Google and Xreal are preparing to launch a new mixed reality device called the Xreal Aura, featuring display glasses connected to a processor puck. Preorders for the headset open today ahead of a mid-November release, arriving before the Meta VR Glasses debut next spring.
Pricing and Storage Options
The device was initially announced with a price tag of $1,279, but it will debut at a lower cost for early buyers, as reported by CNET. The version featuring 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM is now priced at $1,099 for early orders. Meanwhile, the higher-end model with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM has dropped from $1,500 to $1,299 through the end of the year.
Features and Capabilities
The Xreal Aura operates on a version of Android known as AndroidXR, supporting any Android application in either 2D or 3D virtual reality modes. It can run all applications from the Samsung Galaxy XR, while also offering hand-tracking functionality and compatibility with keyboards and game controllers.
Users can plug the glasses into a phone, laptop, or any USB-C video-out device. This allows content to appear as a floating display within the Aura desktop environment or directly on the glasses when detached from the processor puck.
Design and Future Vision
Xreal founder and CEO Chi Xu has spent years developing augmented reality glasses concepts. The Aura features a 70-degree field of view using microOLED displays that float over transparent lenses equipped with electrochromic dimming, making them easier to wear outdoors compared to traditional VR headsets.
Chi Xu envisions the device eventually replacing tablets or laptops, noting that its portability combined with Gemini AI integration running through cameras and displays will enable entirely new capabilities. He stated that the Aura is intended to serve as a pivotal step for the industry toward lightweight, AI-integrated hardware.
Reviews will test the device’s potential as a portable computer replacement, supported by a folding keyboard accessory and a processor puck that functions as a trackpad.
