If/when Apple releases a version of the Vision Pro (or perhaps a follow-up device) with a more traditional eyeglasses design, it might look akin to the next generation XREAL Air 2 and XREAL Air 2 Pro AR glasses.
XREAL has opened pre-orders today for the company’s latest consumer AR glasses that will ship to customers in November. The XREAL Air 2 series builds on the momentum of its predecessor, XREAL Air, the first consumer AR glasses introduced in 2022.
The XREAL Air 2 series marks the third AR glasses product from XREA. Its first AR glasses, XREAL Light, was brought to market in 2019 through partnerships with leading carriers in South Korea, Japan, Germany, Spain and the US; this device was meant for developers and enterprise customers. The 2022 launch of XREAL Air unveiled the era of wearable display for consumers.
According to XREAL Co-Founder Pen Jin, XREAL Air 2 AR glasses can turn whatever the wearer is viewing into a big screen experience, up to 330-inches. Featuring the latest Micro-OLED displays, the new XREAL Air 2 series is lighter and thinner than the previous generation, with a higher pixel density and improved brightness and color reproduction.
XREAL Air 2 series glasses are available in two sleek colorways, Graphite Gray and Carmine Red. The XREAL Air 2 series also debuts the XREAL Kaleido Kit adhesive skins. Other new features include an improved audio and microphone system, and one-touch immersion control using XREAL Electromagnetic Dimming (Air 2 Pro only).
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 4,032 pixels-per-inch, delivering a crisp and visually stunning virtual screen experience at 49 pixels-per-degree (PPD), according to Jin.
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, he adds. What’s more, XREAL Air 2 series AR glasses have a response rate speed of 0.01 milliseconds or less, and pack a refresh-rate of up to 120Hz.
XREAL Air 2 Pro introduces XREAL Electrochromic Dimming that allows wearers to select the immersion level of their AR glasses virtual-screen experience. At the touch of a button, they can instantly select from three pre-configured immersion modes:
- Transparent Mode is configured at 0%, and blocks no light through the lenses, ideal for when users need to be aware of the world around them, e.g., wearing around the home, or traveling on public transportation.
- Productivity Mode is configured at 35%, reducing the amount of light that travels through the lenses, ideal for people who want to focus better on the task at hand without entirely shutting out their surroundings.
- Immersive Mode is set at 100% and blocks all light to give wearers the most immersive experience, perfect for enthralling gaming sessions, or watching TV and movies at home.
Jin says the XREAL Air 2 series AR glasses feature an improved audio speaker system that makes wearers feel like they’re in the front row at the cinema. This upgraded audio system includes spatial wrap-around audio delivery using an open ear design targeted only for the wearer to hear.
Along with a choice of Graphite Gray and Carmine Red colorways, XREAL Air 2 series AR glasses debut a new travel case, a new light shield, and include both USB C-C and USB C-HDMI custom cables.
XREAL Air 2 and XREAL Air 2 Pro are available now for pre-orders at XREAL.com in the US, UK, Germany, France, and Italy for US$399 for the Air 2 and for the Air 2 Pro. XREAL Air 2 series AR glasses are expected to be available from Amazon beginning in November.
XREAL Air 2 series AR glasses are expected to begin shipping to customers in the US and UK in mid-to-late November and are expected for additional European countries in December. Both products are also available now in China and Japan.
