The Chinese startup Xreal (formerly Nreal) unveiled its augmented reality glasses, the Xreal Air 2 Ultra, at CES 2024. These revolutionary glasses, set to be available in March, stand out with two front-facing sensors enabling 6DOF tracking (the ability to detect movements in three dimensions, adding a dimension to the classic freedom of movement – up/down, left/right, forward/backward), providing an unparalleled immersive experience. Compatible with the Galaxy S22 and S23 smartphones, the Xreal Air 2 Ultra is equipped with Sony micro-OLED displays, offering a resolution of 1080p per eye with a refresh rate of 120 Hz in 2D and 90 Hz in 3D.
Featuring a sleek design and lightweight build
The glasses, with an elegant sunglasses-style design, weigh only 80 grams thanks to their titanium frames. Equipped with small directional speakers and two microphones, they provide an immersive sound experience. The glasses’ lenses can be darkened for increased immersion, with three levels of adjustment available.
Features.
The Xreal Air 2 Ultra requires a connection to a smartphone or computer via a USB-C cable. The Nebula software overlay allows the display of Android or Windows applications in the form of virtual windows within the environment. The glasses can map the environment in 3D, with a semantic analysis of surfaces. Hand gestures are tracked for intuitive interaction.
Compatibility and Price
Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S22 and S23, as well as computers running Windows or MacOS, the Xreal Air 2 Ultra is available for pre-order at 799 euros. Primarily aimed at developers, they promise to create the next generation of mixed reality experiences. The software development kit (NRSDK 2.2) will be available in March. This will allow our developers at Audace Digital Learning to explore advanced uses for these glasses in the development of innovative training programs in the future!
Comparison and Battery Life, the Drawback of These Glasses
While Xreal positions the Air 2 Ultra as competitors to the Apple Vision Pro, they stand out for a narrower field of view and less advanced technology. Their autonomy, dependent on the host device’s battery, provides approximately three hours of movie viewing on a smartphone. However, it’s important to keep in mind the price of these two devices, which adds to this difference: 799€ against approximately 3200€!
Growth of the Augmented Reality Market
The augmented reality glasses, booming in 2023, are evolving with the Xreal Air 2 Ultra. Despite some limitations, these glasses anticipate a new era of visual comfort and spatial features, driving the expansion of the augmented reality market.
The announcement of the Xreal Air 2 Ultra represents a significant advancement in the field of augmented reality, providing developers and users with an unprecedented immersive experience. Although presenting some differences compared to the Apple Vision Pro, these glasses pave the way for a new era of visual innovations. With promising features and an elegant design, they demonstrate the ongoing growth potential of the augmented reality market. Note: BMW has highlighted the integration of augmented reality into cars with the Xreal Air 2 glasses. AR indications guide the driver, overlaying navigation instructions in their field of vision, providing hazard warnings, offering a convincing demonstration of the future of AR-assisted driving.
