For VR enthusiasts seeking unrivaled visual clarity and a robust ecosystem, the standout choice is Varjo.. Its superior resolution, industry-backed funding, and vast applications make it the go-to for serious professionals. However, for those chasing high refresh rates and the versatility of standalone VR, Pimax may satisfy their needs better.
Key Differences Between Varjo and Pimax
Varjo offers the highest-resolution VR and mixed reality devices on the market, including Varjo XR-3, VR-3, and Aero, while Pimax’s top-tier offerings include Vision 8K X and 12K QLED.
Varjo’s significant venture capital funding and industry support contrast with Pimax’s crowd-funded origins and series A and B funding rounds.
The application scope of Varjo’s products extends to training astronauts and designing cars, versus Pimax’s focus on VR gaming and entertainment.
Pimax offers standalone VR capabilities in the upcoming 12K QLED and Crystal models, a feature absent in the Varjo lineup.
Comparison
Varjo
Pimax
Founded
2016
2015
Headquarters
Finland
Shanghai, China
First VR Headset Release Year
2019 (Varjo VR-1)
2016 (Pimax 4K VR Headset)
Raised Funding
$162.5M over 9 rounds
$39.2M over multiple rounds
Main Investors
Foxconn, EQT Venture, Volvo, Atomico
Crowdfunding via Kickstarter and Series A/B investors
Achievements
Creating high-resolution devices offering clarity similar to human eye
Guinness World Record for the most successful crowdfunded VR project
High Resolution Devices
Varjo XR-3, VR-3, Aero
Pimax 8K X, 5K PLUS, 12K QLED
Display Technology
Synthetic imagery fused with high-resolution display
Combined 4K resolution, OLED screens and QLED
What Is Varjo Technologies Oy and Who’s It For?
Varjo Technologies Oy, an elite Finnish brand, excels in crafting VR, AR, and MR headsets with astonishing high-resolution capabilities, rivaling the clarity of human vision. Conceived in 2016 by renowned ex-Nokia and Microsoft executives, the company has proliferated market dominion with progressive products, boasting more than $100 million in venture capital funding. Target users are diverse, catering to established industrial magnates like Audi, Volvo Cars, Aston Martin among others while also serving in niche sectors such as astronaut training and nuclear plant operations.
Defining innovation, their Varjo Reality Cloud platform is their newest frontier, bestowing professionals with the ability to stream VR/XR applications seamlessly from cloud platforms with zero visual fidelity loss. Their technical forte is further pronounced with specialization in training, design, and research applications.
Broad consumer base including industrial giants and niche professional occupations.
Varjo Reality Cloud platform for effortless VR/XR streaming.
Cons of Varjo Technologies Oy
Considerably expensive products.
Heavy reliance on external investment funds.
Intense competition from industry rivals such as Microsoft HoloLens 2.
What Is Pimax and Who’s It For?
Specializing in VR hardware products, Pimax is a pioneering technology firm that started its journey in 2016 in Shanghai, China. The first Pimax 4K VR headset hit the product shelves in 2016 and was acclaimed as the inaugural headset offering combined 4K resolution. Their groundbreaking status earned them the Best VR product at CES Asia 2016. Further glory followed, with their Pimax 8K raising $4.2m on Kickstarter. They target tech enthusiasts, VR device users and, gamers looking for high-quality VR experiences.
Pimax boasts an illustrious portfolio of devices, embellished with cutting-edge features, including the Pimax 5K PLUS with sharper images, the Pimax 8K X with Dual Engine Mode, and the futuristic Pimax 12K QLED headset.
Pros of Pimax
First headset incorporating combined 4K resolution.
Rich, illustrious product portfolio catering to varied user needs.
Pioneer in VR crowdfunding success.
Cons of Pimax
Premium product pricing.
Demand for high computational power for effective usage.
Dependence on customer product awareness.
The Verdict: Varjo Vs Pimax
In the intense rivalry between Varjo and Pimax, deciphering supremacy can be challenging. Let’s break it down for specific audience segments.
AR/VR Creators
For AR/VR creators invested in groundbreaking photorealistic immersive content, Varjo with its high-resolution VR/XR streaming from the cloud is a victorious pick. Its superior graphics engine paves the way for lucid, class-apart experiences.
High-End Consumer Users
Pricy yet packed with quality, the Varjo Aero guilty of high resolution and built-in eye-tracking, targets high-end consumer users seeking high-performance VR headsets. It’s costlier, yet its quality justifies the expense.
VR Game Developers
For those VR game developers focused on refresh rates and FOV, Pimax showcases its prowess. The Pimax 5K SUPER reinvents the standards with its refresh rate of 160 Hz. So it packs a punch for game creators seeking optimal movement realism.
Early Tech Adopters
Early adopters desiring the thrill of the state-of-the-art technology should contemplate the upcoming Pimax 12K QLED. With its hybrid standalone feature, one can anticipate superior VR experiences in the forthcoming future.
In the Varjo vs Pimax power play, it boils down to specific needs. Varjo excels in AR/VR content creation with unmatched resolution, whereas Pimax outshines in VR gaming with superior refresh rates. The choice is unquestionably user-specific.
Logan Bellbrook
Content writer @ Aircada with a knack for nature & AR/VR/XR. Blogging the intersection of tech & terrain.
