Of course, the Xreal One Pro still feels bulky with its oversized chassis, thick armrests and annoying USB-C cable. But at $650, it’s also significantly cheaper than the Apple Vision Pro and easier to transport than any other VR headset. And at this point, it is much more useful than the Ray-Ban screen, as the screens attract both eyes and can easily imitate a full-size TV or monitor. Meta’s smart glasses can only show you a very limited amount of information on the screen alone.
To be clear, these are different usage scenarios for each product: These frames are also meant to be more standalone, so you can listen to music, answer calls, and take photos and videos as much as you want. But after watching Mark Zuckerberg and his team try (and largely fail) to test the Ray-Ban display at the Connect developer conference, I also think the cameraless Xreal One Pro avoids the ethical dilemmas found in most smart glasses.
Should we normalize portable devices that can secretly record us at any time? And on a practical level: do we really want to walk around all day with virtual notifications on our faces? Personally, I think we’re better off with specialized tools that give us control and don’t disrupt our entire societal structure.
At the most basic level, Xreal’s One Pro smart glasses are simply virtual screens that you can use anywhere. With the $99 Xreal Eye camera accessory, you can unlock more augmented reality features, but it’s not strictly necessary. The One Pro has dual 0.55-inch Sony Micro OLED displays with 1080p, a 120Hz refresh rate and a 57-degree field of view, the widest we’ve seen from Xreal yet. Modern VR headsets like the Quest 3 typically offer a much wider 110-degree field of view, but they also trap you in a dark void.
The One Pro and all Xreal frames still let you see the real world outside of the AR screens and don’t block out ambient light. But there are also different shades with which you can darken the glasses, making the virtual screen brighter and brighter. At its darkest level, the One Pro can appear almost completely black, which is ideal for movies. There’s also a handy auto-transparency mode that dims the screen when you look away from the virtual screen.
Bose mini speakers and buttons to control brightness and settings are integrated into the scales of the glasses. There is a single USB-C port at the end of the left arm. I thought the cable would get in the way during longer sessions, but for the most part I quickly forgot it was there. As a result, there is no wireless support, which is fine by me as it would inevitably require batteries and extra weight on the glasses. At 87 grams, the One Pro weighs as much as a set of backing tracks. Thanks to the sturdy nose pads, it sat comfortably on my face and I could wear it for hours without too much discomfort.
Because the Xreal One Pro is modeled after sunglasses, it cannot be worn over regular glasses like the Quest 3 and other virtual reality headsets. If you have a prescription for glasses, you should do so Buy HonsVR stakeswhich starts at $50. Installation is a bit tricky, but otherwise they did a good job of giving me a clear view of the One Pro’s screens. Sharing glasses is annoying, as you have to remove the inserts each time. I would also be worried that something might bend or break if I keep removing it.
I primarily used the Xreal One Pro as a virtual display when working on laptops, but I also found it incredibly useful for watching movies and videos on the go. Often, when I was waiting for my family in a suburban parking lot, I could simply turn on the Xreal One Pro, plug it into my phone, and watch everything on a giant virtual screen.
It was even more convenient when traveling. I could never muster up the courage to bring an Apple Vision Pro on a flight or justify putting it in a backpack. This was not a problem at all with the Xreal One Pro, as the spherical case fits almost anywhere. Having a portable virtual screen that you can use right away really feels like a superpower.
As someone who is picky about displays, I was surprised at how bold and colorful the glasses looked when I turned up the background brightness and shadow settings. I’d love to see what sharper 4K screens would look like, but even at 1080p per eye, the Xreal One Pro delivered fairly clear text and detailed images. The built-in Bose speakers were surprisingly clear, even when watching videos or listening to music in the background. (However, I’d still use my AirPods Pro if I really wanted to immerse myself in the movies I’m watching.)
It didn’t take long for the Xreal One Pros to become useful gaming accessories as well. At home, I prefer to watch on my Alienware 4K computer monitor or the Steam Deck’s built-in OLED display. But for slower titles, it was fun to play on a large virtual screen by simply plugging the headset into my Steam Deck.
However, connecting the device to the original Nintendo Switch requires some work, as it only works when connected to a dock and using an accessory like the Xreal Hub. Unfortunately, the Switch 2 currently doesn’t work at all with the One Pro (unless it’s turned on). Serial connection of USB-C and HDMI adapters). xreal says so a new accessory is coming soon will offer a video pass-through for the Switch 2, but there’s no word on when it will be available.
The more I used the Xreal One Pro, the more impressed I was with its versatility. The only major downsides are the $650 price tag (originally $600) and the fact that you’ll never look good wearing it. And no, you don’t walk around with the One Pro like you do with the Meta’s Ray-Ban display. But hey, it also means you don’t have to worry about people calling you a pervert for wearing spy glasses.
Leave a Reply