The Ultimate AR Gaming Glasses: Nine Must-Have Features

I’ve spent months testing the latest AR glasses from Xreal and Viture. By “testing,” I mean I’ve been lounging on my couch each night, enjoying my Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch 2 on a massive virtual screen that only I can see through these glasses.

Using AR glasses as a portable display for handhelds and other USB-C devices like phones, tablets, and laptops isn’t a new concept. However, the latest models share a crucial feature: three degrees of freedom (3DoF). This allows you to anchor the screen wherever you want, eliminating the annoying wobble that comes with head movements. While this feature might not justify the $400-plus price tag for most gamers, it does enhance usability for frequent travelers or those seeking a more ergonomic handheld experience.

I tested three popular models: Xreal’s $449 1S, the $649 One Pro, and Viture’s $549 Beast. There’s no single best option; each has its strengths and weaknesses. So, let’s break down what would make the ultimate pair of AR glasses for gaming.

**Comfort, Sound Quality, and Ease of Use of Xreal’s Glasses**
All these AR glasses are bulkier than regular eyewear, but Xreal’s 1S is the lightest of the group, weighing in at 85 grams (for comparison, the One Pro is 91 grams, and the Viture Beast is 96 grams). A notable advantage is that both the 1S and One Pro have excellent weight distribution and thinner temple arms compared to the Viture Beast, which reduces strain on the ears. It’s impressive that Xreal’s budget-friendly model matches the comfort of its premium counterpart.

The audio quality of the 1S and One Pro is superior, delivering better sound through their temple arms than the Viture Beast. Xreal’s audio is tuned by Bose, providing balanced sound with surprisingly good bass. In contrast, Viture’s audio, tuned by Harman, lacks the same depth, focusing more on mids and highs. Listening to music, watching movies, or gaming is simply more enjoyable with Xreal’s glasses, even at lower volumes.

Xreal’s glasses also have fewer buttons than Viture’s, making them easier to use. The 1S and One Pro feature four buttons along the right temple arm, while the Beast has six spread across both arms, including a button rocker solely for adjusting the opacity of its electrochromic lenses—definitely overkill.

**Superior Contrast and Clarity of Viture’s Beast Glasses**
All three pairs of AR glasses utilize similar Sony micro-OLED screens, but Viture’s glasses excel in displaying games with rich contrast, deep blacks, and bright highlights, akin to what you’d see on an OLED TV. Their optics effectively minimize reflections, ensuring great picture quality in various environments (though they don’t quite deliver on the “4K-like” promise). The Xreal One Pro also offers fantastic picture quality with minimal reflections, but it typically costs $100 more—sometimes just $50—than the Viture Beast.

Unfortunately, the Xreal 1S struggles with reflections. In bright rooms, its OLEDs can exhibit crushed blacks, resembling LCDs. However, they perform well in low-light conditions, even if the image appears blurrier compared to the other models.

**Build Quality of Xreal’s Glasses**
Xreal stands out for its build quality; the $449 1S feels just as premium as the pricier One Pro. Both feature sturdy metal hinge mechanisms that prevent the temple arms from opening unintentionally, unlike the Viture Beast, which feels cheaper with its quickly swinging arms. Additionally, Xreal’s glasses resemble regular sunglasses more closely than the Beast, which leans into a more gamer-centric aesthetic that some may love or hate.

The user experience is more refined with Xreal’s glasses. My Steam Deck and phone connect a few seconds faster to the 1S and One Pro, and the simpler button layout reduces the learning curve. Xreal also has a better 3DoF implementation, as the screen remains anchored in place, while the Viture Beast’s “anchored” screen tends to drift out of view, which is a significant drawback.

**Xreal’s Real3D Feature**
Xreal glasses equipped with the X1 chip (released in the last couple of years) now include the Real 3D feature, which can convert 2D content into 3D. There’s a multi-step software slider to adjust the effect, and I found the mildest setting surprisingly enjoyable. The 3D effect isn’t as strong as what you’d find on the Nintendo 3DS, but the subtle enhancements are noticeable, especially in games that don’t involve rapid movement.

**Viture’s Switch 2 Compatibility**
Unfortunately, no AR glasses can connect to the Switch 2 with a single USB-C cable (thanks, Nintendo). You’ll need a compatible dock, but one specifically for Xreal glasses doesn’t exist. The company canceled its Neo charging dock due to reliability issues, although the unit I tested still works well with my console. So, if you own Xreal glasses and a Switch 2, you’ll need a different accessory to play.

It’s easier with Viture’s glasses, though it comes at a cost. Viture offers a $130 Pro Mobile Dock that works seamlessly with the Switch 2 for the Beast. This dock also serves as a 13,000mAh battery, allowing you to charge while gaming. If the Switch 2 isn’t your focus, the dock includes a full HDMI port, enabling you to view a console’s video feed through your glasses. Video passthrough is also available for Xreal glasses, but the audio quality didn’t meet my expectations, so I can’t recommend it.