Whereas Apple, Meta and others proceed to work with full-on headsets for augmented actuality (AR), Nreal has been promoting a lot smaller AR glasses since 2021. Now the corporate, which has rebranded to Xreal, simply launched a brand new model known as the Xreal Air 2 in Europe and the US, after launching it in China final month. It gives improved shows and extra consolation, and the corporate additionally unveiled the Xreal Air 2 Professional with electrochromic dimming, letting you choose the extent of immersion from zero to 100 %.
Xreal (the X stands for additional, the corporate stated) guarantees that the Air 2 glasses "flip regardless of the wearer is viewing into a giant display screen expertise, as much as 330 inches." To that finish, it makes use of Sony's newest 0.55-inch Micro-OLED show, up from the 0.68-inch Micro-OLED used earlier than (Apple additionally makes use of Micro-OLED tech in its Imaginative and prescient Professional combined actuality headset). As earlier than, it may possibly show full HD decision of 1,920 x 1,080 per eye, with a refresh price as much as 120Hz. Together with the upper decision, it options 500 nits of brightness, in comparison with 400 nits on the unique Nreal Air.
The Air 2 can be 10 % thinner and 10 % lighter (from 79 grams to 72 grams, which is definitely 8.9 % by my calculation), in accordance with Xreal. It additionally comes with improved elastic temples, new "AirFit" nostril pads and softer supplies. All of that’s designed to enhance consolation and permitting for longer use when watching motion pictures and different content material, in accordance with the corporate. As earlier than, it connects to gadgets by way of USB-C with video (DisplayPort) output with no wi-fi possibility, so that you're successfully tethered to a tool.
Xreal additionally improved the audio speaker system by incorporating "spatial wrap-around auto supply" by way of an open ear design focused on the wearer. "This brings enhanced privateness and minimizes disruption to others when in public areas," the corporate stated. It additionally improves voice and video calls, for the reason that Xreal Air 2 can allow you to take audio from a smartphone or pill.
The extra fascinating mannequin is the Xreal Air 2 Professional. It introduces electrochromic dimming that lets you choose three modes, together with a clear mode that blocks no mild, letting you employ the glasses whereas nonetheless seeing the surface world. "Productiveness mode" blocks 35 % of out of doors mild, so you possibly can focus higher with out shutting out your environment solely, whereas immersive mode blocks all mild for gaming, leisure, and so on.
Very similar to the unique Nreal Air, the Xreal Air 2 appears primarily aimed toward viewers for YouTube movies, mild gaming, motion pictures, and so on. There aren’t any cameras or movement sensors included, so it successfully acts as a private projector, with the display screen shifting as you progress your head (hiya, nausea). Nonetheless, you should buy an adjunct known as Xreal Beam ($119) which provides gyroscopic monitoring and retains the display screen fastened in place once you transfer, whereas additionally permitting for added wired connectivity choices that apparently scale back latency. Based on critiques on the system, it really works in a lot the identical manner as the unique Air, however is lighter and extra snug.
Contemplating what it may possibly't do, the Xreal Air 2 is fairly costly at $399 (in black or crimson), whereas the Air 2 Professional is $449. For full performance, you want the Xreal Beam, which brings the worth as much as $518 and $568 respectively — greater than the Meta Quest 3. Transport is predicted to start out within the US and UK in November 2023, and elsewhere in Europe in December.
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