Turned skeptic into an advocate: Impressions from using cutting-edge AR glasses for gaming.
Real Deal Thursdays: Dive into the exhilarating world of AR every week, minus the boring stuff! Today's column, usually penned by Nicholas Sutrich, gets a spin from Michael Hicks – another Senior Editor at our site, known for his XR coverage.
After a jam-packed week at Augmented World Expo 2025, Hicks is hyped up about gaming and streaming on AR glasses. Big names like Google and Meta shared their AR glasses visions at the event, forecasting AI companions and sleek shapes. But, according to Meta, the mainstream might not swoon over these glasses until the 2030s.
While at-home AR glasses without the need to blend in are already available, Hicks admits they often fall short compared to traditional televisions or monitors. His recent demos with Viture and XREAL glasses left him convinced that the AR display market is set to boom – pronto!
AR Gaming Glasses Up the Ante
Colleagues have grown fond of AR gaming glasses like XREAL One and RayNeo Air 3S. However, Hicks found his first encounter with XREAL Air 2s last year to be underwhelming. The glasses were nice and light, but the visual experience didn't blow his mind.
At AWE 2025, Hicks tried out XREAL One Pro glasses, which boast a 57-degree display and improved brightness. Gaming in Forza Horizon 4 with the Pros and a handheld console was much more immersive, as the wider display hugged the edge of his vision.
Aside from XREAL, Hicks got a sneak peek at Viture's cutting-edge AR glasses, which take his skepticism about AR displays and transform it into excitement. The current Pros sport a 46-degree display but feature a myopia adjustment slider for simple refocusing.
Future Viture glasses promise significant improvements in FoV and display quality, making them worth their 80g weight, and other major brands will likely follow suit for competitive edge.
AR Displays: A promising but bumpy road
Manufacturers like XREAL, Viture, Rokid, and RayNeo strive to provide better visuals for power users but face comfort trade-offs. A wider FoV and higher resolutions mean bulkier glasses. But, Hicks hopes for AR glasses that are lightweight yet deliver top-notch visuals for everyday use.
Crucial issues still need to be addressed, such as anchored displays dependent on camera support, battery life, and finding a way to accommodate diverse interpupillary distances. Non-AR glasses, like the upcoming Oakley Meta glasses, might pave the way for wider consumer adoption.
Though AR glasses are still largely considered a niche market, their technology is advancing rapidly. Soon, they could genuinely live up to the potential of augmented reality, leaving Hicks eager to embrace the change. Stick around for more insights on AR and XR trends as AWE continues to shape the future of technology!
- Hicks is excited about the growing market for AR display glasses, such as XREAL One Pro and Viture's upcoming glasses, as they offer innovative features like wider displays and improved visual quality that could rival traditional TVs and smartphones.
- Despite ongoing challenges, like comfort trade-offs and unresolved issues like battery life and interpupillary distance, Michael Hicks anticipates that AR glasses will soon become mainstream, fulfilling the potential of augmented reality and transforming the way we experience technology.
