Tested: NXTWEAR S - The XR Glasses That Turn the Dreaded Commute Into Your Private Cinema

Maybe you like to scroll mindlessly (or purposely) on your phone, catch up on overdue projects on your laptop, check out the latest podcast, or binge-watch your latest obsession on streaming. Maybe you're more of a traditional guy or gal and carry a book to kill time. The options are numerous, but they definitely don't include the possibility of carrying a cinema with you. How could they, right?

One way to stand out from the crowd is to deliver the unexpected, and that's probably what TCL RayNeo is going for. Why watch content on your laptop or, even worse for your enjoyment and posture, on the screen of your phone when you could be bringing the cinema experience along with you wherever you are? If you're riding the train on the commute or any other form of public transport, on layovers, at the airport, on your lunch break, or even when waiting in line at the doctor's, you could still be enjoying that same immersive experience, but from within your own private bubble. It's the fun way to kill time.

TCL RayNeo is a China-based company on the AR (augmented reality) market, specializing in hardware, software, and applications. Incubated by TCL Electronics, it focuses exclusively on this budding sector of the market, with their latest offering being the NXTWEAR S glasses, a device that serves as a diminutive projector. NXTWEAR S is the second generation of XR (extended reality) glasses that aim to turn all those idle times into fun or, if you wish, more productive moments.

So here's how that works.

The Setup

You might see the NXTWEAR S glasses described elsewhere online as an AR device. They're not: they're XR, so they function as a projector screen with integrated sound for another device, be it your smartphone, a laptop, or a gaming console. Choose your poison, as it were, and this device will pair with it and deliver a widescreen immersive experience comparable to what you'd get in a movie theater. Your very own bubble in the public space.

Unlike the famed Apple Vision Pro headset, the NXTWEAR S is sleeker and simpler while also already available and more affordable. It's not a "spatial computer" but a device that projects the main screen or a secondary screen of another computer in front of your eyes. The promise from the makers is that you'll get crisp video and awesome audio, 2D or 3D viewing, and a comfortable device that won't strain your neck muscles or your eyes with long wear in a compact and elegant package that won't drill holes in your budget. And they're keeping that promise.

The box contains a pair of funky glasses (the device itself), a pair of classic-shape dark lenses that attach to the former magnetically, the connecting cable (also with a magnetic attachment), and a third frame that's destined exclusively for use by those who have myopia or astigmatism and require daily seeing glasses.

Unlike 3D glasses in cinema theaters, you can't wear the NXTWEAR S over your seeing glasses, and you won't be able to use the device without, even though the projected image is right in front of your eyes. That means that you'll need to use the provided frame and lenses for sizing and then take that to your optician to have seeing lenses put in. Or you can use contacts like I did – a much less cumbersome and more elegant solution.

The secret of the NXTWEAR S is the pair of mirrored lenses that act as displays when you feed content by connecting it to another device. Each lens is a 16:9 60Hz Sony FHD Micro OLED 1080p panel, and together, they project a 130-inch display at a distance of 4 meters (13.2 feet). You're looking up and theoretically right in front of you, but you're seeing a large screen display: a 1920 x 1080 one for 2D viewing, and a 3840 x 1080 one for 3D images, provided you're using a device with a DP output.

Each temple of the frame integrates stereo, open-ear speakers, and controls for the volume, luminosity, and a switch button between 2D and 3D viewing. TCL says you'll be getting "ultra-rich" sound and "perfect" bass, which might make you think you'll be booming your way straight on your fellow commuters' forever blacklist. The NXTWEAR S is surprisingly discreet when used in public.

The box also includes an adapter for iOS devices, as well as the expected amount of literature to get you familiar with the device. Even the box is elegant, with sleek packaging and a very practical carrying case for the device (though not the adapter), similar to the zipped case you keep sunglasses in, but fatter.

The Experience

The NXTWEAR S is plug-and-play and very intuitive to use. If the device you're looking to pair it with is not on the 100+-item list of compatible devices provided by TCL RayNeo, you can use still use it with a mirroring app. It helps if you know from the start if your device is compatible, so you can skip some initial steps, like downloading the official app or third-party mirroring software.

The experience is as immersive and impressive as promised in the marketing materials. You get crisp, colorful video and good stereo audio. It's not flawless in that it doesn't completely tune out exterior noise, but it's more than you'd imagine from this type of setup. For example, it's enough to get you enjoying a movie while someone else is watching a different screening on the home entertainment system. This is one way of getting out of seeing your kid's favorite Ice Age movie for the gazillionth time, I can promise you that.

The bridge of the device tends to get warm after less than half an hour, but it doesn't become hot or uncomfortable. TCL says that all materials are skin-friendly, from the adjustable nose pad to the bridge and the temples, which is good, because they come in close contact with the skin and, more importantly, are meant to stay there for hours. I didn't experience any rash or irritation, not even on the bridge area that gets warmer with use.

Applicability ranges from leisure to work. You can use the device as an extra-large screen for your laptop, and use in this case doesn't require any adjustment period on your part. Or, you can watch content, effectively carrying a cinema with you wherever you go – and you wouldn't even stand out that much. Even though you can see out the sides of the lenses when not looking straight ahead, the projected screen offers an immersive experience, regardless if you're outdoors or inside. Generally speaking, though, a blank wall and a darker room help improve the experience.

Now, if you work in front of a screen or spend several hours a day in front of one for other reasons, you're probably worried about how a device like this might affect your eyesight. Having gone through corrective eye surgery and being a lifetime "four-eye" myself, stuff like dry and red eyes, and blurred vision are par for the course of my everyday routine. So I spoke to an ophthalmologist about the possible impact of extended wear of such a device.

The 20-minute rule, also known as the 20-20-20 rule, says that every 20 minutes, we should take a break from looking at the digital screen and gaze for 20 seconds at an object 20 feet (6 meters) away. This helps prevent eye strain by allowing the eye muscles to relax, which means no more itchy, dry, or running eyes and no more blurred vision.

With a device like the NXTWEAR S, you can only do that by pausing whatever content you're enjoying and removing it from your nose, which feels too much of a hassle to actually carry it through. While your brain is tricked into seeing a large screen, you're still looking at a fixed point in front of you – much like you would with a regular computer screen.

Extended wear can – or did, in my case – result in a slight sensation of confusion: it's not exactly dizziness, but more like the numbing tiredness you can get from watching 3D movies in a theater. TCL RayNeo says that the device is TüV low bluelight verified, which means it's flicker-free and with reduced bluelight to preserve your eyesight and allow for the same image quality even if you move your body. That said, you might not be able to munch on popcorn while watching a movie, and it's best if you make sure you take regular breaks, just like you would with any other digital screen.

Conclusion

NXTWEAR S is by no means a necessary device, but it’s a welcome addition to the list of gadgets you can use to pass idle times in a more fun or productive way. Lightweight and comfortable, the glasses are easily adjustable to each wearer and virtually plug-and-play with whatever other device. With the attachable retro-styled frame, they look good, too – and are easily portable, thanks to the included zippered case.

Quality is as promised, from the materials used to the projected image and sound. At 85 grams/3 oz (plus another 30 grams/1 oz for the USB-C connecting cable), the device itself is not uncomfortable to wear for extended periods, though looking at the same screen for hours on end might cause some issues, especially if you already have certain ophthalmological symptoms.

As a novelty or even as a daily provider of fun, the NXTWEAR S is an excellent alternative for idle moments. Its price tag of $449, now reduced to $399 on the occasion of the international release, makes it even more appealing.