XREAL announced the launch window and price ceiling for its Aura glasses, previously shown as Project Aura. Developed with Google and Qualcomm, the device will launch in fall 2026, with the base version retailing for no more than $1,500 before taxes. The first wave includes the US, UK, Japan, South Korea, and select EU countries.
Aura uses a split-compute design: the glasses connect via cable to a pocket module powered by the new Snapdragon Reality Elite chip. According to Qualcomm, compared to XR2+ Gen 2, it delivers up to 60% more graphics performance, 30% more CPU power, and 160% more neural compute. The glasses themselves feature the XREAL X1S coprocessor for display and sensor processing with minimal latency.
Optics are birdbath type with a 70-degree field of view, and the headset weighs under 95 g. Displays, according to industry sources, are Sony micro-OLEDs with 1920×1200 resolution per eye at 120 Hz. Features include six degrees of freedom tracking, hand recognition, electrochromic lens dimming, fingerprint scanner, and DisplayPort video input for use with a laptop or game console.
The glasses run Android XR: standard Google Play is available with Maps, YouTube, and Chrome, and the built-in Gemini understands what the user sees, launches apps, and helps manage spatial windows. Over 100 apps are being prepared specifically for XR, according to the company.
Demand was tested via pre-orders. All 2,000 Founder Priority Passes at $299 sold out in 36 hours; the $99 deposit option with $199 credit toward purchase also sold out. In August, XREAL reported reservations exceeded 10,000.
For the market, Aura is one of the first mass-produced AR glasses on Android XR with a full app store. Final pricing and package details are yet to be announced, so comparisons with competitors should wait until sales begin.
