Latest news with #LumaUltra
Tom's Guide
08-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
I saw the future of AR glasses with a 70-degree field of view — but it's going to take time to get there
So as you've seen, Viture has announced 4 new pairs of AR glasses — the Luma Pro is available today (July 8), while the Luma, Luma Ultra and the Beast are coming later this year. But the company's not just stopping there, as we got to take a look at what the next frontier is in AR spec display tech after this: a 70-degree field of view. And in one glimpse, I saw the future. Let me explain why. So we all know the end goal of AR glasses — to pack all the computation of a VR headset into something the size of specs. One key thing to tackle is the limited field of view, and while 70 degrees is not quite the 110 degrees you see on the Meta Quest 3S, the amount happening in your peripheral with Luma's technology is crazy. Of course this was just a demo picture shown on Viture's prototype, but the wideness starts to show just what benefits this technology could bring. And to tie in another brand here, you have to think about what Xreal could do with its Android XR specs that the company confirmed will come with this same FOV. You could have a much less intrusive AR UI overlaid on your day-to-day — directions from maps added to the corner like a Grand Theft Auto radar, with requested info also peppered in. But of course, the real winner here is just how big of a display you could fully see in front of you. You see, it's great to have the likes of a simulated gigantic screen in front of you, but a 50-degree-ish field of view does take you out of the immersion of it. Leapfrogging to 70 degrees will eliminate a lot of that. Viture says a 70-degree FOV model could launch 'as early as next year.' So far, we've just seen this giant prototype, so we know the challenges here: Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The resolution also has to match this, and 1440p micro OLED displays are 'already finalized' by Viture and ready for 2026. As for true 4K? That will be further ways down the road according to the company. Xreal is also planning a 2026 launch for Project Aura that is confirmed to have the same field of view. As the two front runners, Luma and Xreal are always set to run in lockstep, so it will be fascinating to see how 70-degrees are done by both companies!
Tom's Guide
08-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
I tested the Viture Beast glasses — should you wait for these AR glasses launching in October?
The news is out. Viture's not only launching one pair of AR glasses, the company's dropping four. There's the entry-level Luma, the Luma Pro (launching today), the business-focused Luma Ultra and what we're talking about here — the Viture Beast. Yes, these are the ones I teased a few weeks back, and which I gave best of show to at AWE 2025. But now I can talk properly about my experience, share some more pictures of what I saw, and address one key spec change you may have noticed here compared to what I found in California. Now, with these launching in October for $549, one question is obvious: should you wait for these or just grab the Xreal one Pro and be done with it? Let's talk about it. So let's get the obvious out the way — this is the best screen I've seen on a pair of AR glasses you'll be able to buy. That 1200p picture with Viture tuning to a consistent sharpness across the whole display makes for impressive clarity with mesmerizing color. But I know what people are immediately thinking here: I said 60-degrees field of view a few weeks ago, so why is it now 58? Viture made this choice to ensure sharpness across the screen, even though the optical system can support 60. Will you notice the difference? In my experience, I doubt it. The differentials have to be 5 degrees or more to really notice the wideness change. But this explains what's going on here, as it's a lower number than I saw in person. And then, à la Xreal One Pro, you're getting built-in screen customization with 3DoF tracking (6DoF tracking via the front camera coming further down the line). The options available are far more vast, too — not just horizontal ultrawide, but also vertical, alongside multiple screen sizes and something called 'ambient mode.' Not 100% sure what this is, but excited to find out. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Also, a shoutout to using a USB-C port on the glasses themselves. Viture's use of a magnetic port is sleek and all, but proprietary sockets always bug me a little bit. So to get a traditional port means you're not locked to buying specific cables if you need a replacement. That's not to say there are a couple hitches to point out here. Viture's trademark benefit has been the hardware myopia adjustment dials, but with the Viture beast, these are non-existent. Asking Viture, we found out something interesting — having hardware-level 3DoF tracking is directly at odds with having myopia adjustment, as the mechanisms can mess up tracking accuracy and optical stability. So with the Beast, the company prioritized spatial breadth of the picture. If myopia tweaking is critical, then Luma is the way to go right now. And that's the tale of the tape. A big screen experience at a price that is $100 less than the Xreal One Pros with the Viture Beast at $549. It's exciting to see these two companies continue to push one another forward in innovation, as at the end of the day, we win when this happens. I'm definitely intrigued to test these properly on some long-haul trips and around my home — to see just how that wider field of view truly comes into play for the cinema experience on a plane, or the ultrawide monitor for productivity. If you do need myopia adjustment, you're out of luck here. But if you're looking for the best of the best in picture quality, then I'd say hold off for just a little longer.
