I’ve always been interested in VR, but not for gaming—my focus is on watching movies. I consider most VR headsets as toys without practical value. So, I’ve been searching for a headset that’s specifically designed for watching movies, aiming to enhance my visual experience.

Three well-known headsets on the market are Xreal, Thunderbird, and Rokid. They all use Sony OLED chips paired with a Pancake solution. While the technology is mature, boasting a single-eye resolution of 1080p/120Hz and 500nit brightness, the smaller FOV (Field of View) means the clarity is a step below VR devices, similar to the upcoming AVP.

After researching reviews, Xreal received the highest praise, leading me to choose the Xreal Air model. Upon acquiring it, I was pleasantly surprised by the picture quality. Let’s assess this headset across various dimensions.

Visual Quality: 9/10

The visual quality of this headset is unexpectedly impressive. Despite a practical resolution of 1080p per eye, I can’t discern individual pixels, offering a subjective experience akin to 2K. Color reproduction is excellent, brightness is sufficient, making movie-watching an enjoyable experience.

However, it’s worth noting that for those who wear glasses, lens customization is necessary. The best clarity post-customization requires a specific angle, and even then, there might be some blurring at the edges. This limitation is due to the inherent optical structure of human eyes, making it challenging for all AR/VR headsets to overcome.

Immersiveness: 6/10

Despite advertising a 4-meter 130-inch screen, the initial impression felt like holding an iPad 30cm from my eyes. Judging the size of the screen is not a straightforward mathematical mapping; it requires tricking the brain. While there’s a slight sensation of a large screen in total darkness, it falls short of the immersive experience provided by traditional head-mounted displays. If you seek stronger immersion, this headset might not be the ideal choice.

Usage and Connectivity: 8.5/10 (for my setup), 5/10 (general)

The experience here varies. As an Apple device user with USB-C connections on my devices, I experienced seamless connectivity without adapters or the official Beam accessory. However, for those without this specific environment, it can be cumbersome, requiring various adapters, power cables, and potentially the Beam accessory. So far, I’ve only connected it to iPhone/iPad Pro/Mac, not attempting it with PC/PS5 as this headset seems more suitable for mobile devices.

Audio: 7.5/10

The audio quality is commendable with built-in speakers providing clear and adequately loud sound. It’s viable to use without headphones, but personally, I prefer headphones for better noise isolation and increased immersion.

3D Effect

Unexpectedly, this headset provided my best 3D viewing experience. The clarity and brightness are sufficient, albeit with a slightly smaller screen feel. It supports both left-right and up-down formats for 3D videos, offering a better experience than a cinema with no distractions or dizziness.

Choosing the Right Headset

Currently, there are three models: Xreal, Thunderbird, and Rokid. Opting for Xreal based on positive reviews seems logical, although promotional influence can’t be ignored. Without experience with the other two, I find Xreal to offer good value considering its reasonable price and comprehensive features.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Excellent visual quality with high resolution, good color reproduction, and sufficient brightness.
• Good audio quality with built-in speakers, supporting Bluetooth for headphones.
• Impressive 3D effects without discomfort.

Cons:

• Limited immersion, lacking a true large FOV for a cinematic feel.
• Requires lens customization for glasses wearers, and clarity is angle-dependent.
• Inconvenient for general usage and connectivity without the specific Apple full USB-C setup.
• Primarily designed for movie-watching, not suitable for diverse VR applications.

Conclusion

In summary, the Xreal Air 2 Pro is a suitable headset for watching movies, offering excellent visual and audio quality. Its 3D capabilities are surprising, providing a clear and comfortable experience. For Apple users with the appropriate setup, it’s convenient. However, if you desire a more immersive experience, particularly for VR applications, or if you don’t have the specified Apple setup, this headset might not be the best choice. Consider traditional VR devices for those scenarios.