Nreal Air
| Nreal Air | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality |
| Type | AR Glasses |
| Subtype | Smart Glasses |
| Platform | Nebula (XREAL) |
| Developer | XREAL (formerly Nreal) |
| Manufacturer | XREAL |
| Release Date | 2022 |
| Price | $379 USD |
| Website | https://www.xreal.com/ |
| System | |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | 2× Micro-OLED |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 per eye (Full HD) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 46° diagonal |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Birdbath |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 3DoF |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Built-in open-ear speakers |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode) |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 hours (device dependent) |
| Device | |
| Weight | 79g |
| Color | Black |
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The Nreal Air (now marketed as XREAL Air) is a consumer augmented reality smart glasses developed by XREAL (formerly known as Nreal), released in 2022. The glasses use birdbath optics with dual Micro-OLED displays to project a virtual 130-inch screen, primarily designed for media consumption and gaming. At just 79 grams, the Nreal Air helped establish the lightweight wearable display category and was succeeded by the Xreal Air 2 series.
Note: XREAL rebranded from "Nreal" in 2023, and the product is now sold under the XREAL brand name.
History and Development
Nreal (now XREAL) was founded in 2017 and released the Nreal Air in 2022 as a consumer-focused AR glasses product. The glasses were designed to provide a large virtual screen experience in a lightweight, sunglasses-like form factor. The company rebranded to XREAL in 2023, and the product line expanded to include the Xreal Air 2 and Xreal Air 2 Pro.[1]
Design and Hardware
Display and Optics
The Nreal Air uses birdbath optics to reflect images from embedded Micro-OLED displays:
- Dual 1920×1080 Micro-OLED displays (one per eye)
- 46° diagonal field of view
- 49 pixels per degree (PPD)—significantly higher than Oculus Quest 2's 20.5 PPD
- 60 Hz refresh rate
- Birdbath optical system with mirror reflection
- Virtual 130-inch equivalent screen size[2]
The birdbath optics provide a larger field of view with reduced distortion compared to some alternative AR display technologies.
Build and Comfort
At 79 grams, the Nreal Air is exceptionally lightweight, designed to look similar to oversized Ray-Ban sunglasses. The lightweight design avoids the front-heavy feeling of traditional VR headsets, making extended viewing sessions more comfortable.[3]
Light Blocking
The glasses include a lens cover accessory that blocks out ambient light for more immersive viewing in bright environments.
Audio
Built-in open-ear speakers provide audio output without covering the ears, allowing awareness of surroundings.
Connectivity
The Nreal Air connects via USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode:
- Direct USB-C: Android smartphones, computers, Steam Deck
- With Nreal Adapter ($59): Game consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch), iOS devices, HDMI sources
The adapter requirement for non-USB-C devices was a common criticism in reviews.[4]
Reception
Praise:
- "Among the smartest glasses available in 2022"
- Impressively lightweight at 79 grams
- High pixel density (49 PPD) for crisp text
- Good visual quality with OLED displays
- Large 130-inch virtual screen
- Sunglasses-like design
- Works with Steam Deck for portable gaming
Criticism:
- Firmware updates could break compatibility
- 60 Hz refresh rate lower than competitors
- Requires adapter for many devices
- No spatial tracking (3DoF only)
- "More of a big monitor for your face"
- Image flicker reported by some users
- Limited adjustability
- "Minimally viable product" criticism[5]
Successors
The Nreal Air was succeeded by:
- Xreal Air 2: Improved display, lighter weight
- Xreal Air 2 Pro: Added electrochromic dimming
- Xreal One: Added X1 spatial computing chip
See Also
References
- ↑ "Nreal Air: Full Specification". VRcompare. https://vr-compare.com/headset/nrealair.
- ↑ "Nreal Air Review: Gaming and Media Greatness Marred by Dongle Madness". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nreal-air.
- ↑ "Xreal Air and Xreal Beam review: impressive AR tech but still not perfect". TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/nreal-air-ar-glasses.
- ↑ "Nreal Air AR Glasses Review: A Look at the Future". Tech Advisor. https://www.techadvisor.com/article/723317/nreal-air-review.html.
- ↑ "Nreal Air AR glasses review: A killer concept that's just too early". Dexerto. https://www.dexerto.com/tech/nreal-air-glasses-review-2149149/.
- ↑ "Nreal Airs Review". Gaming Nexus. https://www.gamingnexus.com/Article/7728/Nreal-Airs.