Xreal, a leading contender in the augmented reality (AR) glasses market, has unveiled its latest generation of AR glasses, the Xreal One Series.This launch comes as the company seeks to solidify its position amidst fierce competition from tech giants like Meta and Snap.
Backed by Chinese e-commerce behemoth Alibaba, Xreal is capitalizing on the burgeoning interest in AR technology. The Xreal One Series boasts the company’s first self-designed processor, the X1 chip, marking a meaningful leap forward in the glasses’ capabilities.
A key advantage of the Xreal One Series is its ability to connect directly to devices such as smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles. Users can experience their content on a massive virtual screen projected in front of them. Previous Xreal models required a separate device called the Beam for such connectivity, but the new X1 chip eliminates this need.
“I think that it’s the biggest upgrade in Xreal history and probably the biggest upgrade for the entire consumer AR glasses [sector],” Chi Xu,CEO of Xreal,told CNBC in an interview.
the development of the X1 chip, a three-year endeavor, according to Xu, is seen as a strategic move to enhance the glasses’ capabilities and differentiate them from competitors.
“We have to step up to define a chip that is really defining some of the new features for thes types of glasses,” Xu said.
As a major player in the AR glasses arena, Xreal faces stiff competition from industry giants like Meta and Snap. the launch of the Xreal One Series with its innovative X1 chip positions the company to remain a strong contender in the rapidly evolving world of augmented reality.
The race to bring augmented reality (AR) to the masses is heating up, with companies like Xreal betting on sleek, lightweight glasses rather than bulky headsets. This approach contrasts with tech giants like Apple, which recently launched its high-end Vision Pro headset, and Meta, which continues to refine its Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses.
Xreal, a startup focused on AR glasses, believes that glasses offer a more practical and accessible entry point for mainstream adoption. “People have started to realise a headset doesn’t make sense, we need to go to lighter form factors to the glasses category,” Xreal CEO Berni Xu told CNBC. “But the challenge for glasses is can we push the limit to deliver a headset experience on a much smaller form factor?”
Xreal’s latest offerings, the Xreal One and Xreal One pro, are priced at $499 and $599 respectively, making them more affordable than many headset alternatives. This focus on affordability aligns with Xreal’s vision of AR glasses becoming a ubiquitous technology.
While AR has generated significant buzz in recent years, widespread adoption has been slower than anticipated. Bulky and expensive headsets have proven to be barriers to entry for many consumers. Companies like Xreal and Meta are now prioritizing the development of glasses that offer a more pleasant and integrated AR experience.
Xu acknowledges that a lack of compelling content and “killer use cases” remains a challenge for the AR glasses market. “We need a platform, we need an ecosystem to improve the experience because we don’t have any content yet. But in order to have the developers getting excited … you need to have good hardware to begin with,” he explained.
despite these challenges, Xreal is optimistic about the future of AR glasses. The company projects sales of 500,000 units of its previous products in 2025, nearly doubling this year’s figures. This ambitious goal reflects Xreal’s confidence in its technology and its belief that AR glasses are poised to become the next big thing in consumer electronics.
Meanwhile, Qualcomm is also making strides in the AR glasses market. CNBC reported earlier this year that the chipmaker is collaborating with Google and Samsung on a new set of glasses,further intensifying the competition in this rapidly evolving space.
## World Today News: Expert Interview – Xreal CEO Talks Innovation and Competition in the AR Glasses Market
**LONDON**, UK – The Augmented Reality (AR) glasses market is heating up, with companies racing to capture the consumer’s attention. One serious contender is Xreal, a company backed by Alibaba and known for its innovative approach to wearable technology.Today, Xreal unveiled its latest generation of glasses, the Xreal One Series, equipped with the company’s first self-designed processor, the X1 chip. To delve deeper into the significance of this launch and the company’s strategy in this competitive market, we spoke with Chi Xu, CEO of Xreal.
**World Today News:** Mr. Xu, congratulations on the launch of the Xreal one Series. What makes this generation of AR glasses stand out from its predecessors?
**Chi Xu:** Thank you. I believe it’s the biggest upgrade in Xreal history, perhaps even the biggest for the entire consumer AR glasses sector. The key difference is the integration of our own custom chip, the X1. This chip eliminates the need for the separate Beam device that was required for connectivity in previous models. Now, users can directly connect the Xreal One Series to their smartphones, laptops, or gaming consoles, experiencing a massive virtual screen projected right in front of them.
**World Today News:** Developing a custom chip is a notable investment, particularly for a company like Xreal. Can you elaborate on the reasons behind this strategic move?
**Chi Xu:** Absolutely. The advancement of the X1 chip was a three-year journey, and it was driven by the need to define the future of consumer AR glasses. We realized that to truly differentiate ourselves from competitors and offer a truly unique experience, we needed to have full control over the processing power and capabilities within our devices.
**World today News:** The AR glasses market is fiercely competitive,with major players like Meta and Snap already established.How does Xreal plan to navigate this challenging landscape?
**Chi Xu:** We believe our focus on innovation and user experience will be our competitive edge. The X1 chip allows us to constantly push the boundaries of what’s possible with AR glasses, enabling features and functionalities that others simply cannot match.
We are committed to listening to our users, understanding their needs, and designing devices that seamlessly integrate into their lives. Ultimately, we believe that the best AR experience will be the one that is intuitive, accessible, and truly enhances everyday activities.
**World Today News:** Looking ahead, what are Xreal’s future plans for the Xreal One Series and the AR glasses market as a whole?
**Chi Xu:** We are constantly innovating and exploring new possibilities with the Xreal One Series. Our focus will be on expanding its capabilities, adding new features, and collaborating with developers to create compelling AR experiences. We firmly believe that AR technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with the world around us, and we are excited to be at the forefront of this exciting evolution.
