Xreal debuted the Xreal Air 2 and Xreal Air 2 Pro, priced at $399 and $449 respectively, that will go on sale this November in the U.S., U.K. and in some European countries. The Xreal Air 2 is designed to be lightweight as opposed to bulky VR headsets, as the company hopes to attract more customers with this lightweight and easy-to-wear product. Xreal is aiming to rival the upcoming Apple Vision Pro and other hardware from Meta, Facebook's parent company which currently dominates the AR/VR headset market.
On Tuesday, Xreal, a Chinese augmented reality (AR) company, launched their up-to-date pair of glasses. This comes amid an increase of attention on the technology, with many tech giants like Apple and Meta considering it as the next key consumer item following the smartphone. The Xreal Air 2 and Xreal Air 2 Pro glasses are lightweight, in contrast to heavier headsets, as the firm believes that lighter designs will draw in a wider selection of shoppers who are seeking a convenient product to wear.Speaking to CNBC on the same day, Xreal co-founder Peng Jin said, "We designed the Air 2 mainly with the aim of maximizing comfort for users."AR technology combines computer-generated experiences with the real world. The Xreal glasses give users a larger-than-life display of apps, such as streaming services and games. Through a connection with smartphones, game consoles, and additional items, the Xreal AR specs provide users with an app that can be seen on a virtual screen of up to 330 inches.
Xreal is making the Air 2 and Pro glasses available for order in the US, U.K. and certain parts of Europe, with prices beginning from $399 for the former, and $449 respectively for the latter. The Xreal team declared that they've managed to shrink the display size inside the device, resulting in eyewear which is 10% lighter than the one from the past. Additionally, the outfit has also upgraded the headset speakers for limiting sound leakage.The very first Air glasses of Xreal were released about a year ago.
The global economic landscape has caused a decrease in consumer spending and a subsequent slowdown in the market for augmented and virtual reality headsets, with only 8.5 million expected to be sold this year, estimates International Data Corporation. Nevertheless, IDC forecasts a rebound in 2024 as sales will increase by 46.8% year-on-year due to the anticipated release of new hardware. Apple and Meta, the current biggest AR and VR headset maker, are looking to make headsets the next major computing platform by launching devices such as the Apple Vision Pro and new hardware from Meta. Xreal believes that Apple is aiming to attract current users of Apple products by marketing the Vision Pro, while encouraging them to use Apple services on mixed reality. On the other hand, Meta is attempting to bring its social network to virtual reality, yet difficulties with commercialisation have hindered progress.
Jin argued that Xreal’s power lies in the fact it is unencumbered by legacy systems, meaning that Apple would not produce a device that could connect with other frameworks, and Meta’s gadgets would most likely be associated with their social media platforms. “We have that advantage and flexibility, and we don’t have to adhere to any existing legacies. That allows us to be cross-platform and we can begin with a basic experience so people can learn about us and incorporate our technology into their daily lives,” Jin said. He also said that when larger companies become involved in a technology, “it’s always great for everyone” as it can generate more capital, jobs and economic prospects.
Despite being a relative small fish in the expansive ocean of the market, with a meagre 2% market share according to IDC, compared to the likes of Meta, Sony PlayStation VR and ByteDance's TikTok. Xreal has sold a total of 250,000 headsets since their launch, an increase on the 150,000 units revealed in May. The aim, according to its CEO Jin, is to hit the 1 million mark in the next two to three years. He added, Xreal has been in ongoing dialogue with investors as they explore ways to raise additional funds, however declined to provide further details. Investors such as Alibaba and Nio have already gotten behind the company.
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