XREAL Hub Impressions

Scarlet · May 18, 2024

So this is a $40 add-on for a problem of their own making? Realistically this should've come in the box. It's on par with Apple's range of Lightning dongles.

gaga941021 · May 18, 2024

Scarlet said:
So this is a $40 add-on for a problem of their own making? Realistically this should've come in the box. It's on par with Apple's range of Lightning dongles.

Are you new to tech industry?

NakedFaerie · May 18, 2024

There is another one, the Viture one. It looks the same and its been out a long time.
I got it with my glasses and use it all the time.
https://www.amazon.com.au/VITURE-Glasses-Charging-Adapter-Charge/dp/B0CGMGDK53?th=1

BTW, using this with the Switch does have picture but no sound and you cant use the Switch as it thinks its docked so you need a controller.
The Beam does have sound but it also thinks its docked.

With the Steam Deck its absolutely awesome.

EDIT: I forgot to add its not just for the glasses its for any USB-C device. You can charge it and have another USB-C device connected. I use this to connect my Steam Deck and USB HDD and still keep it charging.
Now, USB HDD, and xreal glasses can be connected at the same time but no charging.

Winduss · May 18, 2024

bro wtf is this review :rofl2:

this is literally a dongle which splits power and video signals from a usb-c port

they've definitely used an AI for padding out the text

K3Nv2 · May 19, 2024

Scarlet said:
So this is a $40 add-on for a problem of their own making? Realistically this should've come in the box. It's on par with Apple's range of Lightning dongles.

Reminds me of the days when people freaked out over Nintendo not including a ac adapter in the package.

fvig2001 · May 19, 2024

Even though this reads more like an ad, I love how XReal finally decided to make their own solution for this problem they created. They probably noticed that users were buying from Rokid since their "hub" ($99) worked for XReals.

Also, I thought most users HATED the XReal Beam since it gets super hot and the battery doesn't last long. The features should have been in the glasses themselves tbh.

Metoroid0 · May 19, 2024

can this play doom?

Kazuma77 · May 20, 2024

Good to know it works as advertised, should I need another one. They are more than a bit late to the market though. I already picked up the Rokid Hub and Viture Charge & Play (got tired of removing the phone protector to use the former).

I'm not completely sure what you mean about it not working with the Beam. It does output to it (at about 2.7W using the Beam's included cable). Charging the Beam would require a separate device, most likely with completely different wiring.

If you want more Beam time, get the new Fairikabe cable with the extra USB-C port, and a magnetic fan. NOTHING I have seen will stop the Beam from slowly discharging as long as there is video input (it's probably the built-in Switch Dock). However, the new cable provides a solid 4.08 Watts (a second one tested over 5W, but said test may not reflect real world use, because I plugged the USB headset plug into a power cube instead of the USB hub connected to my PS5), whereas the old cables topped off around 1.92. And the external fan will keep it from running it's own, never mind do a better job. With these combined, the discharge rate is about 10% per hour. So, unless you're on a D2 Ladder run, you'll probably be ready to quit before it is.

Since that is an HDMI to USB-C cable, you need a USB-C to HDMI adapter like this to use it with the Xreal Hub. Just plug the C end into the Xreal Hub and the HDMI end into the Fairikabe cable. Now you can charge the Deck (or Switch) AND slow the Beam discharge down simultaneously. However, while this will work for the Switch, I would get a nice portable Switch dock so I can charge a Pro controller, but to each their own.

Chrisssj2 · May 21, 2024

Prans said:
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Consumer augmented reality (AR) specialist XREAL has recently released a new accessory for its AR glasses, the XREAL Hub. This $40 add-on is a simple device that addresses a common problem in today’s tech world: battery life.

XREAL’s and most consumer AR glasses are lightweight and able to sport a sleek, relatively inconspicuous look as they do not have any battery but are powered by the source device. As these glasses essentially function as portable external monitors, they can be taxing on the battery life of the source device. Given that they plug into that device’s USB-C port, they prevent the user from charging it for extended use. There have been options to address this such as RayNeo’s JoyDock but the latter can be pricey and bulky. The XREAL Hub presents an alternative that’s much cheaper and allows charging while using a pair of XREAL AR glasses.

As with XREAL’s other products, the XREAL Hub is a quality device. It bears a minimalist aluminium shell with a laser engraved XREAL logo on top. On the right end is a sturdy USB-C cable and on the left end are two USB-C ports marked with the corresponding input device.

Essentially, the XREAL Hub functions as a USB hub that plugs into the USB-C port of the source device (smartphone or handheld gaming console) that supports video output. The hub itself then provides two ports: one to plug in the AR smart glasses and one to plug in a charger. This allows you to mirror the source device’s screen on the XREAL glasses and charge the device at the same time. It’s a simple, yet effective solution for a common problem.

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The XREAL Hub is compatible with the XREAL Air, XREAL Air 2, XREAL Air 2 Pro and the upcoming XREAL Air 2 Ultra. Having used the XREAL Hub with the XREAL Air 2 Pro, the accessory does what it says on the tin. It’s a plug-and-play affair and the accessory is well built and won’t break the bank.

About the XREAL Air 2 Pro, it is very much like the XREAL Air 2. They both look alike and have the same features. The main difference is that the XREAL Air 2 Pro packs built-in lenses with three levels of electrochromic dimming (0%/35%/100%).

It’s a fancy effect that can be activated at will, provided the glasses are paired to a device. This is the main downside that I’ve encountered with the AR glasses model as being able to dim the lenses without having to plug in a device would be appreciated.

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Pairing the XREAL Hub and Air 2 Pro combo with a handheld gaming device like the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck feels like the main use case. Its support for 45W fast charging eliminates battery worries, even for power-hungry devices, while enabling you to experience your video games on a giant, wearable display.

The OLED displays on XREAL’s AR glasses delivers crisp and detailed visuals; and the XREAL Hub does not compromise on that. It supports up to 120Hz refresh rate for 2D content and up to 90Hz refresh rate for 3D, at 1080p in both cases.

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While the XREAL Hub is a welcome accessory, it does have some downsides. Most prominently, it is not compatible with the XREAL Beam and XREAL Adapter (for iOS devices). The Beam has easily become my favourite XREAL accessory as it enables 3DoF screen mirroring mode for virtually any device with video output support over USB-C. It is the AR experience that I recommend anyone to experience and XREAL really has gone the extra mile to make it accessible. But not being able to pair the Beam with the Hub means that you cannot enjoy 3DoF gaming displays on demand, without battery worries. I wish that XREAL had expanded support to its own accessories but this might be an option for future models.

In fact, the XREAL Hub feels like it should be integrated in the XREAL Beam or even in the default XREAL AR glasses cable (or the glasses itself). Maybe this will be the path the company takes to enable AR users to charge their devices while using their AR glasses. But currently, the XREAL Hub addresses that issue as an add-on and it’s a welcome option, especially if you game or spend considerable amounts of time with your AR glasses plugged into your gaming handheld or smartphone.

Do these handheld glasses work in handheld mode? i see the sreen is off on the switch...

Kazuma77 · May 21, 2024

Chrisssj2 said:
Do these handheld glasses work in handheld mode? i see the sreen is off on the switch...

There is no getting video output from the Switch in handheld mode. Xreal's hub tricks it into thinking it is docked (which Viture's device also does, but is picky as HELL about the power supply). Those Joycons in the picture are non-functional though unless someone put electrical tape over the contacts. Such a trick would be useless to me since I prefer the Split Pad Pros. I've barely touched my Switch since I got a Steam Deck though. It plays the games so much better, and it just works with XR glasses without any trickery. The few times I have packed the Switch to take with me since getting into XR, I left the Joycons at home and just tossed a Pro in the bag.

That said, having to put the Switch in docked mode isn't what I would call a deal breaker as long as you're taking your Switch somewhere you can sit down. If you want to play Tears in XR while walking around Walmart though, get a Steam Deck.

Chrisssj2 · May 21, 2024

Kazuma77 said:
There is no getting video output from the Switch in handheld mode. Xreal's hub tricks it into thinking it is docked (which, to be fair, is a first). Those Joycons in the picture are non-functional though unless someone put electrical tape over the contacts. Such a trick would be useless to me since I prefer the Split Pad Pros. I've barely touched my Switch since I got a Steam Deck though. It plays the games so much better, and it just works with XR glasses without any trickery. The few times I have packed the Switch to take with me since getting into XR, I left the Joycons at home and just tossed a Pro in the bag.

So you are saying there is no way to get the image to display on the switch itself? And not even on your glasses normally but only when it is in your dock? HELL that makes these glasses USELESS. The whole point of these glasses number 1 in my opinion is mobility. If you are not mobile then why the hell not use your TV? I mean you can... but it kinda beats the point imo.
Why would the joycons be non functional?

Kazuma77 · May 21, 2024

Chrisssj2 said:
So you are saying there is no way to get the image to display on the switch itself? And not even on your glasses normally but only when it is in your dock? HELL that makes these glasses USELESS. The whole point of these glasses number 1 in my opinion is mobility. If you are not mobile then why the hell not use your TV? I mean you can... but it kinda beats the point imo.
Why would the joycons be non functional?

Oh, they are FAR from useless. To use the Switch on the go requires some extra trickery though -- using a Beam and keeping the Switch itself in a carrying case while you play the games with a Pro controller. The blame for this lies entirely with Nintendo for not enabling the Switch to output video unless it's receiving power (the Beam gets around this by charging it, but at the expense of depleting it's own battery even faster).

There is no way to have games display on both the Switch and the glasses though. The Switch just does not have mirror mode as an option. Care to guess what does? That's right, the Steam Deck. You do have to put it in desktop mode, but still, it CAN do it. The Steam Deck can also do extended mode. For example, you could have MelonDS display the top DS screen on your glasses and use the Deck's display for the bottom one (which works out well since that's the one with the touch controls). A lot of people love using the Steam Deck to emulate Nintendo's multi-screen devices (DS, 3DS, and Wii U) for this very reason. For 3D content (i.e. 3DS emulation in Citra) XR glasses have another trick as well -- SBS mode. They can display movies and 3DS games in full 3D on a much bigger screen.

Let's not pretend the Switch is the only game in town for these, like it's 2017. The portable computer market is a thing, they work great with laptops, and if you have a Dex-capable phone they're a REAL game changer. Just set the background to plain black, and you can be walking around Wally's with your shopping list on your left, a news feed in the lower right corner, and the video feed from one of your hidden security cameras in the upper right (so you can see what the cats are up to while you shop). I would get an Elecom Relacon or similar handheld mouse if you plan to do this. That way you can just shove the phone in your back pocket.

And using them AT your destination isn't as niche as you imply. How many of your friends have an extra TV for YOUR consoles so that you can play multi-player online games that don't have a split-screen option with them? With these, I can just plug my Series S or PS5 into any unused outlet and I'm ready to go. Travelling? Hook up a MiSTer in your hotel room without having to use their crappy little TV. Frankly, I even use them at home quite a bit because the virtual display is bigger than any TV I own, I can use them laying down and have a giant cinema screen on my ceiling, etc.

Chrisssj2 · May 21, 2024

Kazuma77 said:
Oh, they are FAR from useless. To use the Switch on the go requires some extra trickery though -- using a Beam and keeping the Switch itself in a carrying case while you play the games with a Pro controller. The blame for this lies entirely with Nintendo for not enabling the Switch to output video unless it's receiving power (the Beam gets around this by charging it, but at the expense of depleting it's own battery even faster).

There is no way to have games display on both the Switch and the glasses though. The Switch just does not have mirror mode as an option. Care to guess what does? That's right, the Steam Deck. You do have to put it in desktop mode, but still, it CAN do it. The Steam Deck can also do extended mode. For example, you could have MelonDS display the top DS screen on your glasses and use the Deck's display for the bottom one (which works out well since that's the one with the touch controls). A lot of people love using the Steam Deck to emulate Nintendo's multi-screen devices (DS, 3DS, and Wii U) for this very reason. For 3D content (i.e. 3DS emulation in Citra) XR glasses have another trick as well -- SBS mode. They can display movies and 3DS games in full 3D on a much bigger screen.

Let's not pretend the Switch is the only game in town for these, like it's 2017. The portable computer market is a thing, they work great with laptops, and if you have a Dex-capable phone they're a REAL game changer. Just set the background to plain black, and you can be walking around Wally's with your shopping list on your left, a news feed in the lower right corner, and the video feed from one of your hidden security cameras in the upper right (so you can see what the cats are up to while you shop). I would get an Elecom Relacon or similar handheld mouse if you plan to do this. That way you can just shove the phone in your back pocket.

And using them AT your destination isn't as niche as you imply. How many of your friends have an extra TV for YOUR consoles so that you can play multi-player online games that don't have a split-screen option with them? With these, I can just plug my Series S or PS5 into any unused outlet and I'm ready to go. Travelling? Hook up a MiSTer in your hotel room without having to use their crappy little TV. Frankly, I even use them at home quite a bit because the virtual display is bigger than any TV I own, I can use them laying down and have a giant cinema screen on my ceiling, etc.

Thanks for your reply. Hopefully switch 2 will adress this, but they probably won't. So you say handheld is possible by using this "beam" device? is that instead of this xreal hub? or both? And you have to use a seperate controller?
I want to use the switch in my satisfye grip as controller.... while im outside

No way to make this happen?

Kazuma77 · May 21, 2024

Chrisssj2 said:
Thanks for your reply. Hopefully switch 2 will adress this, but they probably won't. So you say handheld is possible by using this "beam" device? is that instead of this xreal hub? or both? And you have to use a seperate controller?
I want to use the switch in my satisfye grip as controller.... while im outside
No way to make this happen?

Well, the Xreal Hub will put it in docking mode, since it's designed for charging while you play. However, unless you are near an outlet, you would have to connect a battery pack with an output capacity that matches the Switch charger's. Most battery packs on the market do not output 15V (especially at 2.6A or higher), so check carefully.

The Beam supplies a charge to put the Switch into docked mode, so, no need for a battery pack. And it has 3DoF enhancements (the screen stays where you put it, relative to your head). However, it's battery life is infamously short. It also gets quite hot. There's no putting the Beam in a pocket. You would probably want to use a carabiner to clip it to your belt loop or something.

As I said though, Joycons will not work in docked mode while connected to the Switch. You could place tape on the contacts so the Switch will not detect them as connected, but then you will need to charge them with an external charger.

SylverReZ · May 23, 2024

Winduss said:
bro wtf is this review

this is literally a dongle which splits power and video signals from a usb-c port

they've definitely used an AI for padding out the text

If you don't like what it has to offer, then don't buy it. Its that simple.

Winduss · May 24, 2024

SylverReZ said:
Sounds like somebody is butthurt. If you don't like what it has to offer, then don't buy it.

What, you're paid off my XREAL or what? I am just pointing out how bad this editorial is. It's just a splitter, it's nothing special, I hadn't even said anything about the product itself, never said anything about wanting to buy it.

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