Xreal’s entry-level AR glasses get a spec bump and 3D conversion

At CES 2026, Xreal announced an upgraded, somewhat much affordable type of its entry-level AR glasses: the $449 Xreal 1S. And this time, you tin besides person 2D videos to 3D without immoderate other apps, software, aliases proprietary players.

At a glance, the Xreal 1S don’t look overmuch different from the Xreal One aliases One Pro. (Or moreover the forthcoming Project Aura glasses that Xreal’s processing pinch Google.) The main hardware changes are fundamentally an “S”-year spec bump. Namely, solution increases from 1080p to 1200p Full HD, brightness goes up from 600 to 700 nits, and the section of position is now 52 degrees alternatively of 50 degrees. The facet ratio has besides accrued from 16:9 to 16:10. The maximum refresh complaint remains astatine 120Hz. There’s besides a reinforced USB-C larboard and a caller recreation case. While this isn’t a revolutionary update, possibly the nicest “upgrade” is that the glasses are $50 cheaper than past year’s One glasses.

Xreal is chiefly known for making AR glasses — portable, sunglasses-like devices pinch a ligament that let you to task a larger, backstage surface from your laptop aliases phone. They’re not rather for illustration the Ray-Ban Meta aliases different AI glasses, which thin to forgo displays successful favour of cameras and built-in AI assistants. (Though the 1S supports Xreal’s detachable Eye camera if you do want to return POV photos aliases video.) Functionally, they fresh successful an in-between niche for group who want immersive contented aliases a 2nd monitor, but without a bulky headset.

Again, Xreal’s been doing this for a while. But 1 alteration is the institution is adding a Real 3D feature, which converts immoderate 2D video contented into 3D utilizing the device’s X1 spatial computing chip. (This will besides beryllium disposable for One Pro owners via a package update.)

I sewage a chance to demo this while playing Mario Kart connected the Nintendo Switch 2, arsenic good arsenic a fewer YouTube videos complete the past fewer weeks. There’s evident entreaty for gaming. The 3D effect wasn’t ace evident successful Mario Kart, but I could decidedly show location was added depth. It was much hit-or-miss pinch YouTube videos. If you’re looking astatine a panoramic position aliases car videos, the effect tin beryllium a nosy extra. Watching K-pop boy set performances, you tin spot occasional uncanniness successful upscaled 3D choreography.

If you’re large into immersive video, the main use is you don’t person to do thing too alteration the 3D effect successful settings. You tin conscionable unfastened up YouTube, Netflix, aliases possibly your Plex server, and immoderate video you propulsion up is 3D-ified. I don’t hap to beryllium a 3D evangelist, arsenic I person a inclination to get mobility sickness. That said, I didn’t acquisition immoderate while testing the 1S, since I mostly kept my testing to shorter videos. It’s decidedly thing to beryllium alert of, however, if you scheme connected agelong 3D viewing sessions aliases watching motion-heavy content.

I astir apt wouldn’t upgrade from the Xreal One to the 1S. The bumps successful solution are nice, but not that noticeable unless you’re a powerfulness user. And for illustration I said, the 2D-to-3D conversion is convenient but iffy for definite types of content. Still, arsenic acold arsenic portable immersive screens go, the 1S connection a bully operation betwixt price, features, and function.

The Xreal 1S are disposable starting today for $449.