Xreal’s long-standing line of augmented reality (AR) glasses is about to receive a new generation. one year later Air 2 series AR glassesXreal launches new products a series ofwhich includes two different products: Xreal One and One Pro.
Although you can read more about the One Pro in our original announcement article, my review today focuses primarily on the One. It’s a modest update to the Air 2, with a new internal spatial computing co-processor, a slightly wider field of view (FoV), a brighter screen, and a redesigned chassis.
At $499 (a $50 increase from last year’s Air 2 Pro), the One isn’t an impulse buy for tech enthusiasts. In fact, it’s $200 more expensive than mixed reality Meta Task 3S. Unlike the Meta Quest 3S, however, when you connect the glasses to any device that supports USB-C or HDMI, from phones to laptops to handheld gaming PCs, all the major computing is done outside the device .
Xreal One design and hardware
The One represents a design evolution compared to its predecessor, the Air 2, which we previously reviewed. The One still looks like an oversized pair of sunglasses, albeit with extra-thick frames and side arms. The frame holds the lens and dual monitors, which are mounted on top and shoot down onto the triangular basin lens.
Compared with Air 2, Dual sony The size of the Micro-LED display has increased from 0.55 inches to 0.68 inches (the same size as the original Air), and the pixel density has dropped from 4,032 ppi to 3,320 ppi.
The One’s arms are connected to the main magnesium frame via stiff hinges covered with chrome-plated metal plates. It’s similar to what we saw on the Air 2 last year, but this time the hinge design looks better integrated. The arms are similarly styled and include built-in open-air speakers tuned by Bose.
The left arm has a single USB-C port, and the included slanted USB-C cable plugs into this port and connects to a smartphone, tablet, PC, or game console that supports DisplayPort over USB-C. There is a red “X” button on the underside of the right arm. Double-click it to call the main menu system (on-screen display). Here you can adjust screen size, screen distance, brightness enhancement, color temperature, interpupillary distance (IPD), etc.
Behind the red button is a rocker switch, which allows you to adjust the display’s brightness or navigate up and down in the menu system. Finally, there’s a black button on top of the right arm, which Xreal calls a “quick button.” By default, it changes the tint level of the lenses, but this can be customized in the settings.
Unlike the Air 2, which came with four different sizes of removable nose pad brackets, the One’s nose pads are integrated into the frame. You can still get interchangeable “air cushion” nose pads in sizes small, medium, and large (the medium nose pads are factory installed).
The detachable front frame is a big upgrade compared to the Xreal Air. It’s made of thin black plastic that snaps around the lens. The frame is easily removable and can be replaced with a new frame in a different color and finish. While it’s still a low-tech solution, it’s far superior to the Air 2, which comes with an adhesive-backed cover (basically a custom-cut sticker) that you stick to the frame.
Another upgrade over the standard Air 2 is that the lens features electrochromic dimming, which offers three levels of dimming. At its darkest setting, it blocks out most ambient light, giving you a cinematic experience when watching content. I prefer this arrangement on the device to the plastic clip-on light blocker that comes with the Air 2.
The One’s frame is much thinner than the Air 2’s. Although the One is about 10% heavier than the Air 2 (87 grams vs. 72 grams), the difference when wearing isn’t as noticeable as the slim profile of these frames.
Perhaps the most significant internal change is the move to Xreal’s new X1 spatial computing chip, which was developed entirely in-house. Thanks to X1, many One features and configurations that previously required the use of separate apps can now be performed on the device. Additionally, the performance of 3 degrees of freedom (DoF) tracking has been greatly improved compared to the Air and earlier AR glasses.
Specifications of Xreal One
| exhibit | 1920 x 1080 per eye |
| display type | organic light emitting diodes |
| brightness | 600 nits |
| vision | 50 degrees |
| degrees of freedom | 3 degrees of freedom |
| vocal | Dual open-air speakers |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| weight | 2.96 oz (84 g) |
Using Xreal One
Since the One connects via the USB-C port, it’s natively compatible with many devices, including smartphones, tablets, PCs/Macs, or anything with USB-C Alternate Mode (or HDMI with an adapter). After plugging the One into my iPhone 16 Pro, my home screen appears in portrait orientation. Of course, viewing portrait content on the One isn’t ideal. Luckily, opening an app like Safari and turning the phone into landscape mode will also turn content on the One into landscape mode.
In addition, when watching YouTube videos or Disney Plus content in full screen on iPhone, it will automatically display in landscape mode on One. Connected to your phone via a USB-C cable, using One is a low-impact way to enjoy multimedia content on the go.
Using MacBook Pro and Windows 11 Desktop computers are equally easy to set up. Simply plug a USB-C cable into a free USB-C port and your desktop will be projected onto the One’s dual monitors.
Once plugged in and ready to go, the One’s hands-on experience is pretty impressive. I play Guardians of the Galaxy Used it for several hours on my Windows PC with no issues of eye strain or discomfort. I was also able to take full advantage of the One’s 120 Hz refresh rate in games. Likewise, I also enjoy Resident Evil Village on my MacBook Pro. While playing both games, I used anchor display mode so that when I rotated my head, the image tracked my movements.
But keep in mind that the One’s horizontal field of view (FoV) is a maximum of 50 degrees. Therefore, surrounding content may be cut off unless you select a longer viewing distance in the settings menu. Five feet is ideal for me because four feet would pinch the contents and force me to move my entire head from left to right. Mixed reality headsets such as the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S have FoVs of 110 degrees and 97 degrees respectively.
While I was gaming, I decided to take a break and watch a few movies with my glasses. I lay on the sofa and watched Deadpool and Wolverine The glasses are connected to my iPhone on a simulated 147-inch monitor. The experience is very immersive, especially with the electrochromism set to its darkest level to block ambient light.
The Bose-tuned speakers also sound great while watching movies. Usually, I wear AirPods Pro or AirPods Max and wear AR glasses while watching movies and playing games. However, sound reproduction is very good, with plenty of bass and dynamic range, and I didn’t bother complicating my viewing setup by adding headphones.
The new X1 chip provides significant assistance in several areas. The first advantage is the on-device controls. A quick double-click of the red button brought up the menu screen within the glasses, allowing me to change the virtual screen size from 147 inches to 191 inches while working in macOS. I can then easily switch the viewing distance to fit the screen size. For example, at a viewing distance of 5 feet, I’m most comfortable with the 147-inch.
Another benefit of the X1 chip is reduced latency when performing certain operations. For example, One supports anchor and follow display modes. The model holds the picture in a fixed position in front of you. Therefore, if you move your head left/right or up/down, the position of the display does not move. With follow mode, the image tracks or “follows” your head movement. With the Air 2, Follow mode has some inherent lag when you move your head on the fly. With the One, this lag is almost completely gone, and even if you move your head quickly, the picture tracks your movements quickly and accurately.
bottom line
The Xreal One isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the best augmented reality glasses out there (we still need to test the One Pro). While slightly heavier than the Air 2, the One offers a slimmer frame, a more robust approach to frame customization, and an overall sleeker aesthetic.
The X1 chip brings a wealth of advancements to the platform, including consolidating all controls onto the device and reducing latency when viewing content. It will also enable future expansion of One, including $99 Xreal Eyean upcoming camera plug-in for taking pictures or recording videos.
While the X1 chip greatly enhances the One’s capabilities compared to its predecessor, its processing power doesn’t compare to dedicated mixed reality headsets like the Meta Quest 3 or Meta Quest 3S. However, you give up pure performance (which would allow you to play games and experience virtual content without a console device), but you get a low-impact solution that’s more akin to a regular pair of sunglasses.
You also have to accept a 50-degree field of view, which, while better than the Air 2’s 46 degrees, isn’t as wide as the One Pro’s 57 degrees.
I love using the One, it’s truly a great device for consuming content on the train or plane. It’s even a great choice for watching movies on a 147-inch virtual monitor while hanging out at home.
However, at $499, it’s not an easy sell unless you can find a way to use it regularly. While it’s cumbersome and definitely not something you want to wear in public, $299 USD Mission 3S May be more suitable for people who want a more comprehensive experience with virtual reality and augmented reality capabilities.