Nreal announces Nreal Air, a new AR headset for mobile entertainment and gaming
You might have heard of Nreal before, the augmented reality headset manufacturer behind the Nreal Light and also for ruffling feathers with Epic Games earlier this year. The company has announced a brand-new line of headsets slated to release later this year: the Nreal Air. These sleeker pair of headsets will weigh around 77g and are intended to be used both indoors and outdoors. The latter will be more feasible compared to the Nreal Light as the Air features a detachable USB-C cable so as not to attract unwanted attention while not in use.
Compared to the Nreal Light, the Nreal Air will be sleeker and also pack better ergonomic comfort with its adjustable 3-Step Rake System that enables users to adjust the viewing angle by tilting the lens, and elastic temples to wrap around the head and not slip. The outward-facing camera have also been streamlined to focus on the theater experience. Speaking of, the device will be able to project a 3Dof, holographic "floating" 201-inch virtual display, when viewed at a distance of 6 meters.
As for more of the new device's specs, Nreal says that the Air is powered by a "best-in-market micro-OLED chip for AR devices", a refresh rate of up to 90Hz and packs a display with a high density of colors, with as many as 49 Pixels Per Degree (PPD).
Nreal says that the Nreal Air has been chiefly designed for entertainment purposes, "be it for watching YouTube videos, streaming media, or playing mobile games". Having tried the Nreal Light myself, the AR experience is rather convincing, especially since the device's dedicated launcher is compatible with apps the user is already familiar with.
The Nreal Air is expected to launch in December 2021 to three key Asian markets including Japan, China and South Korea in partnership with some leading carriers. Its roll out to other markets will take place through to 2022 and the pricing will be determined by local carrier partners. However, Nreal states that the Air will retail "at a fraction of the price of Nreal Light" (which is itself around $600). Interestingly, the Nreal Air will be compatible with iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads and is being touted as "the first AR device in the world" to offer such compatibility. Of course, like the Nreal Light, the new model will be compatible with most Android devices.
Today's news should be more considered as an announcement or soft launch rather than a full reveal as we have only image renders to go by. Hopefully, we will get to learn more about the Nreal Air in the coming months. In the meantime, be sure to check out our official impressions of the Nreal Light linked below to learn how it works and what to expect out of it!
Nreal Light Official GBAtemp Impressions