XReal Air 2 Review

The new Xreal Air 2 and Xreal Air 2 Pro AR glasses have arrived to take the place of the original Xreal Air (formerly Nreal Air) AR glasses. And guess what? They're a worthy upgrade from the first generation!

Design of the Xreal Air 2

So, when it comes to the design, there hasn’t been any drastic changes from the original Air to the new Air 2. The price did go up a bit, though, now it's $399 instead of $379. One noticeable difference is that the Air 2 is now a lighter shade of grey. But the big change? They’re slimmer, 10% lighter and sport a brighter, more pixel-dense screen. If you splurge up to the ‘Pro’ model, you also get electro-chromatic dimming, which is a very cool feature that electrically dims the glass to better shield you from bright surroundings.

One of the more subtle perks is the smaller display modules. This means that more pixels are packed into the same space, making things look a tad sharper (3320 ppi to 4032 ppi). 

Just like the first Air glasses, these new Air 2 specs come with a frame and arms that are a bit bulkier and heavier than your regular eyeglasses or sunglasses. But you know what? They're surprisingly comfy to wear, even during extended wearing sessions. Whilst they are bigger and heavier than a ‘normal’ pair of sunglasses, they’re a fraction of the size and weight of a full-fledged ‘VR’ headset such as the Meta Quest 3.

The USB-C interface on the left arm is the gateway to connecting your output device, so think Android Phones, iPhone 15’s and even the Nintendo Switch. On the opposite, right arm, you have a mini control centre: the power button and brightness rocker.

Now, let's talk comfort. These Air 2 glasses come with nose pad brackets in four sizes, so you can find the best fit for your face. One's already set up, and for me, it was just right for my nose's shape. Also, remember those nose pads on the original Air? They were made of this firm silicon material. But with the Air 2, they've gone for a softer and cosier option called "Air Cushion." A much appreciated touch for extra comfort. We’re yet to test if the old nose pads and prescription lens attachment are compatible with the new headset.

When you buy the new Air 2 glasses, you will also receive a similar prescription lens frame, a USB-C cable, a cleaning cloth, and a travel case (very handy as I found the first gen Air’s to be clutch on long-haul flights). 

The Air 2, also comes with something called the ‘Xreal Kaleido Kit’. This kit is a fun way to allow you to jazz up the colour of your Air 2 glasses with a d-brand-esque adhesive skin that you can put on your Air 2’s (although we suspect these may only be good for one application, so if you change them you may not be able to re-use).  

The Air 2 also comes in a new  ‘Carmine Red’ colour, shipping from November 30th, with the usual  Graphite Grey shipping a little earlier, from November 6th. The first 1,000 orders will apparently ship with 2 sets of stickers.

Also, some changes under the hood – the frames of the Air 2 are about 10% slimmer (now 19mm instead of 21mm) and lighter, roughly 10% (72 grams instead of 79 grams). Plus, those fancy new Sony OLED screens are brighter, reaching up to 500 nits compared to the previous 400 nits. This will make a big difference for those that do use them outside on bright days.

How to connect the XReal Air 2

With my new iPhone 15 Pro Max, setting up the Air 2 is simpler than ever.. I just plugged the Air 2’s USB-C cable into the phone’s port, and bam! The phone screen popped up on the Air 2 almost instantly, all in portrait mode to match the phones orientation.

Linking the Air 2 to my iPhone 15 Pro Max and Xreal Beam (wireless accessory) was a bit more work but still pretty easy. I turned on the Beam, connected the USB-C cable from the Air 2, and used Screen Mirroring in the iOS Control Center to choose the Xreal Beam. Smooth sailing to watch apps, games, and stuff.

Working with macOS and Windows 11 was similar using the Air 2. You can go wireless with the Beam or simply plug in using USB-C. No major lag with the Beam, so that's what I liked using for testing.

XReal Air 2 Hardware

The Air 2, like its older version, uses two mini OLED displays projecting onto lenses in front of your eyes. But the Air 2's displays are a bit smaller than the original (a difference of 0.13 inches), making the picture a tad crisper and brighter. 

The default refresh rate is now 120Hz whereas this required a firmware update and specific conditions on the first generation, depending on what you're doing. Xreal also upgraded the speakers, making them louder but minimising the sound projected to those around you. In all honesty, the sound quality is about the same, decent but not super amazing. If you want to use your airpods for better sound performance- I would. 

I didn't test the Air 2 Pro, but it's launching for $449. It has a feature called electrochromic dimming for the lenses. This lets you control how much light comes through. Transparent Mode lets in all the light, Productivity Mode lets in 35% of the light, and Immersive Mode blocks all light. The Air 2 Pro's main difference is this special dimming feature.

Using the XReal Air 2

When I used the Air 2 with my iPhone, watching content in portrait mode felt a bit odd, but landscape mode looked incredible. Moving around apps with the glasses felt a bit clumsy, but watching videos was fantastic. I tried YouTube, Disney Plus, and even my own movies from Plex – all ran smoothly. I even played Xbox Cloud Gaming using the glasses and my iPhone with an Xbox Controller.

Connecting the Air 2 to my iPhone allowed me to use them on the go. I could do jobs around the house or walk the dog while watching my latest shows on Netflix. They look pretty normal, except for the USB-C cable. In sunlight, the screens were hard to see, but in the evening, they were clearer. You can use black light blockers to reduce outside light, but they're only good if you're staying still, not for on-the-go.

Using the Air 2 with a computer was smooth – text was clear and easy to read. The larger screen area was handy for working. And the glasses let me see my surroundings, making it easy to glance down at my keyboard or check things around me.

With the Nintendo Switch and the Beam, it was a bit tricky to set up. But once I got it working, I had fun playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Zelda. The brightness was good, even without the light blocker.

Playing Xbox Series X games with the Air 2 was awesome, especially with Forza Motorsport and Starfield. The big simulated display made it super immersive, especially at night when all the lights were off. I got so into the game, I lost track of time! 

XReal Air 2 Roundup

The Air 2 is a worthy upgrade from the older version, especially if you spring for the ‘Pro’ version. It's lighter, has brighter displays with more pixels, and comes in two colours. You can even add fun stickers for a personal touch.

I barely used the light blockers with the Air 2 because the displays are brighter. This also helped me stay connected to my surroundings. Being lighter, it made gaming and work tasks easier without getting tired. Plus, now that it can connect to the latest iPhones without extra accessories, that's a big win!

On the downside, the price increased to $399 from $379, which might put some folks off. I think the upgrades are worth it, but it's still a pricey buy. It's great for fun, gaming, and work, but I'm not sure how many people will use it regularly versus letting it gather dust in a drawer.

If it fits into your routine, the Air 2 is a strong choice in the world of augmented reality glasses. And now that it works seamlessly with the latest iPhones, more people might find it appealing.