On a bright sunny day in Cupertino, California, I embarked on a unique experiment while attending Apple’s WWDC keynote.
This time, my setup involved connecting the Xreal One Pro glasses to my MacBook, transforming them into smart display-enabled sunglasses in a bid to enhance my live coverage experience.
For a span of two hours, I donned the Xreal One Pros, and to my surprise, they exceeded my expectations.
The glasses projected my laptop monitor with remarkable clarity, effectively eliminating glare that often hampers visibility on a traditional laptop screen.
Furthermore, the glasses allowed me to simultaneously watch the stage presentation while managing my tasks, significantly enhancing the multitasking capabilities needed for the event.
One of the standout features was Xreal’s auto transparency mode.
This ingenious setting dimmed the surroundings when I focused on my virtual screen, then returned to transparency when I glanced at the stage, facilitating an effortless balance between my work and the live event.
While the future of practical augmented reality (AR) glasses may not be fully realized yet, the capabilities displayed by the Xreal One Pro signal that we are edging closer to that reality.
Xreal’s glasses serve as compact wearable monitors, utilizing a USB-C cable for connection to devices that support video output.
Whether used to mirror screens or as an additional monitor, these glasses adapt seamlessly across various devices, including laptops, iPads, and even handheld gaming systems like the Steam Deck.
Though I had previously employed the glasses for entertainment on flights and as a workspace solution, covering a live event posed a unique challenge that the glasses met admirably, thanks to their auto transparency mode – a feature I was unaware of until it was suggested by Norm Chan of Tested.
The Xreal One Pro glasses boast three adjustable lens settings, allowing users to modify transparency from clear to semi-opaque.
This feature not only serves as an effective sunglasses option but also aids in visual clarity under bright sunlight.
However, it is worth noting that while they minimize external light, complete darkness is not achievable with these lenses.
Nonetheless, the projected image remains highly viewable, ensuring a quality experience.
The glasses’ transparency mode greatly improved my ability to switch between viewing the stage, my laptop keyboard, and my phone, making the entire experience more fluid.
Unlike traditional eyewear, the lenses in Xreal’s glasses consist of multiple layers, including prescription inserts to accommodate various users.
Additional features include customization options for screen size, projection distance, and screen positioning.
In my earlier review of the non-Pro Xreal Ones, I noted that these glasses had already evolved significantly with better audio and the ability to pin the virtual screen in place.
The Pro version of the One glasses, priced at $599 and subject to a price increase after June 30, add an additional layer of refinement.
Although they retain the microOLED projection system, the One Pro lenses are designed to reduce light reflection from the environment and feature a marginally wider field of view, enhancing the clarity toward the edges of the virtual display.
While the differences are subtle, the Pro version’s improved performance could potentially reduce user fatigue over time.
Alongside the glasses, I tested a supplementary plug-in called the Eye camera, available separately for $99.
This camera, which attaches to the bridge of the One series glasses, is primarily intended for future AI applications and can capture images and video clips stored on the glasses’ limited 2GB of internal memory.
Users can transfer images to an iPhone by utilizing a designated
image source from：cnet
