I Tried the Future of Smart Glasses at WWDC. They Weren't Made by Apple
For the next 2 hours, I covered Apple's announcements wearing Xreal's display glasses, and they worked better than I expected. The One Pros projected my laptop monitor clearly, removed glare that would have overwhelmed my laptop screen and allowed me to watch the stage presentation at the same time. And it got better: By activating Xreal's auto transparency mode, the glasses dimmed the world when I looked at my virtual screen, then became transparent again when I looked at the stage to follow the action.
The future of truly useful everyday AR glasses isn't here yet, but wow, with things like the Xreal One Pro, it's getting close.
The Xreal One Pros tether with USB-C, but can project a larger display than before. (Shown here with the separate Eye camera plugged in below the bridge.)
Scott Stein/CNET
A floating display on demand
Xreal's glasses, like all glasses in this product category, use a USB-C cable to tether into whatever you're plugging into. Essentially, they're a tiny wearable monitor with speakers in glasses form. Whatever device supports USB-C video out will work with these glasses, either to mirror your screen or act as a second monitor.
While I've used Xreal's glasses to watch movies on planes (really fun and portable) and do work on my laptop and iPad (helpful on planes too, since space can be cramped, and my laptop lid doesn't always open fully in economy), the idea of covering a whole live event where I needed to be fast, effective, multitasking and not screw up was a whole different story. I'm happy to say the experiment worked, largely because of the auto transparency mode I never realized existed before -- thank you, Norm Chan of Tested, who told me about it as we sat down at the keynote.
Xreal's glasses have three dimmable lens settings that turn the outer glass either transparent semi-dark or close to opaque. It makes them instant sunglasses and also helps the display show up better in bright sunlight. However, these glasses won't block outside light completely -- light bleeds a bit through the dimmed lenses unless you're sitting in a completely dark place -- but the image is still extremely viewable, and looks good.
The transparency mode really made looking at the stage and my own laptop keyboard (and my phone) easier. Xreal's glasses aren't like normal glasses: They have layers of lenses, including the prescription inserts I stacked on top. But they can be used to look around, check messages, even (as I did) shoot some on-the-fly social videos and share them with CNET's social team.
Beyond transparency mode, other adjustments include screen size, projection distance, location of the screen and whether it's anchored or floating in my field of view.
The Xreal One (left) next to the One Pro with Eye camera attached (right). They work and look nearly the same.
Scott Stein/CNET
One Pro vs. One: subtle differences
I reviewed the non-Pro Xreal Ones earlier this year. Compared with previous Xreal display glasses, they have better built-in audio, and the ability to pin the really sharp 1080p microOLED display in space to anchor it, making them work a lot better as plug-in monitors for tablets, phones or laptops (or handheld game systems like Steam Deck).
Xreal's Pro version of the One glasses cost $100 more ($599, going up to $649 after June 30) but have a few advantages. The microOLED projection system still projects down from the top of the glasses into thick angled lenses (called birdbath displays), but the One Pro's lenses are flatter, smaller, and reflect less light from my surroundings. The display area's a bit wider -- 57 degrees field of view, versus 50 for the Ones — but that really just makes the 1080p display feel a bit bigger, and more clearly visible at the edges of the large virtual screen. Prescription lens inserts like I use rest flat against the lenses: it's chunky but better than before.
I don't think you need the Pros, but their slightly better performance could be worth the difference to avoid fatigue.
The small Xreal Eye camera plugs under the bridge of the glasses.
Scott Stein/CNET
Optional camera isn't necessary
I tried a tiny plug-in camera, too, called the Eye (sold separately for $99), that slots into the bridge of the One series glasses. They're designed for future use with AI apps, potentially, but right now they can capture photos and video clips on the glasses' small 2GB of storage. Images can be offloaded on the iPhone by going to a "transfer" mode in the glasses settings that turns the glasses into a USB camera, and the Photos app was able to just find the glasses and import the images. It's clunky, but it works, although you need to tether the glasses via USB-C like you do in regular display mode. These Xreal glasses don't work wirelessly on their own.
Test photo out of the NJT train.
Scott Stein/CNET
The camera takes passable photos and videos, but not as good as Meta Ray-Bans. I think the camera's here to flex another feature: a full six degrees of freedom mode that can pin a display in space and then be there as you walk around the room. It's not necessary for most things I do, but it shows how these glasses could, in future versions, evolve into something more like 3D augmented reality. Xreal's work with Spacetop, a software suite that can float arrays of apps from laptops, shows where things could go. Xreal's future Android XR developer hardware, called Project Aura, may take things further next year.
I'd skip the camera for now and just get the glasses, but I'm really curious where Xreal flexes these functions next.
These glasses are coming with me on work trips.
Scott Stein/CNET
When they're good, they're great
Like I said in my Xreal One review, these glasses and their microOLED displays are excellent for movie watching. They're surprisingly effective for doing work, too, since they can pin a display (or a semi-curved wide-angle monitor, thanks to an included setting) in place. I do notice the 1080p resolution limit a bit more now that these glasses can give an even larger display size, and it's something I expect future glasses to address in the next year or two with higher-resolution microOLED chips.
At a show where Apple announced new Vision Pro software updates but no word on any glasses of its own, I couldn't help but think about the Xreals on my face. The future is arriving in bits and pieces, but lots of smart glasses are already here and changing fast. And, yes, they're actually useful. The year 2026 may be massive for new smart glasses and AR, and my WWDC 2025 experience with Xreal One Pros proves that the evolution is well underway. Now it's your turn, Apple.
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They point to past collapses — from natural disasters to economic shocks — and argue that preparedness isn't reactionary, but rational. To them, Dark Reset represents an organized way to take responsibility in an era of institutional instability. They highlight its field-tested simplicity and biblical tone as reasons it resonates beyond the typical prepper demographic. Some skeptics argue that survival narratives can easily slip into hyperbole. They express concern that framing global tension as personal threat may feed anxiety rather than clarity. However, these critiques rarely dismiss the vulnerabilities themselves. Even those who resist the tone of survival culture often acknowledge that basic resiliency — clean water storage, emergency heating, medicine access — makes practical sense. Others remain cautiously curious. These observers aren't looking for confrontation or confirmation. They're scanning headlines, noting the frequency of silent outages, bank disruptions, and power grid warnings. They're asking internal questions: what would we do? Are we ready? Could we stay calm if the phones went dead? That broad middle is where Dark Reset gains quiet traction. Its authors don't position themselves as prophets or provocateurs. They're not forecasting the end. They're offering a framework — one rooted in spiritual clarity, practical repetition, and the kind of calm decisiveness that many now find missing in institutional responses. In public forums, the conversation continues. Some call it preparation. Others call it overreaction. But the signals behind the buzz — the blackouts, the food disruptions, the silent system failures — remain stubbornly present. And for many, that's enough. About Dark Reset Dark Reset is not a traditional product launch or media campaign. It's the result of a quiet collaboration between two men with vastly different backgrounds, united by a shared concern: that most American families remain dangerously unprepared for what happens when systems fail. Built from field experience, research, and tested resilience strategies, the system is designed to help ordinary households develop extraordinary readiness — without requiring military training, specialized gear, or ideological commitment. The core values behind Dark Reset are clarity, stewardship, and adaptability. Its creators emphasize that the point is not to fear collapse, but to lead through it. By distilling years of study, firsthand experience, and spiritual reflection into a clear, implementable framework, the program offers a counterpoint to both panic-driven prepping and passive optimism. It's not about bunkers or bug-out fantasies. It's about the confidence that comes from being prepared, quiet, and calm when others are not. While rooted in tactical realism, the system is also unapologetically grounded in faith. Many of its principles are drawn from scriptural narratives — the foresight to store grain, the wisdom to prepare in times of peace, and the duty to protect those under one's care. That framing has made it especially relevant to faith-based communities looking for guidance that bridges both the spiritual and the practical. Dark Reset remains independently published, free from commercial sponsorship or institutional ties. Its creators made a deliberate decision to prioritize accessibility and utility over branding and polish. The result is a system that speaks directly to those who are already watching the signs — and who prefer action over theory. In an age of increasing volatility and digital fragility, Dark Reset positions itself not as the answer to every threat, but as a starting point. A framework. A tested roadmap for households who understand that resilience isn't just physical — it's mental, emotional, and moral. Learn more at the official Dark Reset: Survival Before the Silence resource page. Contact Product: Dark Reset Email: support@ Website: Final Disclaimer This press release is for informational purposes only. The content herein does not constitute financial, legal, or medical advice. Dark Reset is not intended to diagnose, treat, predict, or guarantee any result or outcome. Individual experiences may vary, and outcomes are not assured. Some links in this release may be promotional in nature and may lead to third-party websites. The publisher or author may receive compensation through affiliate commissions if a purchase is made through these links. This compensation does not affect the price you pay and helps support continued research and content publication. All statements made about product features, platform strategies, or training content reflect publicly available information, user discussions, or historical trends, and are not endorsed or validated by regulatory bodies. Please perform your own research before making financial, technological, or purchasing decisions. CONTACT: Email: support@
