Compared to bulky, heavy, immersive VR headsets, extended reality glasses sport smaller displays and more comfortable form factors. After all, they serve as glasses. However, worthwhile extended reality glasses hardly existed until the last few years’ hardware advances delivered the compact, lightweight components that make them possible.

Considering it’s a relatively niche category, I’ve remained skeptical. After several poor experiences with the dizziness and nausea many people experience from VR, I was apprehensive about trying smart eyewear again. I hesitated to test the RayNeo Air 2s, assuming this was an underdeveloped area of tech.

While they’re less smart than AI glasses, the Air 2s is a wearable HD display. With no cameras or microphones, they occupy a different space than novel eyewear like Ray-Ban Metas or hardware like VR headsets. Knowing this, I readied myself for disappointment and to share the sad news that true AR glasses remain a dream.

I’m thrilled to report that RayNeo’s cheapest smart glasses do what they say and well. In light of Google’s recent Android XR announcement, the budget-tier Air 2ss effectiveness offers hope that real augmented reality is around the corner.

What the RayNeo Air 2s glasses are

And what they’re not supposed to be

A few key aspects set these apart from what I’d consider AR glasses. First, they need a wired connection and heavily obscure your vision. You can’t walk around wearing them. Second, they don’t have a camera, microphones, or any input, which precludes them from actually augmenting reality.

Third (this is the big one), their bright, bold displays occupy your central field of vision, forcing concentration on what RayNeo compares to a 201-inch projector screen. Instead of interacting with the world, they provide powerful visuals courtesy of micro-OLED displays. Consider them a cross between a VR headset and AR glasses.

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They weigh a slightly front-heavy 78 grams. Despite knowing that beforehand, the comfort surprised me, offering the first inkling that XR tech might have mainstream potential. Without microchips or batteries in the temples, most of the heft comes from the OLED panels and their supports, which AR eyewear typically lacks. If relatively low-cost wearable lenses rest this naturally, I’m interested in how general use AR glasses feel.

Unexpected versatility with a learning curve

I tested three uses for RayNeo’s eye-mounted monitors. The simplest is watching movies, which suits them perfectly. They support 3D playback in side-by-side (stereoscopic) mode, which decent media players can easily handle. I finally saw the original Avatar after I missed its theatrical run, and 3D TVs died off.

I’ve toyed with minimalist, ultra-portable gear for years, so I hoped these would work as all-purpose monitors and allow for productivity on the go. They do and can, in that order, although the learning curve felt steep. They leave plenty of visibility at the bottom, so I didn’t feel isolated or blindfolded. I got used to the minor jostling from small head movements. I need to shore up my gadget selection to use them on the road, but AR wearables employ wireless connectivity, providing additional hope for smart glasses’ future.

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Finally, I’ve played PC games since I was young, overclocking 486 CPUs, so an immersive gaming experience came next. They made Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey look incredible, but with some connectivity caveats that apply to other headsets.

How the RayNeo Air 2s work

They’re pretty simple if you have the right device

RayNeo paints the Air 2s as widely compatible, which holds true using devices that support DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C. That includes a range of flagship and near-flagship phones from the last few years, including Samsung phones back to the Galaxy S9+. Most devices supporting DP Alt Mode over USB make connection a one-cable affair.

They also work great with modern gaming handhelds, drawing the data and power they need from the USB-C port on devices like the Steam Deck. Full-size consoles require an adapter that adds 5W while passing the audio and video data to the glasses. If PlayStation VR made you sick, RayNeo’s wearable monitors make an excellent compromise.

I use a PC, not a console. The HDMI-to-USB setup RayNeo suggested worked as expected at 60Hz, but the glasses support up to 120Hz. I ordered a replacement DP-to-USB cable, and I’ll update you if it works at 120Hz, as I predict it will. Using the RayNeos as a stationary monitor doesn’t pose difficulty, given the right cables. Still, I noticed something unexpected while fiddling with the included Mirror Studio software.

Air 2s Head tracking and spatial 3D mode

RayNeo’s least expensive eyewear can track head movements and provide a spatial 3D environment with the right connections. A Thunderbolt 3-compatible laptop and cable work perfectly, as does a DP Alt Mode-supporting Android phone or tablet paired with a USB-C Y-cable (to provide the necessary power). If you use the glasses solely with an Android device, use the apps RayNeo recommends to have a breezy experience.

My Android devices lack DP Alt Mode, and my low-power laptop doesn’t render a smooth spatial 3D environment using the bundled Mirror Studio. My desktop lacks the DisplayPort Alt Mode port needed to provide audio, video, and data backhaul to allow head tracking and the requisite bandwidth. I’m waiting for a PlayStation VR2 PC adapter to bridge the gap and run PC games at 120FPS.

What the RayNeo Air 2s say about AR glasses

More options and potential exist than ever

I mostly feared these would work poorly or not at all, or that build quality would render them an afterthought. When I ironed out the connectivity details of my edge case, I compared these to other XR glasses. While focused on different use cases than AI glasses like Meta’s, RayNeo’s XR glasses prove the tech works. I’d even argue it’s ready for mainstream consideration.

The Air 2s lack batteries, processors, memory, and wireless radios, all critical components of the glasses Google hinted at while showcasing the Android XR operating system. However, the Air 2s’ resolution, brightness, and physical configuration feel somewhat awkward. The eyewear Google, Samsung, and others are cooking up may balance better than the Air 2s, which sit evenly considering the business end is up front.

The Air 2s demand a not-insignificant $400 MSRP, with periodic discounts. They look and feel like a premium piece of tech, with display performance to match. I wouldn’t want to deal with such bulk and odd weight distribution while walking around, but everyday AR glasses should be easier to balance. The $800 RayNeo X2 AR glasses, which we have yet to test, imply the company has some experience there.

RayNeo’s only drawback is its execution

And that con makes upcoming AR glasses look promising

RayNeo, Rokid, Xreal, Vuzix, Viture, and other current AR eyewear makers tend to face similar problems, exemplified by my connection and software struggles. They lack a unifying support framework. You can opt for RayNeo’s Pocket TV, a handheld Google TV device that backs the Air 2s with a super-convenient viewing experience. I didn’t because I don’t watch many shows, and have other solutions. Relatively small development houses rarely have the software ecosystems and partnerships that would immediately push these face-hugging displays into viable territory for the average consumer.

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That’s where Google’s XR plans get me excited. Android XR is poised to turn the smart glasses field on its head. The RayNeo X2 sees criticism for buggy implementation, a common thread among devices from niche manufacturers. But the X2 uses the Snapdragon XR hardware platform. They’re positioned to make a leap, should RayNeo opt into the new wearable OS, or an enterprising fan takes the initiative to port them over.

That’s why, despite their relative limitations, I’m happy with the RayNeo Air 2s. The upcoming changes to the XR and high-performance wearables landscapes will dovetail perfectly with the competent eyewear from small companies. It predicts an imminent future where heads-up displays, comfortable and low-impact immersive VR, and AI-activated overlays, audio input, and camera capture have their place in the mainstream. As a gadget lover at heart, I’m here for it.

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RayNeo Air 2S

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A pair of bright, colorful screens let the RayNeo Air 2s serve as a single-focus wearable monitor, or with the hardware, 3D almost-VR glasses. They’re not cheap, but they can do a lot in the right hands.