Reservations for the Xreal Aura glasses are now officially available, and they largely adhere to the $1,500 price point.

      Snap's Specs, now priced at over $2,000, seem quite pricey.

      After a final teaser earlier this month, Xreal has started accepting reservations for its new Aura smart glasses. The company aimed to keep the price below $1,500 for these new AR devices, and it has officially set the reservation price at that amount.

      The Android XR-powered spatial computing glasses will be available for $1,500 for the basic model, excluding tax. The expected release date is in the fall of 2026. While this price is not exactly low, it does undercut Snap’s latest Specs, which are priced just under $2,200.

      Xreal is taking a cautious approach to selling the Aura. This is a reservation, not an official preorder, requiring a $99 reservation fee that will turn into a $199 launch credit. The limited $299 Founder Priority Pass has already sold out, with all 2,000 passes reserved in just 36 hours.

      The launch will support several regions, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and many European countries. Final details on pricing, configurations, and shipping will be available closer to the launch date.

      What can users expect from the Xreal Aura?

      Unlike Snap’s Specs, which function as standalone devices, Xreal employs a split-compute method, combining glasses with a dedicated computing puck. This puck houses the Snapdragon Reality Elite platform, while the glasses are equipped with Xreal’s X1S spatial coprocessor. The setup incorporates Android XR, Gemini assistance, a 70-degree optical see-through display, 6DoF tracking, hand tracking, electrochromic dimming, and compatibility with prescription lens inserts.

      Though the price is lower, there is a trade-off. Users will have to deal with the puck and a cable. However, this design allows for better thermal management since the processing occurs away from the face, leading to improved battery life. While seated, the additional components may be unnoticeable for entertainment, productivity, and gaming, but walking around will make the wired setup apparent.

      Vikhyaat Vivek is a technology journalist and reviewer with seven years of experience in consumer hardware coverage.

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