The Google Xreal Aura, a lightweight augmented reality headset, launched today with a price reduction ahead of its release. The device, which weighs 95 grams, originally carried a preorder price of $1,279 but now sells for $1,099 through the end of the year. The pricing adjustment appears designed to improve competitiveness against Meta’s competing VR offering. Customers who placed preorders at the original price will automatically receive a refund for the difference.
The glasses feature a 70-degree diagonal field of view, among the widest available in the transparent glasses category, and connect to a tethered Android XR compute module. Two storage configurations are available: a 12GB RAM with 256GB storage model priced at $1,099, and a 16GB RAM with 512GB storage variant at $1,299. The headset is available immediately in the US, Canada, and South Korea, with shipments expected to begin in mid-November. Japan will receive the product on November 2nd, while broader international availability is planned for the following year.
The platform launches with over 150 experiences developed specifically for XR environments. Content partnerships include immersive films featuring Andy Serkis and environmental documentaries. Users can connect computers or gaming consoles through the USB-C compute puck to mirror content alongside virtual windows. Google’s Gemini AI assistant integrates with the glasses to provide contextual information about the user’s surroundings.
Google Photos has received an XR-specific update allowing users to navigate their photo libraries spatially, panning through time periods and viewing favorite memories in three-dimensional format. Xreal is partnering with GameSir to offer compatible wireless gaming accessories, including a gamepad with dedicated Gemini functionality, and separately announcing a folding portable wireless keyboard. Pricing and availability details for these accessories remain unannounced.
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