Tag: televisions

The XREAL 1S is XREAL’s latest pair of AR glasses, designed to deliver a plug-in spatial display experience through lightweight, sunglasses-style hardware. Rather than operating as a standalone headset, it connects to phones, PCs, consoles, and handheld gaming devices to mirror or extend a display directly in front of your eyes.

In XREAL’s lineup, the 1S sits below the flagship One and One Pro models, alongside the Air 2 series, and above accessory-only products like the Beam Pro hub. It is not positioned as a full spatial-computing or “true AR” device with onboard processing. Instead, it focuses on doing one thing well: acting as a portable, immersive virtual screen for video entertainment and gaming.

In short, the XREAL 1S is best understood as a virtual display you wear, not a headset that meaningfully augments the physical world around you.

Ubergizmo co-founder Hubert Nguyen uses the XREAL One daily and has contributed to this article by sharing his experience of that device. We both have been exposed to this type of technology for the past 20 years.

XREAL 1S weight and comfort

At 84 grams, the XREAL 1S is clearly heavier than regular eyeglasses, but weight distribution is handled well. Thanks to adjustable nose pads and balanced arms, pressure on the nose remains mild, and I found the glasses comfortable for extended sessions ranging from 45 minutes to several hours.

In my case, there were no obvious pressure points, and comfort was good enough that I even fell asleep with the glasses on multiple times. There is some heat buildup near the top of the frame, but it stays mild (96F) and does not touch the skin, so it never becomes uncomfortable during use.

Compared to the previous generation, the overall physical experience is very similar. Any design or weight changes are subtle enough that they are not obvious in daily use. If you were comfortable wearing earlier XREAL glasses (of similar weight), the 1S will feel immediately familiar. Comfort here is not a differentiator, but it is solid and reliable, which matters for a device meant to be worn for long video or gaming sessions.

XREAL 1S specs and key features

Specifications	XREAL 1S
Resolution	1920 × 1200 (1200p, 16:10)
Refresh Rate	Up to 120Hz
Field of View	52°
Peak Brightness	Up to 700 nits
Color Accuracy	ΔE < 3
Motion-to-Photon Latency	~3 ms
Spatial Tracking	Native 3DoF (6DoF with XREAL Eye accessory)
Screen Modes	Follow Mode (0DoF), Anchor Mode (3DoF), Ultrawide, Side View
2D-to-3D Conversion	Real-time native 2D → 3D (no apps required)
Audio	Built-in speakers, tuned by Bose
Weight	~82 g
Lens Technology	Electrochromic dimming (manual + auto)
Connectivity	USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode)
Device Compatibility	Phones, PCs, consoles, handhelds
Prescription Lens Support	Yes (via official partners)
Launch Price (USD)	$449
Release Window	January 2026

Display and Visual Experience

Smart glasses have been evolving for decades, and the progress has been impressive, but it is important to understand what this technology is trying to achieve. The XREAL 1S creates the perception of a massive display using hardware that fits in your pocket. That is an impressive feat, but it is not the same as looking at a real, physically large screen with your bare eyes.

With that context in mind, the XREAL 1S delivers a noticeable improvement in visual quality over the previous generation, thanks to its 1200p resolution. The resolution increase translates into a sharper image that most users will immediately perceive when upgrading from older models. From a subjective standpoint, the experience feels similar to watching a good, large, 1080p television.

feels similar to watching a good, large, 1080p television

When moving your head quickly from side to side, the image can blur slightly while in motion. This appears to be a byproduct of the system compensating between “Follow” mode, where the image stays centered in your view, and “Anchor” mode, where the image is fixed in virtual space. In practice, this is rarely an issue, as typical use does not involve rapid head movements.

The display favors immersion over absolute clarity. For movies and video content, this works extremely well. On a plane, the experience is far superior to any built-in seatback screen, including those in business class. The open-ear speakers, however, are not powerful enough in noisy environments like flights, so pairing the glasses with Bluetooth earbuds or headphones is recommended.

I typically use the 173-inch screen setting at a five-meter virtual distance and intentionally leave some dark space around the image. Filling the entire field of view may sound appealing, but backing off slightly provides a better balance between clarity and immersion.

…far superior to any built-in seatback screen, including those in business class

For text and productivity, limitations become more apparent. At 1920×1200 with 100 percent scaling in Windows, text is just legible but tiring to read for long periods. Increasing scaling to 125 or 150 percent improves comfort, making light reading possible for one to two hours, but I would not use the XREAL 1S for demanding tasks like coding. That kind of work would require a robust virtual multi-monitor setup, and XREAL no longer appears to be pursuing that direction on desktop platforms. For travel work, I still rely on a portable monitor instead.

Hubert pointed out that he has presbyopia, which affects near-field vision, but because the focal point of the display is set at about five meters, he does not need corrective glasses to watch movies comfortably.

I did not notice meaningful image distortion or color issues around the edges, even when lying on my side and slightly misaligning the glasses. This suggests relatively low sensitivity to IPD (interpupillary distance) for standard 2D content, though individual face shapes will naturally affect results. Like most optical systems, clarity is best at the center of the image, and I did notice slight softness in the lower-right corner when reading text. This does not matter for video.

Brightness is sufficient even outdoors on a sunny day with the lenses set to their most transparent mode. Indoors or on a plane, I usually darken the lenses as much as possible. I am not convinced extreme brightness levels are necessary here, as comfort matters more than raw luminance.

In both “Follow” and “Anchor” modes, head movement feels natural, and I experienced no motion sickness or discomfort. For video, I prefer Follow mode. Anchor mode would be more compelling if virtual multi-monitor setups were supported.

Manufacturer-Pitched Use Cases

XREAL positions the 1S as a lifestyle device, emphasizing watching TV, playing games, and enjoying content on the go. This framing is appropriate. The idea of having a large virtual screen anywhere, especially when you do not own a large television or are traveling, is compelling.

Travel is a use case I recommend in addition to the above, provided you are willing to carry the glasses. I do not use the original carrying case, which is fairly large, and instead rely on a standard glasses case for convenience.

Real-World Use: What Actually Works

In practice, video consumption, gaming and travel are where the XREAL 1S feels most natural. Watching movies or shows, whether at home or on the road, is the device’s strongest use case. It is not designed to replace a work monitor, and it should not be evaluated as such.

I regularly used the glasses for sessions lasting around two hours. There is some eye strain simply from wearing a display on your face, which is inherently less natural than looking at a distant screen, but I found it manageable and not a barrier to daily use for entertainment.

Gaming is more nuanced. Depending on the genre, the XREAL 1S can be an excellent alternative to a portable monitor. Some games benefit greatly from immersion, especially those focused on exploration or cinematic presentation. Others, such as real-time strategy games, feel better on a traditional monitor where precision and peripheral awareness matter more.

I never felt the need to use headphones

Audio quality is good for casual use. At home, dialogue is clear, and I never felt the need to use headphones. The open-ear design is part of the appeal, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings. For concerts or music-focused content, dedicated headphones still deliver better immersion, but the option is always there.

Gaming tests included smartphone use and a Lenovo Legion Go handheld gaming PC. On the Legion Go, games need to be run in non-exclusive mode for screen mirroring to work properly. In both cases, immersion was excellent. Gameplay felt smooth at 60 Hz, and while I did not consistently hit 120 Hz in my tests, there were no obvious latency issues that would detract from casual gaming.

Overall, XREAL is setting expectations correctly by pitching the 1S as an entertainment and lifestyle device, not a professional productivity tool.

Compatibility, Setup, and Ecosystem

Our XREAL 1S was tested with Android smartphones, an iPad mini 6, an Amazon Fire TV Stick, and the Lenovo Legion Go portable gaming PC. Setup is generally straightforward. The glasses behave like an external monitor, and most users will only need to learn how to navigate the onboard menu, similar to setting up a new TV.

Adapters are sometimes required. Using the Fire TV Stick required an HDMI-to-USB-C adapter that generated noticeable heat. Power draw from a smartphone measured between 2.2 and 2.5 watts during video playback.

This does drain the phone faster but not a blocker for meaningful use. It is still possible to watch several hours of content. For extended sessions, I recharge my phone every three to four hours or use USB-C splitters that allow charging and display output simultaneously, like this XREAL accessory.

XREAL thought of this, and you could also purchase the XREAL Neo, a 10,000 mAh. It functions as a DisplayPort pass-through hub while delivering up to 20 W on battery, which is enough to maintain or slowly recharge a phone, handheld console, or PC during use.

No app or software is required for basic operation, which makes the experience truly plug and play. Firmware updates are easy to apply via a computer, and past XREAL products have received multiple updates post-launch, including major feature improvements.

XREAL 1S vs XREAL One

The visual quality improvement is noticeable, but not transformative. It is not enough to justify an upgrade if you already own last year’s model, especially if you are satisfied with it.

There are many small refinements, including interface improvements, but the overall experience and market positioning remain largely unchanged. One ongoing frustration is audio mode handling with my Fire TV. Automatically switching and remembering audio settings would significantly improve usability for that use case..

Who Should Buy It, and Who Should Not

The XREAL 1S is best suited for video enthusiasts and gamers who value immersion and portability. It works well as a virtual TV or display replacement for entertainment, especially during travel.

If you already own the previous generation, there is little reason to upgrade. The improvements are real but incremental.

If you are looking for a work monitor replacement, or expect a full AR or VR experience with spatial interaction, this is not the right product.

Conclusion and XREAL 1S price

The XREAL 1S, priced at $449 at publication time, is an excellent portable virtual display for video entertainment and gaming. It shines during travel and casual home use, delivering a convincing large-screen experience in an extremely compact form factor. It is not designed for productivity, and it should not be judged as a traditional AR or VR headset. If you understand its role and limitations, the XREAL 1S delivers exactly what it promises.

Filed in Computers >Gaming >Home. Read more about Displays and Televisions.