Question:

What are the name and features of the AR projector glasses that can display a large screen for watching media in private settings, and how do they compare to Apple Vision? I saw them somewhere but I cannot recall the exact product. I would appreciate any expert insights or user reviews on these glasses.

Answer:

AR Projector Glasses: What They Are and How They Compare to Apple Vision

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital images or information onto the real world, creating a mixed reality experience. AR glasses are wearable devices that enable users to see these images through lenses or waveguides, which are transparent optical elements that bend and combine light beams from different sources.

One of the applications of AR glasses is to display a large screen for watching media in private settings, such as in bed or on a plane. This can create an immersive cinema-like experience for the user, without disturbing others or requiring a physical screen. However, not all AR glasses are capable of this feature, and some may have advantages or disadvantages over others.

In this article, we will review some of the AR projector glasses that can display a large screen for watching media, and compare them to Apple Vision, the rumored AR/VR headset from Apple that is expected to launch in 2025.

AR projector glasses are a type of AR glasses that use a light source, such as a laser or LED, to project an image onto the user’s retina or a waveguide. The image is then reflected or refracted into the user’s eyes, creating a virtual screen that appears in front of them.

Some of the benefits of AR projector glasses are:

• They can create a high-resolution and high-contrast image that is visible in different lighting conditions.
• They can adjust the size and position of the image according to the user’s preference and head movement.
• They can offer a wide field of view and a large screen size, up to 130 inches or more.
• They can be lightweight and comfortable to wear, and look like normal glasses.

Some of the drawbacks of AR projector glasses are:

• They may have limited compatibility with different devices and platforms, and may require additional adapters or accessories.
• They may drain the battery of the connected device quickly, and may have a short battery life themselves.
• They may have a high price tag, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
• They may have safety concerns, such as eye strain, nausea, or potential damage from the light source.

What are some examples of AR projector glasses?

There are several AR projector glasses on the market or in development, each with their own features and specifications. Here are some of the most notable ones:

• Xreal Air and Xreal Beam: These are AR glasses from Xreal, a Chinese company that specializes in AR and VR technology. The Xreal Air glasses are designed to plug into a compatible device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, and display its screen in front of the user. The Xreal Beam is an adapter that connects the Xreal Air glasses to any device with an HDMI port, such as a game console, a TV box, or a PC. The Xreal Air and Xreal Beam can create a 130-inch HD screen with a 52-degree field of view, and have built-in speakers and a microphone. The Xreal Air glasses weigh 88 grams and have a battery life of 2.5 hours, while the Xreal Beam weighs 120 grams and has a battery life of 3 hours. The Xreal Air glasses cost $499, and the Xreal Beam costs $119.
• Google Glass Enterprise 2: These are AR glasses from Google, the tech giant that pioneered the concept of smart glasses with the original Google Glass in 2013. The Google Glass Enterprise 2 is the second generation of Google’s AR glasses for enterprise and industrial use, and can also be used for personal and entertainment purposes. The Google Glass Enterprise 2 can connect to a smartphone or a computer via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and display notifications, apps, or media on a small screen in the corner of the user’s eye. The Google Glass Enterprise 2 has a 640 x 360 resolution, an 8-megapixel camera, a touchpad, a speaker, and a microphone. The Google Glass Enterprise 2 weighs 46 grams and has a battery life of 8 hours. The Google Glass Enterprise 2 was discontinued by Google in March 2023, but can still be purchased from third-party sellers for around $1,000.
• Vuzix Blade Upgraded: These are AR glasses from Vuzix, a US-based company that has been making smart glasses since 1997. The Vuzix Blade Upgraded are the latest version of Vuzix’s AR glasses for consumer and enterprise use, and can display various content and apps on a full-color screen in the user’s field of view. The Vuzix Blade Upgraded can connect to a smartphone or a computer via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and support voice control, gesture control, and touch control. The Vuzix Blade Upgraded have a 1280 x 720 resolution, an 8-megapixel camera, a touchpad, a speaker, and a microphone. The Vuzix Blade Upgraded weigh 85 grams and have a battery life of 2 hours. The Vuzix Blade Upgraded cost $799.
• Lenovo ThinkReality A3: These are AR glasses from Lenovo, a Chinese multinational company that produces computers and other electronics. The Lenovo ThinkReality A3 are AR glasses for enterprise and professional use, and can display up to five virtual monitors on a large screen in the user’s field of view. The Lenovo ThinkReality A3 can connect to a smartphone or a computer via a USB-C cable, and run on the ThinkReality software platform, which supports various AR applications and content. The Lenovo ThinkReality A3 have a 1080p resolution, an 8-megapixel camera, a 3D depth sensor, a touchpad, a speaker, and a microphone. The Lenovo ThinkReality A3 weigh 130 grams and have a battery life of 4 hours. The Lenovo ThinkReality A3 cost $1,499.

How do they compare to Apple Vision?

Apple Vision is the rumored AR/VR headset from Apple, the tech giant that dominates the smartphone and tablet market. Apple Vision is expected to launch in 2025, and to be a standalone device that can run on its own processor and operating system, without requiring a connection to a smartphone or a computer. Apple Vision is also expected to have both AR and VR capabilities, meaning that it can overlay digital images on the real world, or create a fully immersive virtual environment.

Some of the speculated features and specifications of Apple Vision are:

• It can create a high-quality and realistic image that can adapt to the user’s eye movement and environment.
• It can offer a wide field of view and a large screen size, up to 200 inches or more.
• It can be lightweight and comfortable to wear, and look like a pair of sunglasses.
• It can support various content and apps, such as games, movies, social media, and productivity tools, and integrate with Apple’s ecosystem and services, such as Siri, FaceTime, and iCloud.
• It can have a high-resolution camera, a 3D depth sensor, a LiDAR scanner, a touchpad, a speaker, and a microphone.
• It can have a long battery life, up to 10 hours or more.
• It can have a high price tag, up to $3,000 or more.

Based on these features and specifications, Apple Vision may have some advantages over the AR projector glasses, such as:

• It can offer a more versatile and immersive experience, with both AR and VR modes.
• It can offer a more seamless and intuitive experience, with its own processor and operating system, and integration with Apple’s ecosystem and services.
• It can offer a more advanced and innovative experience, with its cutting-edge technology and design.

However, Apple Vision may also have some disadvantages over the AR projector glasses, such as:

• It may have a higher cost and a longer wait time, as it is not yet available and may be very expensive.
• It may have more compatibility and privacy issues, as it may not work well with non-Apple devices and platforms, and may collect more data from the user and the environment.
• It may have more safety and social concerns, as it may cause more eye strain, nausea, or isolation, and may be more noticeable and intrusive to others.

Conclusion

AR

projector glasses are a type of AR glasses that can display a large screen for watching media in private settings, and have various benefits and drawbacks. Some of the examples of AR projector glasses are Xreal Air and Xreal Beam, Google Glass Enterprise 2, Vuzix Blade Upgraded, and Lenovo ThinkReality A3. Apple Vision is the rumored AR/VR headset from Apple that is expected to launch in 2025, and may have some advantages and disadvantages over the AR projector glasses. The choice of which device to use may depend on the user’s preference, budget, and use case.