TCL NxtWear S vs XREAL Air 2
Side-by-side comparison of specs, features, and pricing
Specs updated
Which should you buy?
Bottom line: the XREAL Air 2 is the better buy for most people at $200 less.
Buy the TCL NxtWear S if…
Going by the published specs alone, there is no clear reason to pick the TCL NxtWear S over its rival here — compare the full table below.
Buy the XREAL Air 2 if…
- You want to spend $200 less ($199 vs $399)
- You need the brighter 500-nit display (vs 400 nits)
- You want the lighter 72g 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 $199 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $399 | $199 |
| Display | ||
| Display type | Sony Micro-OLED | Sony 0.55-inch Micro-OLED |
| Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Pixels per degree | 49 | 49 |
| Field of view (°) | 45 | 46 |
| Refresh rate (Hz) | 60 | 120 |
| Brightness (nits) | 400 | 500 |
| Virtual screen size (in) | 130 | 330 |
| HDR support | ✕ No | — |
| Color support | Full color | Full color |
| Optics | ||
| Optics type | birdbath | birdbath |
| Dimming control | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Transparency level | electrochromic (adjustable tint) | — |
| Prescription support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Diopter range | Prescription inserts available | Prescription lens inserts (frame in box; partners Lensology / Rochester Optical / Frame of Choice) |
| Physical | ||
| Weight (g) | 89 | 72 |
| Frame style | wraparound | — |
| Color options | Dark Gray | — |
| Foldable | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Battery & power | ||
| Charging method | USB-C (powered by connected device) | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| Connectivity | USB-C | USB-C (DP Alt Mode) |
| Tethered | ✓ Yes | — |
| Compatible devices | Android, iOS, PC, Mac, Steam Deck, ROG Ally, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch | Android, iOS, PC, Mac, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, ROG Ally |
| Computing | ||
| Processing type | tethered | — |
| Operating system | — | iPhone (15+/USB-C), Android, Windows, macOS, Steam Deck, consoles via Beam/adapters |
| Chipset | — | None on-device (plain USB-C display; spatial features require XREAL Beam or host app) |
| Sensors & input | ||
| Camera | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Microphones | 2 | — |
| Speakers | open-ear | open-ear |
| Tracking | — | 3DoF |
Buy the TCL NxtWear S
Buy the XREAL Air 2
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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: FAQs
Which is newer: the TCL NxtWear S or the XREAL Air 2?
The XREAL Air 2 is newer, released November 2023, versus June 2023 for the TCL NxtWear S.
Which is cheaper: the TCL NxtWear S or the XREAL Air 2?
The TCL NxtWear S costs $399 and the XREAL Air 2 costs $199, making the XREAL Air 2 $200 cheaper.
Which has the larger field of view: the TCL NxtWear S or the XREAL Air 2?
The XREAL Air 2 has the larger field of view: TCL NxtWear S measures 45 degrees vs 46 degrees for the XREAL Air 2.
Which is lighter: the TCL NxtWear S or the XREAL Air 2?
The XREAL Air 2 is lighter at 72g. The TCL NxtWear S weighs 89g and the XREAL Air 2 weighs 72g.
Which has the brighter display: the TCL NxtWear S or the XREAL Air 2?
The XREAL Air 2 is brighter at 500 nits (TCL NxtWear S: 400 nits, XREAL Air 2: 500 nits).