Xreal’s latest offering, the Beam Pro, has transformed my $400 Xreal Air 2 smart glasses into a compelling and affordable alternative to Apple’s Vision Pro. While Xreal’s spatial computing solution may not boast the same level of power and sophistication as Apple’s first VR headset, it surprisingly offers many similar features, creating a compelling user experience at a significantly lower price point.
The Beam Pro extends the functionality of the Xreal Air smart glasses by acting as an external compute unit, processing data, and delivering power to the lightweight glasses. Think of it as a pocket-sized Android phone, running its own software and enabling a wide range of applications beyond just web browsing. In essence, it allows you to experience the internet and Android apps within a virtual environment that feels almost like using a multi-screen PC.
One of the standout features of the Beam Pro is its support for Android apps. You can open any Android app in either portrait or landscape mode, allowing for multitasking scenarios like having Gmail open in a vertical panel alongside Chrome in a wider window. I even ran two different browsers side-by-side without any issues, showcasing the Beam Pro’s flexibility.
The Xreal Beam Pro’s interface, powered by NebulaOS, provides a seamless and intuitive user experience. The virtual screen moves smoothly when you turn your head, ensuring everything remains centered within the Xreal Air 2’s bright, large displays. For those who prefer a stationary screen, a body anchor mode locks the screen in place, allowing you to turn your head to see other windows or engage in conversations without disrupting your virtual workspace.
Interaction with the Beam Pro is effortless. You can hold the device like a laser pointer and use it to navigate controls and content within the virtual environment. For text input, Gboard pops up, allowing you to swipe, type, or voice type just like you would on a phone. The Beam Pro’s design allows you to see two windows at once, a convenient feature for multitasking. You can switch between portrait and landscape modes, resize windows, and access quick settings for battery, time, date, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi status.
While Xreal’s system works exceptionally well for casual browsing and content consumption, it’s not ideal for demanding productivity tasks. While I was able to write this review using a web app called Lex, I found myself relying primarily on a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse for efficient input. Apple’s Vision Pro offers more advanced gaze-based cursor control, but I found swiping text on the Beam Pro’s touchscreen faster and easier than using the Vision Pro’s virtual keyboard.
One of the standout features of the Beam Pro is its ability to capture spatial photos and videos. It utilizes two 50 MP cameras spaced 2 inches apart to capture depth, resulting in 3D images that bring moments to life with greater fidelity than traditional 2D photos. I was particularly impressed with how the Beam Pro captured the intricate details of a woodland walk, showcasing the complex weave of ferns, flowers, moss, and trees that would have been lost in a 2D video.
While Apple’s Vision Pro can also record spatial video, it uses lower-resolution cameras and requires the user to wear the bulky headset, making it less practical for everyday use. The Beam Pro’s ability to record 3D videos and capture 12 MP 3D photos without requiring any headwear or an expensive new iPhone makes it a compelling option for those seeking an affordable and convenient way to capture the world in 3D.
While sharing spatial content can be challenging due to the lack of widespread 3D viewers, the Beam Pro offers solutions. Xreal’s SBS 3D format is relatively standard, allowing for conversion to other formats for viewing on VR headsets or platforms like YouTube VR. Additionally, you can convert Xreal’s SBS videos into Apple’s spatial video format using the Spatialify app, enabling sharing with Vision Pro or Meta Quest users.
In the realm of spatial computing, Apple’s Vision Pro stands out as a high-end device with numerous advantages. Yet, Xreal’s Beam Pro provides a compelling alternative, offering a similar experience at a fraction of the cost. While the Vision Pro offers a more immersive and versatile spatial computing experience, particularly for gaming and movie watching, Xreal’s system presents a compelling option for everyday tasks, casual browsing, and content consumption.
For users seeking a lightweight, affordable solution that can be easily carried in a pocket, Xreal’s Air 2 and Beam Pro bundle provides a compelling alternative to Apple’s Vision Pro. While Apple’s Vision Pro is undeniably impressive, Xreal’s solution makes spatial computing accessible to a wider audience, paving the way for a more diverse and engaging extended reality future.
Ultimately, the choice between the Xreal Air 2 and Beam Pro and Apple’s Vision Pro comes down to individual needs and preferences. Xreal’s solution offers a practical and affordable entry point into the world of spatial computing, while Apple’s Vision Pro delivers a more immersive and powerful experience. As the extended reality market continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative and exciting products emerge, offering diverse options for users to engage with the digital world in new and exciting ways.
