It sounds a bit like a self-fulfilling prophecy, but in many ways, the Xreal Air 2 Pro is what I’ve been waiting for, in fact, since I first got into VR. Even then, I preferred using a console to get my gaming fix, and even after my then-colleague Halldor showed me a couple of impressive demos, I asked: ” Okay, but how does this complement my existing setup? He looked at me quizzically and explained that this was not a supplement, but a replacement. At the time, people were more convinced that we would soon be playing all games in VR, and even if that didn’t happen, Xreal managed to get closer to VR than I imagined in a relatively short period of time.
Xreal doesn’t make a VR headset at all, but instead makes small glasses with no actual power source that act as a virtual display. Think of a silly Ray-Ban, or maybe a variant of the existing Razer Anzu sunglasses with built-in speakers, where each lens helps form a relatively giant display in front of you. There’s also built-in speakers, but there’s no battery, as is a small USB-C port at the bottom of the pole to connect to the device you want to project it to, and there’s a removable sunglasses frame on the outside. The concept is that you can move around with your Xreal Air 2 Pro more seamlessly and find more scenarios where being able to project a 120-inch display in front of you becomes useful, whether it’s an extension of your home office, An old-fashioned night watching Netflix on the couch while your partner uses the TV, or a Steam Deck extension for a gaming session – the sky’s the limit.
Okay, specs. Weighing 75 grams, utilizing three levels of electrochromic dimming to block light, and using two of Sony’s 0.55-inch micro-OLED panels with resolutions of 1080p and 120Hz, they can hit 500 nits, which sounds like a lot, but is nowhere near. The eyes are so close, it simply can’t be any more. There are two directional drivers in each pole that deliver surprisingly full sound, and not only that, it’s hard to hear even at higher volumes, and the iPhone 15 runs Sky Showtime, Netflix, and other streaming apps. On the Pro Max, I didn’t really notice the higher battery drain, although of course there is.
There have been instances where I’ve used Xreal to watch Halo , Avatar: The Last Airbender , and other TV series that I actively followed, but that my dear cohabitants didn’t want to watch (which is fair enough, by the way). Instead of sitting with my iPad or just looking at my phone, I’m able to easily reach for the Xreal Air 2 Pro and use it up to 130 inches without sacrificing comfort, sound, or display. Realistically, I would probably compromise on all three parameters, but let’s consider them individually. With the glasses on, I can lie on a pillow without having to hold anything in front of my head, which is surprisingly liberating, and the new nose pads are very comfortable. Additionally, it can be liberating to “get out there” when consuming your content. Instead of projecting reality into the headset via a pass-through like the Apple Vision Pro does, this is really just a pair of sunglasses, meaning you can see out through the display (if the sunglasses frame is removed) and people can see your eyes and interact with you without you being completely blind. The sound isn’t heavy, subwoofer-driven surround sound either, but it’s much better than such a small device.
So, kind of a slam dunk so far, right? Well, it will continue to exist, but there is a problem, and that is the narrow viewing angle. Set to 130 inches, I think it would take pretty fine precision to see the entire frame without blurring real and digital reality, so imagine your field of view constantly missing the edges of the TV and what’s on it. This can be a bit frustrating in practice and requires a cool head to accurately find the perspective that is comfortable and, most importantly, effective.
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Additionally, it should be said that not all mobile devices support DP. My iPhone 15 Pro Max works without any apps or settings, as does the PS5, Steam Deck, and Switch. But those who don’t will need an Xreal Beam, a separate device, and it’s difficult to accept the extra cost when the Air 2 Pro already costs 449 euros.
That said, this is the biggest step in bringing your content into virtual reality. I know it’s not technically VR, it’s probably more like XR (or extended reality), but this technology works seamlessly with all the other devices I own and use, so I’m more inclined to use them. For this reason they are highly recommended, and more than that, Xreal seems to be a key player that I can recommend to most others in the space.
