Xreal 1S and the One Pro family They've become one of the most talked-about topics in the world of augmented reality (AR) glasses for Android and other devices. Between sky-high expectations, bittersweet experiences, and powerful partnerships with gaming brands, these glasses are generating both excitement and frustration. If you were thinking about buying them or want to understand why they're generating so much buzz, here you'll find an in-depth analysis with real-world usage examples.
In this article we are going to break down What do the Xreal 1S / One Pro promise, what problems are some users reporting, in what scenarios do they shine, and where do they fall short?In addition to reviewing the collaboration with ASUS ROG and its implications for space gaming, he calmly explains the good, the bad, and the ugly, using a straightforward and accessible style.
What are the Xreal 1S / One Pro and what do they promise?
Xreal glasses, like the One Pro L and the 1S seriesThey are positioned as lightweight augmented reality glasses that function as a kind of giant floating screen in front of your eyes. The central idea is very simple but powerful: to replace or complement traditional monitors and screens using glasses that connect to your mobile phone, portable console, or computer.
These glasses incorporate a X1 chip for AR processing, X-Prism optics and 120Hz panels (and up to 240Hz on specific gaming models in collaboration with ASUS ROG). Each eye receives a high-definition signal (Full HD per eye), offering a field of view of approximately 57 degrees and the equivalent of a virtual screen of up to 171 inches. On paper, they seem perfect for gaming, movies, light work, and immersive experiences.
The catalogue emphasizes the compatibility with a wide range of devicesCompatible with iPhone 17/16/15, Steam Deck, ROG, Mac, PC, Android, and iOS, with sizes like L designed for interpupillary distances (IPD) between 66 and 75 mm. In other words, they are designed to fit a large number of users, provided their IPD falls within the recommended range.
What experience can be expected: ultraportable monitor, gaming, and AR?
Xreal's promise is to turn glasses into a giant, lightweight monitor that you can take anywhereThe bed, the sofa, an airplane, or a coffee shop. Many buyers see them as their first experience with 3D/AR glasses, imagining various uses:
- Playing while lying in bed with a console or portable device without straining your neck.
- Consume offline content or play games on the plane, taking advantage of the floating panel to watch movies or play games without depending on the small screen of the mobile phone.
- Use them as an external display with Samsung DeX for light tasks when traveling.
- In some cases, people have even fantasized about use them as a replacement for Android Auto riding a motorcycle to see the map on your helmet; an attractive idea on paper, but highly debatable in practice.
The brand's positioning reinforces that vision: Lightweight, well-built AR glasses, compatible with many ecosystems and designed for both leisure and productivityHowever, real-life experiences show that the story is much more nuanced.
Image quality and focus: the major point of contention
One of the most delicate aspects is the perceived image quality and the actual sharpness of the glassesAlthough technically advertised as Full HD per eye, some users with good vision (without needing prescription glasses, with correct IPD and recent eye exams) describe the image as surprisingly blurry.
In a very detailed testimony, a user with a Xreal One Pro L, 68mm IPD (perfectly within the range for size L) noticed that the sharpness was only acceptable in a small central area of the field of vision, around 10 degrees. The rest of the area, especially the edges, appeared blurry, to the point that it felt as if he were trying to read on a 400x300 resolution screen even though the signal was Full HD.
This behavior is reminiscent of lenses with a very small "sweet spot"The center looks good, but as soon as you move your gaze slightly towards the corners, the focus drops. To mitigate this, many end up using static mode and reducing the virtual size, so that the useful part of the image is right in the center where it looks sharpest.
Additionally, when the glasses are turned off, some users report that the surroundings appear curved and deformedas if looking through a highly distorted pane of glass. This means that the optics not only affect the projected image, but also how the real world appears through the transparent lenses, complicating their use in dynamic environments (such as cafes or outdoors) if you want to keep them on constantly.
Use 1: Play while lying in bed
One of the most desired use cases is playing in bed with a console or portable deviceThis eliminates the need to crane your neck to look at a traditional screen. In theory, the Xreal 1S / One Pro are ideal for this: you lie down, connect them to your console or mobile device, and enjoy a comfortable floating screen in front of you.
In practice, with some users the exact opposite happens: Neck strain transforms into eye strainBy keeping the head in a relaxed position but the eyes fixed on the virtual image, the combination of possible peripheral blur, brightness and movement ends up straining the eyes more than expected.
Even in games with little text, such as Assassin's Creed, SnowRunner or The Talos PrincipleReading on-screen elements can become difficult if they are located near the edges. In tracking mode (where the screen moves with your head), looking towards the corners of the glasses' field of view distorts the image even more.
The most reasonable solution that some adopt is Switch to fixed screen mode and reduce the virtual screen so that everything important is captured in the sharpest part of the lens. It's functional, but it sacrifices some of the immersion and the "cinema-like" size that was sold as one of its major advantages.
Use 2: Watching videos and playing games on the plane
Another very common scenario is that of view downloaded content or play games during flightsThe idea here is perfect: on airplanes, screens are small or uncomfortable, and AR glasses can give the feeling of having a private cinema in your seat.
However, two major problems have come to light. On the one hand, Complaints about sharpness and focus are repeated These limitations, already mentioned, are especially noticeable in subtitles or game interfaces with relatively small text. Furthermore, there's an additional factor: the behavior of the headset's IMU (inertial measurement unit) in a moving environment.
In fixed display mode, the IMU should identify the user's head movements to keep the display stable in space. But when you're on an airplane, The vibrations and movements of the device are interpreted as if you were moving your headResult: the screen "shifts" or becomes misaligned quite frequently, forcing you to correct it by grinding your teeth.
Faced with this instability, some end up using the tracking mode as the only alternativewhere the screen moves with your head, but this can be counterintuitive and, in some cases, cause dizziness even in people They don't usually get motion sickness in cars, boats, planes, or traditional VR. It's an unfortunate combination of sensors, the movement of the means of transport, and the optics themselves.
Use 3: Productivity with Samsung DeX and light work
For many, one of the key features of the Xreal 1S / One Pro is turn them into a portable monitor for working with Samsung DeX or extended desktops from your mobile phone or laptop. On paper, each eye has Full HD resolution, so it should be sufficient for documents, email, and web browsing.
The reality reported by some users is that Any text-based task becomes tortureThe combination of pixel density, perceived screen size, and the limited area of actual sharpness makes reading feel like using an outdated, very low-resolution monitor. Even if the signal is good, what the eye receives through the lens is not.
Furthermore, an unexpected problem arises: with the glasses on and switched off, the outside world looks distorted, curved, and unnaturalThis means that if you're working in a coffee shop with DeX, you can't simply look away from your coffee or the table while wearing them. It forces you to physically remove them to see your surroundings normally.
This behavior makes the glasses, in practice, feel more like a virtual reality device” that resembles semi-transparent AR glasses designed to blend in with the real world. Just the opposite of what many expect when they imagine lightweight glasses that can be worn "all the time."
To make matters worse, the Samsung DeX experience itself isn't designed entirely for to be used as a primary desktop system with mouse and keyboardSome applications aren't well optimized, the windows don't scale properly, and overall, the experience feels more "fixed" than polished. When you add that to the lack of sharpness, the result for productivity can be disappointing.
Use 4: Motorcycle navigation and physical limits
A recurring idea among techies is that using the Xreal as an improvised "HUD" on a motorcycleReplacing Android Auto or a smartphone on the handlebars with a map projected in front of the rider's eyes inside the helmet. It's a very tempting futuristic fantasy, but it has several significant drawbacks.
On one hand, The glasses physically don't fit inside many helmets.In some cases, serious testing isn't even worthwhile because there's insufficient space or the resulting posture would be dangerously uncomfortable. Furthermore, the combination of distortion, edge blurring, and potential eye strain becomes an added risk when you need clear vision for driving.
In fact, some users have given up on even trying, convinced that the experience would be frustrating and potentially unsafeBetween traffic regulations, the need to keep full attention on the road, and the helmet's ergonomics, this use remains more in the realm of fantasy than a viable option today.
Software issues: Nebula, new Xreal app, and compatibility
Beyond the hardware, many of the current complaints focus on the Xreal's app ecosystem and its compatibility with the latest mobile devicesThe case of the Nebula app and its gradual abandonment by the brand is particularly noteworthy here.
Nebula was the key app to enable advanced AR featuresThis included a Meta Quest-style spatial mode, with windows and content floating in the environment, going beyond simply displaying a flat desktop. For many users, this was precisely what set these glasses apart from a simple external monitor.
However, on phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (and also S24)The current situation is very problematic. The old Nebula app directly displays a message stating that it is no longer needed, inviting users to use the new application created by Xreal. The problem is that, in some cases, That new app doesn't even detect the glasses correctly. or it doesn't work as it should.
The result is that, in these recent high-end models, The glasses only work in DeX mode, displaying a mere desktop.The user loses access to AR Space and the spatial modes that mimicked the Quest-like experience. If your main intention was to enjoy immersive AR content, the feeling of being cheated is easy to understand.
To top it all off, there are reports that battery optimization options on these Samsung They interfere with the continuous power supply to the glasses and the app, and even disabling these optimizations doesn't solve the problem. Restarts, tests with other Samsung phones, and even with the iPhone 17 haven't yielded a stable experience with the Xreal app, leading some buyers to request a refund.
Beam Pro 5G and the dilemma of the closed ecosystem
Within the Xreal ecosystem, another device appears: the Beam Pro 5G, designed as a specific “companion” for the glasses, capable of offering connectivity, processing and guaranteed compatibility with spatial modes.
In theory, this Beam Pro 5G could to solve some of the problems with Nebula and the new softwareIt's supposed to be custom-designed to work with glasses with fewer headaches. But here's another problem: the Beam Pro's hardware and battery are criticized for being weak for the price.
This puts the user in a dilemma: either You agree to purchase an additional Xreal device. that perhaps doesn't convince you in terms of power and autonomy, just to fully enjoy your glasses, or you try to make do with your main mobile phone and risk incompatibilities, apps that don't detect the device and key AR functions left unused.
Given this situation, there are quite a few who, even those who are technicians or advanced users, decide stop investing money in accessories and opt for a refundPaying around 500 euros for glasses that cannot be used as advertised with current high-end terminals is, at the very least, difficult to justify.
Xreal + ASUS ROG Alliance: ROG XREAL R1 and 240Hz Gaming
Amidst all these highs and lows, there is one clearly positive piece of news for gamers: the collaboration between Xreal and ASUS ROG with the ROG XREAL R1According to the announcement itself, these are the world's first 240Hz AR gaming glasses, blending Xreal's lightweight form factor with ROG's high-performance DNA.
This alliance aims to highly immersive space gaming setupsDesigned for the speed and precision demanded by competitive gamers, the 240Hz refresh rate doubles the usual 120Hz refresh rate seen in many AR and VR models, which should provide a spectacular sense of fluidity, lower perceived latency, and potentially less fatigue during fast movements.
The official statement insists that we are facing a game-changer in gaming hardwareCombining Xreal's signature immersion with ROG's performance and branding, this product is poised to become the leading AR headset for enthusiast gamers, even though full technical details, specific compatibility information, and independent testing are still pending.
The key will be to see if this collaboration also It comes with a more robust software ecosystemWith fewer compatibility issues, better support for platforms like Steam Deck, ROG Ally, PC gaming and modern Android/iOS mobiles, and a refinement of the optics that reduces criticisms about sharpness and visual comfort.
Construction, ergonomics and size L (IPD 66-75 mm)
In terms of pure hardware, many users agree that the Xreal glasses offer Very good feeling of build quality and simplicity They look great right out of the box. The design is relatively lightweight, with a form factor closer to bulky glasses than a full VR headset.
Size L, designed for IPD between 66 and 75 mm, covers a large part of the adult male population and a portion of the female population. However, Just because your IPD falls within the range doesn't guarantee a perfect experienceThe exact alignment between your pupils and the sharpest area of the lenses seems to be very critical, and in some cases, even within the "safe" range, the perception of blurriness remains strong.
On the other hand, although the lightness is appreciated, it must be taken into account that They will continue to exert pressure on the nose and ears during long sessions And because of how the optics are designed, many people don't feel comfortable wearing them continuously, combining reality and AR. Between the distortion of the environment and the need to always find the angle of maximum sharpness, it doesn't quite live up to the "put it on and forget it" accessory that some imagined.
Price, expectations, and perceived value
When we talk about a product that is around the 500 euros in many storesExpectations automatically skyrocket. This isn't a cheap whim, but an investment in a device that promises to change the way you play games, watch content, and work.
On the product pages themselves for models like the XREAL One Pro ARKey features include X-Prism optics, the X1 chip, native 3DoF, multi-platform compatibility, and a 120Hz refresh rate. They are marketed as versatile glasses, connectable to iPhone 17/16/15, Steam Deck, ROG, Mac, PC, and Android/iOS, with a large 171-inch virtual display and a wide field of view.
The problem arises when that general promise intersects with Real user experiences of not being able to make the text display correctlyThose who can't use the advanced AR mode on their latest phones, or who get motion sickness trying to play on a plane. In those cases, the feeling that "I paid 500 euros for something that doesn't do what I need" takes hold, and the decision to ask for a refund no longer seems excessive.
Final considerations
On the other hand, there are people who are happy with the glasses and who, due to how they use them or because of better compatibility with their devices, They make better use of their strengths.But the contrast between these two profiles is precisely what makes the Xreal 1S / One Pro "generate so much discussion" in forums and networks.
Given all these experiences, the Xreal 1S and One Pro find themselves in a curious position: on the one hand, they represent A very attractive proposal for a lightweight AR display, with high-level collaborations such as the one with ASUS ROG and eye-catching specifications on paperOn the other hand, they make it clear that the quality of the optics, the stability of the software, the compatibility with current mobile phones and the ergonomics in real use still have a huge margin for improvement.
For those looking for something very specific—like playing games lying down without straining their neck, having a personal cinema on the plane, or setting up a really comfortable DeX desktop—the glasses can be a powerful tool or a source of frustration, depending on the combination of hardware, apps, and expectations they have when approaching them. Share this information so that other users are aware of the news.