Nreal Light
| Nreal Light | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality |
| Type | AR Glasses |
| Subtype | Smart Glasses |
| Platform | Nebula, NRSDK |
| Developer | XREAL (formerly Nreal) |
| Manufacturer | XREAL |
| Announcement Date | CES 2019 |
| Release Date | 2020 |
| Price | $500 USD (glasses), $1,200 USD (dev kit) |
| Website | https://www.xreal.com/ |
| Successor | Nreal Air |
| System | |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | 2× Sony OLED |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 per eye |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 52° diagonal |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Birdbath |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (SLAM, dual cameras) |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Audio | |
| Camera | RGB camera (right lens) |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | USB-C (tethered to phone or compute pack) |
| Device | |
| Weight | ~88g |
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The Nreal Light is a phone-powered augmented reality smart glasses developed by XREAL (formerly Nreal), first revealed at CES 2019 and released in 2020. The glasses attracted significant attention as one of the first consumer-oriented AR glasses with 6DoF tracking, weighing only 88 grams in a sunglasses-like form factor. Featuring dual Sony OLED displays at 1920×1080 per eye, birdbath optics, and SLAM-based tracking with plane detection, the Nreal Light provided spatial AR experiences when tethered to compatible Android phones or Nreal's compute pack. The Nebula operating system, announced at CES 2020, enabled Android app integration in 3D space.
History and Development
Nreal (now XREAL) revealed the Nreal Light at CES 2019, garnering significant press attention for achieving light, fashionable AR glasses at an accessible price point. The company was founded in China with the goal of making AR glasses as ubiquitous as sunglasses. Developer kits opened for preorder at $1,200 in November 2019, with consumer glasses expected at $500.[1]
At CES 2020, Nreal unveiled Nebula, their Android-based operating system enabling 3D interfaces for Android apps. The company later released the consumer-focused Nreal Air in 2022, which simplified the platform to a display-only experience.[2]
Design and Hardware
Display
Premium Sony OLED displays:
- Dual Sony OLED panels
- 1920×1080 resolution per eye
- 60 Hz refresh rate
- 52° diagonal field of view
- 201-inch virtual screen at 6 meters
- High contrast from OLED technology
Optics
- Birdbath optical system
- Relays image from hidden display at top of frame
- Reflects image into user's eyes
- Compact design enables sunglasses form factor
Tracking
Full 6DoF spatial tracking:
- SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping)
- 6 Degrees of Freedom head tracking
- Dual forward-facing tracking cameras
- Plane detection: Detects horizontal/vertical surfaces
- Image tracking: Marker-based AR
- Virtual objects fixed in real-world positions
- Walk around virtual content
Camera
- RGB camera on right lens
- Captures outside world images
- Enables mixed reality photography
Build
- ~88 grams weight
- Comfortable for extended wear
- Sunglasses-like design
- Fashionable form factor
- Half viewing area contains hardware
Connectivity
Tethered operation:
- USB-C connection required
- Android phones: Compatible devices
- Compute pack: Nreal's proprietary unit (dev kit)
- Cannot operate standalone
Software
Nebula OS
Android-based operating system (CES 2020):
- 3D interface for Android apps
- 2D Android apps in 3D space
- 3D content in physical surroundings
- Spatial computing experience
NRSDK
Developer tools:
- Unity support
- Mixed reality app development
- SLAM and tracking APIs
- Plane detection integration
Developer Kit
The Nreal Light Developer Kit included:
- Nreal Light glasses
- Proprietary compute pack
- Development tools access
- Price: $1,200
Controller Support
- Basic phone-based interaction
- FinchShift controllers announced (6DoF)
- Controller support for full spatial input
Reception
Praise:
- "Close, But Not Quite There Yet" - Tom's Hardware
- Revolutionary lightweight design (88g)
- 6DoF tracking in sunglasses form factor
- Sony OLED displays
- Affordable compared to enterprise AR
- Plane detection for spatial AR
- Nebula OS Android integration
- Interesting entry point for AR development
Criticism:
- Requires tethered connection
- Limited phone compatibility
- 60 Hz only (competitors offer higher)
- 52° FOV relatively narrow
- Developer kit expensive ($1,200)
- Compute pack required for full features
- Battery drain on connected phone
- Limited consumer software ecosystem[3]
See Also
References
- ↑ "CES 2020: Nreal's AR Glasses Promise To Pin Android Apps In Your Room". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/nreal-lite-nebula-ces-2020/.
- ↑ "Nreal Light devkit review: an interesting entry point for AR". The Ghost Howls. https://skarredghost.com/2020/06/11/nreal-light-devkit-review/.
- ↑ "Nreal Light AR Smart Glasses Review: Close, But Not Quite There Yet". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nreal-light-ar-smart-glasses.
- ↑ "Hands-on with Nreal Light, One of the First Consumer-available AR Glasses". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/hands-on-nreal-light-ar-glasses-cas-and-chary/.