Companies like XReal are diving headfirst into competing with VR devices like the Apple Vision Pro by offering accessories like the Beam Pro. Not only does it bring AR features into the mix, but it also acts as a power bank and as a content hub.
It looks like a smartphone and works like a smartphone, but it isn’t a smartphone. It is primarily designed to be used as a companion to the XReal smart glasses, but is it a non-negotiable or a cherry on top? Let’s dive in!
Specifications
| Water- and Dust Resistant | Beam Pro |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Length- 162.84mm Width- 75.55mm Height- 10mm |
| Weight | 208g |
| Color | Pearl white |
| Water and Dust Resistant | IP54 |
| Version | 6GB + 128GB(Wi-Fi Version); 8GB + 256GB(Wi-Fi Version) |
| External Storage | Micro SD card supports up to 1TB |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO technology |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 supports SBC / AAC / LDAC |
| Glasses Connector (USB-C) | Supports DisplayPort, USB 3 |
| Screen | 6.497-inch(diagonal) LCD |
| Resolution | 1080*2400 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| Brightness | Up to 450 nits Brightness |
| Color accuracy | 83% sRGB color gamut |
| Multi-Touch Support | Up to 10 Touch Points |
| SoC | Snapdragon® spatial companion processor |
| OS | NebulaOS (based on Android 14) |
| Sensors | Proximity sensor ✓ Ambient light sensor ✓ Accelerometer ✓ Gyro ✓ Compass ✓ |
| Main Camera | Cameras- Dual 50-Megapixel 3D Cameras Aperture- f/2.2 Stabilization- Electronic image stabilization Wide-Angle Correction- Distortion Correction Flash- LED Flash |
| Front Camera | Camera- 8 MP camera Photo Resolution- 2448*3264 Video Resolution- Side-by-Side format spatial video recording up to 1080p at 60fps Audio Recording- Stereo Audio Recording |
| Video Recording | Resolution- 12M Stereo Megapixels Video Recording Formats- H.264 (default), HEVC SBS Support- Side-by-Side format spatial video recording up to 1080p at 60fps Audio Recording- Stereo Audio Recording |
| Video Playback | Supported Formats- HEVC, H.264Video Output- 3840*1080 at 72Hz; 1920*1080 at 90Hz via DisplayPort output over USB-C |
| Battery | 4300mAh |
| Charging time | 69 minutes |
| Battery Life | Streaming Video Playback- Up to 7 hours Game Streaming- Up to 7 hours Video Playback- Up to 7.5 hours |
| Languages | English (U.S.) ✓ Chinese (Simplified) ✓ French (France) ✓ German ✓ Italian ✓ Japanese ✓ Korean ✓ Spanish (Spain) ✓ |
| Price | From $199 |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Design
Designed to extend the XReal glasses’ compatibility, the Beam Pro looks like a smartphone with a 6.5-inch display that can help you unlock spatial computing on the go. I paired these with my XReal Air 2 Pro for this review. The model currently available uses WiFi, but there will be a version that supports cellular data in the future.
The Beam Pro features three cameras– a wide camera for 3D stereoscopic video recording, an ultra-wide camera on the back, and a selfie camera on the front. The dual camera on the back takes 1080p 3D videos and 50-megapixel 3D photos that are projected onto the glasses.
The logo on the bottom right corner stands out in red against the white background of the Beam Pro. There are also three buttons on the right side: an orange button that toggles between display modes, a side key for turning on and off the display, and a volume rocker. There’s also a microSD card slot on the left side for additional storage up to 1 TB.
There are also two USB-C ports available on the bottom, which can be used to plug the XReal glasses and charge them simultaneously. However, they got rid of the Display Port, which honestly just feels like a huge mistake. Especially for gamers, relying on cloud or remote play just isn’t enough.
Features and How Well It Delivers
The Beam Pro works on a Nebula operating system that is displayed as soon as the glasses are connected to the Beam. The device primarily has these functions–
- To be a content hub for streaming media on the glasses,
- As a remote control for the virtual display and to interact with virtual space through Nebula and
- As a battery backup for the XReal glasses.
Content Hub
As a media projector, the Beam works seamlessly because it has built-in streaming apps such as Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, etc. It also has access to the Play Store, from which I can download additional apps and games. I also like how I can rearrange the apps to put the ones I use the most together and make them easily accessible. The Beam is also used as a cursor to control the touchpad that is the Beam Pro; however, it’s not always as seamless and requires manipulating the device to get it to work how I want it.
For example, while scrolling, I just swipe on the Beam Pro’s screen, but it often takes it as a tap or the other way around. Pointing the cursor to where I want is also tricky at times since it taps way off screen than where I intended. Takes a second to get used to, but it’s unproblematic for the most part.
I can also take screenshots and record my screen from this touchpad for content creation purposes. The haptics on the keyboard make the experience more tactile, and the touchpad makes it easier to navigate through apps. However, certain apps required me to look down at the Beam Pro and its keypad, which interrupts the immersive experience.
Cameras
The Beam Pro captures 2D and 3D pictures and videos with the available cameras. This is owing to the fact that the cameras are placed 50mm apart, mimicking the space between the human eyes. This is done to give a more 3D and life-like effect to the images and videos.
The outdoor 3D pictures are great, with sharp colors and details, making the Beam Pro an affordable option for anyone looking to capture 3D content. However, the indoor videos, ones where the lighting wasn’t as bright, came out pixelated and blurry, but the pictures in the same conditions were noticeably better.
Display
The viewing experience and display certainly are affected by the glasses you choose. But connecting to the Beam Pro provides a full HD screen at 90Hz and 1920×1080 resolution. The screen can also be expanded to 330 inches.
The device itself supports 3DoF across all Play Store apps, such as Netflix and Prime Video, unless paired with glasses that offer 6DoF. The device allows for basic head tracking but doesn’t track physical movement, such as moving forward and backward, which means I can’t lean in to get a closer look.
The Beam Pro unlocks three display modes for the glasses they’re connected to. These are:
- Body Anchor – This mode locks the screen into the air, regardless of where I move or look.
- Smooth Follow – This mode tracks my head movements seamlessly and keeps the screen in view. This is the ideal mode when I’m in a moving car.
- Side View – This mode places the virtual screen in one of the four quadrants for easy access.
The Nebula OS, however, has lots of little bugs and glitches that hamper the seamless experience the Beam Pro would otherwise provide. Another example of this is that the screen sometimes drifts downwards without command, even when it is in the body anchor mode, which should fix the screen in place.
These modes can be accessed by tapping the orange button on the side of the device. The Beam Pro also allows two apps or windows to be open simultaneously, which can be resized and adjusted in orientation individually.
Battery Life
The Beam Pro also acts as a battery backup since the glasses do not have a battery of their own. It also helps save up the battery when connected to a phone, which is especially useful in long-haul flights and travel because the glasses are not just using one device and its battery.
The Beam Pro’s battery, for me, lasts a good 6-8 hours in mobile mode and about 4 hours when I use it in spatial mode.
Audio
Beam Pro also has internal speakers, but they aren’t as great as the smartphone in your pocket. The sound is scratchy and appears to be one-directional. This is honestly not a deal breaker since that isn’t how the Beam Pro is meant to be used anyway.
The Air 2 Pro glasses connected to the Beam Pro have much better sound quality than the Beam itself.
Limitations of the Beam Pro
I initially argued that I would have preferred several windows open at the same time, but it would make the display a little packed. So, I have gotten used to this, and it makes it easy for me to multitask while wearing the glasses. I’ve worked on several documents while binge-watching The Bachelor.
That being said, only one “high-performance” app can run at a time in Spatial Display. I can’t have Brave Browser and YouTube open simultaneously. But Android gaming and emulation did not disappoint. Games like Dead Cells ran smoothly; the same goes for Dreamcast and PS2, with games like Shadow of the Colossus at 30fps and Switch titles like Cuphead and Untitled Goose Game at 60fps and 35- 40fps, respectively.
Price and Availability
The Beam Pro comes in two variants: 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, priced at $199, and 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, priced at $249. The Beam Pro, along with its companion, the XReal glasses, is available via their official website in all 50 US states.
Who Should Buy The XREAL Beam Pro?
- If you’re someone who travels often and needs more content than the restricted in-flight entertainment, along with a battery backup for your smart glasses.
- Content creators and professionals who want to capture 3D spatial videos.
- Gaming enthusiasts who want the full immersive experience on the go.
- Tech enthusiasts
Wrap Up
The 3D video recording and the ability to play those on devices such as the Apple Vision Pro sure make the Beam Pro an impressive add-on to XReal glasses. However, the AR features have many unpolished edges to be considered a staple in order to enjoy the glasses fully.
As a content hub, it works great and I totally recommend it for the same purpose. Also works great on long flights as it acts as a battery backup and doesn’t drain my phone’s battery completely. If you’re buying the Beam Pro for its AR features, though, I would hold my $200 because it falls short of delivering what’s promised.
Solely for content and mirroring purposes, even the standard Beam works great! However, be mindful that multitasking won’t be available since the original Beam only provides one display window.
