XREAL continues to pioneer the form of smart glasses, and with Asus' support for the display hardware, the ROG R1 is born. The ROG XREAL R1 glasses are a reliable companion for mobile gaming and, to some extent, a choice for the home .
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The “smartglasses” product category is so new that it’s hard to distinguish between mobile companions and purpose-built face monitors. Android XR exists in both categories, and options like Ray-Ban’s Meta glasses have gained popularity while Google is still trying to release its first mobile smartglasses.
XREAL has made some impressive AR glasses, though they're mostly aimed at those who need a specialized tool rather than a "go-anywhere" pair of glasses. The ROG XREAL R1 AR glasses clearly fall into that subcategory. They're designed for gaming, or really any use that could benefit from a display for your face, limited by a power cord.
The ROG R1 packs incredible display power into a stunningly minimalist form factor. Smart glasses are already difficult to develop, otherwise we would be overwhelmed by options. Adding a 240Hz micro-OLED display that is built for gaming and adapts to various face and eye shapes presents significant challenges.
The ROG XREAL R1 glasses bring these technical challenges to life in a form that resembles slightly oversized sunglasses. Behind the dark shades are two optical elements that focus a 1920 x 1080 display inside the frame. XREAL claims that the ROG XREAL R1 glasses project a virtual 171-inch screen at 4 meters, although it's hard to confirm that it actually feels that way.
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There are various combinations you can try, from a virtual screen 1 meter in front of you to just over full screen, to an image about 10 meters away.
Adjustable distances are designed to make use with other displays and your environment more comfortable. By setting the R1 display to a virtual distance similar to your environment, little effort is required to transition focus, reducing eye strain.
Electrochromic lenses make this transition easier. With the push of a button or when you look away in “Anchor” mode, the sunglass lenses turn from dark to almost transparent. They remain shaded at the lowest of the three settings, but it’s enough to see another screen in front of you or your surroundings.
These glasses also feature speakers in the arms, powered by Bose, that offer amazing sound quality for their size. While they may not replace dedicated gaming headphones or speakers, they provide a reliable built-in option.
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XREAL includes three nose pad options in the box to adjust the distance between your eyes and the screens, ensuring a snug fit. The design also takes into account how the glasses work on your face, with two hinge points on the arms. Each arm is spring-loaded for outward extension, and a hinged hinge allows you to angle the arms up and down, effectively adjusting the angle of the screen. The challenge with these types of lenses lies in the field of view. They are essentially small prisms that project the screen.
