The first Android XR-powered smart glasses are almost here, and early adopters actually get a rare discount on the cutting-edge XREAL Aura hardware.
XREAL Aura is set to redefine what a “VR headset” can be by combining the form factor of XREAL display glasses with a small compute puck that clips to your waistband. XREAL and Google have teased Project Aura for months, announcing the official name and price last month, and now XREAL just unveiled the special launch price and release date on stage at Google’s Android Developer Summit.
The special glasses launch in mid-November, with preorders starting today, October 28, at Xreal.com and Best Buy. XREAL Aura will initially be available in the United States, Canada, Japan, and South Korea (with a broader rollout in 2027) and is coming in two SKUs:
- XREAL AURA 12GB + 256GB: $1,279, limited-time offer of $1,099 through December 2026
- XREAL AURA 16GB + 512GB: $1,499, limited-time offer of $1,299 through December 2026
Both SKUs are available in standard and large sizes and come with an included carrying case that houses the glasses, compute puck, and cable. The cable is user-replaceable and uses a standard USB-C connection for longevity.
XREAL Aura will be launching alongside 150 made-for-XR experiences designed to showcase the power and capability of the new form factor. I got to use a near-final unit last month and was incredibly impressed with how XREAL and Google have been able to pull together the full Android XR experience on a pair of smart glasses, including full 6DoF spatial tracking and support for hand tracking and controllers.
XREAL Aura attachesf a phone. This has a generously sized trackpad on the front and a detachable belt clip on the back. The battery and Snapdragon Reality Elite chipset are inside the puck, taking the glasses’ weight down to just 95g (compared to ~500g for a VR headset)
XREAL and GameSir have partnered to deliver a new game controller built specifically for XREAL Aura (and Android XR). This one sports a prominent Gemini button that gives immediate access to Gemini’s helpful gaming capabilities (it’s actually more helpful than you might initially imagine). I also used this controller last month and found it to be wonderful. It feels similar to an Xbox Elite controller, but it is not spatially tracked.
A wireless portable keyboard is also on the way for productivity and multi-window workflows, but you can use any mouse and keyboard you’d like with Aura. XREAL Aura also supports wired mirroring, so you can plug your laptop or gaming console directly into the compute puck and add a spatially-tracked window to your view.
Preorders are open now and, of course, you’ll save $200 if you order XREAL Aura before the end of the year.
More on Android XR:
- Samsung reportedly confirms November launch for first Android XR glasses
- XREAL’s Android XR glasses launch ‘this fall’ with Project Hail Mary & Fallout games, $99 reservations open
- XREAL has set the perfect stage for Android XR
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