Xreal, the Chinese company formerly known as Nreal, has launched its second generation of augmented reality (AR) glasses, the Xreal Air 2 and Air 2 Pro. The new products are the first major launch since the company changed its name after a trademark dispute with Epic Games.
What are the Xreal Air 2 and Air 2 Pro?
The Xreal Air 2 and Air 2 Pro are AR glasses that look like sunglasses and run on Xreal’s own operating system, Nebula. Users can connect the glasses to their smartphones, gaming consoles, or PCs via a wired or wireless device called Xreal Beam, and enjoy various apps and games on a large virtual screen in front of their eyes.
The Xreal Air 2 is an upgraded version of the previous Xreal Air, which was launched last year. It features a lighter design, weighing only 72 grams, and a better display, using Sony’s 0.55-inch Micro-OLED microdisplay with 4032ppi pixel density. The glasses also have improved color accuracy, eye comfort, low blue light, and no flicker, certified by TÜV Rheinland.
The Xreal Air 2 Pro is a new model that adds electrochromic lenses to the glasses. These lenses can adjust their transparency according to different light levels, making them suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Xreal claims that this is the first AR glasses to be mass-produced using electrochromic technology.
What can users do with the Xreal Air 2 and Air 2 Pro?
The Xreal Air 2 and Air 2 Pro offer a wide range of applications and experiences for users, thanks to the Xreal Beam device and the Nebula operating system. The Xreal Beam acts as an “air mouse” that allows users to point and control the apps on the glasses. It also comes pre-loaded with apps from popular Chinese video platforms Bilibili and iQiyi, eliminating the need for separate TV subscriptions.
The Nebula operating system is compatible with Android devices and supports developers to create apps for the glasses. Users can access various categories of apps, such as entertainment, education, social media, productivity, and more. Some of the apps available include YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, TikTok, Zoom, Google Maps, and Microsoft Office.
One of the key areas that Xreal is targeting is gaming. Users can connect the glasses to their gaming consoles, such as PlayStation or Xbox, and play games on a huge virtual screen instead of a physical TV. They can also enjoy immersive AR games that blend digital elements with the real world.
When and where can users buy the Xreal Air 2 and Air 2 Pro?
The Xreal Air 2 and Air 2 Pro are currently available for pre-order and sale in China on Tmall and JD.com. The prices are as follows:
- Xreal Air 2: RMB 2499 ($342)
- Xreal Air 2 Pro: RMB 2999 ($410)
- Xreal Air 2 + Xreal Beam bundle: RMB 3298 ($451)
Xreal plans to launch the glasses in other markets in the future. The company has already sold its products in the US, UK, Japan, South Korea, and Germany under its previous name Nreal. It is also looking to expand into European markets in the third quarter of this year.
Xreal said it has sold 150,000 products globally since its commercial launch last year. It also revealed that it is looking to raise more funds from investors. The company has previously raised $160 million from backers such as Alibaba and Sequoia Capital China.
