The prospect of AR glasses remains as exciting as ever, with XReal being one of the many companies offering such a device. The XReal Air series provides smart glasses that deliver larger screens and even some spatial computing elements with the upcoming Air 2 Ultra glasses. However, if you use an iPhone or a different Android device, you may find XReal glasses disappointing in terms of compatibility.
Unlike the best VR headsets on the market, including the very expensive Apple Vision Pro, XReal smart glasses rely on other devices for power. If you don't have a compatible device, you won't be able to use XReal glasses effectively.
Fortunately, XReal is releasing a new product ahead of the XReal Air 2 Ultra release date: a dedicated smartphone for its products. Called the XReal Beam Pro, this device is a custom Android phone that provides compatibility with your smart glasses and costs a minimum of $200.
Set to launch in July 2024, the XReal Beam Pro uses the Android-based NebulaOS. It offers a virtual 1080p screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate, allowing you to seamlessly play mobile games or stream from video game consoles like the PS5 or Xbox to your XReal glasses.
Unlike the Samsung S24 series or the upcoming iPhone 16 and iPhone SE 4 models, the XReal Beam Pro is not meant to replace your dedicated mobile phone. Instead, it provides a specialized smartphone that works well with the XReal Air series and includes two USB-C ports for simultaneously charging the Beam Pro and powering the Air glasses.
The base model of the device comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $200, or you can opt for the Beam Pro with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $250.
While XReal focuses on the AR segment of the smart glasses market, our Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses review discussed the potential future of smart glasses, with Meta's offering focusing on AI rather than spatial computing. However, the upcoming Meta Quest 3s should provide a budget-friendly VR and mixed reality experience at a great price.