Xreal has announced that its new Aura augmented reality glasses will be available for pre-order starting at $1,279, with shipping to begin in the coming weeks. This positions the Aura as a direct competitor to Meta's recently announced VR Glasses, which are priced at $1,299 and set to launch in spring 2027. Both devices feature a lightweight design, weighing under 100 grams, and offload processing and battery to a tethered "compute puck."
A key difference lies in their display technology and intended use. Xreal's Aura uses optical see-through lenses, allowing users to view digital content overlaid on the real world, making it suitable for all-day wear and navigation. In contrast, Meta's device is a more immersive VR headset that uses cameras for full-color passthrough, building on its experience with the Quest lineup. The Aura will run on Google's Android XR platform with Gemini AI, while Meta's glasses will use its own ecosystem and Muse AI.