XREAL Air VS Rokid Max - “AR Glasses” Compared 

What's your pick after hearing this?

Nreal Air … or Xreal Air as they are called now (after a dispute with Unreal) Not only did they change their name today. They also released the Xreal Beam. A device that brings 3Dof head tracking to any device and the ability to stream wireless from Iphone, Android, Mac, windows and Steam Deck without a cable or dongle.

The Nreal looks way better on the face. They don't immediately look weird.

I have the Nreal Air over 6 months now and I love them, for watching videos and playing games, also they are easy to carry and connect instantly. Got the Red magic adaptor for charging and mirroring on the same time. Can wait for the windows update.

Your editing is glass smooth and the timing of transitions is soothing. Beautifully done. Also, this answers a big question I had, as I find these devices to sport a very attractive use case.

Dear Cas and Char, this is a great video and I have literally been waiting for such a clear and informative piece to be published - keep it up!!

THANK YOU so damn much for THIS comparison video.

Your work on this channel is really inspiring in many ways.

Built in diopter of the Rokid was the deciding factor for me.

Excellent review, with better technical specs than other reviews I've seen. Thanks 😁

Think I’m going to put the Rokid on my radar for Black Friday. I wear glasses so the option to dial in my prescription makes the choice pretty simple. Thanks for the review though, the video’s very well put together and answered any questions I could’ve thought of.

I feel like the xreal is the only one people would wear in public.

Great comparison video! Thank you!

Thank you for the comparison review!

With the upcoming launch of the Beam for the Xreal / Nreal Air, I think the decision will become a bit easier.

Fantastic review. This helped me mske a decision on the xreals!

Thanks for the video. I'm thinking about buying a pair of AR glasses and this really helped 👍😊

Finally ..compare video !!

3:01 that's probably the best way to put the AR view into perspective that I've seen so far, every other video should be doing this

I actually purchased both to test and will be keeping the Rokid Max. Out of the box, even with the less than optimal Rokid Hub (US) release, the Max works with more of my devices and the 3d SBS switch is a massive boon to watching and playing 3d content in Side-by-side mode. As you stated in the review, the clarity of the max is noticable compared to the nReal. Additionally, as someone with a wider head, I found the rokid max, with their spring arms and softer pressure, to be far more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. I tend to watch my shows and play my games with subtitles enabled by default, I found the max to be legible 100% of the time, while I found the nreal air to only work well with fairly large text. I do wish the max had shipped with more than one nose piece, however, that is a minor issue in the grand scheme of things! Thanks for putting this video (and others) together. Keep up the good work and helping drive the VR/AR/XR economy!

Glad to know the Rokid works with the Nintendo Switch with minimal hassle! I hope the Nreal Air could provide a similar dongle/solution.

I'm among a small group of people that have low vision and appreciate this video❤

I want to use as a monitor and watching movies. But I only have a laptop with HDMI. I am going to have to sus out if I can use a converter with the Max. Thanks for your review, and the comments of viewers. The most informative and clear I have found.

Thanks for the comparison! Can I ask if you are going to do work on your laptop and using iPhone 15 for media content. Will you be choosing rokid max because of the better text reading?

I received my Rokid Max AR glasses yesterday. I have been working to get them optimized for my vision. Overall, I am very impressed and plan to use them for screen mirroring of my PC and game consoles. Yesterday, I played a PS4 game for several hours and while it takes a bit of getting used to, eventually, I almost got to the immersion that I get using the Quest 2 in games. The release set has ventilation holes to let out warm air at the eyebrow and it does keep the rest of the glasses pretty cool but it is another thing to get used to. I like the diopter adjustments very much but until I put on a set of glasses with astigmatism correction, the image was too blurry except for the center. Now, it is almost edge to edge sharp but it looks odd to wear two sets of glasses. I know that I can get custom made lenses for the Rokid Max but they are expensive so I'll put up with this hack for a while. Overall, I have high hopes for these glasses and can't wait for the 3DOF software for PC. That would be awesome.

Thank you for your review. Really helpful!

NReals arms adjust with a loud snapping for each increment. My advice is adjust once and once only and when they are unconnected as one lens stopped functioning when I was adjusting them.

I am visually impaired and have a question about the screen. 215" at 6 m sounds good but can one get closer than that by zoomning or "walking" toeards the screen? Thanx for interedting material! Greetings from Sweden and Stefan

Thank you for this great comparison video. It greatly helps my decision on which one I want to buy. 5/5

Great review, thank you! Could you say something about the input latency when gaming with Rokid Max, by any chance? I'd like to get them as my main display for PS5, but latency is a huge concern. I'm worried it may be pretty high, especially when using a Type C to HDMI adapter. What's the name of that kitten of yours? It sounds quite interesting.

The comment about subtitles was critical to me.

Great video, I think I would go with the Xreal, I think software makes or breaks a device.

Hi, does any of them able to render 3d model objects? or does it support only flat surfaces? (rendering screens) thanks!

Thanks. Which one is better for productivity and multi-monitor tasks?

Hi @Cas and Chary VR. I'm new to VR/AR and could use some advice. I want to watch RU-vid videos (both VR/360 and standard) while on my bicycle trainer, preferably using a wireless connection. I have an iPhone 14 Pro and both glasses appear to work with the iPhone using an adapter kit and screen mirroring. I'm thinking perhaps turning on head tracking would allow me to "look around" in 360 videos. Does that sound correct? (fwiw, I also have a 2020 Intel i7 Macbook Pro). Thanks!

My Rockid was just shipped last week. Can't wait to put my hands on it and couple it with my beloved Steam Deck!! Thanks for all info and analysis!

do any of both options come with the option to use/watch the same screen with other pair of glasses btw

TBH, I'm going to wait a generation or two for the technology to mature a bit further. I just saw the Apple Vision Pro, and while that thing is stupid expensive (Like $3500 US?), it does seem to set the bar appropriately high. In a few years or so, I hope to see something of similar level of quality to that (visual fidelity, gesture & voice controls, and overall software support and stability), cheaper (let's be real, we don't need the Eye Vision gimmick do we? It's an interesting feature but no doubt is an expensive addition), and of course targeted towards Windows/Android. Basically, I'd like to see something lean more in the VR, but provide high quality passthrough like the Apple Vision apparently has. I know some VR headsets, especially high end ones, have some great features, but we need something smaller and lighter if we're going to use it regularly in day to day life. Battery life is also a big factor.

im looking to purchase the nreelair glasses to play my steam deck and watch tv in my truck. is it pretty much plug and play, whats the battery life like and have you tried the nreel beam with the glasses

I owned both and found the color on the Rokid to be way too warm for my taste. I really couldn’t stand it. Also the edge blur on the Rokid was an actual hindrance with the larger screen vs a minor annoyance on the xreal with the slightly smaller screen. Now that xreal can do 120hz and be paired with the beam, it’s the clear winner in my opinion (unless you need to diopter adjustments). Thanks so much for the great video!

Have you reviewed the Rockid with Rockid Station yet? I would like to know your thoughts. Thank you

I got the nReal Air (by the way, they are called "xReal" as of today, I think because of a lawsuit...) about 6 months ago. They are actually great when used as a tiny portable monitor. They work well with the Steam Deck, and I do occasionally watch 3D movies on them. I love that they can already work with Apple computers and will soon work with Windows, but I don't think I will use that very often, much like the phone app. Sure, it's fun and impressive and feels futuristic to put a bunch of windows around you and pretend you live in the future. But it's not really productive or useful. So: awesome as a portable monitor for gaming and movies. But not really AR, that 3DOF tracking is more of a gimmick.

Have you tried using gingerxr to keep the monitors in one position?

I hope you’re enjoying KC:D! That was the first 50+ game that I played on my Steam Deck.

I forgot what this video was about. Her Voice is so soothing. ❤️❤️❤️

I like the 3 monitor setup with the Nreal

I want a device to play RockBand and see my electronic drum kit through the screen. Is it possible to extend screen and make the image more opaque so that i can see through it ?

Does it work well for productivity? I would enjoy havimg multiole screens to work with

Woohoo AR time baby!!

Thanks for the detailed usage video, great job explaining and showing the difference. One thing I would change is your definition of ‘AR’. Augmented Reality, which can be anything from heads-up displays in jet fighters to as recent as more expensive automobiles. Even audio only devices could fit this definition. Google Glass comes to mind for this category. XR would be a better definition of displays that uses sensors to determine position and track the user in 3D space. The problem is Apple & Google needed to differentiate their tech that allows 3D objects to appear to be in your “living room” via your phone’s screen from VR’s usage of a phones screen as was the case with Google Cardboard type tech. In fact XREAL and Rokid could be considered partial XR since they do provide 3DOF via their builtin IMU (Inertial Measurement Units) allowing rotational information of the wearers head to be integrated into the position of the projected image. This gives the user the perception that the image is ‘anchored’ in one place. 6DOF type XR devices would be products like MS Hololens and MagicLeap. In fact NReal did actually make a 6DOF that I believe was called the NREAL Pro, but it was much more expensive and due to it relying on stereo image based SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) versus laser patterned or TOF based depth sensors and letting the phone do most of the processing, made tracking & anchoring less than ideal and more important was power hungry, not to mention a heavier & bulkier unit. One could add 6DOF by incorporating an external sensor like Occipital’s Structure Sensor, which I had tested & developed around in another product back in 2017-18 (see videos on my channel). What is interesting is how the VR market has also hijacked the term, by adding stereo color cameras and then integrating the dual video feed with the normal stereo VR screens to create a ‘Mixed Reality’ image (which I feel ‘MR’ is a better acronym for this type of device. In fact the Apple Vision Pro, is really a very high resolution VR HMD with 6K dual color video cameras, and dual TOF laser depth sensing.

Does the announcement of the Beam attachment change your thoughts at all?

Which one would be better for supporting side by side VR?

Great review!

Hi, could you check the minimum IPD distance at the Rokid Max please? I cannot find this value. I also would like to know the performance with a PC, is there some input lag or other issues? Thank you in advance! Nice videos, I love to watch it. Kind regards Chris

The future of home television and media viewing. Will probably jump in with the next iteration (clarity is still not good enough to me yet)

I might have gotten the Rokid had I watched your video last week (so I am now a bit fearful because of the blurred edges especially subtitles and the 120hz differences), but I am also interested in experimenting with the prescription glasses and the greater software and multiple device features that the Xreal that I just ordered. Half of my large-screen video consumption has subtitles (Korean Drama etc.) and I actually multitask with subtitles in many of the youtubes I monitor. We shall soon see, wish I could play with both, may end up switching.

I really help your video to choice ar two item between

Did you try opening a WebXR or WebVR scene inside the web browser? Can you navigate through the stage in a 3D environment? Can you use both glasses to project 3D objects/scenes in real space?

I purchased the Rokid Max. I will be receiving it Tuesday. Right now I am in a Rehabilitation home so I will be using it to play games and watch movies. I have allot of movies in UHD I want to watch with the 120 refresh rate. I will have to play with the 3d also.

i never tried the Rokid. i LOVE LOVE LOVE my xReal Light's. Paired with Samsung Dex on my s21 Ultra is the best productivity set-up ever.

Any similar glasses that have a camera and allow to see the surroundings through it?

The new xreal beam comes out next month and is now compatible with all devices and has its own independent 5000mah battery pack/controller for about 450$

Nice video, thank you!! From purely a "movie watching / TV series from NAS on the couch" standpoint, which could be better? One of these "smartglasses" or a Quest 3 (Q2 maybe?)? I understand that the Q3 is a complete standalone VR headset with you can do lot's of other things a well, but still my question is valid. Imho for movies, these glasses can be maybe a better option (waaaaay lighter, I can lie down to bed, nothing is on may back of the head), but when it comes to costs, these are simply too overpriced, seeing that what else can a Q3 do, and maybe in even better quality (okay OLED is better than LCD, that is for sure). So for movies: smart AR glasses, or VR headset?

Rokid for me - for two reasons: - I wear regular glasses, meaning I'd need to add the cost of prescription lenses with the Nreal - I would use it mainly for portable gaming, meaning I care less about the software support and care more about the refresh rate

Will it have detrimental effect on eyes like vr headsets?

Nice video! Could you please see if either AR glasses can zoom the image in for those of us with extremely poor vision (accessability zoom features). When I mirror my iPhone to the TV, the zoom feature works on the phone but it does not zoom on the TV.

Thank you for your info.

13:57 / 14:21 XREAL is the one i have brought.cant wait to get it,thank you bobby.

Finally an AR review

I would love to use this to place and pin multiple virtual desktops (external monitors) while working with laptop (Linux/Mac/Windows/ChromeOS/etc.). Based on multiple reviews this doesn't sound to be ready.

Can you redo this video comparing against the Air 2?

Does either of those support Variable Refresh Rate?

Awesome video!

Thanks Cas.

Do either of these play nice-nice with iPhone and/or Mac on M1/M2?

Wait, people still do lan parties? Haven't been to one of those since high school.

What happened to the Huawei Vision Glass?

Im legally blind and need the screen close, is the screens u see in rookid at a fixed distance or can i get the mirrored image closer or is it always and the 6 meter distance?

2 months later, which one do you still use the most?

I decided to go for the Rokid. And n luck with the upcoming rokid 2. Cant wait for september shipping Reason for rokid screen and sound quality

I am interested in watching my 3D content. What file formats are supported please? MPO? SBS, ANAGLYPH?

Can you compare these against Venture glasses.

is the Rokid glasses friendly?

I love my Nreal/Xreal glasses !!!

XReal gift doesn't connect to my laptop (no USBC). Special cable from Amazon with USBA/DisplayPort at one end and USBC at the other hasn't come yet. Mirroring my Android works well. One question... the Nebula software agreement seems to grant unnecessary and concerning rights to the vendor. Can you take a look and offer an opinion?

what is the game that you play in from 8 minute ?

Will it also work with my ereader ?

"It's like comparing two feathers" Best comment 😂😂😂

I wish I could get some expert honest advice about these smart glasses.I have bought the cables adapters beams and none of that works.I returned the xreal glasses,I couldn't get anything to work.

I have the nreal air and mainly use it for screen mirror on my phone and playing with my Xbox but I'm having issues logging into my RU-vid account with the nreal nebula app, it says I can't use unsupported browsers, if anyone knows a work around for this issue I would appreciate the help

Was this called Nreal like literally 6 days ago?

Hey why don't you use VR headset ... I think they already are doing everything you are saying and it looks a cheaper solution.... however can you use your glasses when it' s really dark? Thanks for the video

which one is best for watching movies ? ANYONE PURCHASED AND USED XREAL AIR 2 ? PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES .

Me gusta mucho tu canal. Alguna recomendación solo exclusivamente para ver cine. Saludos desde España.

50% higher brightness is a game changer. Who cares about some lame apps that no one will use?

I have the Rokid Max and i love it

Good comparison . A day late , nReal is now xReal.

Bought both. Returned both. Air is not designed for large heads. Temple length to short. Unadjustable. Digs into head. Perfect eyes only. Prescription lens brings costs (at 100+ ) way up. 1080p OK. Needs 4k. Looks great MAx. Diopter eye adjuster big plus. Almost kept product. Fits big heads. Minus. Poor support. 1080p. Looks stupid in public. If you take the pluses of both products and made 1 product with 4k. They would sell millions.

I started out with the Nreal Air, at first I didn't like them because the bottom of the screen would be cut off.. then I discovered you could adjust the arms to angle the glasses(that helped tremendously), I picked up the Rokid Max because I wanted to adjust for my nearsighted eyes... which worked well, however I ran into the same issue where the bottom of the screen was cut off for me(must be the angle of my nose).. but the Rokid DOES NOT have an option to adjust the arms, so ended up returning them.

Please look directly into the lenses. Which one is physically bigger?