My dream pair of AR gaming glasses must have these 9 options

I’ve spent months within the lab testing the most recent AR glasses from Xreal and Viture. By “lab,” I imply cozied up on my sofa every evening, taking part in my Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch 2 on an enormous, digital display that solely I can see via these glasses.

Using AR glasses as a transportable show to your handhelds (and different USB-C gadgets, like telephones, tablets, and laptops) is nothing new. However, the most recent variations have one must-have function in widespread: three levels of freedom, or 3DoF, which helps you to anchor the display anyplace you’d like, versus having it nauseatingly wiggle with each head motion. This gained’t make AR glasses price their $400-plus prices for many avid gamers. But this makes them extra helpful should you journey lots, or if you need a extra ergonomic handheld setup.

I examined three in style fashions — Xreal’s $449 1S, its $649 One Pro, and Viture’s $549 Beast — and there’s no greatest pair that everybody can purchase. Each does a couple of issues nicely and some issues not so nicely, which leaves me no different selection than to checklist out the components that might make for one good pair of AR glasses for gaming.

The consolation, sound high quality, and ease of use of Xreal’s glasses

All of those AR glasses are heavier and thicker than common glasses, however Xreal’s 1S glasses are the lightest mannequin of the bunch. On my kitchen scale, they weigh 85 grams (for comparability, the One Pro glasses weigh 91 grams, whereas the Viture Beast glasses are 96 grams). A small factor that’s truly a giant deal is that they (in addition to the One Pro) have nice weight distribution and thinner temple arms than Viture’s Beast, which helps me really feel much less pressure on my ears. It’s nice that Xreal’s most reasonably priced AR glasses are simply as snug as its costliest pair.

The 1S and One Pro glasses ship better-sounding audio via their temple arms than Viture’s newest glasses. Xreal’s audio is tuned by Bose, and the glasses have balanced audio with surprisingly good low-end efficiency. Viture’s is tuned by Harman, and the Beast glasses pack significantly much less oomph, with extra emphasis on the mids and highs. Music, films, and video games are all extra enjoyable to hearken to via Xreal’s glasses, even at low volumes.

The 1S and One Pro glasses have fewer buttons than Viture’s glasses, which lowers the educational curve. Xreal’s glasses have 4 buttons in complete, all of that are alongside their proper temple arm. To be honest, all AR glasses’ button layouts take some time to study. But the Beast has six in complete unfold throughout each temple arms, two of that are a button rocker devoted solely to adjusting the opacity of its electrochromic lenses — it’s overkill.

The superior distinction and readability of Viture’s Beast glasses

The three pairs of AR glasses that I examined use comparable Sony micro-OLED screens, however Viture’s glasses are my favourite in terms of displaying video games with the identical wealthy distinction, inky blacks, and shiny highlights as would seem on the OLED TV in my front room. Just as vital, image high quality seems to be nice no matter the place you utilize these glasses as a result of their optics lower down on reflections (nevertheless, they’re not “4K-like,” as Viture misleadingly advertises). The Xreal One Pro glasses are additionally unbelievable by way of image high quality and exhibit subsequent to no reflections on account of having high-end optics, however they’re sometimes $100 extra — although typically simply $50 — than Viture’s Beast.

Unfortunately, the Xreal 1S’s largest weak point is reflections. Bright rooms make their OLEDs exhibit crushed blacks, wanting extra like LCDs in these situations. They can produce a superb picture in low-light situations, although content material seems blurrier via them than with the opposite glasses.

The nice match and end of Xreal’s glasses

Xreal is peerless in terms of construct high quality, and its $449 1S feels simply as high-end as its pricier One Pro. Both pairs have snappy metallic hinge mechanisms that stop their temple arms from opening unintentionally (those on Viture’s Beast shortly swing open and really feel low-cost). Moreover, Xreal’s glasses look extra like actual sun shades than the Beast glasses do (Viture can’t resist going with a barely gamer-y look that you just’ll love or hate, although the Beast glasses look rather more refined than its Luma sequence). Yes, these traits are indistinguishable as soon as they’re on my face, however they’re price contemplating given their excessive price.

The person expertise is extra polished throughout the board with Xreal’s glasses. My Steam Deck and telephone are a couple of seconds quicker to hook up with the Xreal 1S and One Pro, and as talked about earlier than, the educational curve is decrease. Xreal additionally at present has the higher 3DoF implementation just because the display stays put when it’s anchored. With the Viture Beast glasses, the “anchored” display strikes, slowly sliding out of view. That’s a deal-breaker.

Xreal’s Real3D function, which is best than I anticipated (in small quantities)

Xreal glasses which have the X1 chip (ones that launched previously two or so years) now have the Real 3D function. The mode can flip 2D content material into 3D, and there’s a multi-step software program slider to extend its impact. I take pleasure in utilizing its mildest conversion setting greater than I anticipated to.

The 3D impact shouldn’t be as pronounced because the Nintendo 3DS’s 3D impact, however the refined enhancements are straightforward to note. It works particularly nicely in video games that don’t require a ton of quick motion.

Viture’s Switch 2 compatibility

Unfortunately, no AR glasses can join with a single USB-C cable to the Switch 2 (blame Nintendo). You want a suitable dock, one in all which doesn’t exist only for Xreal glasses homeowners. The firm canceled its Neo charging dock it introduced at CES 2026 on account of reliability issues (the unit it despatched me for testing nonetheless works nice with my console). So, people with Xreal glasses and a Switch 2 will want a special accent to play.

It’s simpler if in case you have Viture’s glasses, however not precisely reasonably priced. Viture makes a $130 Pro Mobile Dock that works completely with the Switch 2 for the Beast. This dock doubles as a 13,000mAh battery so you may cost up whilst you recreation. If the Switch 2 isn’t your factor, the dock encompasses a full HDMI port, letting you view a console’s video feed inside your glasses. Video passthrough works for Xreal glasses, too, however audio didn’t work nicely sufficient for me to suggest it.

Photography by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge