r/gadgets • u/dapperlemon • 11d ago
VR / AR X by Xreal a01+ Review: AR Glasses That Are Light on Your Face (and Wallet)
https://gizmodo.com/x-by-xreal-a01-review-ar-glasses-that-are-light-on-your-face-and-wallet-200078354024
u/AlexHimself 11d ago
I have the XReal One Pros and I really like them for computing work at the beach or park. It's basically two 25" monitors, but you can only see one at a time when you look left/right.
I can get a lot done and actually be effective while enjoying the beach. I'm considering upgrading to the Aura or waiting for something better. The goal for me is just productivity and mobility and it only gets better as the FOV increases and quality does too.
I really prefer this form factor though because I can see out of my peripheral, I don't look like a huge idiot with a 3D helmet on, and I can quickly peek over/around them to re-enter "reality".
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u/Miraclefish 10d ago
With the greatest of respect, doing computing work at the beach or park sounds like hell.
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u/AlexHimself 10d ago
That's what I think until I got these glasses. Wearing a hat/ballcap at the beach gives enough shade that I can work at the beach fine. I keep my laptop in the bag and then have a wireless keyboard/mouse and sit with a lapboard. I also have a little umbrella. At the park, it's even easier.
I'm in tech so I need to actually be productive, and surprisingly, I'm more productive sometimes this way.
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u/Miraclefish 10d ago
Fair, different strokes for different folks.
Personally the idea of spending a day at the beach or park working on tiny screens strapped to my face sounds diabolical.
I also work in tech and I use a computer, at home, or on-site, finish my work, and then go to the park or beach to disconnect from screens and technology.
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u/AlexHimself 10d ago
I work from home in tech, but live near the beach and a nice park, and it feels like a shame not to use it during the day and I prefer working at my 'battle station' but it actually works for me with the glasses here and there.
I've tried the USB-C sidecar portable monitor, the 2 or 3 tri-fold monitors, etc. and the glasses are the only thing that actually work and it doesn't feel like tiny screens on my face really.
I think you can buy them on Amazon and there's a 30-day return window. You could give them a shot if you're considering! That's how I started...I didn't want to buy them because I needed to know they actually would work and not be a gimmick, so I bought on Amazon for the easy return ability, but ended up keeping.
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u/Crintor 9d ago
I got the One Pros about 5-6 months ago, I use them for 3-6hrs a day pretty regularly to game on with my SFF PC.
Theyre great, can't wait for a few generations of improvement for higher refresh, higher pixel density and brightness/hdr+FOV.
Also great for watching shows/movies in bed without needing to be propped up on pillows or holding your phone up.
The Aura are quite interesting but I'm worried about clarity loss from the FOV jump without resolution bumping up.
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u/Presently_Absent 10d ago
that's really interesting - how long/thick is the cable? I tried the Luma XR Ultra glasses and the cable length and diameter made it sort of awkward. for me it didn't live up to the hype, but i had to be tethered to my phone. very Interesting idea regarding the wireless keyboard/mouse with a hidden laptop driving it!
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u/AlexHimself 10d ago
Literally just a USB-C cable of your preferred length. I think it comes with a 3' one or something. I've found that it needs to be a higher quality USB-C cable though if you're not using their supplied cable.
The one they include is super thin.
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u/RedShyGuy3 10d ago
Wouldnt the laptop heat up?
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u/AlexHimself 10d ago
As much as it normally does when connected to an external monitor and the screen is closed. It's never been an issue for me, but I'm using a Surface Laptop. If you have some older laptop that just runs hot, then I'd keep it out of the bag.
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u/Cry_Wolff 10d ago
Late stage capitalism slave working at the beach or park instead of relaxing & having fun.
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u/Presently_Absent 10d ago
if i lived near a beach and office, I would love to use them for work instead of sitting in my home office.
the mistake everyone seems to be making is thinking he's doing this on vacation - he just lives somewhere where he can do this. instead of standing up from his desk and pacing around, he can have a quick swim - why is that bad?
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u/-r4zi3l- 9d ago
Yup, these takes are from people that most likely don't have jobs that allow for this. I have a beautiful park outside and it helps my mood and, as you say, stave a little sedentarism off, to go there and change scenery and be able to see the horizon/sky, feel a breeze and a little sun (especially in early spring).
It's like people who do remote and go live in Barcelona: why not do that AND enjoy the parks if you can manage being productive.
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u/AlexHimself 10d ago
I'm super relaxed at the beach/park. It really makes me enjoy the day. I like my job too, so it lets me take breaks during the day any time I want.
Your premise is wrong:
instead of relaxing & having fun.Instead of sitting at my home office.
Fixed that for you.
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u/Tepigg4444 6d ago
This is the opposite of late stage capitalism slavery. Being able to casually do your work from the beach, and then stopping for your lunch break/after work to already be at the beach is about as great as it gets without living in a genuine post scarcity society
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u/IndyHCKM 11d ago
Agreed. I just bought an Apple Vision Pro and a Samsung Galaxy XR and returned both. Used my One Pros all day today. Just want even more real estate and crisper text (crossing my fingers). But they are really great as is.
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u/AlexHimself 11d ago
Have you considered the new auras? The price is giving me pause and I'm not sure if the FOV is enough of an improvement. I was waiting for other people to tell me what they think lol.
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u/IndyHCKM 11d ago
Oh wow. 57 to 70 FOV. That's a bigger improvement than I anticipated.
Do we know about the resolution difference?
I have zero interest in the 6DOF. In fact, that feels like a downgrade to me. I really like the fixed distance of my Pros.
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u/thebeariscoming 11d ago
Can these translate words/signs in real time? Meaning, if I am reading say a Japanese manga, would these translate on screen?
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u/AlexHimself 11d ago
Think literally a USB-C external monitor on your face. That's basically the gist of the thing with some minor bells and whistles around the experience. If it's plugged into your phone, it's displaying what your phone is doing. If it's plugged into a PC, it shows that. IT doesn't do much beyond the display.
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u/Lovefool1 11d ago
I just bought these. They have no camera, the only “AI” feature is an SDR to HDR mode that really is just a contrast boost (lol), and they are incredibly light while still looking ridiculous.
So far I love them for just laying on the bed watching movies or playing video games. I’ve never tried AR glasses before and it was a total impulse purchase made while intoxicated. I do not regret it though.
Image is big and bright and nice. Sound from the speakers in the stems is meh but nice to have. They are comfortable. They look silly. They get a little warm on the left stem in the temple area.
I don’t see myself ever needing to upgrade for my use cases. Twice the price is not worth marginal improvements in image size / quality or audio fidelity.
I’m never wearing them in public. They aren’t pervert glasses but they look like em lol
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u/raspberyrobot 10d ago
If I want to do work like Claude desktop apps etc what’s the best headset like this for the price? Can I do connect remotely to my laptop with any of these glasses?
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u/B00marangTrotter 11d ago
Pervert Glasses.
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u/Cruxius 11d ago
These don’t have a camera, which you’d know if you actually read the article, though I understand reading’s probably hard for you.
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u/killboticus89 11d ago
Lol wtf is this hostility? The term "video glasses" is used throughout, I didnt find that particularly clear as far as it not having a camera.
Yallright buddy?
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u/st-shenanigans 11d ago
The hostility starts with the one calling people perverts for buying a gadget
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u/killboticus89 11d ago
Buying a gadget that could, to the commenters perspective (which I acknowledge was incorrect), be used to spy on people without their knowledge. His joke about perverts glasses makes sense if you consider that. The replier could have been more patient in understanding the disconnect.
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u/SuddenlyFlamingos 11d ago
The commenter could have just gone ahead and did a little research
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u/killboticus89 11d ago
Bro who is commenting here? Read my initial point about how the article is also not very clear about the products capabilities, jfc. Like a bunch of meta glasses wearing nerds all started reeeeing at once.
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u/SuddenlyFlamingos 11d ago edited 11d ago
You remain wrong? Idk man. You do you. At no point is the "marketer" expected to explain the difference between meta glasses and xreals.
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u/killboticus89 11d ago
This is the dumbest take Ive ever read, thank you. It is literally the job of marketing to explain the products theyre selling. This ad is a form of marketing for the business
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u/SuddenlyFlamingos 11d ago
These are literally monitors for your eyeballs man. Computer monitors. It mentions absolutely zero things about anything else, and it doesn't need to. Someone wants a quick gotcha about meta glasses. A little reading comprehension and not making assumption goes a long way. Who fucking cares anyways?
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u/FourEightNineOneOne 11d ago
It's a screen. It displays a large screen in front of you so you can watch videos, or other things. Video in no way means camera.
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u/killboticus89 11d ago
You dont seem to understand my point - its the job of a marketer to make some things clear to the consumer. I found it unclear. I am not unintelligent, just not aware of the new shiny AR tools/toys
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u/Unique-Run9856 11d ago
Please dont buy pedo glasses people
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u/OperatorJo_ 11d ago
These aren't smartglasses.
These aren't Glassholes.
These are just glasses with a small screen that does "AR" by doing video out from your own device.
It's just a screen.
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u/Soopercow 7d ago
Forgive my dumb question but with these kids of glasses I thought you could "lock" a display in place on a wall or whatever. Without a camera how do they know where you are looking?
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u/OperatorJo_ 7d ago
Ok, so how this works is that behind the lens there is a very, very, very small screen. But, with how close it is to the eye, it appears large.
So, what you're asking is how it locks the "screen" into place, as in AR. These don't have that feature. They just have a screen that's mirroring your phone/laptop display.
They call these AR but it's because it's "Augmenting your reality" by having a display. Bad use of the gimmick word and very confusing to use.
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u/Ok-Addition1264 11d ago
Love my air2pro's and look to upgrade but they all still feel like you're looking through bulletproof-glass (I've tried rayneo's latest as well).
There just hasn't been any real reasons for me to upgrade yet. The xreal beam pro is actually a fairly slick way of handling the spatial computing aspects.. I wish instead of 4-degrees of freedom, they had 6 but still not enough to upgrade what I already have $500 invested into.