AR Glasses Specs, Explained

Spec tables on this site render a few dozen rows, and most of them are self-explanatory — weight is weight. This page defines the rows that are not, one term at a time, with real values from the 81 glasses in our database. For the optics rows — optics type, brightness, pixels per degree, field of view — the deep explanation lives in birdbath vs waveguide, and this page points there rather than repeating it.

What does “tethered” mean on a spec sheet?

Tethered glasses have no battery and no computer of their own: they draw power and a video signal from the device they plug into, usually over a single USB-C cable. That is the whole trick behind lightweight display glasses — 23 of the 81 glasses in our database are tethered, including nearly every birdbath display pair, and shedding the battery is how they stay under 90 g. The cost is the cable and a drain on the host device’s battery. Standalone glasses (the “No” rows) carry their own compute and power, like the camera-and-AI family.

What does “processing type” mean?

Processing type records where the computing happens. Our database uses four values: tethered (22 models — the host device renders everything, the glasses are a display), phone (15 models — a companion phone app does the thinking, as on Meta’s camera glasses), on-device (10 models — a full computer in the frame, like the Microsoft HoloLens 2), and external-puck (a separate pocket computer wired to the glasses). Tethered and phone-based designs are lighter; on-device designs work alone but carry the weight and battery penalty.

What does “display type” mean?

Display type names the panel technology that makes the image. Most birdbath display glasses use Sony micro-OLED panels — the same part across XREAL, VITURE, and RayNeo models — while waveguide HUD glasses use tiny projectors, like the dual micro-LED projectors in the Halliday G2. Budget no-name glasses sometimes substitute LCD, which is dimmer with worse contrast. A display type of “none” is not an omission: 10 of the 81 glasses in our database are camera-and-audio AI glasses with no screen at all, like the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2.

What is a monochrome display (vs full color)?

Color support records whether the display shows full color or a single color. Full-color panels (59 of the 81 in our database) are what movie-and-monitor glasses use. Monochrome displays (11 models) are usually green, chosen because waveguide optics transmit a single wavelength efficiently and a bright green overlay stays readable in daylight — the Even Realities G2 renders its whole HUD in green. Monochrome is not a defect; for glanceable text it buys brightness and battery life.

What refresh rate do AR glasses have, and does 120Hz matter?

Refresh rate is how many times per second the display redraws, and 45 of the 81 glasses in our database record one. The current generation of display glasses — the XREAL One family, the VITURE line, the RayNeo Air 4 Pro, and Rokid’s Max pairs — runs 120Hz. The difference shows in motion: scrolling text, games, and fast video look visibly smoother at 120Hz than at 60Hz. For a static virtual desktop 60Hz is workable; for gaming refresh rate is one of the biggest practical gaps between older and current models.

What does “virtual screen size” mean?

Virtual screen size is the manufacturer’s claim for how big the floating screen looks, in inches — 36 of the 81 glasses in our database record one. Read it carefully, because it hides a distance assumption: our database records the default screen size, not the marketing maximum. The XREAL 1S records 171 inches — its standard view — while XREAL’s headline claim is a 500-inch screen projected at a simulated 10 m distance. A bigger claimed number at a longer simulated distance is the same field of view; the honest comparison spec is field of view.

What is HDR support in AR glasses?

HDR support records whether the display accepts a high-dynamic-range signal (HDR10), which preserves bright highlights and dark shadows in supported video. It is rare in this category — 5 of the 81 glasses in our database record it — which makes it a genuine tie-breaker: at the same $299 price, the XREAL xbx a01+ records HDR10 while the VITURE Pro 2 does not. For movie watching on an OLED-class panel, that is a real difference, not spec-sheet noise.

What is dimming control (electrochromic dimming)?

Dimming control means the glasses can darken their lenses electronically, usually with an electrochromic film that switches tint levels at the press of a button — the XREAL Air 2 Pro popularized the approach. It is recorded on 52 of the 81 glasses in our database. It is not the same thing as photochromic (Transitions) lenses, which react slowly to sunlight, or clip-on shades — the VITURE Pro 2 dropped the electrochromic film in favor of a clip-on. For display glasses, dimming is what keeps the picture watchable in a bright room.

What does “prescription support” mean?

Prescription support is a yes/no field: can a glasses-wearer use this device without contact lenses? The mechanism varies, which is why the spec table pairs it with diopter range. Support can mean built-in adjustment dials, snap-in prescription inserts you order from an optician, or a manufacturer lens program that fits prescription lenses into the frame itself. 65 of the 81 glasses in our database record prescription support — check the prescription hub for the models that handle strong prescriptions best.

What is diopter range (built-in vision correction)?

Diopter range states how much vision correction the device covers, in diopters — the same unit as an eyeglass prescription, where negative numbers correct nearsightedness. Our database records it as text on 65 of the 81 glasses because the mechanisms differ too much for one number. There are three honest tiers: built-in per-eye dials — the VITURE Pro 2 records “0 to -5.0D, independent dial per eye”; prescription inserts — the XREAL xbx a01+ offers 1.6 or 1.67 index inserts; and manufacturer lens programs — Meta’s Rx Lens Swap fits prescription lenses to the Meta Adventurer at an optician, covering -12 to +2.25. Dials are instant but capped; inserts and lens programs cover stronger prescriptions.

What is the difference between 3DoF and 6DoF tracking?

DoF is degrees of freedom. 3DoF tracks head rotation only — look left, the screen stays put — which is all a virtual monitor needs, and it is what most display glasses do. 6DoF adds position tracking: walk toward a virtual object and it gets closer, which is what spatial apps require. Only 15 of the 81 glasses in our database record 6DoF, and they are mostly advanced AR devices — the Magic Leap 2, the HoloLens 2, and the RayNeo X3 Pro. If a spec sheet does not mention tracking, assume screen-anchoring (3DoF) at most.

What is USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode (and why “Connectivity” matters)?

The Connectivity row usually says something like “USB-C (DP Alt Mode)”, and it is the single most important compatibility fact for tethered glasses. DisplayPort Alternate Mode is the USB-C feature that carries a real video signal down the cable; display glasses are, electrically, USB-C monitors. The host device must support DP Alt Mode video output — most flagship phones, laptops, and handhelds like the Steam Deck do, but many budget phones do not. Devices that only output HDMI, like the PS5 and Xbox, need a powered HDMI-to-USB-C adapter in between — the gaming hub covers the console setups, and the Steam Deck hub covers the direct-USB-C path.

What does an IP rating mean on smart glasses?

An IP (Ingress Protection) rating states tested resistance to dust and water. The second digit is the water rating: IPX4 means splash-resistant from any direction — sweat and rain, not immersion. Only 13 of the 81 glasses in our database record any IP rating; the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 records IPX4. When the row is blank it means the manufacturer published nothing, and unrated glasses should be treated as not water-resistant — a blank is not a hidden IPX4. For workout use, the fitness hub treats a recorded rating as its top criterion.

Where are optics type, brightness, PPD, and field of view?

Those four rows get a full explainer of their own: birdbath vs waveguide covers optics type, brightness in nits (and why nits are not comparable across architectures), pixels per degree, and field of view. One honesty note that belongs here: PPD is unrecorded on most models — 62 of the 81 products in our database publish no PPD figure, so the spec row renders an em dash rather than a guess.

Frequently asked questions

What does tethered mean on an AR glasses spec sheet?

Tethered glasses have no battery or computer of their own: they draw power and video from the phone, laptop, or console they plug into over USB-C. 23 of the 81 glasses in our database are tethered — including nearly every birdbath display pair — which is why display glasses can weigh under 90 g.

What is diopter adjustment in AR glasses?

Diopter adjustment is built-in vision correction, measured in diopters like an eyeglass prescription. It comes in three forms: built-in per-eye dials (the VITURE Pro 2 covers 0 to -5.0D), snap-in prescription inserts (the XREAL xbx a01+ offers 1.6 or 1.67 index inserts), and manufacturer lens programs (Meta's Rx Lens Swap fits prescription lenses at an optician).

Do you need 120Hz in AR glasses?

120Hz makes motion — scrolling, games, fast video — look smoother than 60Hz, and current display glasses from XREAL, VITURE, RayNeo, and Rokid all run 120Hz panels. For a static virtual monitor 60Hz is workable; for gaming, refresh rate is one of the biggest practical differences between generations.

What is USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode and why does it matter?

DisplayPort Alt Mode is the USB-C feature that lets a phone or laptop send a real video signal down the cable. Display glasses are USB-C monitors, so the host device must support DP Alt Mode for the glasses to show anything — and HDMI-only consoles like the PS5 and Xbox need a powered HDMI-to-USB-C adapter between them.

What is the difference between 3DoF and 6DoF?

3DoF tracks head rotation only, which is enough to anchor a virtual screen in place; 6DoF also tracks position, so you can walk around virtual objects. Only 15 of the 81 glasses in our database record 6DoF tracking, and they are mostly advanced AR devices like the Magic Leap 2 and HoloLens 2.