With a bold step forward into augmented reality, XReal has stepped up its game with Air 2 Ultra. With features such as electrochromic dimming and a sleek design, let’s dive into whether the Air 2 Ultra will be worth the $699 price tag.
Since the shipping for the Air 2 Ultra begins in November ‘24, I can’t wait to give you my hands-on review as soon as I get my hands on these.
Specifications
| Specifications | XReal Air 2 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Size | Length- 148.5 mm Width- 48 mm Height- 161.5 mm |
| Weight | 83 g |
| Display | SONY 0.68” Micro-OLED |
| Adjustable Lens Transparency | 3 Modes Electrochromic Dimming |
| Indicator | Two LED Indicator Lights |
| Nearsighted Solution | Detachable prescription lens frame (Air 2 ultra is not compatible with Air and Air 2 prescription lens frames) |
| 3DOF | 3 DoF Supported, Beam/Beam Pro Required |
| 6DOF | 6 DoF Supported, Beam Pro Required |
| Multi-functional Button | Function 1: Single click to switch between dimming levels Function 2: Double-click to turn on/off the display |
| Frame | Titanium Frame |
| Nose Pad | Zero-pressure Nose Pad (S/M/L) |
| Temple | 3-position temple adjustment |
| Screen | Micro OLED panel from SONY |
| Refresh rate | Up to 120Hz (2D mode 120 Hz, 3D mode 90Hz) |
| Color accuracy | ΔE <3, Individualized Color Calibration |
| Optical Design | Optic Engine 3.0 |
| FOV | 52 degree |
| Resolution | 4 Million Pixels,1080p |
| Brightness | Up to 500 nits (2D mode 30-500 nit, 3D mode 20-250 nit) |
| UV Protection | 100% UV Protection |
| Sound | 2nd generation Sound System |
| 3 Electrochromic Dimming Levels | 0%/35%/100% |
| Flicker-free, Low Blue Light, Eye comfort, Color accuracy | ✓ |
| Speakers | 2 Built-in Stereo Speakers |
| Sound leakage reduction | Directional Technology |
| Microphones | 2 |
| Screen Mirroring | USB – C Video Output Device ✓ HDMI Output Devices ✓ iPhone ✓ Android ✓ MacBook ✓ Steam Deck ✓ ROGAlly ✓ Windows ✓ |
| Price | $699 |
Design, Battery, and Comfort
The Air 2 Ultra by XReal is a step up from the Air 2 Pro. With a slightly heavier build, these look similar to the Air 2 Pro, along with added sensors and a metallic rim lining the frame. While being 80g in weight, they still feel very lightweight because of the titanium material used in their frame and flexible temples.
The nose pads are exceptionally soft, making the Air 2 Ultra extremely comfortable to wear for hours on end. The sensors on the endpieces look like little cameras. Unfortunately, that’s not what the Air 2 Ultra is capable of. The sensors are 3D environment sensors that understand the surroundings of the user.
As for how they fit on the face, I don’t like that they sit way farther away from the eyes, making the glasses almost look unnatural and awkward. Even though the nose pads come in 3 sizes- S, M, and L, the fit could do with a lot more design updates. From a design standpoint, the gold rim and the wayfarer shape look as normal and stylish as any sunglasses would.
A Major Disappointment
For an Ultra model with an ultra price tag, a major disappointment is the lack of battery. Just like its previous models, the XReal Air 2 Ultra also depends on the device’s battery it is connected to and does not have a battery backup of its own.
For the price I am paying for these, the least I would expect is an in-built battery and the case to act as a portable charging case. I seriously hope XReal considers this suggestion, especially in today’s day and age.
Display and Sound
The display of the Air 2 Ultra is certainly upgraded with a field view of 52 degrees from the 46 degrees in the Air 2, almost a 25% increase in the screen size. The Sony Micro-OLED panels with 1080p pictures per eye and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz make the display and viewing experience superior to any other XReal glasses in their lineup.
The sound is a little louder than its previous models, but I would still prefer attaching my AirPods to have an immersive experience, especially when watching a movie or editing a video for full concentration. But the volume is still dependent on the device attached to the glasses, be it the Beam Pro, a gaming console, or my phone.
Another significant feature of the Air 2 Ultra is its ability to hold the screen in one place, whereas the previous Air models moved the screen as and when I moved my head. Another step up from the previous models is the crisp image with no blurry corners.
Performance and Functionality
The one standout feature of the Xreal Air 2 Ultra is the electrochromic dimming. This feature shifts the dimming of the glasses by 3 levels by pushing the button on the right temple. One push dims the glasses by 35% and goes all the way to 100%.
This is a big step up since the biggest drawback of smart glasses is the light pouring in from the edges, disturbing the viewing experience. Although the device is available for purchase to the general public, pairing this feature with the upgraded display and audio, the device’s intent of being used by developers makes sense.
The two 3D sensors on the sides of the glasses enable 6 degrees of freedom for precise positional tracking. The interaction with the environment using these sensors was also pretty smooth; however, the pinching gesture enabled due to hand tracking was not quite as smooth as expected. The pinching and moving around of the 3D objects were lagging and didn’t have the smoothest transition.
All these advanced features are placed in the glasses, directed towards developers in order to make them better and be used to their full potential.
Compatibility
The compatible devices with the XReal Air 2 Ultra are:
Spatial Computing:
- Samsung S22: OneUI 5.1, Snapdragon processor.
- Samsung S23: OneUI 5.1/6.0, Snapdragon processor.
- XReal Custom Computing Unit: Dedicated hardware for the best AR experience (upcoming).
Screen Mirroring:
- Devices with USB-C Video Output or HDMI Output, including:
- iPhones (with compatible adapters).
- Android phones.
- MacBooks.
- Steam Deck.
- ROG Ally.
- Windows PCs.
Accessories and Software:
- XReal Beam: Supports 3 degrees of freedom (3DoF) tracking.
- Nebula for Mac Beta: Offers 6 degrees of freedom (6DoF) tracking capabilities.
I would especially like to try out the Beam Pro with the Air 2 Ultra to justify the performance of two of XReal’s best products in their lineup.
Price and Availability
The Xreal Air 2 Ultra is priced at $699, a considerably higher price than any of the other XReal glasses, and is available on XReal’s official website. The shipping begins in November 2024.
Final Verdict
Although a great improvement over the previous range, the XReal Air 2 Ultra, for me, is not enough to justify the $699 price tag. For those who are already familiar with the AR glasses space and can justify a fairly good amount of usage of these glasses, the Air 2 Ultra may hold great appeal.
But if you’re someone who is not as acquainted with the smart glass area and is just dipping your feet into the water, the Air 2 is where you may wanna start. This is not a product I see myself using enough, and the limited field of view, as compared to other AR/VR glasses at a similar price range, makes it hard to justify the investment.
