Review: RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR glasses, an OLED TV for my face

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I got to try out a ton of cool smart glasses at CES 2026, and one of the most exciting pairs is finally available. On Friday, TCL launched new Reno Air 4 Pro AR/XR glasses for $299 (early buyers can save $50 at launch), featuring dual micro-OLED displays for watching movies and playing games.

These smart glasses are the world’s first glasses to offer support for HDR10, and can create virtual screens up to 201 inches in size. They’re noticeably brighter and brighter than other smart glasses I’ve tried, including the popular Xreal One Pro AR glasses, which I tested and enjoyed. The Xreal One Pro glasses cost $650, and the cheapest competitors have a starting price of $499. As I wrote at the time, with a boundary-breaking display and a $299 price tag, the Reno Air 4 Pro seemed poised to completely disrupt this emerging market.

But there’s a reason we don’t write reviews after a brief demo at CES. After spending more time with the RayNeo Air 4 Pro, they’re not as big of a threat to the Xreal as I first thought.

Still, it’s hard to argue with $299 smart glasses that have a gorgeous micro-OLED display. For gaming and watching moviesThe RayNeo Air 4 Pro is the best smart glasses currently on the market.

What are RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR glasses?

The Air 4 Pro are augmented reality glasses that connect to a smartphone, laptop, gaming handheld or other device. Simply plug them into any compatible device, and they’ll start working immediately – no setup required. You have to stay connected at all times via the included USB-C cable, but you don’t have to worry about battery life, which is nice.

Using dual micro-OLED displays, such smart glasses create a virtual screen that floats in space in front of you. If you are connected to a laptop, it will act as a second monitor. On smartphones, this mirrors your display. While such spatial computing gadgets are often designed for increased productivity, the Reno Air 4 Pro was specifically designed for entertainment.

As TCL said in a press release, “Reno Air 4 Pro is like a television you can wear on your head…With Air 4 Pro, you can enjoy IMAX-level personal cinema in a crowded subway, a big-screen working environment during business trips or an immersive gaming experience during a break – this is the revolutionary experience brought by Reno Air 4 Pro.”

The OLED display supports HDR10 and has two refresh rate options, 60 Hz or 120 Hz.

Reno Air 4 Pro AR/XR specs: By the numbers

Let’s discuss the specifications before diving into my full RayNeo Air 4 Pro review.

• Style: augmented reality smart glasses

• Display: 0.6 inch micro-OLED display

• screen size: 201 inches

• Glow: up to 1,200 nits

• Resolution: 1920×1080

• Refresh Rate: 60Hz, 120Hz

• Color Accuracy: ΔE

• sound: Bang & Olufsen Surround Sound (4 Speakers)

• Weight: 76 grams

In terms of fit and comfort, they’re a little lighter than Witcher and Xreal glasses (though they’re much heavier than display glasses like the Even Reality G2). I didn’t have any problems with comfort, although, due to my larger face shape, the fit is a little awkward. I have to fiddle to keep the entire virtual screen in view.

mashable light speed

Best Smart Glasses for Entertainment

I’ve spent a lot of time testing the Xreal One Pro smart glasses, which are considered to be the best AR glasses on the market at the moment. However, in my experience, the One Pro is most useful when working on the go, such as in a coffee shop or on an airplane, when you need the extra display. But with the new RayNeo AR/XR glasses, TCL is prioritizing an upgraded display and audio.

The sound is high quality for smart glasses, though frankly they compare poorly to the best wireless earbuds. I found them to have minimal (but not non-existent) sound leakage. While watching movies, TV shows, and YouTube videos, I was happy with the sound. However, I experienced some technical issues. When connected to my MacBook, I couldn’t get the Reno Air 4 Pro to play audio instead of the MacBook speakers. Of course, this could be an Apple issue.

The display is still impressive. If you’ve tried other AR glasses, you’ll notice an immediate difference. Color accuracy, motion blur, sharpness and brightness are much better here, especially the brightness. While the new Xreal 1S AR glasses have a maximum power of 700 nits, the RayNeo has a maximum power of 1,200 nits. They also offer built-in eye protection (3840Hz PWM dimming) so your eyes won’t get tired.

However, it is not all rosy. I regularly noticed a flicker effect when using the glasses, which was distracting. Making the glasses useless wasn’t so bad, but it was a major sore point. I also had difficulty getting the entire display in my field of view, possibly because my head is much larger than the average person. You can adjust the angle of the lens to suit the frame and change the nose guard, but sometimes the bottom of the screen will blur or disappear.

In total, you get a 201-inch virtual screen that you can use to watch movies while traveling, lying in bed, or whenever you don’t have access to a TV. It’s actually like an OLED TV you can wear on your head.

Of course, there’s also the $299 question: Do you want to wear an OLED TV on your face?

A beautiful display, but at a price

It wasn’t obvious in my initial demo, but the new Reno specs are missing some very important features. With my Xreal glasses, I can easily adjust the size of the virtual screen, the angle of the virtual screen, and the distance. I can also activate a curved, ultra-wide display mode. Most importantly, I can anchor the display so that it’s frozen in a particular part of my eye line, no matter how much I turn my head.

This spatial computing trick is especially useful when working, because I can position the screen right above or to the side of my laptop. RayNeo’s virtual display moves with you. You may also be distracted by some reflections behind the glasses, which hasn’t been a problem with the Xreal to date.

In its press materials and on its website, TCL also talks about an immersive 3D feature, which can convert 2D photos and videos into 3D. However, it appears that it is not available yet.

Xreal’s 3D conversion feature is live, and it’s awesome.

Is the TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro worth it?

For beginners looking to try AR glasses for entertainment, I think this is the best option on the market in 2026, at least for now. But as I’ve already discussed, they come with tradeoffs, and Xreal has a big advantage for productivity and advanced features like 3D conversion. (If money is no object, look forward to the ROG Xreal R1 gaming glasses coming later this year.)

I should also note that smart glasses are a Very New product category. The average customer is an early adopter and a tech whiz who is okay with a few bugs and quirks if it means they’re on the cutting edge. I think it’s an open question whether the market will ultimately settle on AR headsets like the Vision Pro and Galaxy XR, or on AR smart glasses (like the one Google is releasing later this year, and Apple is rumored to be producing in 2027).

I guess what I’m trying to tell you is this: We’re grading smart glasses on a curve. If you’re not an early adopter, they may not be for you.

Subject
augmented reality gadgets