Compare XREAL Air vs its closest rivals
The 5 closest rivals to the XREAL Air, side by side — the same picks you'll find on its product page, the nearest matches on price, specs, and what they're for. Every verdict link opens a full head-to-head comparison.
XREAL Air vs its closest rivals — full spec matrix
The makers' published specs, side by side. The rivals here are the closest matches on price, specs, and what they're for.
| Specification | This model XREAL Air $379 | Newer model XREAL Air 2 $199 | Newer model XREAL Air 2 Pro $249 | Newer model XREAL Air 2 Ultra $699 | Close rival TCL NxtWear S $399 | Close rival RayNeo Air 3s Pro AR/XR Glasses $299 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | ||||||
| Display type | Sony 0.68-inch Micro-OLED | Sony 0.55-inch Micro-OLED | Sony 0.55-inch Micro-OLED | Sony 0.55-inch Micro-OLED | Sony Micro-OLED | Sony 0.6" tandem Micro-OLED (5.5th-gen, HueView 2.0) |
| Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Pixels per degree | 49 | 49 | 49 | 42 | 49 | 42 |
| Field of view (°) | 46 | 46 | 46 | 52 | 45 | 46 |
| Refresh rate (Hz) | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 60 | 120 |
| Brightness (nits) | 400 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 400 | 1200 |
| Virtual screen size (in) | 201 | 330 | 330 | 385 | 130 | 201 |
| HDR support | — | — | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✕ No | — |
| Color support | Full color | Full color | Full color | Full color | Full color | Full color |
| Optics | ||||||
| Optics type | birdbath | birdbath | birdbath | birdbath | birdbath | birdbath |
| Dimming control | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Transparency level | — | — | 3-level electrochromic (0%, 35%, 100%) | 3-level electrochromic dimming | electrochromic (adjustable tint) | — |
| Prescription support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Diopter range | Prescription lens insert frame ships in the box; lenses fitted by an optician — XREAL published no partner list or diopter range for the original Air | Prescription lens inserts (frame in box; partners Lensology / Rochester Optical / Frame of Choice) | Prescription lens inserts (frame in box; partner JUN GINZA / Frame of Choice) | Prescription lens inserts (dedicated frame, incompatible with Air/Air 2 inserts; discontinued — availability uncertain) | Prescription inserts available | Prescription lens frame support (lenses separate) |
| Physical | ||||||
| Weight (g) | 79 | 72 | 75 | 80 | 89 | 76 |
| Frame style | — | — | wraparound | wraparound | wraparound | — |
| Color options | — | — | Dark Gray | Dark Gray | Dark Gray | — |
| Foldable | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Battery & power | ||||||
| Charging method | — | — | USB-C (powered by connected device) | — | USB-C (powered by connected device) | — |
| Connectivity | ||||||
| Connectivity | USB-C (DP Alt Mode) | USB-C (DP Alt Mode) | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C (DP Alt Mode) |
| Tethered | — | — | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | — |
| Compatible devices | Android, iOS, PC, Mac, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, ROG Ally | Android, iOS, PC, Mac, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, ROG Ally | Android, iOS, PC, Mac, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox | Android, PC, Mac, XREAL Beam | Android, iOS, PC, Mac, Steam Deck, ROG Ally, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch | Android, iOS, PC, Mac, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, ROG Ally |
| Computing | ||||||
| Processing type | — | — | tethered | tethered | tethered | — |
| Operating system | Android, Windows, macOS, Steam Deck, ROG Ally; iPhone and HDMI hosts via the XREAL Adapter; consoles via XREAL Beam | iPhone (15+/USB-C), Android, Windows, macOS, Steam Deck, consoles via Beam/adapters | iPhone (15+/USB-C), Android, Windows, macOS, Steam Deck, consoles via Beam/adapters | NRSDK/XREAL SDK hosts: select Samsung Android phones, XREAL Beam Pro, Windows/Mac as display | — | None (plug-and-play external display); optional RayNeo Pocket TV host |
| Chipset | None on-device (plain USB-C display; spatial features require XREAL Beam or host app) | None on-device (plain USB-C display; spatial features require XREAL Beam or host app) | None on-device (spatial features require XREAL Beam or host app) | None on-device (compute on tethered host: Samsung Galaxy S23+, Beam Pro, PC) | — | None (tethered display glasses) |
| Sensors & input | ||||||
| Camera | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✕ No | ✓ Yes (2×) | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Microphones | 2 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — |
| Speakers | open-ear | open-ear | directional · spatial audio | open-ear · spatial audio | open-ear | open-ear · spatial audio |
| Tracking | 3DoF | 3DoF | — | 6DoF | — | 0DoF |
Head-to-head verdicts
Each rival has a dedicated comparison page with a spec-grounded verdict, FAQs, and buy context.
Street-price checks
Latest recorded street price per model from our weekly archive — observed figures, not list prices. Untracked models show nothing.
- XREAL Air 2: $199 checked September 28, 2026
- RayNeo Air 3s Pro AR/XR Glasses: $219 checked October 5, 2026
XREAL Air compare: FAQs
What are the closest rivals to XREAL Air?
XREAL Air 2, XREAL Air 2 Pro, XREAL Air 2 Ultra, TCL NxtWear S, and RayNeo Air 3s Pro AR/XR Glasses — the closest matches to XREAL Air on price, specs, and what they're for.
Is there a cheaper alternative to XREAL Air?
XREAL Air 2 lists at $199 — $180 less than XREAL Air at $379.
Where can I read a full verdict on XREAL Air against one specific rival?
Each rival on this page links to a dedicated head-to-head comparison — for example XREAL Air vs XREAL Air 2 — with a spec-grounded verdict and FAQs.
XREAL Air vs XREAL Air 2: which should I buy?
Bottom line: the XREAL Air 2 is the better buy for most people at $180 less.
XREAL Air vs XREAL Air 2 Pro: which should I buy?
Bottom line: the XREAL Air 2 Pro is the better buy for most people at $130 less.
XREAL Air vs XREAL Air 2 Ultra: which should I buy?
Bottom line: the XREAL Air is the better buy for most people at $320 less, unless you need the wider field of view.