Varjo, the Finland-based creator of high-end XR headsets, announced their businesses and prosumer-focused SteamVR headset Aero is now permanently 50% off its original $2,000 price tag.
Aero is essentially a pared down version of the company’s strictly enterprise headsets, offering industry-leading fidelity and advanced features such as eye-tracking.
Released in October 2021, Aero was (and still is) the company’s least expensive headset; it’s now priced at $990 (€990), bringing the Helsinki, Finland-based company into a new price segment which its hoping will appeal to at-home simulator fans.
Ther news was revealed during the company’s hour-long ‘Aeroversity’ livestream celebrating the device’s two years since launch. Besides the price drop reveal, Varjo focused heavily on the headset’s use in both driving and flight sims.
When we reviewed Varjo Aero in late 2021, we called it the “dream headset for VR simmers who aren’t afraid to trade cash for immersion,” as it offered some pretty stunning clarity (35 PPD) that’s beaten only by the company’s more expensive headsets.
Notably, the $990 package doesn’t include SteamVR base stations and motion controllers, making it appeal mostly to users already in the SteamVR tracking ecosystem. What’s in the box: Varjo Aero headset, VR adapter, power supply unit with 6 x power plugs (EURO, UK, US, AUS, KOR, CHN), in-ear headphones with microphone, user guide, cleaning cloth.
The price drop looks to be, in part, a response to the growing number of new PC VR headsets offering higher resolution micro displays, notably with the Bigscreen Beyond leading the charge at $1,000 for just the headset, which includes 2,560 × 2,560 (6.5MP) per-eye resolution microOLEDs clocked at 75/90Hz.
Check out the specs below:
Varjo Aero Specs |
|
| 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 |