Xreal is trying something new in AR – combining the breadth of apps and content available on Android devices with the portable big screen of its AR glasses. Originally announced last month in China, the new Xreal Beam Pro is now going global.
The device looks very much like a standard smartphone – and that’s on purpose, but it’s not a phone. The familiar form factor allows even novice users to pick it up and use it without feeling out of their depth.
The device runs Android 14 with some tweaks to help with AR features. It is powered by an unnamed Snapdragon chipset with 6/8GB of RAM and 128/256GB of storage. A microSD slot is available to store large amounts of content. The base model has Wi-Fi 6, and there’s an optional 5G model – it can’t handle voice calls (it’s not a phone!), but it can stream on the go without a phone.
Why not use your regular smartphone with Xreal Air glasses? You can, but only if you have the right phone for the job. Just having USB-C isn’t enough (and all iPhones before the 15-series aren’t), you also need video output support (which many phone makers skip) and a version of Android that knows how to handle a big screen. (this is even rarer). With a dedicated device, Xreal can make it all work and work well.
There are two other reasons to choose a dedicated device. The Beam Pro, like the original Beam, has two USB-C ports: one for connecting to the glasses and one for external power. It supports 27W fast charging.
Another reason – and you can’t get this from an Asus ROG phone either – is the pair of 50MP cameras that let you take 3D photos and videos yourself (1080p @ 60fps videos). These are best viewed with glasses like the Air, but you can also enjoy them in 2D on your device’s own screen. No, the screen is not autostereoscopic like those old 3D phones.
The screen is a 6.5” LCD panel (1080 x 2400 px) and can be used with common Android applications. When you put the glasses on, they turn into a touch panel for controlling apps. In addition, the device itself can be used as an air mouse thanks to the built-in accelerometer.
Speaking of apps, the Xreal Beam Pro has access to the Google Play Store and since it runs on Android 14, it’s compatible with millions of apps and games. Xreal calls its user interface “NebulaOS” and has given it multitasking capabilities with two apps sharing a huge virtual screen. Most Android distributions lack this ability, which was one of the factors that motivated Xreal to create this device.
You can install video streaming services from Play Store: Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and so on. If you have, say, the Xreal Air 2 Pro glasses, you can enjoy your favorite shows and movies on a screen with an apparent size of 130” (the glasses and Beam Pro easily fit in your backpack when you’re done).
Xreal also plans gaming apps, and Beam Pro fully supports Steam Link, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, and more. Additionally, Nvidia CloudXR is supported for users with GeForce RTX GPUs.
As we mentioned, this is meant to be paired with Xreal glasses, and depending on which one you have, you’ll get a different experience. Xreal Air, Air 2 and Air 2 Pro can track 3 degrees of freedom (DoF). If you have Air 2 Ultra glasses, you can enjoy 6 degrees of freedom.
The Xreal Beam Pro is surprisingly cheap – $200 for the basic 6/128GB Wi-Fi model. That’s on the low end of mid-range Android phones, and not much more than the original Xreal Beam ($110), which has limited options compared to the Pro.
If you want more RAM and storage, you can choose the 8/256GB version. If you need an internet connection without tethering to your phone, there is a 5G model. For businesses, it will offer Xreal Beam Pro Enterprise Edition.
Global pre-orders start now for US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Czech Republic, China and Japan, Korea will get it on July 1st. The first customers should receive theirs in August. In addition to xreal.com, you will also be able to find Beam Pro on Amazon (from July). Note to owners of the original Xreal Beam: you can get $50 off when you buy the Pro (valid until July 10th).
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