Enterprise VR/AR hardware vendor Varjo has launched its latest mixed-reality headset, promising levels of realism that surpass consumer-focused devices — and at a price that puts the device in line with Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro.
Varjo targets the highest of high-end virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR) use cases, including training simulations for airplane pilots and design reviews for global car manufacturers. It’s an approach that pushes the boundaries of immersive technologies, the company says, with prices to match: individual Varjo headsets can often run into five-figure sums.
On Tuesday, the Finnish company announced its XR-4 series devices, the latest generation of PC-powered MR headsets, with three headset SKUs available beginning in December.
One notable change involves pricing. The base model, priced at €3,990 (around $4,350), is half the cost of the previous generation XR-3 (priced at €6,495, or roughly $7,000), placing it closer to the Vision Pro ($3,499) and Microsoft’s enterprise-focused HoloLens 2 ($3,500). Varjo is also ending a €1,495 yearly subscription fee for XR-3 device purchases.
Varjo’s new XR-4 series devices starts at around $4,350.
With the lower priced XR-4 base model, Varjo says businesses can deploy mixed-reality devices more widely across their workforce. “For many of our customers, XR has graduated from their innovation labs, and is deployed in dedicated XR workspaces,” said Patrick Wyatt, Varjo’s chief product officer. “They are now thinking about how they could deploy this technology more broadly, so their employees can use XR at their desks or even from home. We expect that the XR-4 will be a great device for this scale-up phase.”
“Varjo’s headsets have ruled the roost for many high-end enterprise use cases, but at a high price that’s shut out a lot of potential buyers,” said David Truog, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester. “So, the XR-4’s lower price will open up a much larger market for Varjo and create opportunities for enterprises to start working in XR that have hesitated to until now. That will be a game-changer for this market.”
“Varjo didn’t just lower the price on the VR-4, it also greatly simplified the pricing structure,” said Avi Greengart, president and lead analyst at Techsponential. “You no longer need to pay a software maintenance fee or separately purchase Steam controllers or trackers.”
He pointed to other costs involved in procuring the XR-4 series, including the need for a “fairly high-end workstation or gaming PC.” However, the “easier out-of-box experience, increased capabilities, and lower cost … should grow the market among Varjo’s design, aviation, simulation, and engineering customer base,” said Greengart.
Those wanting the most advanced passthrough features still face a significant outlay. The XR-4 Focal Edition offers improved augmented reality performance…
2023-12-02 10:41:02
Original from www.computerworld.com