The first glasses to release under the 'xbx' name feature an anti-shake algorithm and arrive in the US in July
Mixed reality titan Xreal has officially expanded its hardware empire with the launch of an accessible sub-brand, ‘xbx’. The new offshoot—short for X by Xreal—has also unveiled its very first product: the xbx a01 AR glasses.
Built to bring the core spatial features of the company’s flagship Xreal One platform down to a more competitive price point, the a01 shifts the entry-level AR focus toward aggressive weight reduction, visual contrast, and aesthetic customization.
The immediate headline is the form factor. Xreal says it’s been able to bring the weight of the a01 glasses down to 62g by designing a custom ultra-light nylon body and drastically reducing lens thickness.
The physical slimming has been paired with adaptive elastic hinges, three ergonomic nose pad options, and ultra-thin flexible temples to eliminate the facial pressure points common in heavier headsets.
The a01 also introduces a semi-transparent chassis with interchangeable front frames that utilize XREAL’s chromatic dimming technology—allowing users to swap between clear and fully immersive viewing while letting enthusiasts 3D-print their own custom outer frame designs.
Not skimping on the specs
On the display side, the a01 features a dual-layer MicroOLED display, the brand notes that can reach a brightness of 1,600 nits.
And, backed by a dedicated image enhancement chip, the glasses also support HDR10, 14 levels of manual brightness adjustment, and real-time AI SDR-to-HDR upscaling, and an equivalent 147-inch cinematic screen.
Interestingly, the a01 also aims to solve the common image-blurring and color-washout defects of traditional entry-level XR hardware by debuting an industry-first spatial anti-shake algorithm, specifically engineered to keep the virtual screen rock-solid during shaky train commutes, flights, or high-speed rail trips.
The a01 is available now in China and will officially launch in the United States this July, starting at $299.
The Wareable take
By carving out a new sub-brand, Xreal is making a clear tactical play for the mainstream pocket-cinema and handheld gaming market.
Entry-level AR glasses have historically felt uniform and uninspired, but capping the a01 at a featherweight 62g while driving screen brightness up to 1,600 nits addresses two of the biggest pain points in this area right now: physical fatigue and washed-out outdoor visibility.
And while we’ll have to properly assess its performance in real-world use, deploying a dedicated spatial anti-shake algorithm for a 0DoF device shows a sophisticated understanding of how people actually use these portable screens on the move.
At this price, Xbx’s first glasses could easily become the default accessory for Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and mobile phone power-users looking to break free from small-screen restrictions.
