With Apple scheduled to launch its Vision Pro mixed reality headset sometime in early 2024, and Meta launching its Quest 3 VR device this month, there"s been a lot of attention lately with these kinds of headsets and AR glasses. Today, XREAL (formerly NReal) officially announced its next-generation AR glasses, the XREAL Air 2 and the Air 2 Pro, following up on its previous Air product that launched in 2022.
The company"s press release states:
As the world’s first AR glasses to feature the latest Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation"s 0.55-inch Micro-OLED displays, XREAL Air 2 series AR glasses pack an incredible 4,032 pixels-per-inch, delivering a crisp and visually stunning virtual screen experience at 49 pixels-per-degree (PPD). A Full HD display resolution of 1920 x 1080 per eye, an ultra-high contrast ratio of 100,000:1, and 500 nits brightness ensure content is presented in incredibly sharp detail.
XREAL also claims the response rate speed for the displays in the Air 2 glasses is 0.01 ms or less. They also are supposed to have a fast refresh rate of 120Hz. They are also 10 percent thinner and 10 percent lighter compared to the previous XREAL Air glasses. They also have new AirFit nose pads that XREAL claims will let people wear them all day in comfort.
The company claims that people who wear the Air 2 will be able to watch movies as if they are viewing them on a 330-inch display. That also goes if they are using them when they play games on a PC, game console, or a portable gaming device like a Steam Deck. The glasses also have an improved audio speaker system for taking calls or, again, watching films or playing games.
The XREAL Air 2 Pro glasses include an extra feature: Electrochromic Dimming. This allows the displays on the AR glasses to have different dimming modes. The full 100 percent Immersive Mode blocks out all outside light to view movies and play games. The 35 percent Productivity Mode cuts out some of the light but still allows people to see their surroundings. The 0 percent Transparent Mode blocks none of the light.
Pre-orders are now available for the XREAL Air 2 on the company"s site in the US, UK, Germany, France, and Italy for $399 USD, £399 GBP, and €459. The price for the XREAL Air 2 Pro is $449 USD, £449 GBP and €515. They are expected to start shipping in the US and other markets in mid-November. They should also be available to purchase at Amazon in November.