Why I'm Glad I Bought the XREAL 1S | It Changed How I Watch Streaming Dramas and Movies

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When it comes to watching movies and dramas, the usual choices were the living room TV or the screen of a phone or tablet. I bought the AR glasses "XREAL 1S" because I wanted to watch on a bigger screen, in a more relaxed posture. I use them for essentially one thing: watching dramas and movies on streaming services such as Netflix and Prime Video. In this article, I'll lay out the product basics, my viewing style, and who they are and aren't suited for.

What I wanted to know before buying

Since the AR glasses category itself was new to me, what I researched before buying was: "Will they connect to the phone and PC I already own?", "Does the picture really feel like a big screen?", and "Won't they get tiring over long sessions?" To give the conclusion first: connection is the simple method of plugging in a USB-C cable, and on a compatible device the picture appears as soon as you plug it in.

XREAL 1S basics

The XREAL 1S is one model in XREAL's AR glasses (smart glasses) series. Connect the glasses-style unit to a smartphone, PC, game console or similar device via USB-C, and a large virtual screen appears floating in front of your eyes. By connecting to a device that supports video output, you can get an experience equivalent to a big screen without physically having a large TV at hand. Sound comes from speakers built into the unit, so you can watch without earphones. Prices vary by timing and retailer, so please check the latest price on the sales page.

My actual viewing style

My use is narrowed down almost entirely to watching dramas and movies on streaming services. The key point of this usage is that the screen position can be placed "in space." Even when sitting deep in a sofa, for example, you can adjust things so the screen comes into your line of sight, so there's no need to keep holding a phone above your face. Not tiring your arms, and not having to keep your neck bent downward, really makes a difference when binge-watching several episodes of a drama in a row. However, when watching while lying down there is an issue with how the cable runs, which I'll come back to below.

Another characteristic is that the screen becomes yours alone. Even while family members living with you are using the TV, you can watch what you want at your own pace. The sounds around you are not completely shut out, so it suits people who want to watch while still hearing the sounds of daily life.

The first thing I felt when I actually watched with them was that the picture quality is top-notch. I have no complaints about the beauty or the clarity of the image itself. Another convenient point is that you can properly choose the screen's depth and size. You can adjust "at what distance, and at what size" to your own preference, so you can get the optimal view for the title you're watching and the posture you're in.

The biggest drawback: tough to watch while lying down

To be honest, the thing that bothered me most about this product was the cable. The XREAL 1S is built so the connection cable extends from the back, so when you try to watch lying down with your head resting on a bed or pillow, the cable presses against the back of your head and neck, gets in the way, and your posture won't settle. My main use is watching streaming dramas and movies, and I had been hoping for a "watch on a big screen while lying down" style, so this was a core drawback. When watching seated on a sofa it doesn't bother me, but if you are considering buying, I recommend first imagining what posture you mainly want to watch in.

About the narrow field of view

The other thing that feels like the trade-off for the high picture quality is the narrow field of view. Because the visible range is a little narrow, the immersion falls short; it stops one step short of the home-theater feeling, and there is somehow a cramped feeling. Being able to set the screen size large is convenient, but because the field of view is narrow, if you make it too large the edges of the screen no longer fit in your view and you can't see all of it. The freedom of size adjustment has to be managed within this field-of-view constraint.

Who they suit and who they don't, in general

As with AR glasses in general, the fit is clear-cut. They suit people who "want to settle down in a fixed place and enjoy content." Conversely, for people who want to use them while moving around, or who find the very act of putting them on a hassle, an ordinary tablet may be a better fit. Also, this is a category where eyesight and how things look vary greatly from person to person, so if possible it's reassuring to try them once in a store or similar before buying.

Conclusion

The XREAL 1S was a gadget that changed the quality of my viewing experience, for someone whose purpose — "watching streaming dramas and movies" — is clear. The picture quality is top-notch, and the freedom to choose the screen's depth and size is convenient too. On the other hand, the somewhat lacking immersion due to the narrow field of view, and the fact that the cable extends from the back making it hard to watch while lying down, are things to know before buying. It is not a complete replacement for a home theater; if you think of it as "your own private big screen for watching while seated," I think it's a device where expectations and reality line up.

* Prices and stock change. Please check the latest information on the linked page before purchasing.