Greetings, fellow geeks! CES 2024 is underway, and the world is watching amazing discoveries, mentally trying them on themselves. TheGeekyThings continues its series of posts showcasing the latest and greatest news from CES 2024.

Xreal, previously known as Nreal, unveiled the Xreal Air 2 Ultra augmented reality glasses at CES 2024. This cutting-edge device presents several noteworthy features, positioning it as a strong competitor to Apple Vision Pro, but with a significantly lower price point.

Photo: Xreal

The Xreal Air 2 Ultra boasts 6DoF (six degrees of freedom) spatial tracking and hand tracking capabilities, providing users with an immersive experience. With a wide field of view measuring 52 degrees and a resolution of 42 pixels per degree, the visuals are crisp and detailed. Encased in a sleek titanium body, these glasses weigh just 80g, ensuring comfort during extended wear. Remarkably, Xreal offers all these impressive features at an attractive price tag of $699, making it a compelling alternative to Apple's $3,499 Vision Pro.

Unlike standalone mixed reality headsets, the Air 2 series glasses require an external computing device such as a smartphone, computer, or Xreal Beam module, connected via USB-C. While the earlier Air 2 Pro and Air 2 models were primarily personal display devices, the Air 2 Ultra places a strong emphasis on spatial computing capabilities, thanks to its six degrees of freedom. This allows virtual objects to seamlessly integrate with the real world.

To achieve this, the glasses are equipped with dual 3D environmental sensors on the front panel, along with the processing power of devices like the Samsung Galaxy S23 or S22, iPhone 15, or any Mac or Windows computer capable of running Xreal Nebula. While there are no immediate plans to support additional smartphones, Xreal is actively developing a dedicated computing unit specifically designed for the Air 2 Ultra.

In terms of user experience, the Air 2 Ultra offers three levels of electrochromic dimming, enabling greater immersion without the need for a physical screen. Additionally, directional sound technology ensures enhanced privacy, while dual microphones facilitate seamless voice interaction. The glasses utilize Sony micro OLED panels, delivering a resolution of 1080p per eye, a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz (90 Hz in 3D mode), and a brightness of up to 500 nits (250 nits in 3D mode). Notably, Xreal has received TÜV Rheinland certification for Color Accuracy, Eye Comfort, Low Blue Light, and Flicker-Free performance.

The Xreal Air 2 Ultra glasses are currently available for pre-order, with shipping scheduled to commence in March. Initially targeting developers, Xreal plans to roll out the Unity-based NRSDK 2.2 alongside the shipment of devices. This will enable developers to harness the full potential of this innovative technology in their applications.

Source: Engadget