Aura Glasses cost $1,099 for first buyers

Google and Xreal reduced the price of the Aura glasses to $1,099 on Tuesday. This discount applies to all units sold through December 31. The new price is $180 lower than the $1,279 tag set for preorders last month.

The Aura weighs 95 grams and combines transparent lenses with a tethered Android XR compute puck. The device supports multiple virtual screens with a 70-degree diagonal field of view. This specification represents one of the widest angles available in transparent smart glasses today. However, the display remains limited in size compared to traditional monitors, and the hardware involves tradeoffs for daily use.

The price drop positions the Aura against Meta's VR Glasses. At the previous $1,279 price point, the Aura would have directly competed with an established rival. The lower cost removes that disadvantage for the new Google and Xreal product.

Purchasing the device is now simpler for consumers in launch markets. Shoppers in the US, Canada, and South Korea can buy the standard model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $1,099. A higher-spec version featuring 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is available for $1,299. The company expects to begin shipping these units in mid-November. Japan will see sales begin on November 2, with wider global availability planned for next year.

Existing customers who paid the higher preorder price do not need to request a refund. Ralph Jodice, Xreal's general manager, stated that the company will automatically and instantly refund the difference to all affected buyers.

The glasses launch with more than 150 experiences optimized for XR. New immersive films included in the lineup are Andy Serkis' Nevatars and Galapagos: the Last Eden. Users can connect a computer or handheld game console to the compute puck via USB-C to mirror their display. They can also ask Google's Gemini AI assistant to describe what they are seeing.

Google Photos will receive an XR update this year that creates a spatial gallery around the user. The company describes the feature as allowing users to pan from an entire year down to a single day using hand gestures, then open a memory in 3D. Xreal is also developing a wireless gamepad with GameSir that features a dedicated Gemini key, a charging dock, and swappable D-pads. A folding portable wireless keyboard is also in the works, though pricing and release dates for both accessories have not been announced.