I thought Mark Zuckerberg was exaggerating when he said smart glasses would replace mobile phones. I couldn’t see enough variety in real-world use cases for the idea to hold.
In comparison, phones have competed with cameras, wallets, maps, and more. But I’ve recently worn TCL’s RayNeo Air 3s series long enough to live through different realities.
Although I don’t think they’ll completely replace Android devices, I share his views on AR/XR glasses to some extent. They can improve the content people consume and create.
Here’s how they’ve made my reality wobble, and yet, given it definition.
How the Rayneo Air 3s glasses work
Watch your shade-y business in private
The RayNeo Air 3s are, at first glance, a pair of oversized glasses. They’re cool enough to pass as sporty sunshades from a distance.
The modern wraparound design hides a surprising amount of hardware. If you step closer, it’s obvious that these aren’t your regular type of frames.
The lenses are tinted but transparent, while the bulkier temples house the display engines and circuitry that make them work.
Inside them are 0.6-inch HueView Micro-OLED displays capable of a 1920 x 1080 resolution per eye. They project a 201-inch display with up to 120Hz refresh rate.
Also, they support a 43° field of view, 108% sRGB color coverage, and stereo sound through open-ear speakers.
The frames can flex both horizontally and vertically for a convenient fit.
There’s no interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment, so alignment relies on the default optics. But you can press the nose pads apart or even switch options for comfort.
They’ll work with any device that supports USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode. In my case, it was my Samsung Galaxy S20 and my 2018 MacBook Air laptop.
The glasses also come in a Pro model that’s largely identical in specification.
There are a few yet powerful improvements. For example, eye protection settings, reduced weight to 76g from 78g, TCL-tuned 3D surround sound that adds depth cues, and increased brightness from 650 nits up to 1200 nits.
Productivity that goes everywhere with you
Even a park bench can be your office
I didn’t know exactly what to expect entering the world of extended realities again. My first taste was years ago. I used my cousin’s cheap smartphone-based VR headset.
It required slotting my phone into a compartment, which then magnified the screen to create the illusion of immersion.
But the quality felt crude, from the blur at the edges to the awkward weight and heat buildup.
Rayneo’s AR devices are different.
I plugged the Air 3s into my Galaxy S20 with the provided cable, and my phone immediately launched DeX mode.
I’ve rarely used the feature since I lacked the proper accessories to take full advantage. The glasses have removed that barrier, seeing that I’ve spent hours testing it.
I used my phone as my MacBook’s temporary replacement. I was surprised at how clean and polished it felt.
My touchscreen became a trackpad and keyboard. It’s a workable setup for quick edits and light browsing, though you’ll experience some friction during long stretches.
I spent an hour opening and resizing multiple windows, typing in Google Docs, switching between Google Chrome tabs, organizing my Keep notes, and replying to Slack messages.
Escape into any virtual world
Reality will still be there when you return
The RayNeo Air 3s glasses take the most ordinary locations and transform them into surreal spaces. It could be a cramped bedroom or a public commute.
I own an efficient Yaber T2 Plus projector, so I’m no stranger to squeezing a big-screen experience into unconventional zones.
The difference now is in the removal of limitations that would normally plague other devices.
The projected image feels stable without the constant recalibration from casting or repositioning a projector.
I’ve seen many posts and videos saying that the screen doesn’t match RayNeo’s 201-inch claim.
Technically, that’s fair since your eyes aren’t actually staring at a massive panel. The idea is a simulated distance that tricks your brain into perceiving depth.
The picture appears cinematic yet natural, rather than seeming like it’s placed right in your face.
It’s one area I was worried about because I’m myopic. As expected, everything was slightly blurry. But 3,840Hz dimming takes the edge off brightness, so I can still make out details without strain.
While I’m waiting for my contact prescriptions, I slip my regular glasses under the frame while I’m resting.
I did struggle to tune out my peripheral vision. The open edges let in plenty of light and movement from the side.
RayNeo offers a light blocker attachment that should fix that issue. But it’s sold separately. It’s something I easily replaced for free by draping my blanket over my head. I was captivated.
I’d relate the view to being in a movie theater all by myself. After prolonged minutes spent on The New Avengers (formerly Thunderbolts) and the Avatar: Way of Water movies, bathroom breaks outside my private cinema felt bland.
Surround sound that speaks to you
You can almost feel the bass if you lean into it
The built-in speakers add to the realistic effect. They rest above and slightly forward of your ears, so that audio spills in from both sides. Movies feel spacious, and you can still hear what’s happening in the room.
In my quick tests, the bass starts at 60Hz and Treble reaches 17kHz, while the dynamic range is at –32 dBFS. While you won’t hear deep rumbles, you will catch fine details in a quiet room.
There’s a slight rattle at high volumes. It’s more of a reminder that the speakers aren’t at a subwoofer level than it is a flaw.
Also, there’s some audio bleed, so someone might catch traces of whatever you’re watching. Enable Whisper Mode to lower these spills.
Among the many features I love is the stereoscopic depth of photos in the RayNeo XR app. Images literally pop out, and you’re able to judge intuitively.
I’ve used it to get home décor and outfit ideas. But it hinges on premium-quality source images. If the photo is low-resolution, the 3D conversion looks choppy.
Expand your horizons with each lens
RayNeo has pulled off something genuinely impressive with the Air 3s.
I have pushed them in many areas, including mobile gaming. Fast-paced titles like Call of Duty Mobile were almost impossible without proper tactical controls. But the graphics were stunning enough to make me want to try again with better gear.
That said, there’s room to grow. Broader device compatibility would open the experience to more devices without expensive adapters. Improved 3D alignment could also make XR mode less disorienting.
I believe tweaks like these could elevate the Air 3s from a great niche gadget to a must-have standard for Android users.
