Xreal is trying something new in the AR space: it combines the breadth of apps and content available on Android devices with the portable large-screen experience of its AR glasses. Initially announced in China last month, 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. Thanks to its familiar form factor, even novice users can pick it up and use it without feeling out of their depth.
The device runs Android 14 with some tweaks to help with the AR features. It is powered by an unnamed Snapdragon chipset with 6/8 GB RAM and 128/256 GB storage. A microSD slot is available to store plenty 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 the help of a phone.
Why not use your regular smartphone with Xreal Air glasses? That is possible, but only if you have the right telephone. 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 are skipping) and a version of Android that knows how to handle a big screen (this is even rarer). With a special device, Xreal can ensure that it all works and works properly.
There are two other reasons to choose a special device. Just like the original Beam, the Beam Pro has two USB-C ports: one for connecting the glasses and one for external power. It supports 27W fast charging.
The other reason – and this one you can’t even get from an Asus ROG phone – is the pair of 50MP cameras that let you take spatial photos and videos yourself (1080p @ 60fps videos). These are best viewed with glasses like the Air, but you can also enjoy a 2D version on the device’s own screen. No, the screen is not autostereoscopic like those old 3D phones.
The screen is a 6.5-inch LCD panel (1,080 x 2,400 px) and can be used with regular Android apps. When you put on the glasses, they turn into a touch panel that allows you to control apps. Furthermore, 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 because it runs Android 14, it is compatible with millions of apps and games. Xreal calls its user interface “NebulaOS” and has given it multitasking capabilities with two apps sharing the huge virtual screen. Most Android distributions lack this capability, which was one of the factors that motivated Xreal to create this device.
From the Play Store you can install video streaming services: Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and so on. For example, if you have the Xreal Air 2 Pro glasses, you can enjoy your favorite shows and movies on a screen with an apparent size of 130 inches (when done, the glasses and Beam Pro will easily fit in a backpack).
Xreal also has plans for gaming applications and the Beam Pro fully supports the Steam Link, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna and others. Additionally, Nvidia’s CloudXR is supported for users with GeForce RTX GPUs.
As we said, this is meant to be paired with Xreal glasses and depending on which one you have, you’ll get a different experience. The Xreal Air, Air 2 and Air 2 Pro can track 3 degrees of freedom (DoF). If you have the Air 2 Ultra glasses, you can enjoy a 6 DoF experience.
The Xreal Beam Pro is surprisingly cheap: $200 for the base model with 6/128 GB Wi-Fi. That’s at the low end of mid-range Android phones, and it’s not much more than the original Xreal Beam ($110), which has limited capabilities compared to the Pro.
If you want more RAM and storage space, you can opt for the 8/256GB version. If you need internet connectivity without connecting to a phone, there is a 5G model. Xreal offers Beam Pro Enterprise Edition for companies.
Global pre-orders start now for the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Czech Republic, China and Japan. Korea will get it on July 1. The first customers should receive the copy in August. In addition to xreal.com, you can also find the Beam Pro on Amazon (from July). A note for owners of the original Xreal Beam: you can get $50 off when you purchase the Pro (valid until July 10).
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