While Apple, Meta and others continue to work on full augmented reality (AR) headsets, Nreal has been selling much smaller AR glasses since 2021. Now the company, which changed its name to Xreal, has just launched a new version called shop.xreal.com/products/xreal-air-2″>Xreal Water 2 in shop.xreal.com/products/xreal-air-2″>Europe and the United Statesafter tech/xreal-air-2-ar-glasses-first-major-launch-for-rebranded-nreal-2283047/”>throwing it in China last month. It offers improved displays and more comfort, and the company also introduced the Xreal Air 2 Pro with electrochromic dimming, which allows you to select the immersion level from zero to 100 percent.
Xreal (the X stands for extra, the company said) promises that the Air 2 glasses "Turn whatever the user is watching into a big screen experience, up to 330 inches." To that end, it uses Sony’s latest 0.55-inch Micro-OLED display, up from the 0.68-inch Micro-OLED used previously (Apple also uses Micro-OLED technology in its Vision Pro mixed reality headset). . As before, it can display a Full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 per eye, with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Along with the higher resolution, it features 500 nits of brightness, compared to 400 nits on the original Nreal Air.
The Air 2 is also 10 percent thinner and 10 percent lighter (from 79 grams to 72 grams, which is actually 8.9 percent by my calculations), according to Xreal. Also comes with improved, new elastic temples "airfit" nose pads and softer materials. All of that is designed to improve comfort and allow for longer use when watching movies and other content, according to the company. As before, it connects to devices via USB-C with video output (DisplayPort) with no wireless option, so you’re effectively connected to a device.
Xreal also improved the audio speaker system by incorporating "spatial surround automatic delivery" through an open ear design aimed at the user. "This provides greater privacy and minimizes disturbance to others when in public spaces." the company said. It also improves voice and video calls, as the Xreal Air 2 can let you take audio from a smartphone or tablet.
The most desirable model is the Xreal Air 2 Pro. It introduces electrochromic dimming that allows you to select three modes, including a transparent mode that does not block light, allowing you to wear the glasses while still seeing the outside world. "Productivity mode" blocks 35 percent of outside light, so you can focus better without completely blocking out your surroundings, while Immersive Mode blocks all light for gaming, entertainment, etc.
Like the original Nreal Air, the Xreal Air 2 seems to be primarily aimed at viewers of YouTube videos, light gaming, movies, etc. It doesn’t include cameras or motion sensors, so it effectively acts as a personal projector, with the screen moving as you move your head (hello, nausea). However, you can purchase an accessory called the Xreal Beam ($119) that adds gyroscopic tracking and keeps the screen fixed in place when you move, while allowing for additional wired connectivity options that apparently reduce latency. According reviews on the deviceIt works much like the original Air, but is lighter and more comfortable.
Considering what it can’t do, the Xreal Air 2 is quite expensive at $399 (in black or red), while the Air 2 Pro costs $449. For full functionality, you need the Xreal Beam, which brings the price to $518 and $568 respectively, more than the Meta Quest 3. Shipping is expected to begin in the US and UK in November 2023, and in other parts of Europe in December.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/xreals-399-air-2-augmented-reality-glasses-are-now-available-to-pre-order-120057648.html?src=rss
