Xiaomi has announced its Wireless AR Glasses Explorer Edition at MWC, Mobile World Congress. The glasses are lightweight and feature Micro-OLED screens with high brightness and Full HD visuals, as well as forward-facing cameras for mapping the environment. The glasses are completely wireless and connected to a host device via a proprietary low-latency communication link. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the device’s features and capabilities.

Design and Build

Thanks to the XDA’s hands-on article, we now have an closer look at the AR glasses. The Xiaomi Wireless AR Glasses Explorer Edition weighs only 126 grams and features lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and magnesium alloy. The glasses come with Xiaomi’s self-developed silicon-oxygen anode battery, which is smaller than conventional lithium-ion batteries but may affect battery life. The glasses use a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 chip for processing and do not have onboard storage, so they must be connected to a host device.

Display

The glasses feature Micro-OLED screens, with one for each eye, that support 1200 nits of brightness and provide Full HD FHD visuals. The display is clear and sharp, making it ideal for immersive AR experiences.

Connectivity

The Xiaomi Wireless AR Glasses Explorer Edition connects to a host device via a proprietary low-latency communication link that combines WiFi and Bluetooth. The latency is advertised to be only 50 milliseconds, which was confirmed by the XDA test experience. The glasses are completely wireless, and during the demonstration, they were connected to a Xiaomi Mi 13 smartphone.

AR Test Apps

The demo showcased three AR test apps that demonstrated the device’s capabilities. The first app is an interactive virtual desktop that allows users to open multiple windows and “map” them in front of the real-world environment. Users can control the windows using the connected phone screen as a trackpad, move or resize them, or use gestures to move the window. When the user extends their arm with the palm facing outward, a laser beam is shot out of the palm of their hand, which the user can use as an indicator. Users can also use finger pinch movements to “grab” a window and move it around.

The second app is an AR shooter where users can place a virtual machine gun on a flat surface, such as a table, and shoot strange-looking animals that flutter at them. Users can control aiming with their mobile phone or hands.

Finally, the third app is a virtual Xiaomi home user interface where users can turn on/off the real-life Xiaomi lights seen during the demonstration with the touch of a virtual switch with their fingers.

Electrochromic Lens

The Xiaomi Wireless AR Glasses Explorer Edition comes with an electrochromic lens that can turn black at the push of a button. When the user experiences AR content, the lenses are transparent and can see the real world. When the user watches the movie, playing the content on a black screen can get more immersion.

Battery Life

During the 30-minute demonstration, the glasses were out of power, which means that the battery life will not be very long. This may be a drawback for users who want to use the device for extended periods.

Price and Availability

The name of the “Explorer Edition” implies that the Xiaomi Wireless AR Glasses may not be mass-produced, and the price may not be low. There is currently no information available about the device’s price or availability.

The Xiaomi Wireless AR Glasses Explorer Edition appears to be a promising device for exploring AR content. However, its limited battery life and potential high cost may be drawbacks for some users. The glasses are lightweight and feature Micro-OLED screens with high brightness and Full HD visuals, as well as forward-facing cameras for mapping the environment. The glasses are completely wireless and connected