Buy new:
$119.00
FREE delivery Saturday, July 13
Ships from: Amazon
Sold by: XREAL Direct
$119.00
FREE pickup Saturday, July 13
Or fastest pickup Friday, July 12. Order within 4 hrs 46 mins

1.27 mi | ASHBURN 20147

How pickup works
Pick up from nearby pickup location
Step 1: Place Your Order
Select the “Pickup” option on the product page or during checkout.
Step 2: Receive Notification
Once your package is ready for pickup, you'll receive an email and app notification.
Step 3: Pick up
Bring your order ID or pickup code (if applicable) to your chosen pickup location to pick up your package.
In Stock
$$119.00 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$119.00
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Sold by
Sold by
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Support
Product support included
What's Product Support?
In the event your product doesn't work as expected or you need help using it, Amazon offers free product support options such as live phone/chat with an Amazon associate, manufacturer contact information, step-by-step troubleshooting guides, and help videos. By solving product issues, we help the planet by extending the life of products. Availability of support options differ by product and country. Learn more
Support
Product support included
In the event your product doesn't work as expected or you need help using it, Amazon offers free product support options such as live phone/chat with an Amazon associate, manufacturer contact information, step-by-step troubleshooting guides, and help videos. By solving product issues, we help the planet by extending the life of products. Availability of support options differ by product and country. Learn more

Add to your order

  • Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
  • 24/7 support when you need it.
  • Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
2-Year Protection $15.99
3-Year Protection $21.99
Cover all of your eligible devices:
Asurion Complete Protect: One plan covers all eligible past and future purchases (Renews Monthly Until Cancelled) $16.99/month

Add to your order

  • Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
  • 24/7 support when you need it.
  • Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:

XREAL Beam, Spatial Display Adapter/Dock, Portable TV Box for XREAL AR Glasses, Compatible with Playstation 5/Xbox X/Switch/iPhone 15/SteamDeck/Mac/PC/Android/iOS/Video Glasses

Platform : iOS

$119.00
FREE Returns
Get $50 off instantly: Pay $69.00 upon approval for Amazon Visa.
Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping.
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$119.00","priceAmount":119.00,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"119","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"00","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"CB%2Bsw9ZWmNVApXudzdBtxyg9VdMcfNp%2FR2hbj0K4lLc%2FDLIIkfK1tHei6yrCJ%2FCEE%2FP%2BSqC6wRG0A1j6YZF5v6jAII3TwhCqmVhYP40U0mxT6unQE2CWNAlI2eWHvJk1QsXXlZEqT%2Fv7XmeECbNMylV7iVnyVbxfKc9djBHUAaYB6t4MEjRYv6sQJhaX%2FwoC","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$109.03","priceAmount":109.03,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"109","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"03","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"CB%2Bsw9ZWmNVApXudzdBtxyg9VdMcfNp%2FC6AN7S02hStpgNqaHEvzHmJ%2Fp5ZDkg%2Bj5XkjkroQ21Qr2wlogrhSeFYqBUm4WKK%2FoTcn3h93lqA%2FbapVPGf2rZ%2BLaqr0R2QEXmoxs%2Bc0xZGtbsC91RnJR8qUA2ON%2FY7UYuVgxK2%2Ff4tuisyHLp1sr982wYOCweWt","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}],"desktop_buybox_group_2":[{"displayPrice":"$119.00","priceAmount":119.00,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"119","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"00","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"CB%2Bsw9ZWmNVApXudzdBtxyg9VdMcfNp%2FR2hbj0K4lLc%2FDLIIkfK1tHei6yrCJ%2FCEE%2FP%2BSqC6wRG0A1j6YZF5v6jAII3TwhCqmVhYP40U0mxT6unQE2CWNAlI2eWHvJk1QsXXlZEqT%2Fv7XmeECbNMylV7iVnyVbxfKc9djBHUAaYB6t4MEjRYv6sQJhaX%2FwoC","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"PICKUP","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":2}]}

Purchase options and add-ons


About this item

  • YOUR ULTIMATE XREAL AIR COMPANION: XREAL Beam turns any video content into an incredible Spatial Display on XREAL Air AR glasses. Built on XREAL's proprietary Spatial Computing technology, Beam can fix a 330" screen in the air, offering a natural viewing experience similar to that of a huge real-world TV. Join 100,000+ fans around the world and engage with our vibrant community of XREAL users!
  • EXPERIENCE THEREE SPATIAL DISPLAY MODES: Whether you are sitting at home, in a vehicle, or moving around, Spatial Display has you covered, with mode options to fix the virtual screen in position, have it move with you, or displayed to one side. Enjoy sharp visuals and vivid colors wherever you are using the most natural viewing experience in AR.
  • MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT, GAMING AND PRODUCTIVITY: XREAL Beam lets you create a personal theater on the go, a gigantic screen for gaming, or an ultra-large portable monitor for work. Enjoy the entertainment you love, and watch DRM content using a wired connection. Spatial Display means enhanced comfort and reduced neck pain, making it a must-have gadget for avid gamers, movie lovers and business travelers.
  • EXCEPTIONAL COMPATIBILITY: Connect to almost any smartphone, gaming console and PC using a wired connection. Connect to Switch, Steam Deck and PC using an XREAL C-C cable (included), or hook up your PS 5, Xbox and iPhone using an XREAL HDMI-C cable (Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter is required for iPhone connections). Explore a wireless casting experience on devices that support AirPlay, Miracast or DLNA. Note: For an optimal casting experience we recommend using a wired connection.
  • EXTRA-LONG PLAYTIME: Enjoy 3.5 hours of battery life, plus two USB-C ports supporting simultaneous charging and playing when using wireless connections. Turn on Depth Control to adjust the screen distance, or turn it off to enhance image quality while extending battery life.

Frequently bought together

$119.00
Get it as soon as Saturday, Jul 13
In Stock
Sold by XREAL Direct and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
iOS
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Product information

Warranty & Support

Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here

Feedback

XREAL Beam, Spatial Display Adapter/Dock, Portable TV Box for XREAL AR Glasses, Compatible with Playstation 5/Xbox X/Switch/iPhone 15/SteamDeck/Mac/PC/Android/iOS/Video Glasses


Found a lower price? Let us know. Although we can't match every price reported, we'll use your feedback to ensure that our prices remain competitive.

Where did you see a lower price?

Price Availability
Date of the price (MM/DD/YYYY) *:
/
/
/
/
Please sign in to provide feedback.

Product guides and documents


Product Description

12
ff
XREAL

From the brand

Looking for specific info?

Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5 out of 5
585 global ratings

Customers say

Customers are disappointed with the speed, quality and heat of the electronic device docking station. They mention that it's very slow, the delay of gameplay is still there and that it gets extremely hot. They also feel that the value is not worth it. Customers also dislike battery life, wireless connectivity, and apps. They disagree on performance.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

71 customers mention "Performance"40 positive31 negative

Customers are mixed about the performance of the docking station. Some mention that it works great and is useful in their own ways, while others say that it doesn't work. Some say that the dock stopped working after one week, and that it does not work with their two older phones.

"...It works like a charm, letting me screen mirror and stream content without any hassle...." Read more

"...it all out and quickly thought (1) this all seems "glitchy" and isnt working well, and (2) it will NOT mirror most of my video apps..." Read more

"...The device apps are completely pointless, it has a cool idea of an interface, but the apps are so lacking that you can’t use them...." Read more

"...It will not work with Hulu. Apple TV or Disney plus due to DRM protected streaming content...." Read more

48 customers mention "Apps"9 positive39 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the apps provided by the docking station. They mention that the device provides no apps whatsoever, the built-in video apps are useless, and there is no app store. Some reviewers also mention that there is a media player app included, but it is not Google Certified, further limiting the future of the product.

"...The device currently provides no apps whatsoever.Only capable of keeping a charge for 45 minutes to an hour of use tops...." Read more

"...So even side loading YouTube isn't really an option...." Read more

"...The device apps are completely pointless, it has a cool idea of an interface, but the apps are so lacking that you can’t use them...." Read more

"...It doesn't have the Google Play store. It's a walled garden, and a tiny one at that...." Read more

46 customers mention "Value"4 positive42 negative

Customers are not satisfied with the value of the docking station. They mention that it is not really worth the price, it is basically worthless, and it is a very bad shopping experience. Some say that the product is excelent for some things but not so good for other stuff.

"...the utility of this chunky little box by a ton... it's still kind of expensive for what it does at $120 US...." Read more

"...the glasses are pretty useless, but with this device, they’re very much underutilized...." Read more

"...Overall, it's a pretty expensive device for what it does. It also complicates the nice, simple glasses-only setup...." Read more

"...and it was finally working, but I decided the Beam was just not worth the hassle right now, not until there are some improvements made...." Read more

45 customers mention "Quality"9 positive36 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the quality of the electronic device docking station. They mention that it's a little buggy when using with an HDMI device, and the XReal software is not a great choice right now. The device gets pretty hot, and it can be pretty glitchy. Some say that it fails at 90% of its purpose, and that the glasses are a bit clunky in terms of their design.

"...The screen is twitchy and full of artifacts. You have to keep your head perfectly still to use. There is no way to use this while walking...." Read more

"...There's also a bit of screen stutter during moments where the whole screen moves too quickly...." Read more

"...It does have airplay capabilities however the reliability is extremely low, meaning that you might be able to play one video and cast it while the..." Read more

"...The speakers in the XReal Pro's are pretty decent, and that's primarily what I used when I was wired directly to devices...." Read more

37 customers mention "Heat"0 positive37 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the heat produced by the docking station. They mention that it gets extremely hot, and can overheat and turn itself off. Some say that the form factor does not allow sufficient cooling to allow the device to run at its maximum performance.

"...And, considering it overheats anyway, I think I'd rather just use those cables and adapters to connect a better streaming device directly to the..." Read more

"...with the fan vent being blowing down into your pocket, so overheating is a concern...." Read more

"...the beam less then 2 and a half hours only then u hate about it it over heat fast but it’s a most get if u a Nintendo Switch user" Read more

"I like it but gets warm very fast and battery life ant the best still a good purchase if you want the full experience" Read more

30 customers mention "Wireless connectivity"4 positive26 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the wireless connectivity of the docking station. They mention that it's useless, and the streaming function is poorly functional. Some customers also report that the wireless connection feature doesn't support DRM content.

"...5 still and I have to by a 50 dollar accessory to do so and it wont be wireless so i need to have my PlayStation 5 like 3 feet away from me...." Read more

"...(iPhone 13) with no adapters and such, BUT BUT BUT wireless streaming DRM content doesn't work, so Netflix doesn't work wireless for example...." Read more

"...For me, this made the wireless aspect pretty useless as I need to not be dependent on access to 4G/5G when traveling...." Read more

"...Cons:1- The wireless casting get interrupted noticeably which cause the video to fast forwad the amount of time it was interrupted when the..." Read more

28 customers mention "Battery life"3 positive25 negative

Customers have negative opinions about the battery life of the docking station. They say that it drains during use, it picks up dust, and it won't survive normal use. Some customers also mention that the battery is very low capacity and will eventually die over long usage.

"...The device currently provides no apps whatsoever.Only capable of keeping a charge for 45 minutes to an hour of use tops...." Read more

"...The device pulls power from a connected device so connecting it to your phone, would result in your phone’s battery being used to charge and run..." Read more

"I like it but gets warm very fast and battery life ant the best still a good purchase if you want the full experience" Read more

"...However it is very slow and will eventually die anyways over long usage...." Read more

27 customers mention "Speed"0 positive27 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the speed of the docking station. They mention that it's extremely slow to boot, open the installed apps, and charge. They also say that the beam with gaming is a bit laggy and that installation takes a very long time to finish. Customers also report that the battery drains faster than it charges.

"...between the console and the glasses, there's a slight delay between button presses and their respective actions on screen when you're using the Beam...." Read more

"...The device battery seems to be about three hours and the performance is quite under par...." Read more

"...However it is very slow and will eventually die anyways over long usage...." Read more

"...Now, the bad …I experienced a noticeable audio delay with every wired source I tried (iPhone 15, Nintendo Switch, SteamDeck) when..." Read more

Hot, loud, underpowered, and underengineered.
3 Stars
Hot, loud, underpowered, and underengineered.
TL;DR: Skip this purchase unless you're using the glasses strictly for Netflix and/or Prime video, and don't mind low quality versions of that content. For everything else you'll probably happier connecting your glasses directly to your preferred video streaming/gaming device. Additional cables/adapters will likely be required, but they're cheaper than this device and work better in most respects in my opinion.Note most of the time I directly connect the glasses to a device without the Beam I won't have any audio. To correct this hold the brightness+ button for about 4 seconds. Once you've heard two beeps, release the button, the glasses go dark for a couple of seconds, and when the picture comes back you'll probably have audio, but it may be very low (this button press switches between USB audio and display/passthrough audio). To change the volume, press the brightness- button for a few seconds and then release. Now the brightness +/- buttons will controll the volume instead of the brightness. It's annoying to have to do this each time you use the glasses this way, but it only takes a few moments once you get used to it.--- Pros:I'll get the two good things I can say about this device out of the way first. The "smooth follow" mode definitely does make using the glasses while riding in a car nicer. Also, if you have the problem many of us do with the corners and/or sides of the glasses looking smeared or blury, then using the Beam to shrink the virtual screen down and away from the corners can help that a little.--- Possible Pros:If you have an iPhone, Samsung, or other Miracast compatible phone, then you can cast/stream video content from your phone to your glasses using the Beam. I don't have those devices so I can't say first hand how well that solution works. But I can say that my wife tried using her iPhone that way and really didn't see the appeal. The idea that you have to look under your glasses at your phone to tell where your touching to make something happen on the glasses seems much less elegant than using something like a Roku or Google TV where you have a remote with tactile feedback so that you don't need to look at it to navigate the content on the glasses.--- Cons:1) Unless you're in a cold room the Beam gets very hot to the touch during long sessions. And I mean HOT. So hot that I'm not sure how the plastic doesn't melt. (Definitely don't drop this thing in a backpack and just run the cables out) It even gives you a warning message on your glasses saying the unit is shutting down soon because it's too hot - then it shuts down pretty soon thereafter. If you were playing a game, you'd barely have enough time to get to a stopping point and save before it abruptly shuts off.2) There's only one USB-C input. That input can be used to either charge the device or take video input from another device, but not both (at least not very well). I've tried three different cables/solutions to combine charging and display input into that one USB-C port and so far the best I've gotten is the newer model Fairikabe HDMI to USB-C converter cable that has a USB-C cable for power input. But, even that cable only draws 4W from the USB-C to send down to the Beam. Considering the Beam draws 18W from a normal USB-C cable during charging, the power demands are still greater than the power being delivered to it by the Fairikabe cable. So, the Fairikabe cable can help, but the Beam is still going to run out of power eventually - if it doesn't overheat and shutdown first (they may have intentionally designed it with only one USB-C port just to avoid more heat from charging and video processing at the same time).3) Using the Beam by itself would be a good experience if there were more apps and they worked in a higher resolution. Currently there's only Netflix, Primve Video, and VLC player for those geeky enough to download videos to the device to play offline. And none of the usual Google services or components are included on the devices. So even side loading YouTube isn't really an option. On top of that, the Netflix and Prime Video apps play in lower than HD resolution (sometimes looking passible, but often looking like old SD television). From what I've read on the issue, it all stems from the fact that all the big players in streaming require special chipsets (DRM/Widevine) to prevent piracy before they'll allow HD content. Supposedly the Beam doesn't have those chipsets. If that's true, then streaming services are never going to look any better using the Beam on its own so it will never be an option for me. Now that I've noticed the low resolution I can't unsee it. I'd rather cram a bunch of cables, adapters, and power bank together to connect a Roku or Google TV to the glasses than to use the Beam for watching Netflix/Prime.4) Using the Beam with gaming is a bit laggy. Even using something as simple as a side scrolling platformer like Dead Cells, if you compare the experience of using the glasses directly connected to the console (using the previously mentioned Fairikabe cable), and then with the Beam connected between the console and the glasses, there's a slight delay between button presses and their respective actions on screen when you're using the Beam. There's also a bit of screen stutter during moments where the whole screen moves too quickly. This is no doubt due to the extra processing being done on the video source by the Beam to allow use of its "spacial display" features: slow follow, body lock, etc.--- Conclusion:I'm not sure what XREAL was thinking with this device. More baffling to me than selling it with all these shortcomings in place is that, knowing all these shortcomings, they didn't release an updated model of the Beam with the recent updated model of their glasses. If they do release a new version of the Beam with these issues corrected, I'd be happy to give it a try. But, I'd advise everyone steer clear of this version.I've spent almost as much on cables and adapters trying to power this thing while using it with a better streaming device than I did on the Beam itself. And, considering it overheats anyway, I think I'd rather just use those cables and adapters to connect a better streaming device directly to the glasses and leave the Beam at home. I wish I'd sent it back during my refund window.
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2024
If you’re planning to get the XREAL AR glasses, the XREAL Beam is an absolute must-buy. This gadget really takes the experience to the next level. With 3DoF tracking, you can fix a big screen in the air, making it feel like you’re watching a huge real-world TV. The screen is also no longer locked to your face, instead it can be locked in space.

I’ve connected my Switch, Steam Deck, and phone to the Beam, and then connected it to the XREAL glasses. It works like a charm, letting me screen mirror and stream content without any hassle. It’s super portable, so you can take it anywhere and have your own personal big screen experience. Highly recommend this to anyone with the XREAL glasses!
2 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2023
First off no company who sells an incomplete product that requires another incomplete product to use the first incomplete product deserves more than 1 star.
You have to have this in order to get full use of your Xreal Air glasses, which is annoying. Also there is no way to charge this device while using it. The company claims this is because of usb c "limitations" hoping that customers aren't smart enough to realize usb c is bidirectional, so ALL usb c products are capable of charging while being used, just Xreal is trying to milk as much money out of customers as they can.
No updates provided by manufacturer, just the claim "More apps soon". The device currently provides no apps whatsoever.
Only capable of keeping a charge for 45 minutes to an hour of use tops.
Also DOES NOT allow you to use with the Nebula app, nor does it provide any functionality of the Nebula app and restricts you to a single monitor.
The screen is twitchy and full of artifacts. You have to keep your head perfectly still to use. There is no way to use this while walking.

If I wrote everything that is wrong with this device and Xreal products in general I would have to write a novel.
If you already made the unfortunate mistake of purchasing Xreal glasses then you will probably need to buy this as well but if you haven't, I would recommend avoiding their products at all cost.

Xreal is incredibly greedy and dishonest about their products.
46 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024
TL;DR: Skip this purchase unless you're using the glasses strictly for Netflix and/or Prime video, and don't mind low quality versions of that content. For everything else you'll probably happier connecting your glasses directly to your preferred video streaming/gaming device. Additional cables/adapters will likely be required, but they're cheaper than this device and work better in most respects in my opinion.

Note most of the time I directly connect the glasses to a device without the Beam I won't have any audio. To correct this hold the brightness+ button for about 4 seconds. Once you've heard two beeps, release the button, the glasses go dark for a couple of seconds, and when the picture comes back you'll probably have audio, but it may be very low (this button press switches between USB audio and display/passthrough audio). To change the volume, press the brightness- button for a few seconds and then release. Now the brightness +/- buttons will controll the volume instead of the brightness. It's annoying to have to do this each time you use the glasses this way, but it only takes a few moments once you get used to it.

--- Pros:
I'll get the two good things I can say about this device out of the way first. The "smooth follow" mode definitely does make using the glasses while riding in a car nicer. Also, if you have the problem many of us do with the corners and/or sides of the glasses looking smeared or blury, then using the Beam to shrink the virtual screen down and away from the corners can help that a little.

--- Possible Pros:
If you have an iPhone, Samsung, or other Miracast compatible phone, then you can cast/stream video content from your phone to your glasses using the Beam. I don't have those devices so I can't say first hand how well that solution works. But I can say that my wife tried using her iPhone that way and really didn't see the appeal. The idea that you have to look under your glasses at your phone to tell where your touching to make something happen on the glasses seems much less elegant than using something like a Roku or Google TV where you have a remote with tactile feedback so that you don't need to look at it to navigate the content on the glasses.

--- Cons:
1) Unless you're in a cold room the Beam gets very hot to the touch during long sessions. And I mean HOT. So hot that I'm not sure how the plastic doesn't melt. (Definitely don't drop this thing in a backpack and just run the cables out) It even gives you a warning message on your glasses saying the unit is shutting down soon because it's too hot - then it shuts down pretty soon thereafter. If you were playing a game, you'd barely have enough time to get to a stopping point and save before it abruptly shuts off.

2) There's only one USB-C input. That input can be used to either charge the device or take video input from another device, but not both (at least not very well). I've tried three different cables/solutions to combine charging and display input into that one USB-C port and so far the best I've gotten is the newer model Fairikabe HDMI to USB-C converter cable that has a USB-C cable for power input. But, even that cable only draws 4W from the USB-C to send down to the Beam. Considering the Beam draws 18W from a normal USB-C cable during charging, the power demands are still greater than the power being delivered to it by the Fairikabe cable. So, the Fairikabe cable can help, but the Beam is still going to run out of power eventually - if it doesn't overheat and shutdown first (they may have intentionally designed it with only one USB-C port just to avoid more heat from charging and video processing at the same time).

3) Using the Beam by itself would be a good experience if there were more apps and they worked in a higher resolution. Currently there's only Netflix, Primve Video, and VLC player for those geeky enough to download videos to the device to play offline. And none of the usual Google services or components are included on the devices. So even side loading YouTube isn't really an option. On top of that, the Netflix and Prime Video apps play in lower than HD resolution (sometimes looking passible, but often looking like old SD television). From what I've read on the issue, it all stems from the fact that all the big players in streaming require special chipsets (DRM/Widevine) to prevent piracy before they'll allow HD content. Supposedly the Beam doesn't have those chipsets. If that's true, then streaming services are never going to look any better using the Beam on its own so it will never be an option for me. Now that I've noticed the low resolution I can't unsee it. I'd rather cram a bunch of cables, adapters, and power bank together to connect a Roku or Google TV to the glasses than to use the Beam for watching Netflix/Prime.

4) Using the Beam with gaming is a bit laggy. Even using something as simple as a side scrolling platformer like Dead Cells, if you compare the experience of using the glasses directly connected to the console (using the previously mentioned Fairikabe cable), and then with the Beam connected between the console and the glasses, there's a slight delay between button presses and their respective actions on screen when you're using the Beam. There's also a bit of screen stutter during moments where the whole screen moves too quickly. This is no doubt due to the extra processing being done on the video source by the Beam to allow use of its "spacial display" features: slow follow, body lock, etc.

--- Conclusion:
I'm not sure what XREAL was thinking with this device. More baffling to me than selling it with all these shortcomings in place is that, knowing all these shortcomings, they didn't release an updated model of the Beam with the recent updated model of their glasses. If they do release a new version of the Beam with these issues corrected, I'd be happy to give it a try. But, I'd advise everyone steer clear of this version.

I've spent almost as much on cables and adapters trying to power this thing while using it with a better streaming device than I did on the Beam itself. And, considering it overheats anyway, I think I'd rather just use those cables and adapters to connect a better streaming device directly to the glasses and leave the Beam at home. I wish I'd sent it back during my refund window.
Customer image
3.0 out of 5 stars Hot, loud, underpowered, and underengineered.
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024
TL;DR: Skip this purchase unless you're using the glasses strictly for Netflix and/or Prime video, and don't mind low quality versions of that content. For everything else you'll probably happier connecting your glasses directly to your preferred video streaming/gaming device. Additional cables/adapters will likely be required, but they're cheaper than this device and work better in most respects in my opinion.

Note most of the time I directly connect the glasses to a device without the Beam I won't have any audio. To correct this hold the brightness+ button for about 4 seconds. Once you've heard two beeps, release the button, the glasses go dark for a couple of seconds, and when the picture comes back you'll probably have audio, but it may be very low (this button press switches between USB audio and display/passthrough audio). To change the volume, press the brightness- button for a few seconds and then release. Now the brightness +/- buttons will controll the volume instead of the brightness. It's annoying to have to do this each time you use the glasses this way, but it only takes a few moments once you get used to it.

--- Pros:
I'll get the two good things I can say about this device out of the way first. The "smooth follow" mode definitely does make using the glasses while riding in a car nicer. Also, if you have the problem many of us do with the corners and/or sides of the glasses looking smeared or blury, then using the Beam to shrink the virtual screen down and away from the corners can help that a little.

--- Possible Pros:
If you have an iPhone, Samsung, or other Miracast compatible phone, then you can cast/stream video content from your phone to your glasses using the Beam. I don't have those devices so I can't say first hand how well that solution works. But I can say that my wife tried using her iPhone that way and really didn't see the appeal. The idea that you have to look under your glasses at your phone to tell where your touching to make something happen on the glasses seems much less elegant than using something like a Roku or Google TV where you have a remote with tactile feedback so that you don't need to look at it to navigate the content on the glasses.

--- Cons:
1) Unless you're in a cold room the Beam gets very hot to the touch during long sessions. And I mean HOT. So hot that I'm not sure how the plastic doesn't melt. (Definitely don't drop this thing in a backpack and just run the cables out) It even gives you a warning message on your glasses saying the unit is shutting down soon because it's too hot - then it shuts down pretty soon thereafter. If you were playing a game, you'd barely have enough time to get to a stopping point and save before it abruptly shuts off.

2) There's only one USB-C input. That input can be used to either charge the device or take video input from another device, but not both (at least not very well). I've tried three different cables/solutions to combine charging and display input into that one USB-C port and so far the best I've gotten is the newer model Fairikabe HDMI to USB-C converter cable that has a USB-C cable for power input. But, even that cable only draws 4W from the USB-C to send down to the Beam. Considering the Beam draws 18W from a normal USB-C cable during charging, the power demands are still greater than the power being delivered to it by the Fairikabe cable. So, the Fairikabe cable can help, but the Beam is still going to run out of power eventually - if it doesn't overheat and shutdown first (they may have intentionally designed it with only one USB-C port just to avoid more heat from charging and video processing at the same time).

3) Using the Beam by itself would be a good experience if there were more apps and they worked in a higher resolution. Currently there's only Netflix, Primve Video, and VLC player for those geeky enough to download videos to the device to play offline. And none of the usual Google services or components are included on the devices. So even side loading YouTube isn't really an option. On top of that, the Netflix and Prime Video apps play in lower than HD resolution (sometimes looking passible, but often looking like old SD television). From what I've read on the issue, it all stems from the fact that all the big players in streaming require special chipsets (DRM/Widevine) to prevent piracy before they'll allow HD content. Supposedly the Beam doesn't have those chipsets. If that's true, then streaming services are never going to look any better using the Beam on its own so it will never be an option for me. Now that I've noticed the low resolution I can't unsee it. I'd rather cram a bunch of cables, adapters, and power bank together to connect a Roku or Google TV to the glasses than to use the Beam for watching Netflix/Prime.

4) Using the Beam with gaming is a bit laggy. Even using something as simple as a side scrolling platformer like Dead Cells, if you compare the experience of using the glasses directly connected to the console (using the previously mentioned Fairikabe cable), and then with the Beam connected between the console and the glasses, there's a slight delay between button presses and their respective actions on screen when you're using the Beam. There's also a bit of screen stutter during moments where the whole screen moves too quickly. This is no doubt due to the extra processing being done on the video source by the Beam to allow use of its "spacial display" features: slow follow, body lock, etc.

--- Conclusion:
I'm not sure what XREAL was thinking with this device. More baffling to me than selling it with all these shortcomings in place is that, knowing all these shortcomings, they didn't release an updated model of the Beam with the recent updated model of their glasses. If they do release a new version of the Beam with these issues corrected, I'd be happy to give it a try. But, I'd advise everyone steer clear of this version.

I've spent almost as much on cables and adapters trying to power this thing while using it with a better streaming device than I did on the Beam itself. And, considering it overheats anyway, I think I'd rather just use those cables and adapters to connect a better streaming device directly to the glasses and leave the Beam at home. I wish I'd sent it back during my refund window.
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image Customer image
Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
4 people found this helpful
Report

Top reviews from other countries

Patricias
5.0 out of 5 stars Maravillosos para vuelos largos
Reviewed in Mexico on April 28, 2024
Entiendo que al inicio las capacidades estaban muy limitadas pero desde que se pueden instalar apps de Android este aparato le ha dado un gran valor a los lentes XReal. Originalmente los compré para jugar Nintendo Switch pero ahora lo utilizo principalmente para ver películas sin conexión a internet. En los vuelos he podido ver horas y horas de contenido en gran calidad y también ver películas de mi videoteca personal. Nunca me han fallado y la batería dura suficiente para ver al menos 3 películas. Lo recomiendo muchísimo
2 people found this helpful
Report
daosino
4.0 out of 5 stars Its ok
Reviewed in Canada on March 28, 2024
If you have a pair of Xreal Air or Air 2, you need that thing to connect to everything and do more with your AR glasses, but else than that it is not impressive in tech or feature.

It become very hot very fast, burn batteries in no time, and it feels like a tech that was made 5-10 years ago... I regret buying Air 2 glasses, and hope the next Xreal generation will be better and won't require the beam.
Fletcher
3.0 out of 5 stars This Beam works ok, but has some flaws.
Reviewed in Canada on December 24, 2023
It's interesting to watch Netflix with only this device and the Xreal glasses. I like it a lot.

But... This thing becomes so hot I have a hard time keeping it in my shirt pocket.

Also, for whatever reason, playing games from my gaming laptop through the Beam is next to impossible to play.
It's like playing in 20 fps per seconds. The image is so choppy...
But the laptop itself plays all games very nicely, so the problem comes surely from the Beam.

Netflix and gaming were the most 2 things I wanted to do with it. So, kind of a bummer for me. Anyway... I guess I'll keep it even if I'm not totally satisfied with it because watching movies with this thing is quite nice.
One person found this helpful
Report
Sherif
2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth it
Reviewed in Canada on March 30, 2024
Unless you don't own a tv don't even bother with it or the glasses. An incomplete product and not worth the price. I got a quest 2 after buying it and it made me regret ever buying the xreal
John-Paul Bouliane-Agnew
4.0 out of 5 stars Works well but not with apple
Reviewed in Canada on December 5, 2023
worked as expected but issues switching between devices and using multiple devices. Also frustrating there is more adapters need for apple. Already had to get the glasses and then additional the beam just to connect to anything... but the beam itself needs more adapters... For the price it should come with proper adapters for any device.
One person found this helpful
Report