Colin Cassidy
Varjo Aero VR Headset Receives Permanent Price Cut
The Varjo Aero, a tethered PC VR headset known for its high angular resolution, has recently undergone a permanent price reduction. Released in 2021, the Aero boasted the highest angular resolution on the consumer market at the time, a position it held until the Pimax Crystal was introduced in May. While Varjo had previously focused on selling headsets exclusively to businesses, the Aero marked a shift toward targeting consumers.
The Varjo Aero is equipped with 2880×2720 per eye LCD displays, aspheric lenses offering a wide 115° horizontal field of view, and eye tracking that enables automatic IPD (interpupillary distance) adjustment and foveated rendering in supported software.
However, it is worth noting that the Varjo Aero requires separate SteamVR Tracking base stations and controllers, which are not included in the package. This is similar to another VR headset, Bigscreen Beyond, which also necessitates the purchase of additional accessories.
Impressive Clarity and Comfort with Some Drawbacks
In our review of the Varjo Aero, we were impressed by the headset’s stunning sharpness and the fidelity it delivers. The aspheric lenses offer clearer visuals compared to the commonly used fresnel lenses in other VR headsets. The Aero also provides a relatively wide field of view and offers comfort through its hybrid halo strap design.
However, we did encounter a few drawbacks with the Varjo Aero. The headset suffers from warping distortion, which can be distracting during use. Furthermore, the lenses have an unnatural shape with a rigid horizontal cutoff at the bottom. These factors detract from an otherwise immersive experience.
With the recent price cut, a Varjo Aero headset, along with SteamVR base stations and Valve Index controllers, is now priced at just under $1600. This places it in direct competition with the Pimax Crystal, which also includes controllers and offers inside-out tracking. While the Aero boasts superior tracking quality, Crystal promises local dimming and a wireless mode. Furthermore, Pimax claims its lenses do not suffer from the same distortion issue as the Varjo Aero, although this claim has not been independently verified.
If you are seeking a high-resolution VR headset with remarkable clarity, the Varjo Aero may be a compelling choice. However, it is important to consider the aforementioned drawbacks and evaluate your priorities when deciding between the Aero and its competitors.
It is worth noting that this article is based purely on factual information and aims to present an unbiased overview of the Varjo Aero VR headset and its recent price reduction.
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