Surprise: The Google Xreal glasses debut at a Meta-beating $1,099

Google's lightweight Aura glasses, priced at $1,099, have entered the market, surpassing Meta's VR Glasses in cost. This price drop comes after Xreal originally announced a higher price of $1,279 for early preorders. The Google glasses, with a tethered Android XR compute puck and multiple virtual screens, now offer a wider field of view at 70 degrees diagonal, though this advantage comes with its own set of tradeoffs.

Available for purchase from November 2nd in Japan, the device will be priced at $1,099 in the US, Canada, and South Korea, or $1,299 with a more discounted 16GB + 512GB storage option. Preorders at the original price will automatically receive a refund for the difference. Preloaded with over 150 made-for-XR experiences, including new immersive films, the glasses promise an innovative augmented reality experience.

Google's Gemini AI is also integrated into the headset, allowing users to ask questions about what they are seeing. Additionally, Google Photos is receiving an XR update, allowing users to view their entire library in a spatial gallery and navigate through years of memories. Google and Xreal have also partnered with GameSir to offer a wireless gamepad with a dedicated Gemini key.