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Rokid AR Lite AR glasses review

Harry November 5, 2024

best smart glasses They are starting to take steps AppleVision Pro by bringing spatial computing elements to the table. We have seen so far Xreal Beam Pro combine with Xreal Air 2s for this and ViturePro Pair with an app for a similar experience.

Now it’s Rokid’s turn to unlock this complete experience with AR Lite, a combination of the company’s Max 2 glasses and Station 2 peripherals. I’ve been testing them for a few weeks before they’re fully unveiled at CES 2025 (currently only Beginning) and I can confirm that they are something pretty special.

As a gorgeous portable monitor in front of your eyes, the glasses deliver the best viewing I’ve seen in a pair of AR glasses. Extremely lively, colorful and fluid movement ability; combined with a nice and lightweight design that ensures wearability for hours of use.

Moreover, I’m not sure what magic Rokid is into, but the built-in speakers are surprisingly good. Sure, they’ll be muffled on a long flight, but in quieter situations they’ll sound loud with strong clarity, so you won’t need your headphones.

And then there’s the versatile spatial computing experience powered by the Station 2 running Rokid’s YodaOS. We can say that a lot of time and attention has gone into this and in use it means a lot of things to a lot of people. This little Snapdragon stick touchpad with accelerometer/gyroscope functionality is perfect for kicking back when binge-watching, using it as a pointer. But on top of that, built-in Bluetooth 5.2 meant I could get things done with a keyboard here too (like typing this review into Google Docs via Chrome).

But you need to answer the real question: It’s good, but is it good for $749? This is especially important when you can get the Xreal Beam Pro and Air 2 combo for up to $250 less. That’s not to say there are actually benefits to going for Rokid, from the better display to the more comprehensive spatial computing aspect. But the Spatial Computing experience is built on Android without Google Play services (downloading apps can be a hassle), and since there are no electrochromic lenses here, you’ll have to rely on that snap-on lens shade.

What this sky-high price does is relegate this pair of features to a select audience of enthusiasts. If you want the best display technology with accessibility through myopia adjustment dials (all with top-notch build quality and a nifty spatial computing suite) the Rokid AR Lite is a great choice. But if this is your first foray into AR glasses, do some window shopping first as you can get the perfect experience without having to seriously damage your bank account.

Rokid AR Lite Glasses: Cheat Sheet

Why? This is a premium combination of AR glasses and spatial computing peripheral.
For whom? These are for screen enthusiasts who travel frequently; It’s for people who are probably having a heart attack looking at the Apple Vision Pro’s $3,500 price and are looking for something a little cheaper.
How much does it cost? It’s currently just a Kickstarter project (we’re looking forward to a full launch at CES 2025), but the list price appears to be set at $749.
What’s it like to use them? In one word: fascinating. The spatial computing experience can be a lot of fun (and actually useful in some cases), but the real draw here is the best AR glasses display technology I’ve ever seen. The image quality is simply magnificent; It turns every movie you watch or game you play into a crystal clear flood of color.
Are there any problems? At $749, it’s an expensive buy, where you can get a similar comprehensive package from Xreal for up to $250 less. Moreover, considering the premium price charged, it’s a bit annoying that the glasses don’t come with electrochromic lenses that will darken your surroundings or Google Play services on Station 2.

Rokid AR Lite Glasses: Features

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view	Sony Micro-OLED, 300-inch virtual display with 1200p resolution, perceived brightness up to 600 nits, refresh rate up to 120Hz, adjustable for Myopia
Sound	Dual Hi-Fi speakers
Price	$749 with Station 2
Dimensions (open)	5.8×6.5×1.9 inches
Weight	2.6 ounces

Rokid AR Lite Glasses: Developments

That $749 pride sticker might be intimidating at first glance. But trust me, where it matters, you see, hear and feel that cost.

A jaw-dropping show

Rokid AR Lite

(Image credit: Future)

I figured Micro-OLED display technology had nowhere else to go with companies like Xreal and Viture opting to offer a similar resolution and refresh rate on thinner prism displays, simply with different approaches to color reproduction.

Then in comes Rokid, who steals the metaphorical show with Max 2 features as part of the AR Lite package. These take clarity, fluidity and color to a whole new level with a wider 50-degree field of view. This is a small upgrade over the 46-47 degrees you see in the competition, but every degree counts for AR vision and spatial computing.

This increased field of view is especially welcome when it comes to the 300-inch screen. Simulated to be viewed approximately 20 feet in front of your eyes, those extra few degrees keep everything in view, with no side effects (and no pixel fringing visible, either). They’re incredible for all-encompassing experiences on long-haul flights, and the built-in Myopia adjustment dials make them impressively accessible for glasses wearers, too.

While I miss the electrochromic film to offer a translucent AR experience (more on that later), the lens shade sits on the front to completely block out any potential distractions. These are pixel enthusiast glasses with 1200p resolution and are the best glasses you can buy right now.

comfortable for hours

Rokid AR Lite

(Image credit: Future)

Things have certainly moved on in the last 18 months since the first generation, which looked like an oversized pair of binoculars you picked up at the Scholastic book fair. We’re now at a place where most AR glasses can be worn stylishly and comfortably for extended periods of time, and Rokid’s features are definitely at the top of the list for that.

Yes, just like other glasses, the prisms located just behind the lenses mean they appear slightly larger than they actually are. But firstly, they do not do anything to attract second glances, and secondly, thanks to the air-cushioned nose pads and lightweight structure, you get extremely comfortable glasses without feeling any fatigue on your face. the top of your ears.

Fair warning though. The case is huge. It has premium construction, with a leather exterior and metallic frame for durability, but it will take up most of your backpack in your carry-on.

Space station

Rokid AR Lite

(Image credit: Future)

Now let’s turn our attention to the software side of the business. Yes, I can’t get over the fact that the Rokid Station 2 is similar to the OG iPhone. Makes me miss having smaller smartphones!

But of course there is much more to it than this; It’s an all-in-one spatial computing accessory with a 5,000mAh battery for plenty of playtime and Snapdragon internals for all your software support, making it ready for multi-window use in a gorgeous user interface.

I mean, the home screen is literally filled with star constellations. My teenage nephew loved it and quickly got the hang of it when it came to the surface being a touchpad, the built-in accelerometer and gyroscope being a laser pointer for selecting apps.

Rokid AR Lite

(Image credit: Rokid)

It is built on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and has Android app support…sort of…more on that in a moment. But what this means is that you can easily access all your favorite streaming services, download content to the 128GB of internal storage, and binge-watch on your long-haul flights.

Pair this with Bluetooth 5.2 and you get lag-free audio with any of the best headphones. Plus, when you connect a keyboard, you have a pretty solid, dynamic workstation to get work done. This wider field of view makes a multi-screen layout look much more fluid between windows, too.

Rokid AR Lite Glasses: Negatives

There are two significant disadvantages here; Both are confusing omissions when you think about it. Not enough to affect your glasses experience, but “wait, weren’t these $749?”

No electrochromic lens

Rokid AR Lite

(Image credit: Future)

Yes, they put a lens shade in the box so you can completely isolate the picture from all that gorgeous color and sharpness. But come on! Much cheaper than these sports electrochromic lenses to darken the lenses of your glasses.

This can lead to that beautiful translucent hybrid – a picture displayed in all its glory with some visibility to those around you, so you don’t miss the airman offering pretzel snacks (as I did).

This should be very simple indeed, considering these lenses are starting to appear more in professional AR glasses like the Xreal Air 2 Pro and Viture Pros.

Android… sort of.

Rokid AR Lite

(Image credit: Future)

As I said, YodaOS is a version of AOSP, a bespoke mixed reality experience that comes with some fun AR games to prove the concept of spatial computing with a pair of glasses. However, a complication that arises from this is the lack of Google Play services. This means there’s no Google Play store, which can make finding your most used apps complicated.

Rokid has set up its own app store here and there is also an unofficial app store that you can get from there. But for a significant portion of the most used apps, you’ll find yourself having to go to APK websites, which can be risky territory for phishing potential.

Xreal Beam Pro may not have the same power here (I encountered a few minor hiccups with Beam Pro, with zero slowdown in multitasking with Rokid’s Station 2), but at least this one has Google services to make getting to your content easier.

Rokid AR Lite: Verdict

Rokid AR Lite

(Image credit: Future)

Yes, it is expensive. But in some important ways, oh my, it’s worth it. That image quality is something else here, and the holistic experience paired with spatial computing is seamless and error-free (provided you take the necessary steps to find your apps).

It’s precisely this price point, the lack of use of electrochromic lenses, and the lack of ready availability of Google Play that is the pain point that will make you stop and think. So they might not be the best AR glasses overall, but they come very close because they excel in some key areas.

Semainede4jours

Semainede4jours

Rokid AR Lite AR glasses review

Harry

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Rokid AR Lite AR glasses review

Harry

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