Xreal’s new AR glasses are way cheaper and almost just right

I emotion it erstwhile a institution challenges itself to make a cheaper type of a beloved product. Xreal’s $299 A01 Plus is simply a stripped-down type of its $449 1S that’s ray connected features but pinch conscionable capable of the 1S’ champion qualities. These AR glasses are comfortable, they look good, and the screens are amazingly agleam and contrast-rich for the price.

The caller glasses are ace lightweight astatine 62 grams — complete 20 grams lighter than the 1S. They’re arsenic ray arsenic I wish each exemplary was, but the framework feels flimsy by comparison. Its durability came into mobility erstwhile I adjusted the A01 Plus’ temple arms to halfway the screens. They require much of a gentle touch, truthful arsenic to not over-muscle the framework that houses its delicate micro OLED panels and birdbath optics, aliases popular disconnected its modular eyeglasses shell.

Speaking of those shells, customization is simply a large trading constituent for the A01 Plus. Xreal includes a ammunition that puts tinted lenses connected the different broadside of its screens, and it tin beryllium swapped pinch different covers, moreover 3D printed ones successful the future. Removing them requires mildly tugging connected its edges adjacent wherever the temple arms attach, which feels risky to do until you get the bent of it. The institution provided an alternate screen that accentuates the A01 Plus’ agleam screens and keeps reflections retired of view.

The caller AR glasses deficiency electrochromic lens tech pinch adjustable opacity, which is modular crossed astir models, but I don’t mind the omission here. The A01 Plus person reflective films covering the backmost of their optics that are passable astatine preventing ray from disrupting the experience. One of the removable covers included pinch the reappraisal portion is amended astatine blocking retired ray than the pricier 1S. I held my phone’s flashlight correct up to the lens arsenic I wore them and I could hardly spot it.

As pinch every brace of AR glasses that I’ve tested, I played a batch of games from my Steam Deck connected the A01 Plus. First impressions pinch these glasses were mixed. The 1080p resolution, brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and opposition looked good, but the screens appeared very blurry. However, Xreal provided a group of HonsVR medicine lenses that drastically improved clarity. The glasses person an IPD scope of 54.5mm to 74.5mm, but I can’t guarantee that you’ll person a amended acquisition than I did retired of the container unless you bargain immoderate lens inserts, which will apt costs astir $50.

Some of my complaints astir the A01 Plus travel from being spoiled from utilizing the $449 1S. The biggest characteristic omission present is 3 degrees of freedom, a characteristic that gives you the action to fastener your virtual surface successful position. Xreal intends to span the spread betwixt zero and 3 degrees of state pinch a toggleable stabilization characteristic that operates benignant of for illustration a gimbal. It does a decent occupation of reducing unwanted surface movements (moving it conscionable a small alternatively of a lot), but it introduces jitter that’s easy to spot pinch text. Also, audio value is decent connected the A01 Plus, but they don’t get astir arsenic large arsenic the 1S, and they’re comparatively lacking successful the lows and mids.

I understand cutting 3 degrees of state and sound value to scope a little value point, but different omissions don’t make arsenic overmuch sense. The A01 Plus has astir the aforesaid fastener layout arsenic different Xreal models, but there’s presently nary measurement to set the measurement from the glasses. You person to spell to the audio root instead. Also, the surface tin only show contented astatine 1 size — balanced to 147 inches pinch a 50-degree section of position that I can’t intelligibly spot the borders of — and you can’t make it bigger aliases smaller for illustration different glasses allow. It’s weird that these are apparently considered excessively premium to see successful the A01 Plus.

Despite its shortcomings, the A01 Plus glasses are precisely what immoderate group will beryllium after: a comparatively affordable group of USB-C AR glasses for mirroring their games, movies, aliases full machine screens on. They’re lighter connected features, but they nail the basics, pinch agleam screens, serviceable audio quality, and a comfy, lightweight build. I’m really impressed pinch each that’s included for the price.

The features you get by spending $150 much for the 1S mightiness beryllium worthy the plunge for some, but mostly the A01 Plus are awesome for first-time buyers who don’t want to walk much than $300 (just make judge to facet successful the $50 you whitethorn request to walk connected medicine lenses).

Photography by Cameron Faulkner/The Verge