CES 2026: I tried Xreal’s unreleased ROG R1 gaming glasses

Xreal, the augmented reality brand behind some of the best smart glasses, is facing a lot of new competition at CES 2026. Smart glasses have been a big draw among the crowds at CES’ packed convention this year, and I’ve probably tried on 12 different smart glasses since arriving in Las Vegas. Earlier in the event, I was impressed with the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro (especially for its price).

So, how does Xreal react to the crowded playing field? By bringing out the big guns.

Xreal released two new pairs of AR glasses for CES 2026: the Xreal 1S and the ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses. The Xreal 1S offers serious improvements over its predecessor, not to mention a price drop to $449. Meanwhile, the company says its upcoming ROG Xreal R1 AR sports glasses are the world’s first Micro-LED smart glasses with a 240 Hz refresh rate (even the Apple Vision Pro can’t do that). You can buy the Xreal 1S now, but the new ROG glasses won’t arrive until later this year, and they’ll likely have higher prices.

In addition, Xreal has a new program on display at CES – fast 3D conversion. Xreal calls it Real 3D, and it’s now available on both 1S again Xreal One Pro glasses available as a free over-the-air update. This setting quickly changes your display, photos, videos, games, and entertainment content from 2D to 3D, and it’s a great idea.

I’ve been open about the fact that I’m very skeptical of smart glasses, especially if they have built-in cameras. Xreal’s smart glasses were the first to make me say, “Okay, I get it. That’s really cool.” The company’s virtual reality glasses create a giant screen around you, mirroring your smartphone, tablet, or laptop display. So, if you’re working in a coffee shop or on a plane, that means you can immediately see the big screen floating in the air in front of you, while the built-in Bose speakers provide the sound.

I tried the ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses at CES

I got to try out the unreleased R1 glasses during a demo at CES, tied to the new ROG Xbox Ally X gaming handheld. This included using them to play Elden Ring while connected to a gaming PC. The results impressed me. As I like to say, they make me feel like I’m living in the future. They gave one of those rare “holy” moments, which is exactly what I’m looking for at CES.

The R1’s display is absolutely stunning, and the refresh rate was equally so. As mentioned before, even the $3,499 Apple Vision Pro outputs at 120 Hz, and while I watched some movies on the Vision Pro, I didn’t feel like it was consistently reaching that level. That was not the case with the R1. Images were impressive, with strong color and clarity comparable to a nearby display. They’re not too heavy on your face either, although I couldn’t wear them for long.

Playing ‘Elden Ring’ with the new R1 sports glasses.
Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Unlike other Xreal glasses, the R1 doesn’t just connect directly to your device. They also connect to an included dock, which sits on your desk and allows you to connect to a wide variety of devices. This will make R1 move slowly; however, the dock is pretty compact, and you can always plug in a portable gaming console.

Here’s what players will get with R1:

• Display: 240Hz 1080p thin OLED panels

• Solution: 1920 x 1080

• Display size: 171-inch display from 4 meters

• Field of view: 57 degrees

• Weight: you are 91g

• Bose audio

• Electrochromic lenses

• Includes ROG Control Dock

• Communication: PCs, consoles, handhelds, Android, and iOS via USB-C

The real 3D conversion feature works fast

With Apple’s Vision Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy XR, users can turn their photos and videos into 3D content. This placement has been a big selling point for these futuristic headphones. However, this process always takes a few seconds, and can be hit or miss.

However, Xreal’s 3D conversion feature is unlike anything I’ve tried before. With this setting turned on, every part of your virtual display changes instantly from 2D to 3D. The app icons on my iPhone display appeared on the screen. The desktop background suddenly became three-dimensional. It even works for video content. I pulled out the latest 4K videos I shot of Gwen Stefani’s performance at The Sphere, and the Xreal One Pro turned them into incredibly realistic 3D videos.

I don’t like the marketing image of the Real 3D feature, which doesn’t really capture what the experience is like. It’s a lot trippier – in a good way.

The real 3D effect is cooler than this picture, I promise.
Credit: Xreal

These types of 3D conversions are never perfect, but I’m impressed with how realistically they render 3D content – and how quickly. True 3D can be activated at the push of a button, and the effect is instant, as far as I can tell. According to Xreal, “everything is powered by the X1 spatial computing chip.”

What’s really cool is that this feature is available for free on existing Xreal glasses. It’s available as an over-the-air software update, and I’m excited to continue playing with it at home. (Go to the Xreal website to access the update.)

The true 3D aspect is very impressive.
Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The Xreal eye attachment (pictured here) also enables recording and gesture control.
Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Likewise, when CES is over, I’m excited to try out the new Xreal 1S glasses and pit them against TCL’s newcomers and other brands. Xreal may not have the lowest prices, but that’s not the goal.

During my demo, the Xreal representative told me that they are not trying to compete on price, but on quality. And based on the CES product offering, it’s still a few steps ahead of the competition.

Go to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest tech game, where Mashable reporters report live.