Augmented reality (AR) is no longer a thing of the future—it’s already reality, wearable, and becoming more impressive by the day. Leading this transformation is XREAL, formerly Nreal, a brand making waves with its lightweight AR glasses for streaming, gaming, productivity, and more.
But are the XREAL glasses really as good as the hype suggests? We tested them—at home, on a plane, and even during work—and give you a brutally honest look into the everyday life of these smart glasses.
Travelers, gamers, multitaskers, tech-forward streamers
You need true mixed-reality features or budget AR
XREAL currently offers two main products:
These aren’t bulky VR headsets. Rather, they look like stylish sunglasses and can be connected via USB-C or Beam to devices like smartphones, laptops, game consoles, and even drones.
The XREAL glasses immediately feel classy and high-quality. They’re elegantly crafted, the temples are adjustable, and the magnetic nose pads ensure a better fit than most other smart glasses we’ve tested. The display technology does add some weight, but it’s well distributed.
Setup is seamless: Connect it to a compatible device (like a Samsung phone, Steam Deck, or MacBook), and within seconds you’ll see a floating, high-resolution 130-inch virtual screen. No fiddling. No downloads. It just works.
In short: The graphics are impressive.
The XREAL Air 2 Pro goes one step further with its electrochromic dimming function, darkening the lenses at the touch of a button – perfect for immersive viewing or bright environments.
XREAL isn’t just for gaming. With XREAL Beam or compatible smartphones (like Samsung DeX or Motorola Ready For), you can extend your desktop to the glasses, making multitasking surprisingly efficient.
We found this particularly useful for working remotely, traveling, and for focused tasks like writing or coding—especially in places where setting up a second monitor isn’t realistic.
The built-in speakers produce sound that’s good enough for personal use without disturbing those around you. However:
The glasses offer good wearing comfort for 2–3 hours. Extended wear may lead to slight fatigue of the nose bridge, especially if the nose pads are not adjusted correctly.
One of XREAL’s cleverest innovations? The glasses themselves don’t have an internal battery. Instead, they draw power from whatever they’re connected to:
This makes the glasses lighter and more reliable than bulky AR/VR headsets.
Thanks to its sleek design, XREAL is one of the most travel-friendly tech gadgets we’ve tested this year. It comes in a compact case, is easy to clean, and won’t attract TSA attention (we tested it!).
If you’re a digital nomad or frequent flyer, this is an easy way to bring a giant screen with you – no monitor required.
The Beam adds:
If you just want to mirror your laptop or phone, you may not need it. But for the full experience, Beam unlocks XREAL’s potential.
Yes — and they’re only getting better.
For immersive viewing, lightweight productivity, and on-the-go entertainment, the XREAL Air 2 and Air 2 Pro offer one of the best AR-Lite experiences currently available on the market. While they’re not a replacement for a full-fledged VR headset or 4K desktop monitor, that’s not the point.
They’re stylish, functional, portable—and really fun. With the Beam, the experience goes from cool to groundbreaking.
