Nreal Launches $379 Air AR Glasses, Provides Assist for iOS and macOS

Nreal is increasing its presence in the US by launching one other pair of augmented actuality (AR) glasses. First launched in Asia in 2021, the Nreal Air AR glasses convey the entry value down for customers to $379, in comparison with $599 for the Nreal Gentle, which we reviewed final yr.

In comparison with the Gentle, the Air glasses are 25 p.c lighter and devour 50 p.c much less energy. Designed to compete with the greatest VR headsets, The Nreal Air can also be cheaper as a result of these new AR glasses do not function built-in SLAM or RGB cameras. As a substitute, the Air glasses solely use 6 levels of freedom (DoF) monitoring.

Nreal is positioning the Air as a media consumption system for watching movies (i.e., Netflix and Hulu) and taking part in cellular video games. You may be handled to a 46 discipline of view with content material, and when utilizing the Nebula Mirror Mode, you are handled to a digital display that measures 130 to 200 inches. This might be an attention-grabbing technique to get pleasure from content material from recreation consoles just like the Xbox Collection X or PlayStation 5.

Up to now, Nreal primarily targeted on Android cellular units and left iOS units out of the loop relating to help. Nevertheless, Nreal will now supply a $59 dongle that permits its AR glasses to work with an iPhone. It needs to be famous that you just aren’t completed after spending $59 on the dongle. Additionally, you will must buy the official Apple Digital AV Adapter that plugs into the Nreal dongle, which can price you one other $35 (opens in new tab). It is a clunky resolution for iOS customers, and we want that Nreal supplied a extra streamlined and cost-effective choice. 

Even with all the required parts in place, you will not have entry to Nreal’s Nebula AR interface. As a substitute, you will solely be capable to use the display mirroring choice for streaming content material.

As well as, Nreal is displaying much more like to the Apple ecosystem with the provision of Nebula for choose macOS units. Nebula supplies MacBook Professional and MacBook Air customers with a digital consumer interface that may undertaking a number of shows in entrance of you, increasing your obtainable productiveness workspace. Sadly, Nreal macOS compatibility is restricted to Macs working on Apple Silicon (i.e., M1- and M2-based SoCs). Nreal didn’t point out if or when Intel-based Macs would acquire help for Nebula.