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Xreal, Google’s smartglasses partner, thinks it has finally mastered thisnotoriously tricky industry
Xreal, a partner of Google, believes it has made significant strides in the smart glasses industry, which has struggled for profitability. Their latest model, Aura, features OLED displays and various apps aimed at casual and professional users, but requires a tethered mini-computer. Xreal plans to launch commercially later this year and aims for profitability by 2024.
Key points
- The smart glasses industry has historically been unprofitable despite heavy investment.
- Xreal’s CEO, Chi Xu, suggests an inflection point has been reached due to improvements in design and software.
- Xreal’s Aura glasses are wired and feature OLED displays, offering immersive experiences.
- Aura includes apps for navigation, VR content, and productivity, aimed at both consumers and professionals.
- Xreal plans to launch Aura commercially and aims to reach profitability by 2024.
Why it matters
- The partnership between Meta and Ray-Ban signifies a trend of collaboration in the smart glasses space, demonstrating growing interest.
- Advancements in AR and VR show increasing investment in immersive technology, influencing smart glasses development.
- The announcement of Xreal's IPO signals confidence in the market despite previous failures in the sector.
Xreal’s advancements with the Aura model might signal a turning point for the smart glasses industry, which has long faced challenges, potentially leading to new market viability and profitability as technology matures.