Katarzyna Petru
Is it possible to replace a monitor or television with gaming glasses? Asus believes so. In collaboration with the company Xreal, the manufacturer has presented new gaming glasses, Asus Xreal R1, which offer a virtual screen with a diagonal of up to 117 inches and a refresh rate of up to 240 Hz.
Micro-OLED instead of LCD
Similar to the Apple Vision Pro and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy XR, Asus's glasses utilise micro-OLED displays. This is a key difference compared to the Meta Quest headsets, which still rely on low-resolution LCD panels. Micro-OLED offers higher contrast, better sharpness, and significantly improved image quality, especially when displaying text and dynamic games.
Light as Ordinary Glasses
Unlike heavy VR goggles, the Asus Xreal R1 is actually a pair of glasses. They weigh only 91 grams, do not completely cover the field of vision, and do not isolate the user from their surroundings. At the same time, one must accept a compromise in the form of a resolution of 1080p, which is clearly lower than that of full-fledged XR headsets.
Virtual screen without a bigger desk
Asus announced the product even before CES 2026 with the slogan, "you don't need a bigger desk." This is true, although a powerful PC or console is still needed, to which the glasses can be connected via USB-C or the included HDMI / DisplayPort dock. The manufacturer boasts a 57-degree field of view, which is said to provide the impression of a huge screen suspended in space.
“57° FOV provides a spacious virtual image while maintaining a good awareness of the real world. This means the feeling of sitting in front of a 171-inch screen from a distance of four metres. Whether you're gaming or watching films, you get a screen that allows you to fully enjoy entertainment” – informs Asus.
240 Hz and Anchor Mode
The Micro-OLED in the Asus Xreal R1 supports a resolution of 1080p with a refresh rate of up to 240 Hz, making these glasses an exceptionally interesting proposition for gamers. The virtual screen can follow head movement or remain "anchored" in one position in space thanks to the Anchor Mode. The launch of the Asus Xreal R1 is scheduled for the first half of 2026. The price has not yet been disclosed.
Competition from Xreal
At CES 2026, Xreal presented its own glasses, the Xreal 1S. They offer micro-OLED displays with a resolution of 1200p and a refresh rate of 120 Hz, as well as the capability to virtualise a screen up to 500 inches. A new feature is the conversion of 2D images to 3D. The price of the Xreal 1S has been set at $449 or €499. Gaming glasses are boldly entering the territory previously reserved for monitors and televisions. The question is whether gamers are ready to swap a traditional screen for a virtual one.
