Xreal’s $299 AR glasses get the basics right

At $299, the Xreal XBX a01+ makes a strong case for budget AR glasses. In Engadget’s review, the glasses earned a 9/10 for delivering a bright, lightweight and notably simple experience: plug them in, and you get a 147-inch virtual screen for a phone, computer or portable gaming device — though not the Nintendo Switch 1 or 2.

The headline specs are unusually strong for the price. Xreal uses a dual-layer Micro-OLED 1080p display with up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness, a 50-degree field of view and a 120Hz refresh rate. The frames weigh just 62 grams, and Engadget says they feel closer to oversized sunglasses than a bulky headset.

Xreal XBX a01+ specs and real-world use

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Engadget found the glasses especially good for video, work and handheld gaming. Connected to an iPhone, they mirrored the home screen instantly and switched to horizontal mode for video playback. The review says trailers and music videos looked cinematic despite the 1080p resolution, with strong contrast and bold color.

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The built-in stereo speakers were also a pleasant surprise, even if they lack bass. Xreal includes multiple audio modes — standard, whisper, cinema and 3D surround — along with fourteen brightness steps and viewing presets including eye-care mode and cinema mode.

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For work, Engadget says the glasses were sharp enough for reading small text, editing photos and web browsing, though 1080p limits serious multitasking. They also worked well outdoors thanks to the high brightness and low weight, avoiding the heat and bulk of headsets like the Apple Vision Pro.

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Gaming appears to be another sweet spot. Engadget reports that the XBX a01+ worked flawlessly with a Steam Deck and a gaming desktop, including Overwatch 2, 007: First Light and Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, with no setup required.

Price, limitations and who should buy it

The trade-offs are straightforward:

• No support for Switch 1 or Switch 2 without a dock workaround
• Prescription frames cost extra
• Wired connection required
• Speakers have limited bass

Engadget used prescription lenses from HonsVR for an additional $50. It also notes that Xreal canceled its own portable dock, the Xreal Neo, earlier this year, though the Viture Pro Mobile Dock can help with unsupported devices for $89.10.

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The key point is simplicity. Unlike a headset, the XBX a01+ does not need charging or setup, and Engadget argues that makes it especially useful for travelers, coffee-shop work and portable gaming. If you want display glasses without paying $599 for the Xreal One Pro, this looks like the most compelling entry point yet.