Round this time final 12 months, we reviewed the Nreal Gentle glasses priced at $599. This 12 months, Nreal has launched the follow-up “Air” glasses, that are lighter and value much less at simply $379.
The lighter weight and cheaper price might be attributed to the truth that these aren’t true augmented actuality (AR) glasses. The Air lacks the twin cameras of the Gentle; therefore there are not any provisions for hand monitoring, picture monitoring or airplane detection. So whereas the worth is decrease, you’re additionally getting much less performance. Nevertheless, for the duties that it may well deal with, the Air does them fairly effectively.
Specs for the Nreal Air
| Show | 1920 x 1080 per eye (3840 x 1080 whole) |
| Show Kind | OLED |
| Brightness | 400 nits |
| Subject of View | 46 levels |
| Levels of Freedom | 3 DoF |
| Audio | Twin open-air audio system |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| Weight | 2.78 ounces (79 grams) |
Design of the Nreal Air
The Nreal Air is primarily constructed of plastic, identical to its Gentle predecessor. Whereas the Air seems much like common sun shades, there are some noticeable variations. For starters, at 2.78 ounces (79 grams), they’re heavier than most conventional sun shades. As well as, the highest portion of the body is far thicker, as that is the place the twin OLED shows are housed. These shows then mission their picture down onto the lenses in entrance of your eyes. You can not put on common glasses with the Air, however a body is included so as to add your prescription lenses.
The arms of the Air are thicker than what you’d discover on a pair of sun shades because of the must help the interior electronics, together with a pair of built-in audio system, an influence button and a rocker swap for controlling the show brightness.
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On the finish of the left arm, you may discover a USB Kind-C port that accepts a USB-C cable (included within the field) for plugging instantly into an Android smartphone, pc or Steam Deck. There are three included nostril grips (considered one of which is already put in on the glasses), a black plastic shade to dam out gentle (making them extra akin to digital actuality glasses) and a compact case to carry all the pieces.
If you wish to hook up with an Android system, Home windows PC or M1 Mac, all of the {hardware} you must get began comes within the field – specifically, the USB-C cable. The Air attracts energy from these gadgets, so solely the USB-C cable is required for energy and audio/video.
Nevertheless, if you wish to hook up with a sport console (an Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Swap), iOS system, or something that doesn’t have a USB-C port, you should buy a separate Nreal Air adapter ($59) (opens in new tab) with HDMI connectivity. Sadly, iOS customers will even must buy an Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter ($49) (opens in new tab) in the event that they don’t have already got one. When you’re an iPhone consumer, that’s one other $110 you’ll must price range for along with the $379 Nreal Air.
The adapter options an built-in battery offering as much as three hours of playback because the glasses will not get energy from USB Kind-C. Nreal additionally says you’ll be able to go from 0 to 40 p.c battery in half-hour utilizing a USB-C charger. You’ll must hold this in thoughts when taking part in video games with a Nintendo Swap or watching movies on an iPhone.
so It’s undoubtedly a downer to have the Air glasses shut down in the midst of a firefight as a result of the adapter’s battery died. And since there’s no USB-C energy passthrough, you’ll be able to’t get again into the motion till you unplug the glasses and stick in a USB-C cable to recharge the adapter.
Normal Observations with the Nreal Air
Nreal says that the Air initiatives a 130-inch digital display 4 meters away from you with Air Casting mode, which is the mode that I primarily used (there’s additionally a MR Areas mode that we’ll focus on later). It is this huge viewing space that makes consuming content material like motion pictures/TV exhibits and taking part in video games so fulfilling. The picture does not utterly fill your discipline of view; you’ll be able to nonetheless see the surroundings round you in your periphery (even with the black plastic gentle blocker put in).
The built-in audio system do an honest job with sound and can work in a pinch. Music sounds lifeless and lacks bass, whereas in-game audio equally lacks depth. As an alternative, I like to recommend utilizing an honest set of wi-fi earbuds or headphones. In addition to, when you’re utilizing the glasses in shut quarters, like on an airplane, I doubt that different passengers need to hear no matter sound is emanating from the Air’s audio system.
I have to additionally say that as a result of the Air seems principally like a pair of conventional sun shades, you’ll be able to mix in with the final populous with out wanting misplaced (strive carrying a Microsoft HoloLens in public with out getting stares). They make a good way to kill time whereas using the subway or taking an extended flight.
Utilizing the Nreal Air with the Nintendo Swap
Getting up and working with a console is a considerably cumbersome course of because of the adapters and wires the glasses require. Whereas testing the Nreal Air with a docked Nintendo Swap, I first inserted the included HDMI dongle into the Nreal adapter and plugged in an HDMI cable. The opposite finish of the cable plugs instantly into the Nintendo Swap dock. Lastly, I plugged the USB-C cable from the Nreal Air into the adapter and turned on the Nintendo Swap. After just a few seconds, the glasses displayed the acquainted picture of the console’s dwelling display.
I first determined to bogart an current session of Burnout Paradise Remastered that my oldest son had left in droop mode. Earlier than I knew it, I had spent 10 minutes blasting across the map, difficult others to races and crashing into unsuspecting AI-controlled automobiles head-on. I used to be totally immersed within the sport world, not listening to what was occurring in my periphery.
The picture displayed was so vibrant and clear that I didn’t want the black plastic gentle blocker to get pleasure from it.
Utilizing the Nreal Air with the Xbox Sequence X
Organising the Nreal Air to work with an Xbox Sequence X was much like the Nintendo Swap OLED. Utilizing the identical Nreal adapter/HDMI dongle/HDMI cable setup, I plugged it into the HDMI port on the again of the Xbox Sequence X after which related the Nreal Air.
I first fired up Forza Horizon 5, hitting 215 mph in a Ford GT on the interstate earlier than crashing right into a ditch after sideswiping a Jeep. I then switched automobiles, choosing a Ford Bronco as I ventured off-road by way of the rocky wilderness and over streams. Whereas not the total 4K decision that I’m used to with the 55-inch TV that the Xbox Sequence X is normally connected to, the element was sharp sufficient that I most popular this viewing expertise.
Microsoft Flight Simulator additionally appeared dazzling on the digital 130-inch display. Taking part in in a totally darkish room at night time was a sensational expertise. Nevertheless, after turning into immersed for about two and a half hours, the sport abruptly ended as a result of the battery on the Nreal adapter died.
Utilizing the Nreal Air with an Oppo X5
The Nreal Air has restricted compatibility with Android gadgets; solely a choose few OEMs are at the moment supported. You are in luck if in case you have a latest Android smartphone from LG, Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo or Sony. Nreal supplied an Oppo X5 for us to check the Air, and it labored simply fantastic with a OnePlus 9 that I additionally had available (you’ll be able to see a full compatibility checklist right here).
Relatively annoyingly, you should join a Nreal account earlier than utilizing the Air with the required Nebula app. The Nebula app lets you mirror content material to your display or present a extra interactive AR expertise. As soon as I created an account, the Air paired with the Oppo X5 and downloaded some firmware updates.
Air Casting mode allowed me to reflect the content material displayed on the smartphone’s display, which is a bit limiting because of the everlasting portrait orientation. Nevertheless, when watching movies with apps like Disney Plus or Amazon Prime Video, the Air mechanically kicks into panorama mode to view content material.
MR Areas is an interface supplied by the Nebular app that Nreal has designed that lets you customise your personal digital workspace. You possibly can see extra of your workspace as you progress your head left and proper. You possibly can rearrange apps to your selecting and have a number of home windows open concurrently (you too can resize these home windows to your liking). If you cannot see all the pieces you need on the display, merely flip your head to see the remainder.
You employ the cellphone as a makeshift laser pointer and faucet the display together with your finger to work together with apps and on-screen content material inside MR Areas. It takes a short time to get used to, however it’s a reasonably environment friendly strategy to navigate the interface.
I felt like MR Areas was extra of a gimmick than one thing I might use every day. Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly one thing that you simply’d need to present family and friends in the event that they need to see what all of the commotion is about concerning blended actuality.
Utilizing the Nreal Air with an iPhone 14 Professional
Attaching the Nreal Air to an iPhone required the removing of the HDMI dongle from the Nreal adapter and changing it with the Apple Lightning to Digital A/V Adapter (supplied by Nreal). Subsequent, I inserted the Lighting connector into the iPhone and plugged the Nreal’s Air’s USB-C wire into the Nreal adapter.
With all the pieces related, the iPhone mechanically acknowledges the Nreal adapter and outputs to it. You’re first offered with the iOS dwelling display and your entire apps in portrait mode. Nevertheless, this isn’t an optimum expertise as you continue to should look down on the iPhone to navigate the consumer interface.
That each one adjustments whenever you resolve to play a video. I opened the YouTube app and chosen the newest episode from Wealthy Rebuilds, the place their homebrew electrical side-by-side caught on fireplace at SEMA. As quickly as I hit play on the video, it mechanically displayed in panorama mode and took up the total “viewable space” of the Nreal Air. Video games additionally performed simply fantastic in panorama mode, as meant.
Utilizing the Nreal Air with a Corsair Voyager A1600
Gaming on the Corsair Voyager A1600 was simply as thrilling because it was on the Xbox Sequence X, and solely required me to plug the Nreal Air’s USB-C wire right into a free port on the laptop computer. The Nebula app isn’t accessible to be used in Home windows 10/11; the Air simply exhibits up as a further mirrored show.
I instantly fired up Purple Useless Redemption 2 and galloped on a horse round city, then performed about an hour of Grand Theft Auto V. Not surprisingly, I received my butt handed to me repeatedly in Overwatch 2. My gaming expertise weren’t enhanced nor diminished because of the Air; I simply suck at on-line shooters.
Body charges are capped at 60 fps due to the Air’s {hardware} limitations, which wasn’t an issue for me with the Air within the video games I performed. I performed at 1920 x 1080 decision and didn’t discover a drop off in picture high quality in comparison with taking part in natively on the Voyager A1600’s IPS panel.
Utilizing the Nreal Air with a MacBook Professional
Like my expertise with the Corsair Voyager A1600, utilizing the Nreal Air on a MacBook Professional didn’t require utilizing the adapter. Merely plugging within the AR headset allowed it to spring to life, giving me a full view of my desktop and all apps.
Nevertheless, Nreal additionally supplies its Nebula app (in beta) that lets you make the most of the total capabilities of the glasses higher. We should always word that the Nreal Air and the Nebula software program are solely supported on M1 Macs – it isn’t {hardware}/software program appropriate with Intel Macs.
Whereas the displayed picture tracks together with your head actions on the opposite aforementioned gadgets (and on the Mac with out Nebula), the Nebula Mac software program lets you set the display at a set level in area as if it have been a bodily monitor. So when you flip your head to the left or proper of the fastened level, you see much less of the display. The identical goes for transferring your head up and down.
Whereas this association doesn’t make a lot sense with only a single desktop, Nebula additionally lets you concurrently have as much as three desktops. So you can begin off wanting straight forward and your main (central) workspace. When you flip your head to the correct, you’ll see the second workspace. When you as a substitute flip your head to the left, you’ll see the third workspace. This, in essence, provides you three digital screens to work with when utilizing the Nreal Air.
The one draw back to utilizing the Nebula app is that the refresh fee dropped to round 30 Hz as a substitute of its native 60 Hz and the picture turned very jittery, which gave me a extreme bout of eyestrain. I couldn’t discover a strategy to alter this in show settings, so I used the Nebula Air primarily with out the Nebula app.
Backside Line
The Nreal Air is a compelling piece of {hardware} at a extra enticing worth than its Nreal Gentle sibling. Nevertheless, the Air additionally lacks the onboard cameras and prolonged monitoring options of a real augmented actuality headset just like the Gentle.
The place the Air actually shines is a as a media consumption instrument. I discovered myself immersed watching YouTube clips and episodes of Star Wars: Andor on the Air. Since they’re so light-weight and don’t really feel a lot totally different than carrying a pair of sun shades or prescription glasses, it’s low-impact.
The identical ergonomics platitudes might be stated about gaming, be it on a Nintendo Swap, Home windows PC or Xbox Sequence X. I felt zero eye fatigue utilizing Air Casting for hours at a time. The one time critical eye pressure occurred was when utilizing the Nebula app in macOS.
The place issues shortly crumble is if you wish to use the Air with an iOS system like an iPhone. It’s a must to take into account the $379 price of the glasses, $59 for the Nreal adapter and one other $49 for the Apple Lightning to Digital A/V Adapter. Now you’re almost $500, which is quite a bit to spend for a cobbled collectively resolution for pairing an iPhone and the Air.
One other factor to think about is that if you wish to use the Air with a sport console or iOS system, the Nreal adapter is required. It has an built-in battery which solely supplies round three hours of runtime earlier than it wants recharging. We actually want that the adapter was included within the field.
Nevertheless, if you will get previous these downsides, the Nreal Air supplies a superb “large display” expertise that may’t be matched by even the biggest smartphones or laptops available on the market.