Eyes On: Viture One XR Smart Glasses Let You Game on 120 Inches From Anywhere

Smart glasses have existed as a niche category since Google Glass came out more than a decade ago. However, it’s only in the last few years that the technology matured into a viable product. While Apple, Google, and Lenovo aim to secure their stake in the virtual, augmented, and mixed reality space, Kickstarter-backed Viture hopes to make a splash of its own with the $479 One XR Glasses. The spectacles project a 120-inch virtual screen directly in front of you, providing a portable, private viewing experience that supports numerous devices, including your laptop, Nintendo Switch, and Steam Deck.

Viture gave PCMag an opportunity to check out the final product that’s currently shipping to Kickstarter backers. After some demos, including an intense game of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, we walked away impressed. The Viture One XR Glasses make a strong case for themselves, even if that case is somewhat limited.

(Credit: PCMag)

Playing Games With the Viture One XR Glasses

Not to be confused with a virtual reality headset like Sony’s PlayStation VR2, the Viture One XR Glasses are much simpler to understand. There is no virtual UI or secondary app; you simply run the included USB-C cord from the magnetic connector on the glasses to your device of choice.

Viture claims that the glasses maintain full HD resolution (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) at 60 frames per second and that they feature a 50,000:1 contrast ratio across their micro OLED display. That’s better than most IPS gaming monitors, which tend to hover between a 1,000:1 to 3,000:1 contrast ratio. (Contrast ratio indicates the luminance of the brightest white and darkest black that a display can produce.)

(Credit: Joe Maldonado)

We first tested the glasses by playing Hogwarts Legacy on a PC. I noticed some minor hiccups, but that could be one of the performance issues that still plague the game itself. The 120-inch view hovered about 10 feet away from me—about as far as the display is wide. The picture remained crisp, though you may want to increase the text size in the game’s options if that’s something you normally do.

Moving from a laptop to the Steam Deck felt like a greater leap, as the projected screen ran at a higher resolution than the Steam Deck’s display. I resisted the natural inclination to pull the Steam Deck to my face, but the gaming experience was an effortless one once I settled in with the glasses. Elden Ring ran smoothly, with fewer hitches than Hogwarts Legacy.

The last demo was the most exciting. Using the Viture One XR’s Mobile Dock ($89) and Mobile Dock Mount ($19), I connected a Nintendo Switch and another pair of XR One Glasses for a round of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The same screen was mirrored to both of us, as if we were playing couch co-op. Using a Pro Controller and Joy-Cons, we enjoyed matches that were fast, fluid, and full of smack talk. It was an immersive way to play, and a lot more comfortable than crowding around a Switch on its kickstand when you’re away from a TV or monitor. Viture also offers a dock that connects to a Steam Deck ($19).

(Credit: PCMag)

I fired up YouTube on a laptop for the final demo. At their most basic, the One XR Glasses let you enjoy a private viewing experience from anywhere that you can get an internet connection.

Like the sun’s glare against your monitor, playing in a bright room hinders visibility. To circumvent this, the glasses come with a lens shade that clips onto the front of the glasses. The shade also has a 1,800-nit brightness rating and seven selectable brightness levels. In addition, you don’t need to worry about wearing the One XR over your pair of regular, dumb glasses. Viture includes a slider at the top of the frame that adjusts for myopia, also known as nearsightedness. My personal prescription is around -3.25, but I found a sweet spot that didn’t leave me struggling to see the screen.

However, it felt like I was looking down at the screen due to how the mini projectors sit on the frame. In fact, it was like wearing glasses at the tip of my nose. Viture hopes to fix this issue by including four swappable nose pads with your order. Fortunately, at 2.7 ounces, the glasses remain relatively lightweight.

(Credit: PCMag)

Viture One XR Glasses: Audio and Neckband

The One XR Glasses have good visual clarity, but what about sound? You can’t plug a pair of headphones into the glasses, but their tiny built-in speakers deliver impressive audio. Viture partnered with Harman Spatial Sound, a company that’s known for getting big sound from small devices. In testing, I enjoyed clear audio that was barely perceptible to people in the vicinity.

Viture states that it will release a neckband ($109) that will provide power to the glasses through a physical connection. More importantly, the Bluetooth-compatible neckband will let you stream video and video games directly to the glasses, so you don’t need to be plugged into a source device.

(Credit: Joe Maldonado)

Unfortunately, the neckband isn’t quite ready for showtime, but it’s a potentially intriguing addition that may be the One XR’s strongest selling point. Viture says that the neckband will run an Android-based operating system with access to a variety of Android apps.

(Credit: Joe Maldonado)

Seeing Is Believing

Virtual, augmented, and extended reality devices are finally coming to fruition in a big way, and Viture finds itself at the forefront of a market that’s going to get really crowded, really fast. The novelty of smart glasses is sure to win over some people, but I wonder about their use cases. Yes, they can serve as a portable monitor, but in most cases, you’ll still need a device to plug into. To this end, glasses like the Viture One XR are convenient when using the Switch or the Steam Deck, but I’m not entirely sold on using them with a PC. So the jury’s still out until we get our hands on the Bluetooth neckband.

At the moment, the Viture One XR Glasses are being shipped to Kickstarter backers, but they’re available for pre-order on Viture’s website(Opens in a new window). The glasses, mobile dock, and accessories are expected to release in a few months, though the neckband may be slightly further off. Be sure to check back for our full review once the One XR Glasses become available.