TCL NxtWear S vs XREAL Air 2 Ultra
Side-by-side comparison of specs, features, and pricing
Specs updated
Which should you buy?
Bottom line: the TCL NxtWear S is the better buy for most people at $300 less, unless you need the wider field of view.
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Buy the TCL NxtWear S if…
- You want to spend $300 less ($399 vs $699)
- You play on Steam Deck
- You play on Nintendo Switch
- You play on PlayStation
Buy the XREAL Air 2 Ultra if…
- You want the wider 52° field of view (vs 45°)
- You need the brighter 500-nit display (vs 400 nits)
- You want the lighter 80g fit (vs 89g)
- You want smoother 120Hz motion (vs 60Hz)
Verdict generated from the recorded spec differences shown in the table below — when a spec is missing for either product, it is left out rather than guessed.
See the full rankings
Specs Comparison
Specs last verified
| Specification |  TCL NxtWear S $399 |  XREAL Air 2 Ultra $699 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $399 | $699 |
| Display | ||
| Display type | Sony Micro-OLED | Sony 0.55-inch Micro-OLED |
| Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Pixels per degree | 49 | 42 |
| Field of view (°) | 45 | 52 |
| Refresh rate (Hz) | 60 | 120 |
| Brightness (nits) | 400 | 500 |
| Virtual screen size (in) | 130 | 385 |
| HDR support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Color support | Full color | Full color |
| Optics | ||
| Optics type | birdbath | birdbath |
| Dimming control | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Transparency level | electrochromic (adjustable tint) | 3-level electrochromic dimming |
| Prescription support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Diopter range | Prescription inserts available | Prescription lens inserts (dedicated frame, incompatible with Air/Air 2 inserts; discontinued — availability uncertain) |
| Physical | ||
| Weight (g) | 89 | 80 |
| Frame style | wraparound | wraparound |
| Color options | Dark Gray | Dark Gray |
| Foldable | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Battery & power | ||
| Charging method | USB-C (powered by connected device) | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| Connectivity | USB-C | USB-C |
| Tethered | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Compatible devices | Android, iOS, PC, Mac, Steam Deck, ROG Ally, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch | Android, PC, Mac, XREAL Beam |
| Computing | ||
| Processing type | tethered | tethered |
| Operating system | — | NRSDK/XREAL SDK hosts: select Samsung Android phones, XREAL Beam Pro, Windows/Mac as display |
| Chipset | — | None on-device (compute on tethered host: Samsung Galaxy S23+, Beam Pro, PC) |
| Sensors & input | ||
| Camera | ✕ No | ✓ Yes (2×) |
| Microphones | 2 | — |
| Speakers | open-ear | open-ear · spatial audio |
| Tracking | — | 6DoF |
Buy the TCL NxtWear S
Buy the XREAL Air 2 Ultra
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Jump straight to full specs and where to buy either model, or keep exploring related picks.
TCL NxtWear S vs XREAL Air 2 Ultra: FAQs
Which is newer: the TCL NxtWear S or the XREAL Air 2 Ultra?
The XREAL Air 2 Ultra is newer, released March 2024, versus June 2023 for the TCL NxtWear S.
Which is cheaper: the TCL NxtWear S or the XREAL Air 2 Ultra?
The TCL NxtWear S costs $399 and the XREAL Air 2 Ultra costs $699, making the TCL NxtWear S $300 cheaper.
Which has the larger field of view: the TCL NxtWear S or the XREAL Air 2 Ultra?
The XREAL Air 2 Ultra has the larger field of view: TCL NxtWear S measures 45 degrees vs 52 degrees for the XREAL Air 2 Ultra.
Which is lighter: the TCL NxtWear S or the XREAL Air 2 Ultra?
The XREAL Air 2 Ultra is lighter at 80g. The TCL NxtWear S weighs 89g and the XREAL Air 2 Ultra weighs 80g.
Which has the brighter display: the TCL NxtWear S or the XREAL Air 2 Ultra?
The XREAL Air 2 Ultra is brighter at 500 nits (TCL NxtWear S: 400 nits, XREAL Air 2 Ultra: 500 nits).
What is the main difference between the TCL NxtWear S and the XREAL Air 2 Ultra?
Based on recorded specs, the TCL NxtWear S leads on price ($300 cheaper) while the XREAL Air 2 Ultra leads on weight (9g lighter).