Shivs New AR Glasses
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Xreal Unveils Air 2 Ultra Glasses to Compete with Apple and Meta
Augmented reality company Xreal has announced the release of its highly anticipated product, the Air 2 Ultra glasses. These glasses are the latest addition to Xreal’s Air glasses lineup and are set to rival Meta’s Quest 3 and Apple’s Vision Pro headsets.
Developers can now pre-order the Air 2 Ultra glasses, and shipments are expected to begin in March. With its sleek sunglasses-style form factor, the Air 2 Ultra offers full positional tracking, also known as six degrees of freedom (6DOF), providing users with a truly immersive augmented reality experience.
The Air 2 Ultra is designed for various applications, including watching TV, playing flat-screen games, and running immersive AR apps. Xreal describes it as a “spatial computing” device that seamlessly blends physical and digital space. Equipped with dual 3D cameras, the glasses feature advanced environment mapping and hand tracking capabilities.
These glasses offer a 52-degree field of view, 500 nits of brightness, 1080p screens for each eye, and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. While slightly heavier than the standard model at 80 grams, Xreal ensures that it doesn’t compromise on comfort or usability.
One of the notable features of the Air 2 Ultra is its compatibility with various computing devices, including macOS and Windows-based computers, Samsung Android phones, and even the highly anticipated iPhone 15. Xreal’s Nebula AR environment is supported on Android, macOS, and Windows, enabling users to seamlessly integrate their digital experiences with the real world.
Initially targeting developers, Xreal has decided to make the Air 2 Ultra available for purchase on its website, with shipping available to several countries. This move indicates Xreal’s confidence in its product’s capabilities and its ambition to expand its user base beyond the developer community.
Xreal has been gaining momentum in the AR industry and recently announced shipping 350,000 pairs of its AR glasses. With plans to further expand the availability of the Air 2 Ultra in 2024, Xreal aims to solidify its position as a major player in the augmented reality market.
The addition of 6DOF tracking puts Xreal in direct competition with industry giants Apple and Meta. Apple’s Vision Pro, rumored to launch in February, promises immersive spatial experiences along with projected flat screens. On the other hand, Meta’s Quest 3 combines virtual reality and mixed reality apps using passthrough mixed reality technology. Interestingly, Meta is also working on projection-based AR glasses similar to Xreal’s Air 2 Ultra.
With more companies entering the AR market, competition is fierce, ultimately benefiting consumers who can expect more advanced and immersive AR experiences in the future.
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