At $1,279, Google’s Xreal Aura will go head-to-head with Meta’s VR Glasses
Xreal has begun taking pre-orders for Aura, its transparent Android XR glasses developed with Google. The starting model costs $1,279, which is $20 below Meta’s VR Glasses.
The base Aura includes 12GB of memory and 256GB of storage. A higher-capacity version with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage is priced at $1,499; Xreal had not clarified whether the extra memory benefits particular apps.
Both products can place virtual objects and computer desktops into a user’s view of the surrounding world. Each uses a cable-connected compute puck, which contains the processor and battery, and presents users with floating app icons.
The main difference is how users see their surroundings. Aura’s transparent lenses provide a 70-degree diagonal viewing area, while Meta’s glasses use camera-based passthrough and offer a more immersive view.
The two lightweight devices are now direct competitors, but differ in both display approach and immersion. Aura pre-orders are open; the article says the first units are weeks away for people who reserved one.
Key points
- Aura pre-orders start at $1,279, $20 less than Meta’s VR Glasses.
- Aura offers transparent lenses; Meta uses passthrough vision for a more immersive experience.
- A 16GB/512GB Aura model costs $1,499; initial reserved units are weeks away.