“Project Aura” and now simply branded as Aura, will go on sale later this year. Unveiled at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) in Long Beach, California, the device represents an ambitious step forward for Google’s homegrown augmented reality platform.
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The Aura glasses are engineered to deliver the performance of a high-end mixed-reality headset within a remarkably lightweight form factor. To maintain its slim profile, the hardware offloads its processing power via a tethered connection to a separate, pocket-sized computing puck. Technical highlights include a generous 70-degree field of view, built-in hand tracking, and Qualcomm’s cutting-edge Snapdragon Reality Elite chipset. This heavy-duty architecture positions Aura as a powerful middle ground in the wearable space. However, because of the advanced technology involved, the system is expected to be substantially more expensive than Xreal’s standard consumer lineup, such as its $650 OnePro frames.
Despite using the AWE event as the official debut, Xreal frustrated onlookers by withholding the final retail price. In lieu of a concrete price tag, the company launched a two-week reservation program. Consumers can pay a $99 deposit to secure a unit, which includes a $199 “launch credit”, effectively yielding a $100 savings at checkout. Additionally, a premium tier called the “Founder Priority Pass” is available for $299, offering guaranteed launch-day delivery alongside special edition hardware.
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Xreal is likely aiming to capitalize on the current lack of rival Android XR devices on the market, anchoring the hardware launch with a robust slate of newly announced software experiences. While the company has not finalized an exact calendar date for the rollout, it is targeting a Fall release window for the first wave of products. Initial availability will be limited to the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, and South Korea, with European regions following shortly behind.
