CES 2026: I attempted Xreal’s unreleased ROG R1 gaming glasses

Xreal, the augmented actuality model behind a few of the main good glasses, is coping with loads of new competitors at CES 2026. Good glasses have been a giant draw among the many throngs of attendees on CES’ packed conference ground this yr, and I’ve in all probability tried on 12 completely different good glasses since arriving in Las Vegas. Earlier on the occasion, I used to be impressed by the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Professional (particularly by its worth).

So, how does Xreal reply to a extra crowded enjoying subject? By bringing out the large weapons.

Xreal debuted two new pairs of AR glasses for CES 2026: the Xreal 1S and the ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses. The Xreal 1S provides some important upgrades over its predecessor, to not point out a worth drop to $449. In the meantime, the corporate claims its upcoming ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses are the world’s first-ever micro-LED good glasses with a 240 Hz refresh fee (even the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional cannot do this). You should buy the Xreal 1S now, however the brand new ROG glasses received’t arrive till later this yr, and sure with a hefty price ticket.

On high of that, Xreal has a brand new innovation on show at CES — prompt 3D conversion. Xreal calls it Actual 3D, and it is out there now on each the 1S and present Xreal One Professional glasses as a free over-the-air replace. This setting immediately transforms your show, images, movies, video games, and leisure content material from 2D to 3D, and it’s a rattling neat trick. 

I’ve all the time been clear about the truth that I’m extraordinarily skeptical of good glasses, particularly if they’ve onboard cameras. Xreal good glasses had been the primary to make me say, “Okay, I get it. That’s really actually cool.” The corporate’s spatial computing glasses venture an enormous display screen into the setting round you, which mirrors your smartphone, pill, or laptop computer show. So, should you’re working in a espresso store or on an airplane, meaning you may immediately see an enormous display screen floating within the air in entrance of you, whereas built-in Bose audio system present audio.

I attempted the ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses at CES

I obtained to strive the unreleased R1 glasses throughout a demo at CES, tethered to the brand new ROG Xbox Ally X gaming handheld. This included utilizing them to play Elden Ring whereas they had been related to a gaming PC. The outcomes blew me away. As I am fond of claiming, they made me really feel like I am residing sooner or later. They offered a kind of uncommon “holy shit” moments, which is strictly what I am in search of at CES.

The R1 show is mighty spectacular, and the refresh fee was equally so. As beforehand talked about, even the $3,499 Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional maxes out at 120 Hz, and whereas watching some motion pictures on the Imaginative and prescient Professional, I didn’t really feel prefer it was persistently reaching that fee. That wasn’t the case with the R1. The graphics had been spectacular, with sturdy coloration and readability that in comparison with the close by show. They are not overly heavy in your face both, although I didn’t get to put on them for very lengthy.

Taking part in ‘Elden Ring’ with the brand new R1 gaming glasses.
Credit score: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Credit score: Timothy Werth / Mashable

In contrast to Xreal’s different glasses, the R1 do not simply tether on to your system. In addition they plug into an included dock, which sits in your desk and lets you hook up with a number of forms of gadgets. This is able to make the R1 barely much less cell; nevertheless, the dock is pretty compact, and you may all the time plug in on to a gaming handheld.

Right here’s what players will get with the R1:

• Show: 240Hz 1080p micro-OLED panels

• Decision: 1920 x 1080

• Show dimension: 171-inch show from 4 meters away

• Discipline of view: 57 levels

• Weight: 91 grams

• Sound by Bose

• Electrochromic lenses

• Contains the ROG Management Dock

• Connectivity: PCs, consoles, handhelds, Android, and iOS through USB-C

The Actual 3D conversion characteristic works immediately

With Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional and Samsung’s Galaxy XR, customers can rework their images and movies into 3D content material. This spatialization has been a giant promoting level with these futuristic headsets. Nevertheless, this course of all the time takes just a few seconds, and it may be hit and miss.

Nevertheless, Xreal’s 3D conversion characteristic is not like something I’ve tried earlier than. With this setting turned on, each a part of your digital show is immediately reworked from 2D to 3D. The app icons on my iPhone show popped off the display screen. Desktop backgrounds immediately turned three-dimensional. It even works on video content material. I pulled up some latest 4K movies I shot throughout a Gwen Stefani efficiency at The Sphere, and the Xreal One Professional immediately turned them into surprisingly practical 3D movies.

I do not love the advertising picture for the Actual 3D characteristic, which does not fairly seize what the expertise is like. It is loads trippier — in a great way.

The Actual 3D impact is cooler than this picture, I promise.
Credit score: Xreal

These kind of 3D conversions are by no means good, however I used to be impressed by how realistically it rendered 3D content material — and the way rapidly. Actual 3D may be activated with the push of a button, and the impact is instantaneous, so far as I may inform. Per Xreal, “it is all powered natively by the X1 spatial computing chip.”

Even cooler is that this characteristic is accessible at no cost to present Xreal glasses. It is out there as an over-the-air software program replace, and I’m excited to maintain enjoying round with it at house. (Head to the Xreal web site to entry the replace.)

The Actual 3D characteristic may be very spectacular.
Credit score: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The Xreal eye attachment (pictured right here) additionally allows recording and gesture management.
Credit score: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Likewise, when CES is over, I’m excited to strive the brand new Xreal 1S glasses and pit them towards newcomers from TCL and different manufacturers. Xreal could not have the bottom costs, however that is not the objective.

Throughout my demo, an Xreal consultant instructed me they’re not making an attempt to compete on worth, however on high quality. And based mostly on the model’s CES choices, they’re nonetheless a number of steps forward of the competitors.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the most recent information and stay updates from the most important present in tech, the place Mashable journalists are reporting stay.