XREAL makes smart glasses. Its new Aura glasses run Android XR, are built with Google and give a 70° see-through view. The range, how Aura is built, what you can do with it, and what is still unproven.
At a Glance
XREAL was founded in 2017 and is based in Beijing, with co-founder Chi Xu as CEO. It has raised about $433 million from outside investors (Crunchbase) and announced a further $100 million in January 2026 at a reported valuation of about $1 billion. It is Google's lead partner for Android XR glasses.
Positioning: three steps
- Screen glasses (XREAL 1S, One Pro line): A screen you wear, for any device with a USB-C port. The 1S launched at CES 2026 at $449.
- Screen glasses, upgraded (XREAL 1 Pro+, $599): Keeps the picture steady as you turn your head, up to 1,200 nits (versus 700 on the One Pro) with a 57° view and 2D-to-3D conversion at 60 fps. On sale 15 October 2026.
- Wearable computer (XREAL Aura, from $1,279): Runs Android XR with Google Play and tracks your hands, with a 70° view. The only XREAL product with Android XR.
The Range: four price points, from $449 to $1,499
US launch prices are $449 for the XREAL 1S, $599 for the 1 Pro+, and $1,279 or $1,499 for Aura. Aura comes in two versions: Base, with 12 GB of memory and 256 GB of storage, and Upgraded, with 16 GB and 512 GB. Memory is the working space for running apps and 3D scenes; storage keeps apps, games, films and files. Only Aura has its own memory and storage. The 1S and 1 Pro+ are displays that use the phone, laptop or console they plug into.
How Aura Is Built
Aura has two parts connected by a USB-C cable: the glasses you wear and a puck you carry.
- The glasses: XREAL X1S chip, a 70° see-through view (13° wider than the 1 Pro+), under 95 g, hand tracking, sound by Bose, in two sizes (M for 60–66 mm and L for 66–72 mm). You see the real world through clear glass, not a camera feed, with apps placed on top.
- The puck: A Snapdragon Reality Elite chip running Android XR with Google Play and Gemini, with 12 GB plus 256 GB or 16 GB plus 512 GB. It is the brains, the battery and a trackpad.
Applications
- Watch and play: Launch titles include Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars, Fallout: Factions, immersive films and the Fox Sports XR app, plus Demeo, Cubism and Chess Club, from studios including Amazon MGM Studios, Atlantic Studios and Resolution Games.
- Create and learn: ShapesXR for 3D design and Simply Piano XR for learning, both built for Android XR, plus Plynk Spatial.
- Work and place: apoQlar's medical imaging platform and Frontline.io for business use. An on-site AR experience in Aachen, Germany, is planned for mid-2027.
Key Milestones: twelve months from funding round to Aura
- January 2026: $100 million raise announced by Chi Xu, at a reported value of about $1 billion.
- 23 April: One Pro permanently cut from $649 to $599.
- 19 May: Aura at Google I/O; developer early access opens.
- 16 June: Reservations open, with $99 and $299 deposits.
- 7 October: Aura priced at $1,279 and $1,499; pre-orders open for reservation holders in the US, Canada, Japan and South Korea.
- 15 October: XREAL 1 Pro+ on sale at $599.
- Next: Aura ships to reservation holders before the holidays, and everyone else can order in the following weeks. More countries follow in 2027; dates are not announced.
Reality Check: the gap between promise and proof
Aura costs about 2.1 times the $599 flagship ($1,279 ÷ $599).
| Market | Base (12 GB, 256 GB) | Upgraded (16 GB, 512 GB) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $1,279 | $1,499 |
| Canada | C$1,829 | C$2,149 |
| Japan | ¥229,800 | ¥269,800 |
| South Korea | ₩1,990,000 | ₩2,290,000 |
The UK, the EU and Australia are not in the launch wave. Not yet published: shipments and sales, battery life, camera specifications, and timing for other markets.
The bet: screen glasses become full computers you wear, if buyers will pay headset prices for glasses.
Presented by Hkdolts at the Metaverse Standards Forum Use Case Task Force Spotlight Series, 23 October 2026. Prices and dates are as of that session.