Technology
Google and Xreal Launch New Wired Smart Glasses Powered by Android XR
The newly released spatial computing glasses feature transparent lenses, a tethered compute puck, and integrated Gemini artificial intelligence capabilities.
By Headlinne · Compiled from reporting by Hacker, TechCrunch, Verge and 1 other
Google and Xreal launched the Xreal Aura on Tuesday, marking the arrival of the first wired augmented reality glasses powered by the Android XR platform.
The lightweight glasses weigh 95 grams and connect to a portable compute puck that houses the battery and the Qualcomm Snapdragon Reality Elite platform.
Orders opened on Tuesday in the United States, Canada, and South Korea, with a Japanese launch scheduled for November 2 and shipments expected by mid-November.
The device enters a competitive market as major technology companies vie for dominance in spatial computing and smart glasses.
“Xreal Aura is finally here, and we're so proud to unlock new ways for people to work, watch, play, and build,” said Chi Xu, co-founder and CEO of Xreal.
The basic model features 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, priced at $1,099 through December before rising to $1,279.
A larger version offering 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage costs $1,299 through December, down from a regular price of $1,499.
TechCrunch reported that customers who preordered early would receive an automatic refund for the price difference, according to a company spokesperson.
The glasses use Sony Micro-OLED displays supporting a 120Hz refresh rate, though reports varied slightly regarding the field of view.
Google blog posts cited a 70-degree field of view, while TechCrunch reported a 95-degree field of view for the hardware.
The device includes integrated Bose audio technology and runs on the Android XR operating system, giving users access to Google Play apps.
Users can also interact with Google Gemini as a Q&A assistant to help manage windows, answer questions, and analyze surroundings.
“We built AURA for people who want the power of spatial computing without being removed from the world around them,” said Xu.
The headset launches with over 150 made-for-XR apps and experiences, including titles from the NBA and streaming services like YouTube.
Unresolved questions remain over how consumers will adopt the tethered design compared to fully wireless alternatives from competing manufacturers.
Reporting from
- Hacker NewsNot politically framed
The first wired XR glasses powered by Android XR
- TechCrunchNot politically framed
Xreal Aura is a new wired headset powered by Android XR
- The VergeNot politically framed
Surprise: The Google Xreal glasses debut at a Meta-beating $1,099
- MashableNot politically framed
Preorder Xreal Aura, new smart glasses powered by Android XR
How this article was made: Headlinne wrote it with AI from the 4 reports listed above. Direct quotes are checked word for word against those reports, every number appears in at least one of them, and no other sentence is copied from one. Photos are from those reports and credited to them. Each report’s page on Headlinne links to the outlet’s original.