ASUS and XREAL teamed up at CES to make gaming smartglasses with two essential upgrades
The newest era of smartglasses can create enormous digital screens with out the necessity to lug round large screens are an actual boon to frequent vacationers. Nonetheless, their specs aren’t usually tailor-made to the wants of players, so at CES 2026, ASUS and XREAL partnered to make a pair with two essential options you don’t usually get from rivals.
The brand new ROG XREAL R1 AR glasses are based mostly on the present XREAL One Professional, so naturally they share a variety of the identical parts and specs together with twin micro-OLED shows with a per-eye decision of 1,920 x 1,080, three levels of freedom (natively), 700-nit peak brightness, 57-degree FOV and built-in audio system tuned by Bose. Nonetheless, the massive distinction on the R1s is that as a substitute of maxing out with a 120Hz refresh fee, ASUS and XREAL’s collab goes all the way in which as much as 240Hz. That’s a fairly good bump, particularly for individuals with older {hardware} or anybody who won’t have entry to a excessive refresh fee show or simply doesn’t wish to decrease their requirements whereas touring.
The ROG XREAL R1 AR smartglasses ship 1,920 x 1,080 decision to every eye with a 240Hz refresh fee and 57-degree FOV. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
The opposite huge addition is the R1’s included ROG Management Dock, which from what I’ve seen is barely higher suited to residence use. It’s designed to be a easy hub with two HDMI 2.0 jacks, one DisplayPort 1.4 connector and a few USB-C slots (one is for energy), so you’ll be able to shortly swap between a number of methods like your desktop and console with a single contact. That mentioned, relying on the scenario you won’t even want the dock in any respect as a result of the R1s may also be related to appropriate PCs or gaming handhelds just like the ROG Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally X (see the synergy there?) straight by way of USB-C.
After I acquired to attempt them out at CES, the R1s delivered a very simple to make use of and comparatively streamlined equipment. At 91 grams, they’re barely heavier than the unique XREAL One Professional (87g) so that they don’t really feel too weighty or cumbersome. I additionally actually just like the inclusion of electrochromic lenses, which let you change the tint of the glasses with the contact of a button. This allows you to regulate how a lot or little gentle you wish to are available in via the entrance to greatest fit your setting. And because of assist for 3 DOF, you may have the flexibility to pin your digital display screen in a single location or let it comply with you round.
After all, ASUS and XREAL could not resist placing RGB lighting on the ROG XREAL R1 AR smartglasses. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
Now you will need to keep in mind that with a purpose to get 240Hz on the smartglasses, you want {hardware} able to pushing the type of efficiency. So relying on the title, when the R1s are related to one thing like a gaming handheld, you won’t be capable of get there. Fortunately, I had the possibility to make use of the specs when related to a PC as effectively, which let me actually admire the smoothness you get from quicker refresh charges. Basic picture high quality was additionally fairly good due to the glasses’ 1080p decision, so I had no hassle studying textual content or discerning small UI parts.
The ROG Management dock makes it straightforward to attach a number of gadgets to the ROG XREAL R1 AR smartglasses, however it might be a bit too cumbersome to drag out in tight conditions like on a airplane. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
My one small gripe is that I type of want its 57-degree FOV was a tiny bit larger, however that’s extra of a limitation of present optical know-how as there aren’t a ton of equally sized specs that may go a lot greater (no less than not but). That mentioned, even with its present FOV, you’ll be able to nonetheless create as much as a 171-inch digital display screen at 4 meters away, which is massively larger than any moveable display screen you would possibly entertain carrying round.
Sadly, ASUS and XREAL haven’t introduced official pricing or a launch date for the R1s but, however hopefully they received’t price an excessive amount of greater than the XREAL One Professional, that are at the moment going for $649.