Review I tested the Xreal One AR Glasses — here’s why they’re a spatial computing game changer

[admin]

The Xreal One AR glasses are easily the best AR glasses you can buy right now. While they may bring small improvements over the Air 2s, those tweaks are significant — not just in terms of the improved displays and vastly better audio, but in the all-in-one spatial computing smarts that X1 chip provides. Make no mistake about it. This is the start of something big.

I tested the Xreal One AR Glasses — here’s why they’re a spatial computing game changer : Read more

 

[Bloodgain]

No comparison to the Viture Pros, your previous favorite and in many opinions, the glasses to beat right now? That's what I really want to read someone's take on. I'm buying something, but the XReal One (Pro) dropped for pre-order at the last minute!

 

[malbof16]

If they don't compare with the Viture Pros I don't want them either. I tried the Viture Pro XRs (I wanted them bad and wanted to like them) but they hurt my head, were extremely difficult to integrate with my existing systems (PC, Tablet) except my Samsung phone using Dex. The small field of view (although it is a good picture, I won't say great) coupled with the lack of stability of the display made them irritating, bordering on nauseating. Not worth the money just to use my $1000 phone on a $500 display. I went back and seamlessly played Civ VI on my desktop with my Quest 2 and couldn't really understand all the hype. Would love to have a real VR/AR experience in a small form factor (like glasses) without having to buy docks, neck wearables, etc. on top of the already ridiculous cost of the glasses. Funny that 90% of the reviewers have one of each set of glasses, several versions of Quests and who knows what else to use for specific cases and are using the highest end laptops or desktops or handhelds to drive them. I truly want to embrace the current glasses technology but it's not there yet. It's kind of like Linux. Great idea but it's so hard for the average person to install and maintain and there are so many flavors that is's still a niche product. The glasses will never be mainstream until they solve so many problems for the average user.

 

[Bloodgain]

...I tried the Viture Pro XRs... they hurt my head...

This is one of my main concerns. I've got a big noggin. Folks on Reddit said the older XReal were smaller than the Viture, but most seem to find the new ones more flexible and less "pinchy".

...were extremely difficult to integrate with my existing systems (PC, Tablet) except my Samsung phone using Dex. ...

This I find surprising! Most folks say Viture is way ahead on software and integrations. A lot of folks used their XReal glasses with Viture's software and adapters/docks, but the XReal ONEs don't work with it (yet?) like the old ones did.

...
Would love to have a real VR/AR experience in a small form factor (like glasses) without having to buy docks, neck wearables, etc. on top of the already ridiculous cost of the glasses.
...

I don't see these as competing in the VR/MR space at all. They're more for portable light AR experience, i.e. floating screens in 3D. Maybe down the road, we'll see a little more AR/MR use with them. The only thing kind of doing both well is Apple Vision Pro, and they're $3500 and still WAY larger than a pair of glasses. I have and love my Quest 3, but I don't want to use it as a travel entertainment device. I'm also looking at using XR glasses as a part-time TV alternative, and don't want to have to wear the Q3 for that purpose, even at home. I do, however, love watching 3D movies on Quest; best way to experience 3D movies so far!

I agree with the annoyance of accessories. Integrating 6DOF into the glasses like the XReal ONE goes a long way toward reducing that. Then there are corner cases like the Nintendo Switch, where it's the fault of the device, not the glasses. I'm hopeful the Switch 2 will support proper DisplayPort over USB-C.

...
I truly want to embrace the current glasses technology but it's not there yet.
...
The glasses will never be mainstream until they solve so many problems for the average user.

Agreed, they are definitely still an early-adopter product. They are advancing quickly, though! The display tech is probably going to be the slowest improvement, so if you're unhappy with the optics, that may be a deal-breaker. That said, the XReal ONE Pro are using flat prism optics, not "bird bath" prisms. That's why it has a wider FoV even though the display is smaller. Your eyes are closer to it.

 

[malbof16]

I spent my $500 on the Quest 3. Much more comfortable, can watch movies, play PC games linked, and even play Quest games occasionally - painlessly and without the ill effects. When XR glasses are truly standalone , linked to your phone or pc without $$ of peripherals at a reasonable price point ($300 ballpark), and the comfort issues resolved then i'll reconsider. And trust me, ive worn masks/helmets for 1000s of hours in alot of conditions (A-10, T-38,F-16). Agree with most of your points btw. Cheers!

 

[Bloodgain]

I spent my $500 on the Quest 3. Much more comfortable, can watch movies, play PC games linked, and even play Quest games occasionally - painlessly and without the ill effects. When XR glasses are truly standalone , linked to your phone or pc without $$ of peripherals at a reasonable price point ($300 ballpark), and the comfort issues resolved then i'll reconsider. And trust me, ive worn masks/helmets for 1000s of hours in alot of conditions (A-10, T-38,F-16). Agree with most of your points btw. Cheers!

I already have a Quest 3 and a high-comfort "pro" headstrap replacement that keeps the pressure off of my face and reduces VR fatigue. I love it and even watch 3D and 2D video on it occasionally, but it's really completely separate purposes from XR glasses. You're not going to take your Quest 3 on a train or plane for a big screen experience or to the local coffee shop to have a large, private desktop display to get work done on. Frankly, people don't even feel comfortable doing so with the Apple Vision Pro, and they're a much better solution for those uses.

It'll be great the day we get fully featured, wide/tall field-of-view VR/AR in a glasses-sized formfactor, but until then, comparing XR glasses to VR goggles is comparing apples to oranges. Both are great, but you can't expect Quest 3 performance and features from a chunky Buddy Holly glasses formfactor in 2025.