Xreal has launched the XBX a01+, a $299 pair of augmented reality glasses that Engadget calls the best budget AR eyewear yet. The glasses undercut Xreal's own premium One AR model, which costs $599, while retaining much of what makes that flagship desirable, offering a genuine step up in accessibility for people curious about AR displays without committing to a costly purchase. Their arrival also intensifies competition in a market where rivals such as RayNeo have long sold similarly priced devices, a dynamic that typically pushes prices down further over time.

The a01+ projects a virtual 147-inch screen using dual-layer Micro-OLED 1080p lenses capable of reaching 1,600 nits of peak brightness, making them usable even in direct sunlight, with fourteen brightness steps and modes including eye-care and cinema settings. They weigh just 62 grams, have a 50-degree field of view, support a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming, and include stereo speakers with multiple audio profiles. Drawbacks include a wired-only connection, no compatibility with Nintendo Switch consoles, limited bass from the speakers, and an extra $50 charge for prescription lens inserts; despite this, the reviewer awarded the device 9 out of 10.