Xreal unveiled its latest generation of augmented reality (AR) glasses on Wednesday, introducing the Xreal One Series. The launch comes as the company, backed by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, aims to strengthen its foothold in the AR space amidst growing competition from Meta, Snap, and other tech giants.
A Game-Changing Upgrade: The X1 Chip
The new Xreal One Series is powered by the X1 chip, the company’s first self-designed processor for its glasses. This innovation eliminates the need for the previously required companion device, the Beam, allowing users to connect directly to devices such as smartphones, laptops, or gaming consoles.
Chi Xu, CEO of Xreal, described the X1 chip as the most significant upgrade in the company’s history and a transformative step for consumer AR glasses as a whole:
“We have to step up to define a chip that is really defining some of the new features for these types of glasses.”
The chip, three years in development, enhances the glasses’ performance and differentiates Xreal’s offerings from competitors like Snap’s Spectacles and Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories.
Aiming for Lighter, Smarter AR Solutions
Xreal is doubling down on the potential of lightweight AR glasses to achieve mass-market appeal. Unlike bulky headsets such as Apple’s Vision Pro or Meta’s Quest, the company believes glasses are better suited for everyday use.
Xu elaborated:
“People have started to realize a headset doesn’t make sense, we need to go to lighter form factors to the glasses category. But the challenge for glasses is can we push the limit to deliver a headset experience on a much smaller form factor?”
The Xreal One and Xreal One Pro are priced at $499 and $599, respectively, targeting tech enthusiasts and early adopters.
Challenges Ahead: Content and Use Cases
While AR technology continues to generate buzz, widespread adoption remains elusive. Many companies, including Xreal, face hurdles such as a lack of compelling content and practical use cases. Xu emphasized the importance of building robust hardware to attract developers and create an ecosystem that drives user interest:
“We need a platform, we need an ecosystem to improve the experience because we don’t have any content yet. But in order to have the developers getting excited … you need to have good hardware to begin with.”
Competition Heating Up
The AR glasses market is becoming increasingly crowded. Snap’s latest Spectacles debuted in September, while Meta continues to refine its Ray-Ban Stories. Meanwhile, Qualcomm is reportedly collaborating with Google and Samsung on a set of AR glasses.
Despite these challenges, Xreal is optimistic. The company expects to sell 500,000 units of its AR glasses in 2025, doubling its current sales figures.
The Future of AR Glasses
As AR evolves, the race is on to deliver a seamless, affordable, and practical product. With its innovative X1 chip and a focus on lightweight design, Xreal hopes to position itself as a leader in the consumer AR market, offering a glimpse of a future where immersive technology blends seamlessly into daily life.
