Xreal has introduced the A01 Plus, a new pair of AR glasses priced at $299, making them much more affordable than the $449 Xreal 1S. While several premium features have been removed to reduce the price, the A01 Plus still delivers a strong AR experience with bright displays, a lightweight design, and comfortable everyday use. One of the biggest highlights of the A01 Plus is its 62-gram weight. It is more than 20 grams lighter than the Xreal 1S, making it one of the lightest AR glasses available. The slimmer frame feels comfortable during long gaming or movie sessions, although it is less sturdy than the premium model and requires careful handling when adjusting the arms.
The glasses feature bright Micro OLED displays with a 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and rich contrast. The image quality is impressive for the price, making games, movies, and desktop mirroring look sharp and vibrant. However, some users may notice blurry visuals without prescription lens inserts. Xreal recommends optional prescription lenses, which cost around $50, for the best viewing experience.
Customization is another strong point. The A01 Plus includes removable front covers that can easily be swapped. One cover uses tinted lenses, while another blocks outside light more effectively for outdoor use. Xreal also plans to support custom and even 3D-printed covers in the future, giving users more personalization options. Unlike the Xreal 1S, the A01 Plus does not include electrochromic lenses with adjustable transparency. Instead, reflective films behind the optics help reduce external light. In practice, the included blackout cover performs surprisingly well, keeping reflections to a minimum even in bright environments.
Gaming is one of the main uses for these AR glasses. When connected to devices such as the Steam Deck, the large virtual display provides an enjoyable experience with smooth motion and vivid colors. The glasses support an IPD range of 54.5 mm to 74.5 mm, allowing them to fit many users, although visual clarity may still depend on individual eyesight. To keep the price low, Xreal removed several advanced features. The most noticeable omission is 3 Degrees of Freedom (3DoF), which normally allows users to lock the virtual screen in a fixed position. Instead, the A01 Plus offers a stabilization mode that reduces screen movement but can introduce slight jitter, especially when reading text.
Audio quality is acceptable but not exceptional. The speakers are clear enough for casual entertainment, although they do not reach the volume or bass performance of the more expensive Xreal 1S. Some missing features are more difficult to justify. Users cannot adjust the volume directly from the glasses and must instead use the connected device. In addition, the virtual screen size is fixed at around 147 inches with a 50-degree field of view, whereas higher-end Xreal models allow users to resize the display.
Despite these compromises, the Xreal A01 Plus succeeds where it matters most. It offers bright displays, lightweight comfort, reliable performance, and a much lower price than many competing AR glasses. For anyone looking for an affordable way to enjoy games, movies, or a large virtual monitor through a USB-C connection, the A01 Plus is an excellent entry point.
Users who want advanced features such as 3DoF, better speakers, adjustable display size, and stronger build quality may still prefer the Xreal 1S. However, for first-time AR glasses buyers with a budget under $300, the Xreal A01 Plus provides outstanding value and delivers a surprisingly complete AR experience.
