I’ve spent months within the lab testing the most recent AR glasses from Xreal and Viture. By “lab,” I imply cozied up on my sofa every evening, taking part in my Steam Deck or Nintendo Swap 2 on an enormous, digital display screen that solely I can see by way of these glasses.
Utilizing AR glasses as a transportable show to your handhelds (and different USB-C gadgets, like telephones, tablets, and laptops) is nothing new. Nevertheless, the most recent variations have one must-have function in frequent: three levels of freedom, or 3DoF, which helps you to anchor the display screen anyplace you’d like, versus having it nauseatingly wiggle with each head motion. This gained’t make AR glasses price their $400-plus prices for many players. However this makes them extra helpful when you journey so much, or if you would like a extra ergonomic handheld setup.
I examined three widespread fashions — Xreal’s $449 1S, its $649 One Professional, and Viture’s $549 Beast — and there’s no greatest pair that everybody should purchase. Every does just a few issues nicely and some issues not so nicely, which leaves me no different alternative than to record out the components that may make for one good pair of AR glasses for gaming.
The consolation, sound high quality, and ease of use of Xreal’s glasses
All of those AR glasses are heavier and thicker than common glasses, however Xreal’s 1S glasses are the lightest mannequin of the bunch. On my kitchen scale, they weigh 85 grams (for comparability, the One Professional glasses weigh 91 grams, whereas the Viture Beast glasses are 96 grams). A small factor that’s truly a giant deal is that they (in addition to the One Professional) have nice weight distribution and thinner temple arms than Viture’s Beast, which helps me really feel much less pressure on my ears. It’s nice that Xreal’s most inexpensive AR glasses are simply as snug as its most costly pair.
The 1S and One Professional glasses ship better-sounding audio by way of their temple arms than Viture’s newest glasses. Xreal’s audio is tuned by Bose, and the glasses have balanced audio with surprisingly good low-end efficiency. Viture’s is tuned by Harman, and the Beast glasses pack significantly much less oomph, with extra emphasis on the mids and highs. Music, motion pictures, and video games are all extra enjoyable to hearken to by way of Xreal’s glasses, even at low volumes.
The 1S and One Professional glasses have fewer buttons than Viture’s glasses, which lowers the training curve. Xreal’s glasses have 4 buttons in whole, all of that are alongside their proper temple arm. To be honest, all AR glasses’ button layouts take some time to be taught. However the Beast has six in whole unfold throughout each temple arms, two of that are a button rocker devoted solely to adjusting the opacity of its electrochromic lenses — it’s overkill.
The superior distinction and readability of Viture’s Beast glasses
The three pairs of AR glasses that I examined use related Sony micro-OLED screens, however Viture’s glasses are my favourite on the subject of displaying video games with the identical wealthy distinction, inky blacks, and vibrant highlights as would seem on the OLED TV in my front room. Simply as vital, image high quality seems to be nice no matter the place you employ these glasses as a result of their optics lower down on reflections (nonetheless, they’re not “4K-like,” as Viture misleadingly advertises). The Xreal One Professional glasses are additionally implausible by way of image high quality and exhibit subsequent to no reflections resulting from having high-end optics, however they’re sometimes $100 extra — although generally simply $50 — than Viture’s Beast.
Sadly, the Xreal 1S’s greatest weak spot is reflections. Shiny rooms make their OLEDs exhibit crushed blacks, trying extra like LCDs in these situations. They’ll produce a great picture in low-light situations, although content material seems blurrier by way of them than with the opposite glasses.
The good match and end of Xreal’s glasses
Xreal is peerless on the subject of construct high quality, and its $449 1S feels simply as high-end as its pricier One Professional. Each pairs have snappy metallic hinge mechanisms that stop their temple arms from opening unintentionally (those on Viture’s Beast shortly swing open and really feel low cost). Furthermore, Xreal’s glasses look extra like actual sun shades than the Beast glasses do (Viture can’t resist going with a barely gamer-y look that you just’ll love or hate, although the Beast glasses look far more subtle than its Luma sequence). Sure, these traits are indistinguishable as soon as they’re on my face, however they’re price contemplating given their excessive price.
The person expertise is extra polished throughout the board with Xreal’s glasses. My Steam Deck and telephone are just a few seconds quicker to hook up with the Xreal 1S and One Professional, and as talked about earlier than, the training curve is decrease. Xreal additionally at the moment has the higher 3DoF implementation just because the display screen stays put when it’s anchored. With the Viture Beast glasses, the “anchored” display screen strikes, slowly sliding out of view. That’s a deal-breaker.
Xreal’s Real3D function, which is healthier than I anticipated (in small quantities)
Xreal glasses which have the X1 chip (ones that launched up to now two or so years) now have the Actual 3D function. The mode can flip 2D content material into 3D, and there’s a multi-step software program slider to extend its impact. I take pleasure in utilizing its mildest conversion setting greater than I anticipated to.
The 3D impact shouldn’t be as pronounced because the Nintendo 3DS’s 3D impact, however the refined enhancements are simple to note. It really works particularly nicely in video games that don’t require a ton of quick motion.
Viture’s Swap 2 compatibility
Sadly, no AR glasses can join with a single USB-C cable to the Swap 2 (blame Nintendo). You want a suitable dock, one in all which doesn’t exist only for Xreal glasses house owners. The corporate canceled its Neo charging dock it introduced at CES 2026 resulting from reliability issues (the unit it despatched me for testing nonetheless works nice with my console). So, people with Xreal glasses and a Swap 2 will want a distinct accent to play.
It’s simpler in case you have Viture’s glasses, however not precisely inexpensive. Viture makes a $130 Professional Cell Dock that works completely with the Swap 2 for the Beast. This dock doubles as a 13,000mAh battery so you’ll be able to cost up whilst you recreation. If the Swap 2 isn’t your factor, the dock incorporates a full HDMI port, letting you view a console’s video feed inside your glasses. Video passthrough works for Xreal glasses, too, however audio didn’t work nicely sufficient for me to advocate it.
Images by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge
