ASUS’s Republic of Gamers division and AR eyewear maker Xreal have opened preorders for the ROG Xreal R1, a pair of gaming-focused AR glasses built around a 240Hz micro-OLED display. Preorders went live at Best Buy for $849, with Xreal’s own online store following shortly after, and the first units shipping globally, according to reporting from Tom’s Hardware, Engadget, and PC Guide. [NEEDS VERIFICATION: some outlets list preorder availability opening in May 2026, while another report references a July 2026 availability window — the exact current-as-of-publish preorder status should be confirmed directly on Xreal’s storefront before publishing.]
What Is the ROG Xreal R1?
The R1 is a co-branded product between ASUS ROG and Xreal, first unveiled at CES 2026 earlier this year. It’s positioned as a gaming-first upgrade to Xreal’s existing lineup, built for plugging into consoles, handhelds, and PCs rather than everyday phone use.
Unlike Xreal’s earlier consumer-focused glasses, the R1 leans hard into performance specs that matter specifically for gaming: refresh rate, response time, and multi-device connectivity.
ROG Xreal R1 Specs That Matter
According to specs confirmed by ASUS and Xreal and reported across multiple outlets:
- Display: 0.55-inch Sony micro-OLED panels
- Refresh rate: 240Hz — double that of Xreal’s previous flagship
- Response time: 0.01ms
- Virtual screen size: Up to 171 inches, projected at a 57-degree field of view
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080p)
- Brightness: Peak 700 nits
- Audio: Bose-tuned speakers for spatial sound
- Price: $849, which includes the bundled Control Dock
The Control Dock is a key part of the package — it connects via DisplayPort 1.4 and dual HDMI 2.0 ports, and supports PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch consoles alongside PCs. Glasses can also connect directly to phones and tablets over USB-C without the dock.
Is $849 Too Much?
That’s the question several outlets have already raised. The R1 costs $200 more than Xreal’s current top-end One Pro, which retails at $649 (and has been discounted to $599). For that premium, buyers get the doubled refresh rate, the Control Dock, and gaming-specific tuning — but the core display resolution and field of view stay the same as the cheaper model.
Tom’s Hardware noted the price “may be a tough sell,” especially with no independent hands-on reviews yet available at the time of the initial preorder announcement. Anyone preordering today is still buying largely on the strength of ASUS and Xreal’s own spec sheet.
Who It’s Actually For
The R1 is built for a specific buyer: someone who already owns a ROG Ally, a current-gen console, or a gaming PC and wants a large-screen experience without a bulky VR headset. It’s not designed to compete with mixed-reality headsets like the Apple Vision Pro, and it’s not marketed as an everyday-wear smart glasses product either.
If you’re deciding between this and Xreal’s cheaper lineup, our AR and smart glasses comparison guide breaks down where the R1 fits versus the One Pro and other 2026 releases. For a wider look at what else launched alongside it, see our gadgets worth watching this month roundup.
With preorders open and shipping underway in some regions, the next milestone will be independent hands-on reviews — which is where claims like the 240Hz refresh rate and 0.01ms response time will actually get tested outside of manufacturer marketing. We’ll update this piece once real-world reviews land.
For more on what else is shipping in the AR and wearables space, check our 2026 wearable tech roundup.
