What’s new in the AR, XR, MR, and whatever-reality sphere? We just tested the new XREAL Air 2 glasses, which are a nice new way how we could consume media, play games, and engage with the world of VR. Offering a big-screen experience without the need for a physical screen, these glasses create a virtual theater right before your eyes. I had the opportunity to test these glasses, and I’m excited to share my insights on this game-changing device. Please note that XREAL kindly provided a sample unit of their new AR device, the XREAL Air 2 glasses, for the purpose of this review.
XREAL Air 2 use cases
The XREAL Air 2 glasses offer a wide range of applications, transforming everyday activities into immersive experiences:
- Home theater: Imagine watching your favorite movies and TV shows on a large screen without needing a television. These glasses turn any content into a cinematic experience, offering a virtual, theater-like setting at home or on the go. Even if you have an amazing setup at home, you might want to consider the XREAL Air 2 glasses on travel, like when you’re in a hotel or the like.
- Gaming: For gaming enthusiasts, the fast refresh rate and low latency make these glasses a must-have. They provide an immersive gaming experience like no other. This is a very new sensation, and you likely need to get used to it, but it’s certainly interesting. I’d imagine that racing games or simulation games in first-person view or cockpit-view would feel amazing like this.
- VR media: Enjoy virtual reality media in a more engaging and immersive way. The XREAL Air 2 glasses bring VR content to life, offering a unique perspective into virtual worlds.
- Productivity: Working on laptops or tablets takes on a new dimension with these glasses. They offer a large virtual screen, enhancing productivity and making multitasking easier. However, this works only in my opinion if you can operate the laptop without needing to look elsewhere, like your keyboard, in case you can’t type blind.
- Streaming: Stream content directly from your smartphones, tablets, or laptops to the glasses. This feature offers a more immersive viewing experience, making it perfect for binge-watching your favorite series or catching up on the latest news. Also worth noting is that Amazon Prime Video and Netflix are already installed on the Beam companion device, so you’ll not even need to cast that from another device.
You could likely think of many more ways to use this device, though. Just don’t scare your family if they spot you with your legs up on the couch with no motion and a headset on that prevents them from seeing your eyes. I suppose this can be a little spooky at first, but this is the same for all kinds of game-changers as far as form factor goes. People also looked weird at me when I sported the Google Glass in public about a decade ago.
Technical specifications
These glasses are not just about functionality; they also boast impressive technical specifications. The XREAL Air 2 glasses feature Sony’s 0.55-inch Micro-OLED displays, offering a high-resolution view with a contrast ratio of 100,000:1. They have a pixel density of 4,032 PPI and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, ensuring smooth visuals and vibrant colors.
Weighing only 72g and with a thickness of 21mm, these glasses are lightweight and comfortable to wear. They also feature an improved audio speaker system that delivers spatial and wrap-around sound, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
- Display:
- Utilizes the latest Sony 0.55 Micro-OLED
- Provides a resolution of 1920*1080 per eye
- Features a high contrast of 100,000:1
- Offers up to 120Hz refresh rate
- 46° Field of View (FOV)
- 49 Pixels Per Degree (PPD)
- 4032 Pixels Per Inch (PPI)
- Colors: Available in Graphite Gray and Carmine Red
- Design:
- 10% lighter and 10% thinner than previous models
- Features elastic temples for optimal fit
- Equipped with AirFit nose pads for comfort
- Electrochromic Dimming (Air 2 Pro only): 0%, 35%, 100%
- Audio:
- Improved speaker system
- Directional Sound System for privacy
- Open Ear Design for comfort
- Compatibility
- USB-C with Video Output/DP
- Requires XREAL Beam for additional compatibility
- Power: Up to 5 hours of video streaming in air-casting mode
- Controls and Sensors:
- Screen on/off button
- Screen brightness adjustment button
- Incorporates accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer
- Proximity sensor
- Form Factor:
- Dimensions: 148mm x 52mm x 159mm (open), 148mm x 52mm x 60mm (folded)
- 3-position adjustment for optimal gaze angle
- Fits head sizes from 120-186mm
- XREAL Air 2: 72g, XREAL Air 2 Pro: ~75g
- Certifications: TÜV Rheinland Color Accuracy, Eye Comfort, Low Blue Light, and Flicker Free
- Pricing and Availability:
- XREAL Air 2: 399 USD, 399 GBP, 459 EUR
- XREAL Air 2 Pro: 449 USD, 449 GBP, 515 EUR
The open-ear design eliminates the need for earbuds, allowing users to stay connected to their surroundings while using the device. The XREAL Air 2 Pro version even offers Electrochromic Dimming with three levels of adjustment, enabling users to customize their immersion level according to personal preferences.
Wearing the device doesn’t feel very uncomfortable, but for people who wear prescription glasses, it might be a little kerfuffle to set this all up properly, so if you’re wearing glasses regularly, you might want to check into this before buying or test it out if possible.
How it works
The XREAL Air 2 glasses leverage advanced AR optics technology and XREAL’s proprietary computer vision technology. They create a virtual screen in front of the wearer, connecting to source devices via USB-C video output or HDMI output. This allows users to stream content directly to the glasses, offering a seamless and immersive viewing experience.
XREAL Beam
To enhance the viewing experience further, XREAL has introduced the XREAL Beam – a companion device that unlocks additional display modes.
It enables features like Air Casting, Sideview, Smooth Follow, and Body Anchor, offering more options for viewing content and minimizing visual interference. The XREAL Beam connects directly to source devices using USB-C or HDMI output.
Safety Considerations
While the XREAL Air 2 glasses offer an immersive and comfortable experience, they are not recommended for use while walking or driving. The device blocks out the user’s normal field of view, making it unsafe for use in situations requiring awareness of one’s surroundings. However, when used appropriately – sitting at home or during transport – the glasses offer a truly changed way to how we can consume media.
Conclusion
The XREAL Air 2 glasses and the XREAL Beam are exciting steps forward in the world of AR. They provide a unique and immersive way to experience movies, games, and VR media. With their advanced specifications and wide range of use cases, these glasses can potentially change how we interact with digital content. However, as with all technology, they should be used responsibly and in the appropriate settings.
YouTube: XREAL Air 2 and XREAL Air 2 Pro User Guide (promotional clip from XREAL)
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Photo credit: The feature image has been done by XREAL, and Pupu Liang has taken most of the photos in the body of the article for TechAcute. Christopher Isak did the wearable selfie included in the post.
Editorial notice: We received a press sample from XREAL to create this review of the XREAL Air 2 and Beam device but were not paid to publish this.
