The Xreal Air 2 Professional are the newest augmented actuality (AR) glasses to land on my face. As a second-generation system, they characteristic a raft of enhancements, together with a brighter digital show with a better refresh price, enhanced audio, and a few considerate tweaks that make them extra snug and simpler to make use of.
Earlier than we dive in, it’s price noting that Xreal was once referred to as Nreal, however modified the identify after Epic Video games (proprietor of the Unreal Engine) sued for trademark infringement. Changing the Xreal (Nreal) Air are two fashions of recent AR glasses, the Xreal Air 2 and the Xreal Air 2 Professional. The one distinction is that the Professional model options electrochromic dimming and prices an additional $50.
Evolving Design
The Xreal Air 2 glasses may nearly go for a chunky pair of normal specs. The temples are thick, and you’ll possible have to put on them barely additional out out of your eyes than different glasses to give attention to the digital display, however they’re comparatively refined as AR glasses go. The USB-C port is on the finish of the left temple. You get a prolonged cable within the field and a tough case to soundly retailer the specs.
At first look, you might simply mistake the Xreal Air 2 Professional glasses for his or her predecessor. They’re barely lighter, down from 79 to 75 grams (the non-Professional model weighs simply 72 grams). The temples are longer, with softer suggestions that curve round your ears. You additionally get three sizes of interchangeable nostril pads, and the temples click on by means of three angled positions. You’ll be able to clip a prescription lens body inside, although lenses will price you further.
Total, I discovered the Xreal Air 2 Professional a lot roomier and extra snug than the unique Air glasses. You get a snap-on shade attachment that gives a darkish background. Crucially, it additionally blocks gentle under your eyes, which is important if you wish to give attention to the digital display, particularly in a vivid room or a busy cafe.
The Air 2 Professional options electrochromic dimming. Press the button on the suitable temple to cycle by means of three ranges, making the glasses clear, 35 p.c dimmed to control the true world, or 100% dimmed to dam gentle. It’s cool, however even at 100%, it doesn’t work in addition to the straightforward clip on shade, and I don’t suppose the gimmick is price the additional $50. The one different bodily management on the Xreal Air 2 glasses is a rocker on the suitable temple that adjusts the brightness. Maintain it down for 3 seconds, and it modifications right into a quantity rocker.
Sliding Screens
The XReal Air 2 glasses depend on a pair of 0.55-inch Sony micro-OLED shows with a 1080p decision and a most refresh rate of 120 Hz. Plug the USB-C cable into any smartphone, laptop computer, or gadget that helps DisplayPort (DP) output (USB Kind-C Alt mode), and the Xreal Air 2 glasses mirror your display. Don’t assume your system helps DP, as a result of a number of latest releases don’t. For instance, the iPhone 15 does, however the Pixel 8 and OnePlus 11 don’t.
The digital show emulates a 130-inch display a couple of ft away, although the facet ratio is determined by the hooked up system. Utilizing the Xreal Air 2 Professional with a folding cellphone, like my Xiaomi Combine Fold 3 (7/10, WIRED Review), for instance, mirrored the large display when closed and the bigger sq. show when opened, which reduce off a hefty portion on the backside. It’s tough to give attention to the entire display, so the sides usually seem blurry or reduce off. You might also have to slip the glasses out additional than you’ll usually put on them, which all the time appears foolish.
Offered you employ the shade or dimming and have a plain, darkish backdrop, the digital show is sharp, colourful, and vivid, regardless of some average-sounding specs (100,000:1 distinction ratio and 500 nits most brightness). As a mirrored show, the Xreal Air 2 Professional glasses are stable, and you’ll admire the 120-Hz refresh price in case you are gaming with a smartphone or handheld, just like the Steam Deck.
