In a move to carve out its space in the rapidly evolving augmented reality (AR) landscape, Xreal has announced the latest addition to its Air glasses lineup, the Air 2 Ultra. Priced at R13,281 ($699), these AR glasses are set to compete with Meta’s Quest 3 and Apple’s Vision Pro headsets.
Xreal’s Air 2 Ultra builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, the Air 2, offering a more immersive and full-featured spatial computing experience. Key advancements include:
The Air 2 Ultra boasts six degrees of freedom (6DOF) tracking, allowing users to enjoy full positional tracking for a truly immersive AR experience. This is a significant leap forward compared to the standard Air 2 model.
Equipped with dual 3D cameras on each side, the Air 2 Ultra can map the user’s environment, enabling advanced features such as hand tracking. This opens up new possibilities for developers to create applications that seamlessly blend the physical and digital worlds.
Users can expect a more expansive view with the Air 2 Ultra, offering a 52-degree field of view compared to the 46-degree field of view of its predecessor.
While primarily targeted at developers, Xreal has made the Air 2 Ultra available for preorder on its site for R13,281 ($699). Shipping is set to commence in March to various countries, including South Africa, allowing enthusiasts and developers to get their hands on this cutting-edge AR technology.
The Air 2 Ultra’s versatility is highlighted by its compatibility with a range of computing devices. Users can connect the glasses to macOS and Windows-based computers, Samsung Android phones, and even the upcoming iPhone 15. The glasses will support Xreal’s Nebula AR environment on Android, macOS, and Windows.
| Platform | Compatible Devices |
|---|---|
| macOS | Computers |
| Windows | Computers |
| Android | Samsung Phones |
| iOS | iPhone 15 (upon release) |
Weighing in at 80 grams, the Air 2 Ultra is marginally heavier than its predecessor. However, the glasses maintain the sleek and stylish sunglasses-style form factor, ensuring comfort during extended use.
Xreal’s strategic move to unveil the Air 2 Ultra follows the company’s announcement of shipping 350,000 pairs of AR glasses to date. While the Air 2 Ultra is currently aimed at developers, it will be available for purchase by consumers interested in exploring the forefront of AR technology.
The global availability of the Air 2 Ultra covers key regions, including the US, the UK, China, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. This aligns with Xreal’s broader plan to expand the availability of the Air 2 series in 2024.
Xreal’s push into the AR market positions it as a direct competitor to tech giants such as Apple and Meta. The Air 2 Ultra’s advanced features, coupled with the familiar sunglasses-style design, put it in direct competition with Apple’s rumored Vision Pro, expected to launch in February at a hefty R66,431 ($3,499). Meta’s Quest 3, priced at R9,481 ($499), combines virtual reality with mixed reality apps, providing an alternative in the immersive technology space.
Both Apple and Meta utilize passthrough mixed reality, overlaying digital objects on a video feed, in contrast to Xreal’s direct projection approach. However, rumors suggest that both Apple and Meta are exploring projection-based AR glasses similar to the Air 2 Ultra.
Xreal’s strategic positioning and continuous innovation signal a fierce competition in the AR space, with consumers and developers eagerly anticipating the next wave of spatial computing experiences.
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