ASUS is one of the leading brands in gaming hardware with its ROG line of products, and XREAL is a leading brand specialising in augmented reality (AR) smart glasses that serve as wearable, portable big screens.
ROG stands for Republic of Gamers for a reason, and they have teamed up with XREAL once again to bring us the ASUS ROG XREAL R1 AR Gaming Glasses, and we had the pleasure of getting an early hands-on look at their latest product. The ASUS ROG XREAL R1 AR Gaming Glasses will soon be bringing the big world of gaming to small screens worldwide.
The ROG XREAL R1 AR Gaming Glasses are a premium pair of smart glasses built specifically for immersive gaming. Built in collaboration with XREAL, they feature a world-first 240Hz rapid refresh rate, an included desktop dock for multi-device switching, and a dedicated ROG aesthetic.
These AR glasses come neatly packaged in a sturdy box in a glasses case to keep them safe. Also included in the box are a USB-C braided cable, two USB-C-to-USB-A braided cables, a microfibre cloth to clean the lenses, a lens template for those who wear prescription glasses, extra nose pads, the dock, and the usual instruction manual and warranty card. Setting up is incredibly simple because it’s plug-and-play, and after you configure everything to your personal preferences, you can get straight into your game.
The AR glasses can be compatible with any HDMI-enabled device. As long as the device can connect to a TV or monitorGlasses. A HDMI cable is not included, but gaming consoles come with one anyway, and they’re not too expensive to buy on their own
The dock is what enables the HDMI connection and is done simply by connecting it to a powernough power) with one of the USB-C to USB-A cables provided, then plug the HDMI cable into the dock and plug the USB-C cable from the dock to the AR glasses. Adjusting the settings is done by using the controls on the dock
Users can also bypass the dock and plug the AR glasses straight into a compatible device such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer, as long as the device can transmit a video signal over USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode, which the glasses natively require.
The most compatible device is none other than the ROG Ally X, paired with the ROG XREAL R1 AR Gaming Glasses, making them perfect for long travels, immersing you in the game, and helping pass the time. The AR glasses can be used with the Steam Deck, but only through its Docking Station with HDMI cables, so you won’t be able to move around as freely as you can with the ROG Ally X.
With this connection, settings are adjusted using the buttons on the AR glasses themselves. The AR glasses have a sleek black design with colourful RGB lights on both arms. The arms can be slightly adjusted at different angles and can bend out further to fit better on wider head shapes. There will be two sizes of the AR glasses available: Narrow and Broad, with no difference in price. The extra nose pads will also help the glasses sit more comfortably on your nose.
Users can watch videos or do general tasks, but these AR glasses were built for gaming. There are two small screens, one for each side, and it’s amazing how crisp and clear the video quality is for something so small.
Whether you’re shooting down enemies, racing cars, traversing obstacles, or beating down your opponents, it’s easy to get lost in the game you’re playing, not be distracted by your surroundings and just let the hours breeze by. Users should also be aware that prolonged use can cause eye strain, so it’s best to take regular breaks and look away to rest your eyes. How this affects different individuals will, of course, vary.
Three tint options are available: full tint to isolate your vision and fully immerse yourself in the game; mid-level tint to see your surroundings and keep you focused on your game; and minimised tint, which makes your game screen more transparent and lets you see your surroundings more clearly, which is good for multitasking.
Players who normally wear prescription glasses can use the provided lens template and take it to their optometrist to have their prescription fitted into the AR glasses, so they can enjoy their games like everyone else. Currently, they are running a promotion where customers can order the prescription from HONSVR free of charge. See https://www.xreal.com/prescription-lens-ROG-XREAL-R1?code=AU for info
The 240Hz rapid refresh rate, which is a world first for AR glasses, is truly something to behold. Again, it’s unreal that this is possible with such small screens.
The response time is 0.01 milliseconds, meaning there is essentially zero latency between your device and the tiny screens in your AR glasses, giving you the edge over your opponents in competitive online matches. A minor issue is that the 240Hz rapid refresh rate slightly reduces video sharpness, but not by much, and the faster performance is worth it to get ahead of your opponents online.
If users prefer sharper video quality, the 120Hz option is available and still performs almost as well as 240Hz. Serious competitive gamers will prefer 240Hz because every millisecond matters, but 120Hz is just fine for casual gamers. It all depends on what each individual wants from their gaming, so having the option of both 120Hz and 240Hz is a great deal for these AR glasses.
Speakers are built into the arms of the glasses and provide enough sound without going directly into your ears. The sound quality is great in a quiet room, but the maximum volume might not be enough to block out background noise if you want to fully immerse yourself in the game and completely avoid distractions. Headphones, earphones, and earbuds are recommended to get the best sound quality from your game, especially if it supports surround sound, so you can hear everything around you in-game. ASUS has some fantastic options.
The ASUS ROG XREAL R1 AR Gaming Glasses are a fantastic alternative to playing on a TV or monitor, especially if someone else is using them and you keep gaming without getting in each other’s way. The only downside to this is that these AR glasses aren’t fully portable and require a wired connection.
If using the dock to play a game from a console, you’ll need to be close to the dock to play, unless you have extra-long cables and want to play in another room or lie down on the couch or in your bed. Hopefully, we can get a fully wireless version of AR glasses from XREAL in the future, but these are still a great piece of hardware for those who don’t mind the cables.
Connecting the AR glasses to a compatible smartphone, tablet, or the ROG Ally X is the most portable option, but you will have that cable dangling between them, which could catch on something, so players will need to keep that in mind.
Players will also, of course, need to be careful if using these glasses out in public and be cautious of people around them to make sure they won’t be stolen, because they will attract attention.
The ASUS ROG XREAL R1 AR Gaming Glasses are an excellent piece of hardware with incredible technology, but the advanced technology does mean that the price will be high. They are currently retailing in Australia for around $1,499-$1,799 AUD, depending on the retailer. Its predecessor, the XREAL One Pro AR Glasses, currently retails for $999-$1,149 AUD and is nearly as good as the ASUS ROG XREAL R1 AR Gaming Glasses.
The latter is obviously the better of the two, but not by much. Those who still have the older pair might be better off sticking with it to save money, and those who have neither yet might want to go for the cheaper option. Of course, if money isn’t a deciding factor, then go for the latest model. How individuals spend their money is completely up to them.
ASUS and XREAL teaming up again has produced another brilliant pair of AR glasses with so many amazing features.
The video quality is crisp and clear for such small screens, the 240Hz rapid refresh rate with no noticeable latency will give hardcore gamers the edge over their opponents online and being able to fully immerse yourself into your game can make this a worthy purchase if the high price isn’t an issue, but anyone who’s had the opportunity to try these will likely be tempted to spend the money. Playing your games with the ASUS ROG XREAL R1 AR Gaming Glasses is something that needs to be experienced.
