Xreal's cheap smartphone-like gadget solves the biggest issues with AR smart glasses

Date:
Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:53:56 +0000

Description:
Xreal's new Beam Pro isn't a smartphone, but it still looks like it might be the AR gadget we've been waiting for.

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Xreal has unveiled its latest gadget at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) 2024
XR industry showcase, but its not a pair of AR smart glasses its a smartphone-like device called the Xreal Beam Pro.



The Beam Pro is a successor to the original Beam adapter, and it solves many of the issues Ive had with this generation of AR specs and its surprisingly affordable.

The upgraded Beam Pro is a whole new Xreal glasses attachment thats
compatible with Xreal Air and Xreal Air 2 models including the Pro and
Ultra. Simply connect it to your specs with a USB-C to USB-C cable and theyll turn into bonafide spatial computers that run on Android 14 and NebulaOS (Xreals home-grown operating system).

You can control what you see on the Xreal glasses using the Beam Pros
6.5-inch LCD 2K touchscreen. You can also use the screen just like you would on a smartphone to manage Play Store apps and tweak your settings, and thanks to the dual 50MP cameras on its rear you can capture spatial images and 3D video at 1080p and 60fps. (Image credit: Xreal)

Best of all it comes in at just $199 / 189 for the 6GB of RAM / 128GB storage model, while the 8GB of RAM / 256GB storage model will set you back $249 / 239. Preorders are live right now at XREAL.com for the United States, United Kingdom, China, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and Netherlands; availability and pricing for Australia are TBC.

If youre picking up the Beam Pro and a pair of Xreal glasses you can save on bundles, and those of you with a 1st-gen Beam can save $50 / 40 on a Beam Pro if you preorder one by July 10, 2024. The AR accessory weve needed

Ive not yet had the chance to try out the Xreal Beam Pro, but it sounds like the AR add-on weve been needing for a while by solving a bunch of issues Ive had with the tech when testing it out.

Firstly, finding compatible gadgets can be confusing. There are all sorts of compatibility issues thanks to hardware and software nuances that are confusing if you arent techy. While the original Beam was billed as a potential solution, it still suffered with compatibility issues because it couldnt be used without a smartphone, while if you pick up the Pro and a pair of Xreal Airs you know youll have everything you need.

Second, it solves the battery annoyances Ive had thanks to its two USB-C ports. The Xreal glasses (and other wired AR specs) can burn through your phones charge, and theres no way to charge your phone and use the glasses at the same time. Thats not an issue with the Beam Pro, as you can use it and connect it to power at the same time. The Meta Quest 3 has some competition (Image credit: Meta)

Finally, it seems like good value for money. Without any bundle discounts an AR glasses and Beam Pro setup costs between $498 and $648 / 528 and 638,
which is a little more expensive than a Meta Quest 3 .

While AR isn't prohibitively expensive, it can feel like you're getting relatively little bang for your buck compared to XR devices such as VR headsets because of the aforementioned compatibility and complexity issues.

The Beam Pro gives you a simple plug-and-play option thats a pocket TV and 3D camera and which doesnt require other tech just some subscriptions to the best streaming services .

Ill obviously need to try the Beam Pro out to verify Xreals bold promises,
but if youve been waiting for AR tech to start feeling worthwhile, this is your notice to start paying attention to the space and maybe even finally dive in. You might also like Meta can't stop leaking its next VR headset, as it accidentally shows off the Quest 3S Meta has wild plans for
camera-equipped headphones Metas massive OS announcement is more exciting
than a Meta Quest 4 reveal



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/virtual-reality-augmented-reality/xreals-c heap-smartphone-like-gadget-solves-the-biggest-issues-with-ar-smart-glasses


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