Android XR has spent its first year mostly inside a headset. In my opinion, that is a tough sell for anyone who values their neck. I’ve long believed glasses could change that, and that is exactly why this week’s news got my full attention.
Xreal has launched Aura, calling them the first wired glasses to run Android XR (Google’s XR software), which is what interests me. The company also claims these are the first to launch with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Reality Elite chip platform.
How do glasses do a headset’s job without the bulk?
By not doing everything themselves and shedding off the bulk that comes with it. That, I’d say, is the smartest design move. The glasses stay under 95 grams because the main processor and battery live in a compact puck.
Up front, the glasses feature see-through lenses (transparent, so you can still see the room). The 70-degree field of view also determines whether it feels like a theater or a postage stamp.
Then there’s Wired Mirroring, which delights me with its simplicity: plug a laptop or handheld console into the USB-C port and its screen floats in front of you. That’s it.
What can you do with it, and what does it cost?
Google’s Gemini works across whatever you’re looking at, while Google Play opens millions of phone apps and games. Xreal also provides 150-plus XR-native experiences on day one, including a NASCAR app with a live 3D track map.
Now, let’s talk about the bill, which I suspect is your real question.
The 12GB memory, 256GB storage model sells for $1,279, and the 16GB, 512GB one sells for $1,499. However, through December, Xreal cuts the prices to $1,099 and $1,299, respectively. I’d grab them before January if I want to.
Orders go through XREAL.com/aura in the U.S., Canada, Japan, and South Korea, plus BestBuy.com in the U.S., with shipping in mid-November.
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