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I've been testing three pairs of smart glasses that represent three different philosophies about what wearable displays should be. The RayNeo Air 3s Pro bets on brightness and affordability.
The XREAL 1S focuses on polished spatial computing with a dedicated embedded chip. And the Viture Beast promises the widest field of view on the market with next-level features on the horizon. After extensive testing, one of them is my clear favorite.
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These are wearable displays that connect to your phone, laptop, or gaming handheld via USB-C. Think of them as personal monitors you wear on your face and not standalone XR headsets like the Apple Vision Pro or the Samsung Galaxy XR.
Pair #1: Viture Beast ($549)
Jason Howell/ZDNET
The Viture Beast is the most expensive and ambitious option here, featuring the widest field of view at 58 degrees and the brightest display of the bunch at 1,250-nits. It includes built-in 3DoF tracking via its VisionPair system, a front-facing camera for future 6DoF capabilities, a built-in microphone, and the most granular light control with nine levels of electrochromic dimming for the outer lenses.
On paper, it should be the clear winner. However, it ships with significant features that will be added in future firmware updates. The advertised 1200p resolution at 120Hz is currently disabled, leaving them with 1080p at 60Hz until Viture releases an update. The 6DoF tracking from that front camera is also pending future firmware. For a $549 product, buying on the promise of future updates is a tough pill to swallow.
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