Xreal's New $299 Display Glasses Might Be My Budget Favorites, but I Miss the Extras

For $299, Xreal's latest display glasses might be the best value in augmented reality — but you'll have to live without the bells and whistles. Xreal (formerly branded as X by Xreal) launched the A01 Plus display glasses at $299, a price point that undercuts many rivals while promising a lightweight, comfortable design. Early hands-on tests from CNET indicate the Xreal A01 Plus outperform the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro in key areas, but the budget focus means cutting some premium extras.

The Xreal A01 Plus display glasses hit the market as the company’s most affordable AR wearable yet. Aimed at consumers who want a portable personal screen without breaking the bank, these glasses connect to phones, laptops, and handheld gaming devices via USB-C. They are not full mixed-reality headsets — they overlay a crisp 1080p display onto the real world, perfect for watching movies, playing games, or working on a virtual second monitor. At just 75 grams, they are notably lighter than the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro (87 grams), making them more comfortable for extended wear.

Why now? The smart glasses market is heating up. Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories, Apple’s Vision Pro, and a wave of Chinese OEMs are pushing wearables into the mainstream. But high prices — Vision Pro starts at $3,499 — leave a gap for budget-friendly display glasses. Xreal has been a key player since the Nreal Air series, and the A01 Plus aims to capture price-sensitive early adopters. CNET’s hands-on report found the A01 Plus deliver “sharp visuals and good brightness” for the price, and the lightweight frame was praised. However, the reviewer noted missing extras: no built-in speakers (audio relies on wired earbuds), a fixed diopter adjustment for only one user, and no spatial tracking or hand tracking — features found in pricier models like the Xreal Air 2 Ultra.

In direct comparison, the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro offers integrated speakers and slightly higher brightness, but the Xreal A01 Plus is $100 cheaper and lighter. CNET’s early tests favored the Xreal for overall value, though long-term battery life and software polish remain to be fully assessed. The A01 Plus runs on Xreal’s NebulaOS platform, which works with Android and Windows (iOS support is limited via an adapter). Early adopters can pre-order now, with shipping expected within weeks.

Industry analysts say the Xreal A01 Plus could set a new baseline for budget AR glasses. "The $299 price point is magic — it’s impulsive for many consumers," said Carolina Milanesi, a tech analyst at Creative Strategies. "If the glasses are comfortable and the display quality holds up, Xreal could own the entry-level segment." The missing extras may actually help differentiate tiers: customers who want more immersive features will have to pay up for the Air 2 or competitors like the RayNeo Air 4 Pro. But for pure media consumption — think an inflight movie or a private second screen at a coffee shop — the A01 Plus might be the ideal trade-off.

Looking ahead, Xreal is expected to refine its software with updates and potentially release an accessory pack that adds audio or spatial tracking. The broader AR industry watches closely: if the A01 Plus sells well, it could accelerate consumer adoption of glasses-as-a-display and pressure rivals to drop prices. Milestones to watch: first-month sales figures, Amazon reviews, and whether Apple responds with a cheaper Wearable in 2026. For now, the Xreal A01 Plus display glasses offer a compelling 'just enough' proposition for the budget-conscious.