Display & Audio Setup
X by XREAL a01+ AR Glasses
By Nick Miles · Updated 2026-10-03 · 3 expert sources
Pros
- +PCMag Editors' Choice, called the best entry-level pair of AR smart glasses it has tested
- +62 g frame that PCMag found comfortable to wear for long periods
- +1,600-nit peak brightness, the brightest here alongside the Viture Pro 2 (PCMag)
- +Powered and driven over one USB-C DisplayPort cable, no battery (XREAL listing)
- +Three nose-pad sizes and optional prescription inserts (XREAL listing)
Cons
- −No built-in head tracking and no ultrawide mode; PCMag says ultrawide mode has been vital to its own work on the go
- −Tom's Guide saw fuzziness around small text when word processing or coding
- −Tom's Guide lists blurred edges and no IPD adjustment as drawbacks
- −HDR10 doesn't seem to improve the picture much (PCMag)
Score breakdown
- Expert consensus8.0
- Effectiveness7.5
- Build safety9.0
- Durability7.6
- Value8.7
Build safety is provisional. Our 2026-10-03 search of CPSC recall data found no XREAL recall, and no safety or failure reports turned up in our sources, but we have not yet verified UL/FCC or equivalent safety certification. The 9.0 is a placeholder until that evidence is reviewed, not a certified rating.
What the experts say
“It's the best entry-level pair of AR smart glasses I've tested yet, earning it an Editors' Choice award.”
“If you’re on a word processor or coding, there can be a bit of fuzziness around small text, so make sure you change the magnification of the UI to break through that (something I didn’t have to do with the Air 4 Pros).”