XREAL’s $299 glasses are for movies & games – here’s how they compare

XREAL glasses are designed for more than just creating a giant display for watching movies or playing games, but that’s probably what most people want to use them for. That’s where the new $299 XREAL XBX A01+ glasses really come into the picture, but what are you losing for those savings?

Announced not too long ago, XBX A01+ is the first offering from a new sub-brand of XREAL, “X by XREAL,” which is designed around more affordable hardware. At $299 in the US, on sale as of this past Friday, these are way more affordable compared to anything else in the company’s lineup. The nearest price point is XREAL 1S, launched early this year, which sell for $449.

• XREAL XBX A01+ at Amazon

Even XREAL will tell you that this new pair of glasses are focused on media consumption more than anything else. It’s clearly angled that way on XREAL’s site with a “Just Play” tagline. The idea here is to plug in a Steam Deck, your phone, or anything else that houses media and have that placed on a screen that sits right in front of your face – a “private screen” as XREAL puts it.

But, compared to that next step up, what are you actually giving up?

Here’s how the two pairs break down:

In plain English, you’re not really giving up on the core concept here, but rather the improvements that XREAL has tacked on top.

A wider field-of-view, for example, really makes this all a lot more immersive. I’ve been using XREAL One Pro in recent weeks, and I wish even that had a wider FOV at its 57-degree. So dropping down to 50-degrees definitely won’t help matters there. Another big point of consideration is the tracking. XREAL supports what’s called “3 Degrees or Freedom,” which is essentially head tracking that makes everything feel more native and real. XREAL’s “Anchor Mode,” for example, keeps the content in one place even if your head moves – A01+ will not support this.

Easily the biggest downside, though, is the lack of electrochromic dimming lenses on the A01+. This means you’ll always see the real world through these glasses. The combination of sunglasses tint and a super-bright display means this probably won’t always matter, but it certainly takes away from the optional immersion of XREAL’s other models.

Still, it’s hard to argue with XREAL’s value here. A01+ are focused on the most popular use case of these glasses, all for a much better price point.

Will you pick up a pair?

More on XREAL:

• The ROG XREAL R1 gaming glasses might not replace your display, but they make a great addition
• XREAL’s Android XR glasses will cost under $1,500, which isn’t as expensive as it sounds
• XREAL is going all-in on Android XR with more glasses coming in Google partnership

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