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Google and Xreal put the Xreal Aura on sale on Wednesday, and the wired glasses got cheaper before shipping starts in mid-November. The base model costs $1,099 through the end of the year, down from the $1,279 Xreal was charging for preorders last month. Meta's rival VR Glasses launch in spring 2027 for $1,299.99.
Google calls Aura the first wired XR glasses powered by Android XR. The heavy processing runs in a portable compute puck connected to the glasses by a cable.
What Changed
- Google and Xreal opened orders for the Xreal Aura on Wednesday at $1,099 through the end of the year, down from the $1,279 Xreal charged for preorders last month.
- Xreal will refund preorder buyers the difference automatically, according to spokesperson Ralph Jodice.
- The glasses weigh under 95 grams because the processing runs in a cabled puck with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon Reality Elite platform.
- Meta's VR Glasses launch in spring 2027 for $1,299.99.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
A price cut before shipping
The version with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage lists at $1,279, with the $1,099 launch price running through December. The 16GB and 512GB version lists at $1,499, or $1,299 through December. Orders opened Wednesday in the U.S., Canada and Korea for buyers 18 and older. Japan follows on November 2, with broader availability next year.
Buyers who preordered at the original price get the difference back. Xreal GM and spokesperson Ralph Jodice told The Verge the company will refund it automatically and instantly.
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Sean Hollister, a senior editor at The Verge, wrote that he expects the cut came because at $1,279 the glasses "were going head to head with Meta's VR Glasses, and that's tough competition for Google and Xreal's new product."
What the cable buys
Aura's glasses weigh under 95 grams because the heavy processing happens in the puck. The puck holds the battery and Qualcomm's new Snapdragon Reality Elite platform, which debuts on Aura. It also doubles as a trackpad. The Ray-Ban Meta Display weighs 69 grams, and Aura owners have to carry the puck as well.
The transparent lenses sit over Sony Micro-OLED displays with a resolution of 1920×1200 per eye and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Google puts the field of view at 70 degrees. Hollister called that one of the widest for transparent glasses yet, then added, "but that's still not huge, and transparent glasses have other tradeoffs." The lenses can dim to fade out the room, and they turn transparent again when someone comes into view.
A laptop plugged in over a USB-C cable that supports video output appears as a window the wearer can resize and place anywhere, with no software to install. Gemini works across everything in view, including that laptop window, and can now highlight what to focus on in the room or on a screen. Google says Android XR brings over 150 apps made for XR to Aura, and new games arriving with it include Fallout Factions and Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars.
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Google's partner bet
Google is relying on partners, including Samsung and Xreal, to bring Android XR devices to consumers, much as it did with Android smartphones. The companies had teased Aura earlier in the year at Google's I/O developer conference. It can run all the apps from Samsung's Galaxy XR, a more expensive headset released last year.
Chi Xu, Xreal's founder and CEO, told TechCrunch in May that building a smart glass business is hard and that everyone is losing money.
Xu told CNET he thinks devices like Aura can be "a tablet or laptop replacement." CNET's Scott Stein, who tried Aura in early demos over the last year, wrote that on-the-go work is exactly what he wants to put to the test when he gets to review it.
"We're hoping Aura can be a pivoting step for this whole industry, going lightweight and very easily integrated with AI as well," Xu said.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Xreal Aura cost?
The 12GB RAM and 256GB storage version costs $1,099 through December, then $1,279. The 16GB and 512GB version costs $1,299 through December, then $1,499.
Where and when can I buy the Xreal Aura?
Orders opened on Wednesday in the U.S., Canada and Korea for buyers 18 and older. Japan follows on November 2. Shipments begin in mid-November.
Why does the Xreal Aura need a puck?
The heavy processing runs in a portable compute puck connected by a cable. It holds the battery and Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite platform, which keeps the glasses under 95 grams. The puck also doubles as a trackpad.
How does the Xreal Aura compare with Meta's glasses?
Meta's VR Glasses launch in spring 2027 for $1,299.99. The Ray-Ban Meta Display weighs 69 grams, while Aura's glasses weigh under 95 grams and come with a puck to carry.
What happens if I preordered at the old price?
Xreal GM and spokesperson Ralph Jodice said the company will refund the difference automatically and instantly.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
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Marcus Schuler
Editor-in-Chief and founder of Implicator.ai. Former ARD correspondent and senior broadcast journalist with 10+ years covering tech. Writes daily briefings on policy and market developments. Based in San Francisco. E-mail: editor@implicator.ai
