XREAL announced that XREAL AURA, the first AR glasses running Google’s Android XR operating system, is launching today, starting at $1,100 for a limited time.
While the glasses have been available for reservation since June, Xreal and Google today announced the first batch of Aura AR glasses are slated to start shipping in mid-November, coming first to the US, Canada, Japan, and South Korea.
Starting today, customers in those regions can also now order Xreal Aura direct from Xreal. Additionally, US-based customers can order from Best Buy, with the company noting that expanded retail availability will come in 2027 to select Google Store locations in the US and Japan, among other retailers in the near future.
For launch, Xreal is also knocking a few bucks off as a special discount, available through December 2026:
- Xreal Aura 12GB + 256GB: $1,099, regularly $1,279
- Xreal Aura 16GB + 512GB: $1,299, regularly $1,499
Two size versions will be available: Medium – supporting IPD 60-66 mm, and Large – supporting 66-72 mm. You can learn more here.
XREAL AURA Hardware & Software
Aura’s prism-style see-through optics deliver a relatively large 70-degree field-of-view (FOV) in a package that weighs less than 95 grams of on-head weight.
The glasses effectively offload on-head weight by tethering to a pocketable compute unit, which features a split-compute architecture, including both Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Reality Elite chipset for XR processing and AI workloads, and Xreal’s in-house X1S Spatial Coprocessor for managing display and sensor processing.
While Aura serves up traditional content via virtual screens, the device also supports six degrees of freedom (6DOF) tracking and hand tracking, which means it can do some the things you’d expect from a modern VR headset.
As an Android XR device, users have access to existing Android applications via the Play Store, however Xreal Aura is slated to ship with over 150 made-for-XR experiences that are designed to showcase what a glasses-like form factor can provide.
The company spotlighted a number of new experiences, including NBA App for Android XR, Nevatars, Fallout: Factions, Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars, NASCAR XR App, Cubism, Chess Club, Simply Piano XR, ShapexXR and more.
You can learn more about the hardware from our initial hands-on with Xreal Aura here, as we haven’t had an opportunity for a full review just yet.
XREAL Game Controller & Keyboard
Xreal also announced it’s releasing a new gamepad, designed in collaboration with GameSir, as well as a wireless portable keyboard for productivity.
The controller features a dedicated Gemini key, giving players “a fast way to access AI assistance while they play,” the company says. It’s set to come with a charging dock, replaceable d-pad with two spare pieces, and a wireless USB-A dongle.
The company also announced it’s releasing a wireless portable keyboard for productivity and multi-window workflows. There’s currently no pricing info for either, although we’ll update this piece as soon as we know more.
Aura Glasses Specs
- Weight: 95 grams
- Display: Dual Sony Micro-OLED, optical see-through
- Resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels per eye (32 PPD)
- Refresh Rate: Up to 120Hz
- Field of View (FOV): 70 degrees
- Brightness: 1,050 nits max
- Color Calibration: 100% sRGB (ΔE < 3, factory calibrated)
- Latency: 3ms motion-to-photon
- Processor: XREAL X1S spatial co-processor
- Tracking & Cameras: 6DoF inside-out tracking via 2 cameras, plus a high-resolution AI camera with a privacy LED and hand-tracking
- Dimming: 5-level electrochromic dimming (blocking up to 99.9% of external light)
- Audio: Bose spatial audio with a 4-microphone array
- Extras: Prescription lens insert support
Compute Puck Specs
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon Reality Elite (up to 48 TOPS)
- Configurations: 12GB RAM / 256GB storage or 16GB RAM / 512GB storage
- Battery: 4,455 mAh (34.84Wh)
- Operating System: Android XR
- AI & Ecosystem: Built-in Gemini AI context understanding, Google Play app support, multi-screen virtual workspaces, and wired PC mirroring
- Controls & Ports: Physical touchpad, fingerprint sensor, and dual USB-C port
The post Android XR’s First AR Glasses ‘XREAL Aura’ Launch Today, Starting at $1,100 for Limited Time appeared first on Road to VR.
