My dream pair of AR gaming glasses needs to have these nine features

I’ve spent months within the lab testing the newest AR glasses from Xreal and Viture. By “lab,” I imply cozied up on my sofa every night time, enjoying my Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch 2 on an enormous, digital display screen that solely I can see by means of these glasses.

Using AR glasses as a conveyable show to your handhelds (and different USB-C gadgets, like telephones, tablets, and laptops) is nothing new. However, the newest variations have one must-have characteristic in frequent: three levels of freedom, or 3DoF, which helps you to anchor the display screen wherever you’d like, as opposed to having it nauseatingly wiggle with each head motion. This received’t make AR glasses price their $400-plus prices for many players. But this makes them extra helpful in the event you journey quite a bit, or if you’d like a extra ergonomic handheld setup.

I examined three standard fashions — Xreal’s $449 1S, its $649 One Pro, and Viture’s $549 Beast — and there’s no finest pair that everybody can purchase. Each does a couple of issues effectively and some issues not so effectively, which leaves me no different selection than to checklist out the components that may make for one excellent pair of AR glasses for gaming.

The consolation, sound high quality, and ease of use of Xreal’s glasses

All of these AR glasses are heavier and thicker than common glasses, however Xreal’s 1S glasses are the lightest mannequin of the bunch. On my kitchen scale, they weigh 85 grams (for comparability, the One Pro glasses weigh 91 grams, whereas the Viture Beast glasses are 96 grams). A small factor that’s truly an enormous deal is that they (in addition to the One Pro) have nice weight distribution and thinner temple arms than Viture’s Beast, which helps me really feel much less pressure on my ears. It’s nice that Xreal’s most inexpensive AR glasses are simply as snug as its costliest pair.

The 1S and One Pro glasses ship better-sounding audio by means of their temple arms than Viture’s newest glasses. Xreal’s audio is tuned by Bose, and the glasses have balanced audio with surprisingly good low-end efficiency. Viture’s is tuned by Harman, and the Beast glasses pack significantly much less oomph, with extra emphasis on the mids and highs. Music, motion pictures, and video games are all extra enjoyable to hear to by means of Xreal’s glasses, even at low volumes.

The 1S and One Pro glasses have fewer buttons than Viture’s glasses, which lowers the training curve. Xreal’s glasses have 4 buttons in whole, all of that are alongside their proper temple arm. To be honest, all AR glasses’ button layouts take some time to study. But the Beast has six in whole unfold throughout each temple arms, two of that are a button rocker devoted solely to adjusting the opacity of its electrochromic lenses — it’s overkill.

The superior distinction and readability of Viture’s Beast glasses

The three pairs of AR glasses that I examined use comparable Sony micro-OLED screens, however Viture’s glasses are my favourite when it comes to displaying video games with the identical wealthy distinction, inky blacks, and vivid highlights as would seem on the OLED TV in my front room. Just as necessary, image high quality seems nice regardless of the place you employ these glasses as a result of their optics minimize down on reflections (nonetheless, they’re not “4K-like,” as Viture misleadingly advertises). The Xreal One Pro glasses are additionally incredible in phrases of image high quality and exhibit subsequent to no reflections due to having high-end optics, however they’re usually $100 extra — although typically simply $50 — than Viture’s Beast.

Unfortunately, the Xreal 1S’s largest weak point is reflections. Bright rooms make their OLEDs exhibit crushed blacks, trying extra like LCDs in these situations. They can produce a very good picture in low-light situations, although content material seems blurrier by means of them than with the opposite glasses.

The nice match and end of Xreal’s glasses

Xreal is peerless when it comes to construct high quality, and its $449 1S feels simply as high-end as its pricier One Pro. Both pairs have snappy steel hinge mechanisms that forestall their temple arms from opening unintentionally (those on Viture’s Beast shortly swing open and really feel low-cost). Moreover, Xreal’s glasses look extra like actual sun shades than the Beast glasses do (Viture can’t resist going with a barely gamer-y look that you simply’ll love or hate, although the Beast glasses look way more subtle than its Luma collection). Yes, these traits are indistinguishable as soon as they’re on my face, however they’re price contemplating given their excessive value.

The consumer expertise is extra polished throughout the board with Xreal’s glasses. My Steam Deck and telephone are a couple of seconds quicker to join to the Xreal 1S and One Pro, and as talked about earlier than, the training curve is decrease. Xreal additionally at present has the higher 3DoF implementation just because the display screen stays put when it’s anchored. With the Viture Beast glasses, the “anchored” display screen strikes, slowly sliding out of view. That’s a deal-breaker.

Xreal’s Real3D characteristic, which is best than I anticipated (in small quantities)

Xreal glasses that have the X1 chip (ones that launched prior to now two or so years) now have the Real 3D characteristic. The mode can flip 2D content material into 3D, and there’s a multi-step software program slider to improve its impact. I take pleasure in utilizing its mildest conversion setting greater than I anticipated to.

The 3D impact will not be as pronounced because the Nintendo 3DS’s 3D impact, however the delicate enhancements are simple to discover. It works particularly effectively in video games that don’t require a ton of quick motion.

Viture’s Switch 2 compatibility

Unfortunately, no AR glasses can join with a single USB-C cable to the Switch 2 (blame Nintendo). You want a appropriate dock, one of which doesn’t exist only for Xreal glasses homeowners. The firm canceled its Neo charging dock it introduced at CES 2026 due to reliability issues (the unit it despatched me for testing nonetheless works nice with my console). So, people with Xreal glasses and a Switch 2 will want a distinct accent to play.

It’s simpler in the event you have Viture’s glasses, however not precisely inexpensive. Viture makes a $130 Pro Mobile Dock that works completely with the Switch 2 for the Beast. This dock doubles as a 13,000mAh battery so you may cost up when you recreation. If the Switch 2 isn’t your factor, the dock features a full HDMI port, letting you view a console’s video feed inside your glasses. Video passthrough works for Xreal glasses, too, however audio didn’t work effectively sufficient for me to suggest it.

Photography by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge