wondering if I should’ve just gotten this now that I have a 3090 😆
Thanks for the video! I am very tempted to get one but I have three things that I am not so sure about... 1) the audio solution is a turn off. I can live with it but would definitely prefer a great built-in solution. 2) the refresh rate. As an index user I am super bummed to have only one refresh rate available. I would at the very least like to have a 120 hz mode so I can run that with reprojection always on, so the expected performance issues are not so bad any more. 3) my absolute main issue is that I cannot use a headset without inlay lenses. No way in hell I will use such an expensive device with glasses. No chance. If I play a game like thrill of the fight with intense head movement, I cannot imagine that the glasses will not scratch the lenses. I have no idea if there will be some available but it is a pity that varjo didn't comment on this point... It is a no compromise headset that is more or less exclusive to people with perfect eyesight or games without much head movement :( I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!
I was considering the Reverb G2 but you said in this video that you only got 28 fps with it and you have a 3080. I mainly use my headset (Rift) for iRacing and was leaning towards the Reverb G2 because of the image quality (and price) as I'd value image quality a bit more than FOV/higher FPS in the Valve Index. But with that said I have a 2070 Super and would want much higher FPS than 30 for iRacing. Do I stick with my Rift until I can get a 3080 or better? Or get the Reverb G2 and sacrifice FPS until I can source a new graphics card?
They are making foveated rendering promises that are NOT available now. Varjo bought into that bullcrap - at the expense of every AMD card! BUT - there are, effectively, zero titles you can buy that makes use of this 'feature' because that feature is some way off from being realised. True foveated rendering SHOULD! be part of the game engine rendering code - not within a 3rd party driver .dll. They did this before with their RTX 20xx series, where they put up card pricing to eye watering levels by promising ray tracing titles. You'll remember how badly that wend down. I would love AMD's RDNA3/4 to do to Nvidia what their Zen products are doing to Intel.
Sebastian, you talked about how there is some distortion around the edges. Can you compare and quantify the “sweet spot” size from the Aero to the G2? Keep up the great work! You have been very helpful in helping me navigate the VR world!
just like pixel windows is a thing of the past, sweet spot is becoming a thing of the past as well. When I get the lenses on the G2 a little closer to my eyes, I get all the sweet spot I could ask for, and if varjo is twice of that, (pancake lenses tends to have a large flat non-convex area that is the sweet spot, also the culprit of barrel distortion) it will just have so much sweet spot it's not even worth bringing it up
@@mrelisard I tried a couple of different face plates with the G2 to get closer, but none worked well as I have to have the prescription lens covers. They all put me uncomfortably close with my eyelashes brushing the lens. I agree that the sweet spot is approaching being a thing of the past, but unfortunately it’s not quite in the rear view mirror yet for me.
@@joshrender8956 If eyelashes are in the way, just cut them off. just cut off those babies. Kidding. yeah, but if I have a desktop in VR, and I can read the whole desktop, everywhere, without moving my head, it's far better than anything we had previous headset.
@@joshrender8956 FOV is a little overrated, and then there's a tricky subject of distortion that should be a little determined by the shape of your eye and face that's makes the widest FOV a little premature still. I don't hear anyone saying eye tracked distortion profile, so widest FOV only works for a certain headshape. I think we should get to at least 140 degrees. Pimax has some new announcement today as well
Yes very much so. I have both a quest 2 and the VR3 (more expensive varjo business headset on which this is based) and have tried the index. The varjo is much much sharper and videos look far better
Annnnnnd pre-ordered. Pretty funny that on the VR3 video I said it needed to be 1999 max and I wanted them to keep the auto IPD (to me the hardest adjustment to nail down when friends are over to play). They did both, so I HAD to order it....right?!
@@dtz1000 yeah i would have waited for pimax new headsets reveal,8kx was a solid high end headset with huge fov,if they put miniled and increase the ppd from 20 to 30 it will be insane.
FOV doesn't bother me. What does is my 2 year old valve index's now very dated resolution and visual quality. The reason I game on pc is because I want the absolute best looking version of the game I'm playing. And VR is no different.
Just to be clear does this fix the near focus problem which varifocal was meant to do? It sure does looks like it when you look near your hand in the hl alyx in the video.. It seems a lot more details than reverb g2 or any other vr headset.
Very tempting but I can't help but suspect the next six months are going to bring something equivalent or better at a much cheaper price. How are the visuals of the Aero versus the Arpara 5K?
Hi, Can I use it for simracing without basestation and controllers? I use Reverb G2 for iracing with 3080 but I can’t use 100% SS in steam VR at some track. Its very interesting you achieved more score with Varjo at open vr benchmark then G2.
I have the original HTC Vive controllers and base station collecting dust in a closet, will I be able to use those with this unit? If so I may consider purchasing. Thanks!
at 5:15(and almost every picture) what are these 2-3 diagonal black shadows spreading across the screen? i recognised this at the varjovr3/g2/8kx comparison video too? are these permanent or is it just from capturing the video?
Great review! How is the FOV compared to the Vive Pro 2? And the specs say there are fans in this unit. Did you try any active VR titles? Wondering if the fans help with fogging or if they only help cool the screens.
Great review, thanks! One Varjo Aero has already been ordered and I am looking very much forward to trying out an Aero soon at the local Varjo office here in Oslo, Norway!
Looking forward to version 2. Until then the G2 will do. What we most need now I think is both the software (games) and the hardware (graphics cards ) that can power what we already have. For example I have a 3090 with G2 and MSFS and DCS still kinda chug even with these. Varjo cant help with that. Realy pleased to see Varjo pushing the boundaries though.
For me this should be perfect. I already have a 3090. I use G2 and I have the v2.0 trackers and Valve knuckles, I'm the target market but the headset is €2400 inc taxes here. So I think I'll be sticking with my Reverb a bit longer and see what valve can come up with.
dont sleep on pimax tough,they will announce their new headset/headsets and their fov ruined me,i cant use a g2 or quest 2 160 fov compared to like 95 is soo much better,
Glad you did the review, but without OLED or AMOLED panels this headset doesn't justify a price over $200-$400, They have lost their mind if they think it's worth $2k. LCD display technology falls apart when rendering low light in flight simulation or any other application. Wish they would have figured this out.
Can’t wait for a headset upgrade like the reverb g2 inside out tracking( mainly sim player so don’t like extra friction of the bay station bs), great off ear audio solution, and amazing clarity. Unfortunately Varjio only hits one out of the three so I won’t be upgrading.
But like other brands tried to reach the new visual quality that G2 set in the market, now HP could invest in lenses design. Imagine G2 with aspheric lenses... just that would be a perfect G3 for me.
I'd love to have it, but I dont know when I'll actually be able to use it. I still need to upgrade my graphics card before I can use a premium headset like this. And with graphics card prices showing no signs of coming back down, I dont see it happening anytime soon 🙁
Hello, first of all, thank you for all your good work 😉 Please let me know when you use this VR headset only for Flight and Race simulation, if we need base station and controllers? Thank you very much 😊
I thought the hand tracking and the focus displays where the main arguement for the VR-3. With that gone it's just a hyper-expensive variant of the G2 which provides much more bang for the buck. The eye tracking is an important feature but as long as we don't have some wide spread, commonly used FOVeated rendering it's still just a gimmick. All my opinion of course, you may disagree.
For me the lack of integrated audio, something like what the Index offers, is a HUGE letdown. I'd be willing to pay the price if it was included even though it is quite expensive considering it needs external sensors which are not included, same as controllers. But the thing that worries me the most is prescription lens adapters, will it be possible to use those or would they interfere with the eye tracking system? I really don't want to use glasses, i've been playing with adapters for all my headsets for years now and having to go back to spectacles would be a big step down. Also how is the FOV compared to the Index?? I've read it's quite small, similar to the G2, which would be another reason not to get it.
Thank you Sebastion for such detailed and in-depth review! I'm so hyped up about Varjo ! Varjo, shut up and take my money! But first... need to upgrade my CPU/GPU rig again!!! Dang! :D
So, 2PM Berlin time is when the Embargo falls, which is 4h before the company officially unvails it? 6PM Berlin time is when Varjo has their launch event, so at least we know what Company made that HMD. Rootin' for a Varjo consumer HMD!
Your video pushed me over the edge to get this headset. I've been on the fence about this one for a few days, but your through the lens view finally gave me the information I was looking for to make my decision. Yeah, the visuals are what I'm after. If I upgrade again it will be when this visual fidelity also gains the FOV of a PiMax. Not having headphones is actually a plus for me because I always prefer my own headphones. And I don't care about hand tracking as what I would be using this for will be using HOTAS anyway.
@@grimlockarts8386 From a technical feature standpoint for how I like to use VR (sim racing) wide FOV is most important for me but for larger industry at hand probably not so much (a little bit extra could help tho). Ease of use and comfort/ergonomics should probably be highest priority for widespread adoption. This automatic IPD adjustment is a great start on that front. Size, weight, and balance really important also. Body tracking (e.g. eyes, mouth, hands) are actually probably important for widespread adoption as well because it will greatly increase social applications and ease of use (natural input)
Base Station SteamVR™ 2.0 base stations track the exact location of your headset. Base stations are a mandatory accessory for using Varjo Aero. 249.00 USD (excl. taxes)
Buy Varjo Aero in Europe: bit.ly/varjo-aero-europe (Affiliate)
Buy Varjo Aero in US/World: www.varjo.com
What do you think of the device?
I was ready to buy until they said AMD cards were not supported :( My 6900XT is a 'fail' for this headset.... Maybe Pimax Frontier will be an option..
Im gonna buy one instantly when i build my new pc im so exited
Roses are red violets are blue I want one of theses and so do you
Way overpriced, enthusiast headset.
No human eye resolution field(!!) and many lacking features like refresh rate, FoV, wireless option, audio/mic solution, separate controller/stations etc.
2500-3000€ for what? A joke.
Can you do a screen shot comparison in DCS of the Aero and VR3?
With the removal of the additional lens from the VR3, how does the Aero produce a clearer picture?
Damn, they made this QUICK! I bet they had expected a lot of people would love the VR3, so they had this planned as backup just in case. Very excited to see more on this headset.
VR3 Has been around a while (I tried one at a trade show in 2019), I imagine they've been pushing the VR3 lately to get people familiar with the company before they release this. Seriously impressive HMD
*EDIT - It was a VR2 I tried, my mistake*
I’ve been waiting for a consumer varjo headset since the VR-1 released. words cannot describe how excited I am
sameeeeeeeeee
crazy
I was so hyped after seeing the Varjo VR3. Thought the may have improved it even more or made a cheaper version at around 1000€
Then it showed a good headset for 3-4 times the price tag of comparable headset with useless premium features like the auto IPD adjustment, while getting rid of the human eye resolution, no hand tracking, no pass-through and bad sound/mic solution.
My personal letdown this year. I got higher hopes in lynx for now..
fow what kind of use?
2,300 Euro, is NOT a consumer headset. It's a headset for those with money to throw around.
@@DKTronics70 human earns about million dollars in his lifetime on average. And that just earnings without investment earnings so please tell me if flight simulator is someones top3 hobby how he cant spend that kind of money on it?
Had the opportunity to work with their customer service group. Fantastic in all respects.
This video is so incredible....3 times during this video, you said something - and i had a question...and its like you read my mind and answered it. Specially when you said Varjo got rid of most of the barrel distortion - i was like "how did they do that?" and you immediately went into it.
Thank you, so glad I could provide some value here!
Shows how hard it is to make large fov headset, nobody does it but Pimax…immersion is clarity plus fov! We need both for that truly immersive experience!
Probably about the price....
Big companies will not use immature solutions，pimax is just an experimental product
Sound is actually as important if not more for immersion.
Bingo
@@BalkanBiker yes but sound doesn't need to really be tackled by the VR company imo. Stereo sound handled on default windows drivers is more than capable of offering incredibly immersive experiences.
For those wishing to know about using glasses this is the answer from Varjo "So yes with our headsets you can wear your glasses however not all glasses fit. For instance I have a really wide pair on lenses on one set of frames and can't use them comfortably in the headset however my other pair with standard frames fits just fine."
If I had the money I'd order one right now. Truly awesome, Varjo.
When you transitioned to the Visual segment, it took me until the little headset movement for me to realize that we are looking through the lenses. My goodness, that is mad clear.
It is!
You helped on this!! I just want to take a moment to say thank you and we appreciate all your hard work!! ❤️
100 percent agree
It's amazing showcase for what the future of consumer VR will look like. In the past every advance one company has made has been copied by others, so I have no doubt most of this stuff will be available for fraction of the cost in a year or two and might even because standard for VR in not too distant future.
Thank you Varjo for an amazing opening and pretty much single-handedly showing that we can finally say 2nd generation of consumer VR is here!
Well said.
I wish but I highly doubt it. The premium segment will stay premium for quite a while. The average consumer isn’t enthusiastic enough to care about Mini LEDs and ultra high resolutions. Especially with the current hardware shortages, the system required to run this headset will probably cost too much to be considered standard anyway. Mobile processors won’t be fast enough. If you want to get this high quality you better start to save some money. That’s what I’ll do.
mini leds aren't a VR innovation, all of the display technology comes from the display industry and TVs. lenses could be copied but there are downsides to each of these technologies. foveated rendering is something that can be hard to implement well, eye tracking is expensive to start off with and requires R&D because obviously varjo won't just give their tracking algorithm and code out for their competitors. This tech will not likely be standard for the next 3-5 years.
I just ordered mine. Great job Varjo! You listened to the consumers!
How is it?
Thanks for the honest review! Always citing the good and the bad, I'm glad you're keeping it real :)
Thanks man!
Varjo: *releases retina quality consumer headset*
PIMAX: Allow us to introduce ourselves
As an 8KX owner, Pimax needs to figure out how to deliver. As much as I need and want them to deliver the 12K, I can't hope but feel like this is actually just an interest free loan to buy then time to 'figure it out'. I've never had to tinker with a headset to get and maintain operation as I have with my 8KX.
@@BFMwithStackhouse Woah. Yeah I have no experience with PIMAX but I've heard recently they have issues. It is launching in another year's time so I guess for now the Varjo Aero will be the one sold.
Heyo, two things i'd really like to see you do with this headset.
1 - Test out the VR-Ears with it, as this seems like a perfect headset for it.
2 - Do a through the lens comparison with the VR-3, so that we can actually see what we are missing from not getting the focus displays. (especially the vision test in the hmdtest enviroment)
I guess VR Ears don't have the right attachment for this strap. Anyway that's a nice solution for headphones, but not for mic.
@@buzzow there actually is a boom mic attachment offered with the VR ears. Also the rubber inserts that come with the VR ears are pretty much Universal. You could definitely get it attached.
@@HyperSlayer72 Hum! That sounds nice. Then yes, it would be pretty interesting some tests.
Wow, cool that the embargo lifts before the launch 🤪 go European XR companies!! 🥳🥳 lynx and varjo ❤
What about VRGineers and their XTAL? They're European (Czech) too :)
@@ThorvaldsenCZ go Czech Republic 💪💪👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤
I have a Varjo XR-3, and I agree with everything said about the headstrap - it's my biggest physical complaint about the device, it's really hard to get comfortable (though, this headset is quite a bit lighter than the XR-3, which should help). The visuals are sheer amazeballs, my virtual desktop looks like a *real physical monitor*, but of course, my headset has that focus display which makes it even higher resolution where you are looking.
Have you tried a Pimax 8K? Curious if the lower FOV is a big enough turnoff to choose one over the other.
This is so awesome! 🙌
Thanks MRTV for pushing for this (and Varjo for doing it!)
Purchased already o/
Thanks for the detailed review.
$2000 for a low FOV and low refresh rate. Not worth it at all. But hopefully some headset with this will come along soon.
I like it, I like it a lot, I just wish someone would come along with this in a wide FOV format aside from Pimax. I feel it would be an instant buy.
Same. No interest at all in these low FOVs. Deal breaker every time. Needs to be 150°+
@@TonyDrecaps i think that would be the next step for the next 1-2 years... I am waiting for it as well
@@lippeszabolcs1 I hope so! Been waiting so long
Goat headset but I kind of wished it didn’t have automatic IPD adjustment it just feels like over engineering and wonder on how much weight and price could be knocked off by doing so!
yea they could've definitely done without the automatic IPD adjustment. would probably have knocked it down by 300 bucks or so.
I think their lens software might require automatic ipd adjustment. If your eyes are not in a perfect position, perhaps the antidistortion wont work.
What concerns me with the automatic IPD adjustment is more moving parts to malfunction or break.
Yeah it's definitely cool but would much rather prefer a lighter headset.
It's not always so simple: for a smaller company, branching too many features from the product line and software may end up costing more at first.
A very professionally produced review, thank's for sharing. I'm ordering my one tonight and have already sold my G2. Knew I would, can't wait.
How big of an issue was the audio? The microphone and headphone quality is the only thing making me hesitant about buying this headset, I have a microphone and headphone thing that I can connect to my headset but it requires an USB port to plug in, is there one available? Deciding between this and the valve index, if u respond thank you very much it’s very appreciated 🙏😄
Thanks for the review!! I was so excited about a consumer version of the Varjo, but this price and feature point was a big disappointment. The display look amazing, and I'd even have considered paying for it if there was nothing else that needed to be added, but it's already at an extreme price without having to buy the required extras.
Well it was obvious that this level of visuals would be super expensive. I'm lucky to already have great audio to go with this. Just need those controllers, but Steam controllers were the best anyway.
I was hoping in $1000 range for consumers. 🤨
It's the initial release, later models will have the other things sorted.
Very professional and comprehensive review! Thanks for all the info on this exciting new HMD.
You are welcome!
At 2400 €+ I'd expect 120Hz, 100+ FoV, better audio/microphone solution, internal tracking and wireless functionality ON TOP of their slightly better visuals.
Removing their human eye resolution field killed it for me, not even the ridiculous orice, they claim to be consumer oriented...
Maybe in the next gen the displays will be so much better it wont make sense in gen 2. If it was any other company this price would be unacceptable even with the eye tracking and micro led backlight.
They have 200Hz... Am I wrong?
@635574
next gen doesn't matter. Only thing that matters is what they offer now for the asking price. And it is pretty bad compared to Oculus Quest, the soon coming Quest Pro, Lynx headset and multiple competitors. It is not IF it was another company, but BECAUSE it is this company. Getting rid of the most impressive resolution feature and still demanding the extra premium price is absurd.
@Przemek
I read it is 90Hz (in another comment). But even if it had 200Hz refresh rate the price wouldn't be justified imo.
It is like an apple product but with far worse specs compared to what they ask for in return.
Consumer market? All they did was sell a more widely accepted version of their 3rd gen without anual subscription fees..
How does the clarity compare to the Varjo VR3? I am concerned about seeing objects in the distance in games..
No being AMD GPU compatible has killed this headset for me, I'll stick with HP Reverb G2
I got a 6900 Xt for nothing.
How much is the G2?
@@buikhan Depends where you live check Amazon
@@Holret Where do you get one of those for nothing, my bog standard 6800 cost me £600.
@@shuflie you don't understand he's simply saying he got the graphics card but it's not supported for the ultimate VR headset which means it's worthless owning it for himself.
Thanks Sebastian. Love your work. Keep it up. Hoping for a reasonably priced Varjo with inside out tracking.
Isn't only 35ppd only half the clarity of the vr3 (that has 70ppd) and therefore no longer human eye resolution? How does the clarity compare between the two in reality? I think I'd have preferred true human eye resolution and lost the auto ipd..Thank you
Sebastian. Subscribed based on how well this informative review was. Truly amazing! Also, given that my system is a beast, combined with your thorough coverage of the Aero, I just ordered it. I also had to get the base stations. Gulp.
Hi Camil, so glad to have you here! You will love the device!
Is there something in the software for adjusting for prescriptions (people who wear glasses), otherwise, those people will have to wait for prescription inserts manufacturers to make some for this HMD, and from my experience with Inserts, they will reduce the FOV by a little bit and add just a little glare (light bouncing between the HMD lenses and the inserts). Very much looking forward to Varifocal lenses! :)
Note: Orders will be delivered within 3-4 months of purchase.
yea, thats pretty terrible. Taking after PImax.
I won't even look the whole video before writing the comment - I'm absolutely buying it as my first vr with index controllers and tracking stations. I feel that it will blow my mind and open me so many incredible possibilities to live another many lives as I did with video games through years but on a completely different level of expirience. I love this world where in the grey Noname city you can spend free time so incredibly interesting!
Just put in my order! although I do wish it had vive pro 2 level of FOV the displays seem like they will easily make up for that. upgrading from a reverb g2
Looks great, however if I jump from my VP2 (which I’m a fan of), I lose wireless and my head strap/audio comfort. Damn. Can my senheiser in ear momentum 2 blue tooth’s work or have to be wired? Hmmmm I think I’ll wait until Index 2 to make a decision!
@Marco Bruckner no I don’t think it’s worth it for me. No audio or wireless doesn’t make this headset worth it for what we have IMO. SEB on MRTV does a great review on the website advising people if it’s worth upgrading depending on which headset you have.
@@fenriswolf-always-forward SEB, auto correct. Sorry!
@Marco Bruckner *Mini LED panels
So hyped for the vrajio headset 👏🏾
LOL if it's a pimax 9kx
@@lonewolfsky4816 Pimax have their own announcement on the 25th October, on RUclips.
@@lonewolfsky4816 tbh im more excited about that they ruined me with their 160 horizontal fov on my 8kx,i cant go back to 100 fov it looks like im watching trough a binocular
Yea just wait for the price...
@@Cazanu417 that is the reason I avoided them lol 😂
Ooooooh baby!!! I want one of these! What a pleasure! I’ll have to get my brother to buy himself one when it launches so I can visit him every day! Lol
Well said.
Sebastian, I need to know if this will work with iracing. Have you tried this with iracing?
I am so excited to see this. Not that I would lay down $2 grand, but the fact that given a couple years, I am very hopeful. Like when cell phones first came out. Big and bulky, years later, slim and affordable and far more powerful.
Hi Sebastian, sorry for the naïve question, but Varjo Aero has natively the Z axis for the backward and foreward movements of the head, or does it need some additional base station like the first pimax? Since I only do flight simulation, I'm not interested in touch controls... Thank you.
Using a pimax 8kx and avid simer. Thanks for the detailed review. While I am very interested in the visuals, I got used to a great FoV and audio solution. I am really on the fence with this one...my 🧠 says no but my ♥ may at some point push me over the edge....
Haha... Nice one!
not choosing a better vr headset because of its audio its like not choosing a better shirt because it doesn t came attached with pants
@@jh5kl honestly in many aspects its such a downgrade over an 8kx
@@Cazanu417 indeed each headset has its pros and cons, but varjo even keeps adding new features to already purchased headsets, dynamic foveated rendering its giving its first steps and they already had improved other things
O no i'm gonna be so tempted by this headset! I really need to wait and see what valve is doing tho!!!
I don't see a wire but it has to be wired right?
How about wearing glasses on the Varjo? Any problems?
Fantastic. However, I would have thought that they could have implemented some kind of manual IPD adjustment to keep the cost down. If the headset measured the IPD and displayed it to the user, then have the user manually adjust the IPD to match that measurement. They could even have a "double-check" feature to ensure that it was correct. It would save on weight also.
I don't have any VR. So this solution, for me, would cost almost $3k. And that doesn't include the upgrades to the PC that would be required. I want it, but that's a bit much.
I think its because they also want it to be compelling to small business that have no need for AR like its bigbrother has :D
I see this headset being fairly priced. If you think about the items needed for the headset. Displays - A replacement phone display/screen can cost around 300$ and headset need 2 displays. The Lenses - Lenses are always pricey Think Glasses, or Camera Lenses. Then you got the software and hardware for the Eye tracking. So for the Very best "consumer" Headset the price seems ok.
I am so in market for next gen VR! Cant wait till video release!
Can I use base station 1 with this Varjo? Or does it have to be base station 2? In an earlier version, much earlier, they said that it had to be Base station 2, and four of those as well. that was from Mike at VR oasis when he found one of the earlier version
Looks good but that FOV is still terrible when compared with the Pimax 8KX. What it does have going for it is the auto IPD adjustment and the lenses but is that worth ditching my Pimax? At this point I’m not convinced.
I wonder how long we will have to wait to be able to buy this new varjo hmd?
Please make a direct comparison to G2! I just got my G2 to finally work after an extremely frustrating year of calling tech-support over and over. And I’m wondering if I should’ve just gotten this now that I have a 3090 😆
Are you a multimillionaire?
Thanks for the video! I am very tempted to get one but I have three things that I am not so sure about... 1) the audio solution is a turn off. I can live with it but would definitely prefer a great built-in solution. 2) the refresh rate. As an index user I am super bummed to have only one refresh rate available. I would at the very least like to have a 120 hz mode so I can run that with reprojection always on, so the expected performance issues are not so bad any more. 3) my absolute main issue is that I cannot use a headset without inlay lenses. No way in hell I will use such an expensive device with glasses. No chance. If I play a game like thrill of the fight with intense head movement, I cannot imagine that the glasses will not scratch the lenses. I have no idea if there will be some available but it is a pity that varjo didn't comment on this point... It is a no compromise headset that is more or less exclusive to people with perfect eyesight or games without much head movement :(
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!
I was considering the Reverb G2 but you said in this video that you only got 28 fps with it and you have a 3080. I mainly use my headset (Rift) for iRacing and was leaning towards the Reverb G2 because of the image quality (and price) as I'd value image quality a bit more than FOV/higher FPS in the Valve Index. But with that said I have a 2070 Super and would want much higher FPS than 30 for iRacing. Do I stick with my Rift until I can get a 3080 or better? Or get the Reverb G2 and sacrifice FPS until I can source a new graphics card?
The fov is a show stopper. Immersion comes from fov, while clarity gives realism. Need both for a TRUE VR experience.
Pimax saying they have VR 3.0 announcement on Oct 25th 10am, I would definitely wait until seeing their latest before ordering the aero
What is/why the restriction to Nvidia GPUs? Shouldn't this be fairly transparent to the HMD?
They are making foveated rendering promises that are NOT available now. Varjo bought into that bullcrap - at the expense of every AMD card! BUT - there are, effectively, zero titles you can buy that makes use of this 'feature' because that feature is some way off from being realised. True foveated rendering SHOULD! be part of the game engine rendering code - not within a 3rd party driver .dll. They did this before with their RTX 20xx series, where they put up card pricing to eye watering levels by promising ray tracing titles. You'll remember how badly that wend down.
I would love AMD's RDNA3/4 to do to Nvidia what their Zen products are doing to Intel.
what about eye tracking ? did this improve performances ?
Sebastian, you talked about how there is some distortion around the edges. Can you compare and quantify the “sweet spot” size from the Aero to the G2? Keep up the great work! You have been very helpful in helping me navigate the VR world!
just like pixel windows is a thing of the past, sweet spot is becoming a thing of the past as well. When I get the lenses on the G2 a little closer to my eyes, I get all the sweet spot I could ask for, and if varjo is twice of that, (pancake lenses tends to have a large flat non-convex area that is the sweet spot, also the culprit of barrel distortion) it will just have so much sweet spot it's not even worth bringing it up
@@mrelisard I tried a couple of different face plates with the G2 to get closer, but none worked well as I have to have the prescription lens covers. They all put me uncomfortably close with my eyelashes brushing the lens. I agree that the sweet spot is approaching being a thing of the past, but unfortunately it’s not quite in the rear view mirror yet for me.
@@joshrender8956 If eyelashes are in the way, just cut them off. just cut off those babies. Kidding. yeah, but if I have a desktop in VR, and I can read the whole desktop, everywhere, without moving my head, it's far better than anything we had previous headset.
@@mrelisard If they combine the clarity of the Aero with the FOV of the pimax, I’d consider cutting of my eyelashes and selling a kidney…
@@joshrender8956 FOV is a little overrated, and then there's a tricky subject of distortion that should be a little determined by the shape of your eye and face that's makes the widest FOV a little premature still. I don't hear anyone saying eye tracked distortion profile, so widest FOV only works for a certain headshape. I think we should get to at least 140 degrees. Pimax has some new announcement today as well
I'm so glad I'm saving and putting away a budget for computers and gadgets like this. I will buy this direct when it hits the market :)
will 8k Vr videos look better on this than Reverb or Quest?
Yes very much so. I have both a quest 2 and the VR3 (more expensive varjo business headset on which this is based) and have tried the index.
The varjo is much much sharper and videos look far better
Annnnnnd pre-ordered. Pretty funny that on the VR3 video I said it needed to be 1999 max and I wanted them to keep the auto IPD (to me the hardest adjustment to nail down when friends are over to play). They did both, so I HAD to order it....right?!
Worse vertical FOV than the Quest 2, but it's your money.
@@dtz1000 yeah i would have waited for pimax new headsets reveal,8kx was a solid high end headset with huge fov,if they put miniled and increase the ppd from 20 to 30 it will be insane.
FOV doesn't bother me. What does is my 2 year old valve index's now very dated resolution and visual quality. The reason I game on pc is because I want the absolute best looking version of the game I'm playing. And VR is no different.
Just to be clear does this fix the near focus problem which varifocal was meant to do? It sure does looks like it when you look near your hand in the hl alyx in the video.. It seems a lot more details than reverb g2 or any other vr headset.
Very tempting but I can't help but suspect the next six months are going to bring something equivalent or better at a much cheaper price. How are the visuals of the Aero versus the Arpara 5K?
Hi,
Can I use it for simracing without basestation and controllers?
I use Reverb G2 for iracing with 3080 but I can’t use 100% SS in steam VR at some track. Its very interesting you achieved more score with Varjo at open vr benchmark then G2.
I have the original HTC Vive controllers and base station collecting dust in a closet, will I be able to use those with this unit? If so I may consider purchasing. Thanks!
at 5:15(and almost every picture)
what are these 2-3 diagonal black shadows spreading across the screen? i recognised this at the varjovr3/g2/8kx comparison video too? are these permanent or is it just from capturing the video?
Are the Aero's color/brightness improvements over the VR3 worth the downgrade in resolution, if you were choosing between them?
If I was choosing between them it would be Aero for sure! Better visuals and lighter.
Great review! How is the FOV compared to the Vive Pro 2? And the specs say there are fans in this unit. Did you try any active VR titles? Wondering if the fans help with fogging or if they only help cool the screens.
Great review, thanks! One Varjo Aero has already been ordered and I am looking very much forward to trying out an Aero soon at the local Varjo office here in Oslo, Norway!
Looking forward to version 2. Until then the G2 will do. What we most need now I think is both the software (games) and the hardware (graphics cards ) that can power what we already have. For example I have a 3090 with G2 and MSFS and DCS still kinda chug even with these. Varjo cant help with that. Realy pleased to see Varjo pushing the boundaries though.
Use the fsr mod
Varjo's foviated rendering could help with that
@@lolitis01 no because it has to be hard coded in games…
For me this should be perfect. I already have a 3090. I use G2 and I have the v2.0 trackers and Valve knuckles, I'm the target market but the headset is €2400 inc taxes here. So I think I'll be sticking with my Reverb a bit longer and see what valve can come up with.
You're the target market? Hey, you should use that as a pickup line, women would cream themselves hearing that.
dont sleep on pimax tough,they will announce their new headset/headsets and their fov ruined me,i cant use a g2 or quest 2 160 fov compared to like 95 is soo much better,
Awesome review, thank you. If I'm only using it for MSFS2020, and dont use controllers on my G2, do I need the controllers?
Would you consider it possible to replace a couple of displays with this?
Damm those lenses and visuals are insane
What's the difference between this one and Pimax 8K X?
Glad you did the review, but without OLED or AMOLED panels this headset doesn't justify a price over $200-$400, They have lost their mind if they think it's worth $2k. LCD display technology falls apart when rendering low light in flight simulation or any other application. Wish they would have figured this out.
Can’t wait for a headset upgrade like the reverb g2 inside out tracking( mainly sim player so don’t like extra friction of the bay station bs), great off ear audio solution, and amazing clarity. Unfortunately Varjio only hits one out of the three so I won’t be upgrading.
But like other brands tried to reach the new visual quality that G2 set in the market, now HP could invest in lenses design. Imagine G2 with aspheric lenses... just that would be a perfect G3 for me.
Yep, holding out for a G3 or an alternative under 1000
So I still need to have/purchase the base stations and controllers separately/additionally?
Yep. like buying a Pimax (except that Pimax also sells base stations with their headsets if you want them I think)
So, thanks for the excellent review, but where do I buy controllers? I see the Varjo site offers base stations, but not controllers??? Thanks 👍
Ordered mine before the Live Stream. No regrets! Looking forward to this for a long time now.
Same
Will it work without a gaming PC ? and on MAC ?
So without hand tracking how do I click on the buttons in my virtual cockpit of my aircraft???
I'd love to have it, but I dont know when I'll actually be able to use it. I still need to upgrade my graphics card before I can use a premium headset like this. And with graphics card prices showing no signs of coming back down, I dont see it happening anytime soon 🙁
Hello, first of all, thank you for all your good work 😉
Please let me know when you use this VR headset only for Flight and Race simulation, if we need base station and controllers? Thank you very much 😊
For sims can you only use 1 base station?
HERE WE GO. Woop woop give us OLEDS :)
What do those 2 buttons on the side of the headset do?
I thought the hand tracking and the focus displays where the main arguement for the VR-3. With that gone it's just a hyper-expensive variant of the G2 which provides much more bang for the buck. The eye tracking is an important feature but as long as we don't have some wide spread, commonly used FOVeated rendering it's still just a gimmick. All my opinion of course, you may disagree.
For me the lack of integrated audio, something like what the Index offers, is a HUGE letdown. I'd be willing to pay the price if it was included even though it is quite expensive considering it needs external sensors which are not included, same as controllers.
But the thing that worries me the most is prescription lens adapters, will it be possible to use those or would they interfere with the eye tracking system? I really don't want to use glasses, i've been playing with adapters for all my headsets for years now and having to go back to spectacles would be a big step down.
Also how is the FOV compared to the Index?? I've read it's quite small, similar to the G2, which would be another reason not to get it.
There are third party solutions. I actually prefer not to pay for audio along with the headset as I have great audio ready to go.
Why can't the chromatic aberration be fixed via software?
I would like to know whether the eye tracking provides any benefit.
Yes, it saves you from manually adjusting your ipd the very first time you use your headset. 😂
Does the software still cost as much monthly??
Thank you Sebastion for such detailed and in-depth review! I'm so hyped up about Varjo ! Varjo, shut up and take my money! But first... need to upgrade my CPU/GPU rig again!!! Dang! :D
So, 2PM Berlin time is when the Embargo falls, which is 4h before the company officially unvails it? 6PM Berlin time is when Varjo has their launch event, so at least we know what Company made that HMD.
Rootin' for a Varjo consumer HMD!
exactly, it can only be Varjo and a consumer headset after their "for all" teaser.
will the aero work with 3rd party non-steam games? for example dancexr? or non-steam elite dangerous?
Your video pushed me over the edge to get this headset. I've been on the fence about this one for a few days, but your through the lens view finally gave me the information I was looking for to make my decision.
Yeah, the visuals are what I'm after. If I upgrade again it will be when this visual fidelity also gains the FOV of a PiMax.
Not having headphones is actually a plus for me because I always prefer my own headphones.
And I don't care about hand tracking as what I would be using this for will be using HOTAS anyway.
Will you be trying the VR Ears with the Aero to see if it is a viable option for audio solution ?
Yes!
@@mixedrealityTV GREAT !!
Its Varjo Aero or Varjo Arrow? im confused
Exciting for sit down VR. Moving is a must for me. I just wish they offered a wireless option.
More large FOV headsets on the market is what would actually get me excited.
Agreed, larger FOV throughout the VR industry would be fantastic. That should be higher on the priority list than options like full body tracking.
Pimax is announcing something new in a few days
@@grimlockarts8386 From a technical feature standpoint for how I like to use VR (sim racing) wide FOV is most important for me but for larger industry at hand probably not so much (a little bit extra could help tho).
Ease of use and comfort/ergonomics should probably be highest priority for widespread adoption. This automatic IPD adjustment is a great start on that front. Size, weight, and balance really important also. Body tracking (e.g. eyes, mouth, hands) are actually probably important for widespread adoption as well because it will greatly increase social applications and ease of use (natural input)
New Varjo. Props to Sebastian for being the one pushing them to come up with a consumer headset. A true RUclipsr and influencer changing the industry
Base Station
SteamVR™ 2.0 base stations track the exact location of your headset. Base stations are a mandatory accessory for using Varjo Aero.
249.00 USD (excl. taxes)