Xreal is trying the obvious fix for the biggest problem in video glasses: the price tag. Its new subbrand, X by Xreal, launches with the a01 at $299, a much easier entry point than the $450 starting price of the Xreal One and a far cry from the eye-watering ceiling that has kept many curious buyers on the sidelines.
The a01 still look reasonably serious for the money. Xreal says the glasses use a 1,600-nit micro OLED display with HDR10, weigh 62g, and deliver a 50-degree field of view that the company says is equivalent to a 147-inch TV. That lighter chassis matters more than it sounds; once these things live on your face, every gram starts making demands.
What Xreal cut to hit $299
The trade-off is familiar. The a01 do not have DoF, or degrees of freedom, support, so they cannot track your body and head for a full spatial computing experience. That keeps the product firmly in the ”big virtual screen” category rather than the more ambitious mixed-reality lane where rivals keep trying to race.
Xreal is also leaning into style, which is a sensible move for a category that still risks looking like safety gear. The a01 use interchangeable front frames, with first-party options called Sport, Stealth, and Classic. If that is not enough, Xreal says tinkerers can 3D-print their own accessory frames.
Xreal a01 specs and launch details
- Price: $299
- Display: 1,600-nit micro OLED with HDR10
- Weight: 62g
- Field of view: 50 degrees
- Availability: on sale now in China, with a U.S. launch expected in July
The company says the a01 include a first-of-its-kind anti-shake algorithm meant to stabilize images without blur or color washout. That sounds like the kind of feature every maker wishes it had first, because comfort and stability are where these products win or lose real users, not in spec-sheet bragging rights alone.
Seen in the broader market, this is Xreal responding to the same pressure that has pushed other makers toward cheaper, lighter glasses with fewer bells and whistles. The RayNeo Air 4 Pro, for example, landed in a similar zone on price and positioning, which suggests the category is settling on a simple formula: make the screen experience good enough, trim the bulk, and pray the sticker shock does not scare everyone off.
The U.S. launch is the real test
Xreal says the a01 are already available in China, with a U.S. launch planned for July. That will be the moment of truth: not whether the glasses can hit a tempting price, but whether buyers decide a lighter, cheaper pair is finally good enough to justify wearing a screen on their face.