Xreal Aura: Preorders open for smart glasses powered by Google Android XR

The futuristic new glasses combine elements of augmented and virtual reality. By Timothy Beck Werth Timothy Beck Werth Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men's product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull-riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl. Read Full Bio on October 28, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard Credit: Google / Xreal The Xreal Aura, spatial computing glasses made in partnership with Google for the Android XR platform, are now available to order. We first learned about these XR glasses at Google I/O 2026, and early adopters can finally try them in a matter of weeks. The futuristic XR device combines elements of augmented reality and virtual reality in a pair of smart glasses. They're the first wired smart glasses to run on the new Android XR operating system from Google. The glasses and accessories are available for preorder at the Xreal website as of today, and they're scheduled to ship in mid-November, according to a press release shared with Mashable. Customers who preorder the glasses can save $180 on the hefty $1,279 price tag.“Xreal Aura is finally here, and we're so proud to unlock new ways for people to work, watch, play, and build," said Chi Xu, co-founder and CEO of XREAL, in a press release. The Xreal Aura utilizes dual Sony Micro-OLED displays to create a virtual display with a 70-degree field of view, up to 1,050 nits of brightness, and up to a 120Hz refresh rate. Credit: Xreal Credit: Xreal Xreal is one of the leading augmented reality companies, known for its tethered AR glasses, which project a large virtual display into the user's field of view. The Xreal Aura will provide spatial computing and virtual reality experiences usually associated with headsets in the smart glasses form factor.The Xreal Aura is part of a new generation of spatial computing smart glasses, along with the Specs AR glasses from Snap and the recently announced Meta VR glasses. The Snap Specs are fully wireless but have a chunky design and a $2,195 price tag. The Meta VR glasses have a $1,299 price tag but won't launch until spring 2027.What do the Xreal Aura Glasses do? Credit: Xreal / Mashable Photo Composite Xreal says the new glasses will support "productivity, immersive entertainment, and next-generation XR experiences."The Xreal Aura offer the same augmented reality features as other AR smart glasses, but they up the ante with spatial computing experiences powered by the Android XR operating system and Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite Platform. (A press release states that the glasses were made in partnership with Google and Qualcomm.) Mashable Light Speed Unlike most AR glasses, the Xreal Aura can also be controlled via voice and hand movements, thanks to onboard sensors and cameras. Instead of simply plugging into a user's smartphone, laptop, or gaming device, the Aura glasses come with a puck, which houses the battery and powers most of the compute necessary for spatial computing.The Apple Vision Pro introduced spatial computing into the public consciousness. The technology turns a user's surroundings into a 360-degree virtual canvas, and users can open apps, games, entertainment, and AI tools directly into their space. However, unlike headsets, which can be extremely limiting, smart glasses don't limit a user's movements or block their peripheral vision. “This is a defining moment for XR," Xu said in a press release. "We built AURA for people who want the power of spatial computing without being removed from the world around them. With transparent lenses, a category-leading lightweight design, Gemini by your side, and access to the Android ecosystem from day-one, the promise of XR is more approachable than ever."The Xreal Aura will also offer support for Gemini, letting users ask questions about their environment or complete tasks across apps.Spatial photos, virtual reality, and more Credit: Xreal / Android XR Using Google Photos and Android XR, Aura users will be able to view their photos and videos in new immersive ways. For example, users can convert their existing photos and videos into 3D, while panoramas will become full 360-degree experiences. Via Google Maps, users can explore destinations in immersive 3D, either with an aerial view or via Street View. Users can also enjoy 360-degree and VR180 video content on YouTube.New XR experiencesAt launch, users will also be able to access a library of more than 150 XR experiences, with more to come in the months ahead. Some of the highlights include:NBA App for Android XRFallout: Factions video gameProject Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars, a mixed-reality adventure NASCAR XR appOh My Galaxy!, a physics-based arcade gameXR HoloMedicineSimply Piano XRWhere to preorder the Xreal AuraThe Xreal Aura are available for preorder now exclusively at the Xreal online store. The glasses have a retail price of $1,279 but are available for $1,099 for a limited time. $1,099 at Xreal $1,279 Save $180 Xreal Aura specifications Credit: Xreal And for the real AR/XR nerds, here are the key specs for these upcoming smart glasses:Displays: Dual Sony Micro-OLEDField of view: 70 degreesRefresh rate: Up to 120HzResolution: 1200p resolution (1,920 × 1,200 pixels per eye)Peak brightness: 1,050 nitsControls: Support for voice, hand, keyboard, trackpad, and game controller inputTint: Electrochromic dimming with 5 transparency levelsSound: Bose audioMicrophones: 4 microphonesGlasses weight: Under 95 gramsProcessor: Xreal X1S ChipWant to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men's product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull-riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl.Tim studied print journalism at the University of Southern California. He currently splits his time between Brooklyn, NY and Charleston, SC. He's currently working on his second novel, a science-fiction book.