RayNeo Air 2s and Pocket TV overview

Introduction

RayNeo is without doubt one of the main gamers within the AR glasses house. The model belongs to the TCL household and its Air 2s glasses we’re taking a look at in the present day are an iterative replace over the RayNeo Air 2 with a lot of the identical base specs.

Earlier than we begin we must always most likely clear up some terminology right here and clarify what the RayNeo Air 2s glasses really do. You may discover them being marketed as XR glasses, which stands for Prolonged Actuality and is definitely an umbrella time period that encompasses all VR (Digital Actuality), AR (Augmented Actuality) and MR (Blended Actuality) merchandise. At their core, the RayNeo Air 2s are kind of a transportable, wearable show. There isn’t any precise computing on board, however there are some sensors, together with accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer and proximity sensor.

The RayNeo Air 2s has a complete set of recent non-obligatory equipment, together with the Pocket TV, which we even have in our overview equipment. It’s really a full-fledged Google TV companion gadget that brings much-needed smarts to the RayNeo Air 2s. We might be going over the Pocket TV as effectively.

RayNeo Air 2s at a look:

• Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.07 x 1.86 in (175 x 154 x 47 mm), 78 grams (with out Sort-C cable connected). 3-position vertical adjustment for gaze angle, 30-degree adjustable angle vary hinges, 3-level nostril pad adjustment.
• Optical parameters: Two Micro-OLED Shows with 1920 x 1080 pixel decision in 2D mode, 3840 x 1080 pixels in 3D mode, 46-degree FoV optics, as much as 120Hz, 8-bit colour, 108% sRGB, as much as 600 nits perceived brightness (5,000 nits show brightness), 10-level brightness adjustment, efficient display measurement: as much as 201-inches, projected 6 meters away.
• Audio: 4 speaker design with two openings on every arm.
• I/O:USB Sort-C port for energy and video over USB Sort-C alt mode Show Port, menu button and quantity rocker on the left facet, brightness rocker on the correct facet.
• Different options:Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, proximity/put on sensor, 3 DoF head monitoring, myopia attachable body and extra nostril clips within the field.

As talked about, the RayNeo Air 2s and RayNeo Air 2 are very related units. Each appear to nonetheless be promoting from the official retailer concurrently. Function-wise, the 2 are similar and the RayNeo Air 2 glasses are even a bit lighter at 76 grams. Nonetheless the S model brings a brand new design, particularly a extra comfy weight stability, serving to with extended sporting. The brand new weight distribution is 46.7% to 53.3%. The clamping pressure of the arms has been diminished by 15% for enhanced consolation as effectively.

Unboxing

The RayNeo Air 2s glasses are available in a wealthy retail bundle. They ship in a pretty big field that’s thick and properly protecting. Past the glasses, the bundle additionally accommodates a pleasant thick USB Sort-C to Sort-C cable, angled on one finish for a extra handy operation.

RayNeo additionally offers a carrying case for the glasses. It’s high-quality and really sturdy, with a zipper and delicate velvet on the within. There may be sufficient house within the field for the glasses and the USB cable, which covers the fundamentals required to run the glasses.

Additionally within the field, we discovered a further nostril pad, insert templates for prescription lenses and a microfiber cleansing material.

{Hardware}, options and controls

The RayNeo Air 2s glasses have this Ray-ban-reminiscent design, which is definately factor. Nonetheless, the entrance semi-transparent darkened shade shouldn’t be detachable, however since we by no means discovered a scenario the place we might moderately have extra transparency it isn’t a significant omission.

The glasses weigh 78 grams, which isn’t the lightest for XR glasses however is way from heavy. As talked about, one of many main upgrades to the Air 2s is the improved 46.7% to 53.3% weight distribution. In apply, we comfortably wore the glasses for a few hours at a time, sufficient to look at a film. The principle discomfort we felt was to the nostril bridge, which is comprehensible. Nonetheless, the almost excellent half-and-half weight distribution helps so much, and we’ve got to say that the RayNeo Air 2s are a few of the most comfy XR glasses we’ve got examined. The diminished clamping pressure of the arms helps as effectively.

The 175 x 154 x 47 mm dimensions of the glasses are affordable. Positive, you may by no means fairly look or really feel such as you simply have common glasses on, even chunky ones, however we nonetheless assume TCL did an amazing job protecting issues as slim and compact as present tech permits.

The RayNeo Air 2s glasses provide loads of changes. You’ll be able to regulate the place of the nostril pad by pulling it out or pushing it in. There are three positions accessible. It’s also possible to swap the default nostril pad, which is marked as a “medium,” with the included “giant” one if that’s extra comfy for you personally. Each nostril pads have loads of padding and air and are effectively designed to deal with the load of the glasses.

Since, like some other XR glasses, the Air 2s depend on angled projection to get the picture in entrance of your eyes, vertical alignment will all the time be considerably of a difficulty. In an effort to tackle this, Air 2s glasses provide vertical angle adjustment for the arms. You get three positions to experiment with to suit the picture full in your airplane of view.

The RayNeo Air 2s glasses should all the time be connected to the USB Sort-C cable by way of the tip of the correct arm. The glasses themselves don’t have any computing or precise energy, for that matter. All of it comes by way of the USB port, so you’ll be able to’t realistically count on to be very “stealthy” whereas really utilizing the gadget. The USB Sort-C to Sort-C cable offered within the field is angled on one finish to suit extra snugly on the glasses. You should utilize any first rate cable of your individual, however the offered one is fairly nice. It’s delicate and versatile, but very sturdy, with out being too thick. It by no means will get in your manner whereas sporting the glasses.

We respect the Sort-C connector and its stable bodily connection. There may be just about no probability of by chance yanking the cable out of the glasses. Nonetheless, that additionally implies that in case you occur to get entangled, you’re more likely to yank the glasses themselves off of your face. A magnetic connector would most likely be higher on this regard.

As for cable size, we by no means wanted greater than the offered one supplied. It’s lengthy sufficient to be comfy whereas sitting in entrance of a tool or holding it in your lap, and it even reaches most pant pockets in case you actually really feel like strolling with the glasses on.

RayNeo is especially happy with the speaker system on the Air 2s glasses. There are 4 audio system in whole on the glasses – two on the left arm and two on the correct. Output grills are pointing up and down.

TCL says that the audio system convey a 100% quantity improve. We discovered the audio system fairly satisfactory, however nothing to cellphone residence about. Mids come by way of sounding fairly clear, which is vital for issues like dialogue. Highs continuously get distorted at larger volumes, and there’s barely any bass.

You most likely will not wish to crank the audio system too excessive since they will get uncomfortable listening to and probably hassle any close by folks. Having mentioned that, the Air 2s glasses have one thing referred to as Whisper Mode 2.0. It guarantees that there might be no sound leakage at 20cm distance from the audio system, even at 50% quantity.

You aren’t getting many precise bodily controls on the Air 2s. There isn’t any myopia adjustment or something of the type. The one technique to dial in focus is thru bodily adjusting the glasses in your face. You do nonetheless get a quantity rocker and a multifunctional purposeful button on one of many arms and a brightness rocker on the opposite.

The rockers and buttons are fairly small however completely purposeful, clicky, and have properly tactile suggestions. We’ve got no complaints there.

The one different seen I/O on the glasses is the wear and tear sensor above the nostril pads. It really works fairly effectively, and we’ve got no complaints about it constantly.

Modes of operation and options

The RayNeo Air 2s glasses work instantly with virtually each gadget that helps DP output over USB Sort-C Alt mode. There are two non-obligatory adapters for additional connectivity choices. One is known as the “adapter,” receiving and changing wi-fi casting indicators into the glasses. It’s notably fitted to Apple and different non-DP units. RayNeo additionally gives an “HDMI” adapter. That merely takes in an HDMI sign from one thing like a recreation console, converts it, and sends it to the glasses. This one is wired. There may be additionally the RayNeo “JoyDock” that’s particularly meant to work with the Nintendo Swap. It replaces the Swap’s default dock and has an onboard battery to lengthen gaming periods.

Then there’s the RayNeo “Pocket TV”, which we do have within the workplace alongside the glasses and might be taking a better take a look at in a bit. Merely put, it’s a standalone gadget operating Google TV that’s meant to hook as much as the glasses.

The RayNeo Air 2s have one “major” mode of operation. You simply hook them to a source and get a static picture projection in entrance of you (one thing like 130 inches at a perceived distance of round 4 meters). The picture “follows” your head actions, although with none monitoring. It simply stays centered in your line of sight.

Then there’s the RayNeo XR Android app. You may get it on the Google Play Retailer solely in supported areas, however others have the choice to sideload it. The XR app shouldn’t be a lot to take a look at on the cellphone facet. It gives a trackpad for enter on the show, alongside a house button and likewise leverages the cellphone’s accelerometer to spawn a spatial pointer controller contained in the Air glasses interface.

RayNeo XR app

The RayNeo XR app spawns one thing referred to as the “RayNeo XR house”. It gives a 3 DoF head-tracking residence display expertise alongside a number of apps. Most notably, a “spatial” internet browser and a YouTube participant. The principle UI is effectively laid out, and there are many handy suggestions for 360-degree spatial movies to play from YouTube.

Talking of taking part in again spatial movies, the RayNao XR app handles these considerably oddly. It’s sort of arduous to elucidate, so it’s best to test it out for your self. Nonetheless, as an alternative of putting you instantly “inside” the video, the participant spawns a flat viewing floor in entrance of you, like a display, permitting you to maneuver your head round to realize 3 DoF monitoring throughout the video, as anticipated. It is a bit of a bizarre impact, and we do not notably prefer it.

Additionally it is value noting that whereas the entire primary options like multimedia playback, a browser, and even a video games part are coated, the RayNeo XR app is a bit mild on extra options. Particularly, the factor we’re lacking is the flexibility to stream third-party VR content material to the glasses which is one thing XREAL’s competitor does have. We admit it’s janky at finest, however it’s nonetheless there and permits taking part in again VR experiences and easy VR video games from a PC to the glasses enormously enhancing their versatility.

One other function we missed is the flexibility to play 180-degree SBS movies on the glasses with correct monitoring. This appears to be absent each with the RayNeo XR app and the non-obligatory Pocket TV accent, which is a disgrace.

Compatibility

All of the glasses actually require to work is a USB Sort-C port with USB alt-mode help for Show Port output. The glasses themselves should not too power-hungry, so most units do not wrestle to energy them on.

What does that imply in real-world phrases? Let’s begin with laptops since they’re simpler to sum up. You’re able to go in case your laptop computer helps DP alt mode over USB Sort-C. This needs to be listed on the laptop computer’s specs sheet since these are typically well-detailed. We tried on a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9, an ASUS Zephyrus G14 from 2021, and an M1 MacBook Air efficiently. A bizarre checklist for positive, however it illustrates the primary level – in case you have DP over Sort-C, it’ll work.

Issues are a bit messier on the cellphone facet. Now that the newest era of iPhones has converted to USB Sort-C, the RayNeo Air 2s glasses don’t have any points working with them. So, in case you have an iPhone 15 – you’re all set. Technically, nonetheless, past that and with no extra equipment, the RayNeo Air 2s glasses are an Android-only accent.

Some Android units help Show Port over USB Sort-C, however there isn’t a straightforward technique to know which of them. A superb rule of thumb consists of that it’s usually a flagship function and that you need to have higher odds with units from Samsung, Huawei and OnePlus. As soon as once more, you should search round to see in case your cellphone has DP over Sort-C. By way of telephones, we succeeded with a Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely.

As talked about, RayNeo gives two completely different adapters that may hook up with different unsupported units. For older Apple tech, there’s the wi-fi Miracast adapter; for wired HDMI connectivity, there’s the “HDMI” adapter, so most bases are coated.

We additionally did some testing on our personal and we discovered the Nintendo Swap doesn’t work attached straight to the glasses. You want the extra JoyDock accent or the HDMI adapter to hook up with the Swap. The Valve Steam Deck, which helps DP over its Sort-C port, simply works by being linked straight to the glasses. The identical goes for the ASUS ROG Ally.

Efficiency and energy consumption

The RayNeo Air 2s glasses have Full HD 1920 x 1080-pixel optical decision with 8-bit colours. You additionally get 46-degree area of view, which is fairly commonplace and 600 nits of marketed perceived brightness. That is fairly excessive, so far as XR glasses’ brightness goes. TCL says that the Air 2s can do as much as 201 inches of digital show, however we consider that refers back to the 3D mode with head monitoring. Within the common “static” picture mode, you’re getting extra within the ballpark of 130 inches.

Sadly, because the shows on the RayNeo Air 2s should not conventional in any manner, we will not put particular numbers to their efficiency traits.

We’ve got to say that the shows look nice in individual. They’ll get very brilliant, virtually uncomfortable, and the colours are very good and vivid. The one actual concern we’ve got by way of optics has to do with show positioning. The projection sits too excessive in our sight view, and we always discover ourselves pushing our glasses all the way down to see the underside fringe of the show.

You additionally must get used to the truth that you’re always seeing the skin world, at the least to some extent. Nonetheless, we might say that the brightness is sufficient to make the glasses usable in just about each surroundings. Increased brightness ranges may be fatiguing for some folks. In spite of everything, the shows are very near your eyes. The RayNeo Air 2s glasses promote TUV Rheinland certifications for low Blue Mild emissions and Flicker-free, although.

The RayNeo Air 2s glasses function at 60Hz when in commonplace “direct streaming” 2D mode. When you contain the RayNeo XR app and its 3D mode, you’ll be able to allow 120Hz refresh price, which is nice for sure Android video games. Nonetheless, we want there was a technique to get 120Hz working within the different mode for issues like recreation consoles.

Pixel response time is excellent. There may be little enter latency, too. We managed to recreation on the RayNeo 2s, taking part in a number of platformers requiring affordable soar timing precision with no points.

On the subject of picture readability, we must always be aware that the mage, as we already mentioned, appears to be like very crisp and sharp within the common “direct streaming” 2D mode. Nonetheless, within the 3D mode contained in the RayNeo XR app, issues can get fairly blurry, particularly whereas in movement. The finer textual content is fairly arduous to learn, as effectively.

Because the RayNeo Air 2s glasses are fully powered by way of a Sort-C port, one of many few precise exams we managed to run on them was to measure energy consumption. With a reasonably static picture on the display, like shopping or working, they drew round 1.5W – 1.6W, relying on the brightness setting. Whereas taking part in a video with sound, the glasses used between 1.6W and a couple of.0W. All fairly spectacular numbers.

In additional sensible phrases, watching a two-hour film from Netflix on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely with the RayNeo Air 2s on ate up round 32% of the battery, which is completely affordable.

RayNeo Pocket TV

The RayNeo Pocket TV is an non-obligatory accent for the RayNeo Air 2s glasses that provides extra smarts to the glasses. It’s mainly a self-contained “sensible field”, operating Google TV with a pretty big 6,500 mAh battery on board. The Pocket TV is barely smaller than a contemporary smartphone at 130 x 61 x 23mm (5.1″ x 2.4″ x 0.9″) and weighs 205 grams.

Controls on the Pocket TV are laid out like an enormous TV distant. The middle “wheel” shouldn’t be a wheel however a easy directional pad with a button within the center. It really works fairly effectively for navigating the Google TV UI, however the buttons are a bit mushy and squeaky, which may grow to be annoying after some time. That mentioned, you aren’t meant to be clicking all of them that a lot, simply to navigate to your content material of alternative. The button with the rocket ship can be a user-programable shortcut.

RayNeo Pocket TV

The Pocket TV does have a microSD slot for storage growth, which is nice to see to enhance the onboard 64GB of eMMC storage. There are two USB Sort-C ports on the underside of the unit. The left one is for charging. Energy Supply is supported, which is welcome. The correct port is the gadget’s sole video output. It outputs PD over USB Alt mode. We tried hooking it as much as an everyday monitor with a Sort-C port, and it really works. We’re not positive if that’s handy for anybody, although. An everyday HDMI of some kind would have been enormously appreciated since that may have upped versatility a complete lot.

The Pocket TV is not notably highly effective. In truth, under no circumstances. It’s powered by an Amlogic S905Y4 chipset with 4 Cortex-A35 CPU cores and a Mali-G31MP2 GPU. It’s paired with 3GB of RAM, which is first rate for a Google TV gadget. Plus, you get pretty trendy Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, which can be nice.

Pocket TV {hardware} information

The Pocket TV and its chipset do a reasonably nice job on the subject of {hardware} video and audio decoding, which is arguably what counts most on this case. You’ll be able to see a full checklist of supported codecs under. It is very important be aware that the Pocket TV does help HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient decoding, plus DTS and Dolby Audio. Nonetheless, the RayNeo Air 2s glasses do not need HDR help, which suggests you’ll be able to solely get SDR video handed on to them.

Codec help

On a extra constructive be aware, the Pocket TV does have the best doable Google Widevine L1 DRM certification, permitting apps like Netflix to saturate its FullHD decision with matching stream decision.

Widevine L1

The Pocket TV additionally has loads of image settings to mess around with. You’ll be able to regulate the decision scale for the whole UI and scale down the picture measurement to 80% of the unique, which does assist mitigate the entire concern with the underside of the image continuously being reduce off due to how the optics are aligned.

Image settings

You’ll be able to’t explicitly pressure the Pocket TV into 120Hz mode, however you’ll be able to have it match the on-screen refresh price for when you’re taking part in excessive refresh price video, for example. And because the Pocket TV would not actually have any energy for gaming, you’re more likely to be completely advantageous with the default 60Hz the remainder of the time.

It is very important be aware that the Pocket TV can solely function in the usual “static” 2D mode of the glasses. Which means there isn’t a head monitoring of any type, as you’ll get from the RayNeo XR app. Actually, we favor it this fashion because you get a lot cleaner and sharper textual content and pictures. Nonetheless, do not count on to be having fun with any 360-degree or 180-degree SBS movies on the Pocket TV. Simply common “flat” 2D media content material.

The Google TV UI could be very clear and simple. It has many similarities to Android TV however focuses extra on content material, sensible aggregation, and proposals. You continue to get entry to all Android TV/Google TV apps by way of the Google Play retailer, which is nice. That covers the entire main streaming platforms and all different primary use instances, like good native video gamers, file browsers and even some superior apps like HTTP and FTP file servers for simply getting content material to the Pocket TV. You’ll most likely be doing most of your navigation with the buttons, although the Pocket TV has built-in 9-axis IMU sensors, so you might additionally use the air mouse function. There may be an built-in microphone and Google voice assistant, too.

Google TV interface

Lastly, we did an impromptu endurance take a look at on the Pocket TV. The producer claims that it ought to be capable to do 9 days of standby, 7 hours of steady “use”, no matter that refers to and 5.5 hours of video playback. In our testing, we obtained nearer to 4.5 hours of high-quality video streamed by way of Plex. By the way in which, the four-light array within the prime proper nook additionally signifies the battery degree.

Must you get a pair

The RayNeo Air 2s glasses retail for $400 from the official retailer. At the moment, that features a free Miracast Moveable Adapter, which is the factor you should connect older Apple tech or desktops wirelessly to the glasses. It’s also possible to get a bundle with the Pocket TV for $540 or one with the JoyDock for the Nintendo Swap for $460. All of these sound truthful and aggressive within the present XR glasses panorama.

We positively loved our time with the RayNeo Air 2s glasses. Their picture high quality total, notably brightness and sharpness, appears to be a neck above opponents we have tried from the likes of XREAL. The Air 2s glasses are additionally fairly comfy and well-designed.

By way of issues we did not like or felt had been lacking, show vertical alignment appears to be our largest concern. It may be considerably mitigated by crushing and molding the nostril pads aggressively, besides, the picture appears to be projected only a bit too excessive for our style, continuously reducing out the underside of the image. Additionally, we might have cherished to see a manner for units aside from smartphones with the RayNeo XR app and the Pocket TV to entry 120 Hz mode. As an example, we cherished the Steam Deck plus glasses combo, however 120 Hz would have made that so significantly better. And talking of superior use instances, we might have cherished to see a technique to stream PC VR content material to the glasses, even when it is janky like what XREAL has. Enjoying again 180-degree SBS video content material can be a sore omission.

All issues thought of, in case you prioritize picture and sound high quality in a pair of XR glasses, then positively contemplate the RayNeo Air 2s. Nonetheless, if you’re seeking to tinker and go in deeper with issues like superior playback of 3D content material and even rudimentary VR, then we might most likely nudge you in one other path at a competitor that has barely extra mature software program options in that regard. Should you determine to go for a RayNeo Air 2s pair, do your self a favor and contemplate the $140 additional for a Pocket TV. It actually does make utilizing the glasses a complete lot higher and extra handy.