For the past several months, I’ve been immersed in testing the newest augmented reality (AR) glasses from Xreal and Viture. My “laboratory” has been the comfort of my own couch, where I’ve enjoyed playing on my Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 via a massive virtual screen visible only through these innovative glasses.

Using AR glasses as a portable display for devices like handheld consoles, smartphones, tablets, and laptops isn’t exactly groundbreaking. Yet, the latest models have introduced a crucial feature: three degrees of freedom (3DoF). This allows the screen to remain stable in your field of vision, preventing the dizzying effect of it moving with every head tilt. While the $400-plus price tag may still be steep for many gamers, this enhancement is particularly beneficial for frequent travelers or those seeking a more ergonomic gaming experience.

I evaluated three popular AR glasses models: Xreal’s $449 1S, its $649 One Pro, and Viture’s $549 Beast. There’s no single standout model that suits everyone perfectly. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, which prompts me to imagine what the ideal pair of AR gaming glasses would include.

All of these AR glasses are bulkier than standard eyewear, with Xreal’s 1S being the lightest among them. On my kitchen scale, they tipped at 85 grams, compared to the 91 grams of the One Pro and the 96 grams of the Viture Beast. A noteworthy aspect is the superior weight distribution and slimmer temple arms of both the 1S and One Pro compared to the Beast, reducing discomfort on the ears. It’s impressive that Xreal’s most budget-friendly glasses are as comfortable as their pricier counterparts.

All of these AR glasses are heavier and thicker than regular glasses, but Xreal’s 1S glasses are the lightest model of the bunch. On my kitchen scale, they weigh 85 grams (for comparison, the One Pro glasses weigh 91 grams, while the Viture Beast glasses are 96 grams). A small thing that’s actually a big deal is that they (as well as the One Pro) have great weight distribution and thinner temple arms than Viture’s Beast, which helps me feel less strain on my ears. It’s great that Xreal’s most affordable AR glasses are just as comfortable as its most expensive pair.

Xreal’s glasses also feature a simpler button interface than Viture’s. With just four buttons along the right temple arm, the learning curve is minimized. While all AR glasses take some time to master, the Beast complicates matters with six buttons scattered across both arms, including a rocker for adjusting lens opacity—an unnecessary complexity.

The 1S and One Pro glasses have fewer buttons than Viture’s glasses, which lowers the learning curve. Xreal’s glasses have four buttons in total, all of which are along their right temple arm. To be fair, all AR glasses’ button layouts take a while to learn. But the Beast has six in total spread across both temple arms, two of which are a button rocker dedicated solely to adjusting the opacity of its electrochromic lenses — it’s overkill.

The superior contrast and clarity of Viture’s Beast glasses

The three pairs of AR glasses that I tested use similar Sony micro-OLED screens, but Viture’s glasses are my favorite when it comes to displaying games with the same rich contrast, inky blacks, and bright highlights as would appear on the OLED TV in my living room. Just as important, picture quality looks great regardless of where you use these glasses because their optics cut down on reflections (however, they’re not “4K-like,” as Viture misleadingly advertises). The Xreal One Pro glasses are also fantastic in terms of picture quality and exhibit next to no reflections due to having high-end optics, but they’re typically $100 more — though sometimes just $50 — than Viture’s Beast.

Unfortunately, the Xreal 1S’s biggest weakness is reflections. Bright rooms make their OLEDs exhibit crushed blacks, looking more like LCDs in these scenarios. They can produce a good image in low-light scenarios, though content appears blurrier through them than with the other glasses.

The great fit and finish of Xreal’s glasses

Xreal is peerless when it comes to build quality, and its $449 1S feels just as high-end as its pricier One Pro. Both pairs have snappy metal hinge mechanisms that prevent their temple arms from opening unintentionally (the ones on Viture’s Beast quickly swing open and feel cheap). Moreover, Xreal’s glasses look more like real sunglasses than the Beast glasses do (Viture can’t resist going with a slightly gamer-y look that you’ll love or hate, though the Beast glasses look much more sophisticated than its Luma series). Yes, these traits are indistinguishable once they’re on my face, but they’re worth considering given their high cost.

The user experience is more polished across the board with Xreal’s glasses. My Steam Deck and phone are a few seconds faster to connect to the Xreal 1S and One Pro, and as mentioned before, the learning curve is lower. Xreal also currently has the better 3DoF implementation simply because the screen stays put when it’s anchored. With the Viture Beast glasses, the “anchored” screen moves, slowly sliding out of view. That’s a deal-breaker.

Xreal’s Real3D feature, which is better than I expected (in small amounts)

Xreal glasses that have the X1 chip (ones that launched in the past two or so years) now have the Real 3D feature. The mode can turn 2D content into 3D, and there’s a multi-step software slider to increase its effect. I enjoy using its mildest conversion setting more than I expected to.

The 3D effect is not as pronounced as the Nintendo 3DS’s 3D effect, but the subtle improvements are easy to notice. It works especially well in games that don’t require a ton of fast movement.

Viture’s Switch 2 compatibility

Unfortunately, no AR glasses can connect with a single USB-C cable to the Switch 2 (blame Nintendo). You need a compatible dock, one of which doesn’t exist just for Xreal glasses owners. The company canceled its Neo charging dock it announced at CES 2026 due to reliability concerns (the unit it sent me for testing still works great with my console). So, folks with Xreal glasses and a Switch 2 will need a different accessory to play.

It’s easier if you have Viture’s glasses, but not exactly affordable. Viture makes a $130 Pro Mobile Dock that works perfectly with the Switch 2 for the Beast. This dock doubles as a 13,000mAh battery so you can charge up while you game. If the Switch 2 isn’t your thing, the dock features a full HDMI port, letting you view a console’s video feed within your glasses. Video passthrough works for Xreal glasses, too, but audio didn’t work well enough for me to recommend it.

Photography by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge