XREAL 1S vs XREAL Air 2 Ultra
Side-by-side comparison of specs, features, and pricing
Specs updated
Which should you buy?
Bottom line: the XREAL 1S is the better buy for most people at $250 less, unless you need 6DoF positional tracking.
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Buy the XREAL 1S if…
- You want to spend $250 less ($449 vs $699)
- You need the brighter 700-nit display (vs 500 nits)
- You play on Steam Deck
- You play on Nintendo Switch
Buy the XREAL Air 2 Ultra if…
- You need full 6DoF positional tracking
- You want a built-in camera
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 |  XREAL 1S $449 |  XREAL Air 2 Ultra $699 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $449 | $699 |
| Display | ||
| Display type | Sony Micro-OLED (1200p panels) | Sony 0.55-inch Micro-OLED |
| Resolution | 1920x1200 | 1920x1080 |
| Pixels per degree | — | 42 |
| Field of view (°) | 52 | 52 |
| Refresh rate (Hz) | 120 | 120 |
| Brightness (nits) | 700 | 500 |
| Virtual screen size (in) | 171 | 385 |
| HDR support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Color support | Full color | Full color |
| Optics | ||
| Optics type | birdbath | birdbath |
| Dimming control | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Transparency level | 3-level electrochromic (0%, 35%, 100%) | 3-level electrochromic dimming |
| Prescription support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Diopter range | Prescription lens inserts (shared One/1S SKU, $49.90 at XREAL; no maker-published range) | Prescription lens inserts (dedicated frame, incompatible with Air/Air 2 inserts; discontinued — availability uncertain) |
| Physical | ||
| Weight (g) | 82 | 80 |
| Frame style | wraparound | wraparound |
| Color options | Cobalt Blue | 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, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox | Android, PC, Mac, XREAL Beam |
| Computing | ||
| Processing type | tethered | tethered |
| Operating system | iPhone, Android, Windows, macOS, Steam Deck, Switch/Switch 2 (via Neo hub) | NRSDK/XREAL SDK hosts: select Samsung Android phones, XREAL Beam Pro, Windows/Mac as display |
| Chipset | XREAL X1 chip (3ms latency, 120Hz) | None on-device (compute on tethered host: Samsung Galaxy S23+, Beam Pro, PC) |
| Sensors & input | ||
| Camera | ✕ No | ✓ Yes (2×) |
| Microphones | 2 | — |
| Speakers | directional · spatial audio | open-ear · spatial audio |
| Tracking | 3DoF | 6DoF |
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.
XREAL 1S vs XREAL Air 2 Ultra: FAQs
Which is newer: the XREAL 1S or the XREAL Air 2 Ultra?
The XREAL 1S is newer, released January 2026, versus March 2024 for the XREAL Air 2 Ultra.
Which is cheaper: the XREAL 1S or the XREAL Air 2 Ultra?
The XREAL 1S costs $449 and the XREAL Air 2 Ultra costs $699, making the XREAL 1S $250 cheaper.
Which is lighter: the XREAL 1S or the XREAL Air 2 Ultra?
The XREAL Air 2 Ultra is lighter at 80g. The XREAL 1S weighs 82g and the XREAL Air 2 Ultra weighs 80g.
Which has the brighter display: the XREAL 1S or the XREAL Air 2 Ultra?
The XREAL 1S is brighter at 700 nits (XREAL 1S: 700 nits, XREAL Air 2 Ultra: 500 nits).
What is the main difference between the XREAL 1S and the XREAL Air 2 Ultra?
Based on recorded specs, the XREAL 1S leads on price ($250 cheaper) while the XREAL Air 2 Ultra leads on weight (2g lighter).