Google and Xreal launched the Xreal Aura, marking the debut of the first wired extended reality glasses powered by the Android XR platform. Preorders opened the same day, with shipping scheduled to begin in mid-November across the United States, Canada, South Korea, and Japan, according to reports.
Base and high-end models receive price cuts
The device arrives with a lower price tag than initially announced. As reported by CNET and The Verge, the base model featuring 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage costs $1,099 through the end of the year, down from a previous preorder price of $1,279. Meanwhile, the higher-end 16GB RAM and 512GB storage configuration is priced at $1,299 through December, dropping from $1,499. The Verge noted that customers who already preordered at the original price will automatically and instantly receive a refund for the difference, as confirmed by Xreal general manager and spokesperson Ralph Jodice.
Compute puck keeps the glasses lightweight
Weighing under 95 grams, the Xreal Aura uses a tethered compute puck to handle heavy processing, a design choice intended to keep the glasses lightweight on the user’s face. TechCrunch reported that the puck houses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Reality Elite platform. The glasses themselves feature Sony Micro-OLED displays with 1200p resolution at 120Hz, a 70-degree field of view according to CNET and Engadget (though TechCrunch noted a 95-degree field of view), and transparent lenses with electrochromic dimming. Bose tuned the built-in open-ear speakers, and the external processor puck doubles as a trackpad while featuring a built-in fingerprint sensor.
Gemini AI assistant integrates into the operating system
Running on Android XR, the Xreal Aura provides access to standard Google Play applications alongside more than 150 dedicated XR experiences at launch. Engadget and The Verge highlighted that Google’s Gemini AI assistant is built directly into the operating system, capable of understanding on-screen context and real-world environments through the glasses. Google Photos also includes a new spatial gallery that wraps libraries around the user.
Peripherals connect to the compute puck
Users can pair the device with Bluetooth keyboards and mice, or connect laptops and PC gaming handhelds directly to the compute puck via USB-C for wired screen mirroring. Xreal partnered with GameSir to release a dedicated wireless gamepad equipped with a Gemini key to summon the chatbot mid-game, alongside a wireless portable keyboard. Confirmed launch apps and games include the NBA App, Nevatars by Andy Serkis, Fallout: Factions, Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars, the NASCAR XR App, and the San Francisco Ballet Company production of The Nutcracker.
Common Questions About the Xreal Aura
Where can you buy the Xreal Aura right now?
Preorders are open in the United States, Canada, and South Korea, with units expected to ship in mid-November 2026. The device launches in Japan on November 2, 2026, with broader international availability planned for next year.
How much do the launch configurations cost?
Through the end of December 2026, the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model costs $1,099, while the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage version is priced at $1,299.
XREAL just launched AURA, its Android XR spatial glasses, today. Here's what you need to know.AURA is a pair of lightweight, wired glasses powered by Google's Android XR. A pocket-sized Compute Puck runs them, with Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite chip inside. Google's… https://t.co/UskBzz1qIj pic.twitter.com/V8rka6ZO0b
What powers the Xreal Aura compute puck?
The external processing puck runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Reality Elite platform, which makes its commercial debut on the Xreal Aura.
How do you connect external computers to the glasses?
Users can plug a laptop or gaming handheld directly into the USB-C compute puck to mirror the screen as a resizable floating window alongside native Android XR applications.
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