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I've been testing three pairs of smart glasses that represent three different philosophies about what wearable displays should be. The RayNeo Air 3s Pro bets on brightness and affordability.
The XREAL 1S focuses on polished spatial computing with a dedicated embedded chip. And the Viture Beast promises the widest field of view on the market with next-level features on the horizon. After extensive testing, one of them is my clear favorite.
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These are wearable displays that connect to your phone, laptop, or gaming handheld via USB-C. Think of them as personal monitors you wear on your face and not standalone XR headsets like the Apple Vision Pro or the Samsung Galaxy XR.
Pair #1: Viture Beast ($549)
The Viture Beast is the most expensive and ambitious option here, featuring the widest field of view at 58 degrees and the brightest display of the bunch at 1,250-nits. It includes built-in 3DoF tracking via its VisionPair system, a front-facing camera for future 6DoF capabilities, a built-in microphone, and the most granular light control with nine levels of electrochromic dimming for the outer lenses.
On paper, it should be the clear winner. However, it ships with significant features that will be added in future firmware updates. The advertised 1200p resolution at 120Hz is currently disabled, leaving them with 1080p at 60Hz until Viture releases an update. The 6DoF tracking from that front camera is also pending future firmware. For a $549 product, buying on the promise of future updates is a tough pill to swallow.
Also: I replaced my office monitors with XR glasses, and the 174-inch screen spoiled me
In my testing, I didn't experience the drift issues that some other reviewers have reported with the 3DoF tracking. However, I did notice that bumping the frames causes a water-ripple effect in the display that's more pronounced than on the other two glasses. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's noticeable when comparing them side by side.
At 94 grams, it's also the heaviest option here. The rounded frame design is actually the most comfortable of the three, but the build feels plasticky despite Viture's marketing of a “premium full-metal aluminum-magnesium frame,” which is clearly hidden underneath that plastic outer layer. To be fair, though, they all feel pretty plasticky to me.
The Beast has potential, but asking people to pay a premium for promises rather than delivered features is a tough sell. If you're willing to wait for those important firmware updates, the wide FOV and slick design might justify your purchase now.
Pair #2. Xreal 1S ($449)
The Xreal 1S is the one I reach for most often, and part of the reason is that it gets the fundamentals right.
The display is 1200p with a 52-degree field of view and a 16:10 aspect ratio. At 82 grams, it's lighter than the Beast and only slightly heavier than the RayNeo Air 3s Pro. The real differentiator is the X1 Spatial Computing Chip embedded into the frames, which handles 3DoF tracking with 3ms motion-to-photon latency.
The virtual screen stays locked in space even when you move your head quickly. The downside of this onboard processing is that the chip generates noticeable heat on the forehead. I noticed the “hot face” factor more on the Xreal 1s than on either of the other two in this rundown.
Also: I've tested several pairs of smart glasses at CES 2026 – this one nails both price and performance
I've found Real 3D to be surprisingly effective, converting any 2D content into 3D in real time with low latency. I tested it on everything from YouTube videos of varying quality to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch using the separate Xreal Neo video hub. The feature definitely works better with crisp, well-produced footage than fast-moving or low-light content.
The main trade-off is brightness, as these are the dimmest in this rundown at 700 nits. The three-level electrochromic dimming definitely helps compensate, and I haven't found brightness to be limiting in my indoor use.
For most people, this is the one I recommend most. It's feature-complete, the tracking is stable, and it ships with all features ready to use out of the box.
Pair #3. RayNeo Air 3s Pro ($299)
The RayNeo Air 3s Pro is a solid budget option that makes smart compromises to hit that price point. You get a 1080p display with a 46-degree field of view, 120Hz refresh rate, and an impressive 1,200-nit brightness. At 76 grams, it's the lightest option in this comparison. In my outdoor testing, the 1,200-nit display held up impressively in direct sunlight, making it a strong choice for outdoor use despite its lower price point.
Think of the Air 3s Pro as a no-frills solution that bypasses 3DoF tracking, meaning the screen is rigidly locked to your head movement with no pinning and no gentle follow smoothing. There's also no electrochromic dimming, so the sunglasses' tint of the outer lenses never changes.
Also: These XR glasses gave me a 200-inch screen to work with – and have quickly replaced my monitors
This makes the RayNeo less suitable for productivity use, as looking down at your phone or keyboard becomes more challenging because the tint obscures your view. They also have the narrowest field of view at 46 degrees. RayNeo offers an app for connected smartphones that attempts to add limited 3DoF tracking, but in my experience, it was pretty unreliable.
If you're looking for a simple, plug-and-play external display that happens to be wearable, and you don't care about spatial computing features, the RayNeo is a solid choice. It does the basics well enough, and that extra brightness is a solid bonus.
Writer's choice
The Xreal 1S is the clear winner for most people. It's feature-complete, the spatial tracking actually works, and it's $100 cheaper than the Viture Beast while delivering what it promises right now. The RayNeo Air 3s Pro remains the budget champion for outdoor brightness and no-frills plug-and-play use. The Viture Beast doesn't quite justify its $549 price tag yet, but that could easily change once Viture delivers on its promises down the line.
Follow my latest tech reviews and projects across social media. You'll find me on YouTube at YouTube.com/@JasonHowell, on X (formerly Twitter) at @JasonHowell, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/thatjasonhowell.
