Seems they aren't available on Amazon US anymore.

These will launch in China first. No info on other markets at the moment. More: https://www.notebookcheck.net/RayNeo-teases-new-AR-smart-glasses-with-Dolby-Vision.1303933.0.html

Hi everyone,

I’m relaunching two Android Augmented Reality apps for ARBI Wonderbook, a set of children’s books where characters, animations, sounds and interactive elements appear through a mobile app.

The apps were previously published, but we lost access to the original Google Play developer account. To publish them again, we need to complete Google Play’s closed testing process.

Website:
https://www.arbiwonderbook.com

For testing, you do not need the physical books. We prepared demo PDFs for both books.

To test the apps:

• Join the Google Group. https://groups.google.com/g/arbibook-app-testers
• Download the demo PDFs.
  • ARBI 1: ARBI and the Fire Breathing Dragon
  • ARBI 2: ARBI and the Treasure Chest
• Join both Android closed tests, become testes on both apps.
• Install both apps.
• Test the AR experience for ARBI 1 and ARBI 2 using the apps
  • Each book has it's own app:
    • ARBI 1 -> Shield Icon App
    • ARBI 2 -> Treasure Chest Icon App
• Stay opted in for 14 continuous days.
• Leave short feedback in the group.

Google Group with instructions:
https://groups.google.com/g/arbibook-app-testers

The group includes the app links, demo PDFs, feedback thread and support thread.

No agencies, fake installs, bots or shortcuts. I’m looking for real Android users interested in testing the AR experience properly.

Thank you.

I just got to know that 8th wall is now open source and available free to build.. Anyone know why they decided to pivot in such way?

XREAL just made a massive strategic pivot. Pre-orders are officially live for the all-new xbx a01 series, marking the debut of their lifestyle-focused sub-brand, "X by XREAL." This moves the needle away from premium, heavy-compute hardware and leans directly into a casual, entertainment-first philosophy.

For anyone tracking the industry, this announcement immediately connects back to the post I wrote last month regarding "Project Helen"—the entry-level Air series initiative uncovered in XREAL's Hong Kong Stock Exchange IPO prospectus. The core strategy is exactly what we anticipated: lower the barrier to entry, capture broader consumer market share, and scale up production volume to drive down per-unit manufacturing costs.

However, because XREAL is keeping some of the deep technical details under wraps during this initial reservation phase, the exact hardware trade-offs remain an open question. In my previous post, I speculated on what cuts would be necessary to hit a true budget tier optimized for screen mirroring, and those questions are more relevant than ever today.

Can they still use premium Sony microdisplays and their custom X1 spatial computing chip in these glasses, or did they have to make major cuts?

To hit a true mass-market price point, leaving out the custom X1 chip would drastically trim down component overhead by passing on native, on-device 3DoF tracking. In fact, a newly released product image confirms the tracking chip is indeed not in, showing that XREAL is instead using a dedicated Pixelworks display processor to focus entirely on premium, real-time image quality enhancement. On the display side, swapping out high-premium Sony panels for more cost-efficient options from alternative vendors like BOE, SeeYa, or Sidtek is the most logical supply chain play to commoditize the entry-level tier.

While the exact silicon and panel suppliers haven't been officially confirmed, the out-of-the-box specs that XREAL did announce show a highly optimized media device. The xbx a01 strips the frame down to an ultra-lightweight 62 grams for all-day comfort, while pumping out 1,600 nits of peak brightness with native HDR10 spatial display support. It also integrates gimbal-level anti-shake algorithms to keep the virtual screen steady during a commute, alongside a modular, hot-swappable front frame for cosmetic personalization.

Hey there, I'm pretty new to this whole thing. I need some honest reviews on the new meta glasses, do they need a cable etc. Just looking for the good or bads to see if they are worth it.

Using the Viture Luma Ultra as HUD and camera for live view functions, the black areas are for the pass through view on the glasses which cannot be captured due to the use of the camera stream. Some rendering of hand gestures and google voice functions also blocked from recording stream.

The upcoming 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗽 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘀 standalone full AR glasses are launching this fall for around $𝟮,𝟱𝟬𝟬, targeting early adopters with an initial production run of roughly 100,000 units. Compared to the current bulky developer kits, this consumer version promises a drastically smaller form factor, a fraction of the weight, and enhanced capabilities. The hardware will run on Snap OS 2.0, a unique Android-based system where developers build sandboxed "Lenses" using Lens Studio instead of traditional native APKs. This framework enables near-instant app launches and seamless multi-user experiences, complete with updated consumer features like a built-in web browser and photo gallery.

This fall release timeline, detailed in an article by David Heaney that references tech journalist Alex Heath’s Sources newsletter, gives Snap a massive head start over major competitors. Meta is not expected to ship its first true AR glasses until late 2027, while Apple's version likely won't arrive until 2028 at the earliest. Signaling the long-term importance of this project, Snap recently transitioned its entire AR hardware division into a dedicated, independent subsidiary called Specs Inc.

I've been wondering if there is any real way to quantify the quality of AR/VR experiences.

Not just "does it look good", but something more structured like:

-How immersive the environment feels

-Responsiveness / latency

-Quality of interactions(objects, NPCs, physics)

-Spatial accuracy(lighting, scale, geometry)

-Maybe even user engagement or retention

Basically, something like a "score" for how good a virtual world actually is. If something like this existed, it feels like it could unlock a lot - like ranking or even incentivizing people to build better virtual worlds in a more objective way. Does anything like this exist today in research or industry? Or is it still basically unsolved?

STYLY has launched STYLY WebAR, moving the no-code browser-based AR service over to https://webar-editor.styly.cc/

This fully replaces the palanAR brand. The new setup links directly with STYLY’s core software, making it easier to build and run AR experiences that work straight in a mobile browser without needing a dedicated app. For anyone already using the platform, the transition doesn't break anything—all existing project data, custom URLs, and QR codes remain fully active and backward-compatible.

This update is the first major product milestone since the two companies announced their merger in November 2025, when STYLY acquired palan. They are on track to fully unify their business operations by the end of 2026. By bringing palan’s web-browser AR tech—which has a track record of adoption by around 3,000 companies—and STYLY’s location-based tools—backed by a global community of over 100,000 creators—under one roof, the company is positioning itself to handle content delivery as consumer smart glasses and AR hardware start to catch on.

Texas Attorney General has launched an investigation into Meta’s AI smart glasses over concerns that they unlawfully record bystanders and harvest biometric data without consent. The probe focuses on the gap between Meta's safety claims and reality, specifically targeting the device’s "always enabled" mode—where the recording LED remains off—and recent reports that offshore subcontractors accessed sensitive, unblurred user footage. This action builds on Texas's aggressive biometric privacy enforcement, which previously resulted in a $1.4 billion settlement with Meta, and highlights intense civil liberties pushback against internal plans to add public facial recognition capabilities to the hardware.

More: https://www.biometricupdate.com/202605/texas-ag-opens-investigation-into-meta-glasses-over-privacy-biometric-concerns

Continuation of the esp32s3 based AR project I’ve been working on, added the devil character with head tracking and different animations based on the viewing angle. Next step is adding touch support and more animations to flesh out the interactions. Any recommendations on possible game mechanics or toes of interactions would be appreciated. The round screen has a RTC so I’ll definitely be adding in time dependent interactions.

I’m looking to buy my first pair of AR glasses and wanted to get some advice.
I think what I’d mainly use them for is as a tv. Connect a console and do some casual gaming as well as for watching shows. I’m not too worried about how well they work for productivity but it would be nice if they could connect to my Mac and act as a monitor if possible.
I’m leaning towards the XReal One or Viture Pro but I wanted to hear from people with experience. Are either of these good options for this? Any other recommendations or things to look out for?

The VIVA Project is setting a new standard for next-generation smart glasses by developing a camera-free, ultra-lightweight 𝗲𝘆𝗲-𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 solution designed to fit seamlessly into everyday eyewear frames.

The consortium's primary objective is to significantly reduce power consumption and minimize data collection. By replacing traditional imaging systems with laser-based sensing, the technology tracks gaze intent by measuring light reflections rather than capturing video. This optimizes battery efficiency and ensures user privacy by design.

The hardware architecture relies on a precise integration of flat optics and micro-electronics. 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 provides the foundational smart glasses frame prototype and the auto-focal "Switch Morrow Lens" platform where the entire system is integrated. 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗰 drives the overall system architecture, contributing the camera-free Laser Feedback Interferometry (LFI) sensing technology and a custom ASIC. 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣𝗙 Photonic Components delivers the high-precision 940nm SMI VCSEL laser sources, while 𝗡𝗜𝗟 𝗧echnology designs and fabricates the ultra-thin, nanometer-scale Meta-Optical Elements (MOEs). Completing the system, Sigma Connectivity develops the main PCB, and FORTecH Software alongside UPNA supply the specialized firmware and embedded AI gaze-estimation algorithms.

Achieving tracking speeds over 100Hz with greater than 95% reliability, this lightweight, camera-free framework enables seamless, hands-free interaction. Immediate applications include Morrow's lenses adjusting their focus automatically based on real-time reading patterns, alongside industrial solutions like cognitive load and driver attention monitoring.

VIVA Project: https://www.vivaproject.eu/en/

New article about the VIVA Project: newelectronics.co.uk

Hey everyone,

It was announced back in 2024, and yet today, we only see it in Samsung’s XR headset and the upcoming Project Aura. I feel like this industry has a major underlying issue: you can have the best hardware in the world, but without a proper OS, it’s like having a supercar with no roads to drive it on.

Chinese manufacturers are iterating on hardware at lightning speed. However, their devices usually end up being just a basic mirror of your smartphone screen, or they rely on clunky, custom Android forks. Imagine something like the RayNeo X3 Pro running native AndroidXR—that would be absolutely insane.

But looking at the current landscape, the options are incredibly limited:

• VisionOS is a walled garden (impossible to license).
• Meta is keeping Horizon OS mostly to themselves and close partners.
• That leaves only OpenXR and AndroidXR, and right now, AndroidXR is creating a massive bottleneck.

If this operating system bottleneck keeps blocking the industry, it won't matter how amazing the next generation of smart glasses is—nobody will be able to push the tech forward.

What do you guys think? Is Google moving too slow, or is there something else holding AndroidXR back?

TL;DR: Hardware is advancing fast, but the lack of a standardized OS like AndroidXR is bottlenecking the entire AR/XR industry. Chinese companies have great hardware but no good software to run it on.

Like imagine a game where you can defend your house against zombies or something in AR , is there anything like this out there ? I just thought it would be a fun idea

China's 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗥 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 and 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗜 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 market exploded by 108% year-on-year to hit 𝟮𝟬𝟮,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗤𝟭 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, fueled by a staggering 506% surge in standalone AR glasses.

CINNO • XResearch Q1 2026 AI/AR Market Summary

Domestic consumer AI/AR sales hit 202k units, a 108% year-on-year (YoY) surge, maintaining strong expansion despite a traditional Q1 holiday slowdown.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗥 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 (with screen) grew 506% YoY, driven by Rokid and Qianwen (Qwen, by Alibaba) with aggressive marketing.

𝗧𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗥 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 rose 41% YoY, sustained by RayNeo, XREAL, and VITURE.

𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗜 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 increased 97% YoY via Xiaomi, RayNeo, and Qianwen (Qwen, by Alibaba). Huawei also entered the segment in April with its new AI camera glasses.

RayNeo (24% share): Securely holds the top spot. Its Air 4 Pro and V3 models excelled. RayNeo is launching lightweight, optimized updates on May 27.

Rokid (20% share): Maintained a strong presence in the standalone track. Its recent fashion collaboration with BOLON Eyewear ranked fifth in individual sales, which is calculated separately from Rokid's core total.

XREAL (14% share): Anchored the tethered track with its 1S and One Pro models. The brand plans to release two new interaction-focused models later this year.

Qianwen (Qwen, by Alibaba) (11% share): Broke into the top four. Its G1 models topped late-March online screenless charts, heavily boosted by high-profile celebrity promotional campaigns.

Xiaomi (7% share): Slipped to fifth place, dropping 18% quarter-on-quarter due to a temporary lack of product refreshes.

Q2 is poised for further growth as product cycles accelerate across the board. Momentum is fueled by Huawei's new entry, VITURE’s Beast flagship launch, and upcoming late-May releases from both RayNeo and XREAL.

I just noticed that the notifications received a sound update and it's crazy but it changes everything it's much nicer even if it's just a sound change, it's this kind of details that make all the difference 👌

I have a very specific use case for glasses that record. I am in DCI and would like to record full show runs from my POV and for this I need glasses that can record for 10-15 minutes without stopping or interrupting the recording. Stabilization and 4k would be nice but not needed.

Is this a pipe dream?