The new Nreal Air glasses turned my iPhone into a productivity and entertainment monster by adding a huge screen that fits on my face. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but this is the reality we live in in 2022.
At first glance, the $379 Air looks like typical virtual reality (VR) hardware. The glasses are worn like a VR headset and have a cable that connects to your mobile device. But the Air doesn’t offer a true VR experience and instead focuses on mirroring the content of your phone, tablet or laptop. In fact, the Air offers a giant monitor in the form of a pair of sunglasses.
No VR can be a good thing
Really
I wasn’t expecting a full VR experience with the Air, which turned out to be a good thing. Unlike the Meta Quest 2 headphones, which are awkward to wear, the Air looks and feels like a pair of Raybans. In fact, they look so badass that I started wearing them to my local coffee shop and only got a few weird looks.
I’ve found that the Air significantly increases productivity when used with my iPhone or other mobile phone. Instead of lugging around a big laptop, I can put the Air in my pocket while working on the go. They connect with a special dongle to my iPhone and I can view and edit documents on the big screen provided by the glasses.
Elegant design makes the difference
Sascha Brodsky/Digital trends
I like the look of the Air with its cyberpunk design. The glasses are light enough at 76 grams that they look more like heavy sunglasses than a full-fledged gadget you’re wearing. One problem is that they are a little too narrow for my wide face. After a few hours of use, the Air tends to pinch and become uncomfortable. On the other hand, the Air is far more comfortable to wear than my Quest 2 headphones, which are much heavier.
I tried working with a VR headset like the Meta Quest 2 when using apps like Spatial, which mirror your computer screens. The problem I’ve always run into is that clunky VR headsets become uncomfortable after about an hour of use. Thanks to the lightweight design, I didn’t have the same problem with Nreal Air.
Air works with M1 MacBook computers and certain iPhone and Android phones. To use the Air with an iPhone, you have to buy a separate adapter, which I’ve found works well, although it’s annoying to carry around another part.
The tiny screens inside the lenses are the only sign that the Air aren’t real sunglasses. It’s nice to see through the semi-transparent lenses, but when things get too bright outdoors, I prefer to use the included shield that blocks out all the light.
The Air offers virtual reality capabilities through its software. This application allows you to do things like open multiple windows and use the built-in web browser. In the end, I found the Air to be most useful simply as an external monitor.
Small package, great screen
At least on paper, the Air can’t match the display specs of my iPhone 14 Pro Max. Nreal claims the Air has a 3840 x 1080 resolution and 60Hz refresh rate with its Micro OLED display. That’s compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s 6.7-inch OLED display with 1290 x 2796 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate.
The difference in refresh rate between the two devices is noticeable and a significant disadvantage of the Air. Videos and web browsing are less smooth over the air, mainly due to lower refresh rates. The Air’s 60Hz refresh rate may also have contributed to the nausea I felt after using the glasses for a few hours.
Great for work and play
Sascha Brodsky/Digital Trends
I used Nreal Air to write this review using only my iPhone and Google Docs. Normally, I would never consider using an iPhone for word processing because the screen is too small — even on the Pro Max variant.
The screen inside the glasses appears to be the size of a large monitor when adjusted correctly. I used a Bluetooth keyboard connected to my iPhone to get an almost portable experience.
The size of the Air screen is large enough to see text clearly when using Google Docs if you increase the font size. However, typing isn’t always easy when you can’t see where your fingers are hitting the keyboard.
I also enjoy using the Air to watch videos in bed before bed. The screen quality can’t match my iPad Pro, but not having to hold the tablet is a killer feature that I didn’t know I was missing before. Air is also fun for casual web browsing.
After a few weeks of using the Air, I realized that the not inconsiderable price of the Air is money well spent, because the glasses help me get the job done. I would pack the Air in my carry-on for my next trip if I needed to write while on the road. On the other hand, I’m not yet confident enough in the air for them to replace my laptop. So I’ll have to hope that the next version offers a higher refresh rate and more powerful mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn