XREAL 1 Pro+ vs ROG XREAL R1: which is better for gaming?

Both of these pairs come from XREAL, and they share a lot. Each uses 0.55-inch Sony micro-OLED screens at 1920×1080 per eye, with a 57° view. But they're built for different nights in. The ROG XREAL R1, made with ASUS ROG, chases frame rate and comes with a dock for your consoles. The XREAL 1 Pro+ chases brightness and costs $250 less.

The short version

Get the R1 if you play on a PC or ROG Ally that can push high frame rates, or you want one box that takes a PS5, Xbox and Switch. Get the 1 Pro+ if you watch as much as you play, want the brightest picture or plan to add 6DoF with the XREAL Eye.

Verdict by use

Use	Pick	Why
Fast PC games	R1	Up to 240 Hz, if your PC can send it
ROG Ally	R1	XREAL says the Ally is more likely to reach high refresh rates
PS5, Xbox and Switch at home	R1	Its dock has two HDMI inputs and one DisplayPort input
Movies and shows	1 Pro+	Up to 1,200 nits with AI HDR, against 700
2D to 3D	1 Pro+	XREAL rates its conversion at 60 fps
A screen fixed in your room	1 Pro+	Works with the $99 XREAL Eye for 6DoF
Phones	1 Pro+	Phones may be capped at 60 Hz, so the R1's speed goes unused
Budget	1 Pro+	$250 less

Where the R1 earns its price

Up to 240 Hz. Turn on Frame Rate Boost in the R1's Gaming menu and the glasses try to run at a higher refresh rate. The 1 Pro+ tops out at 120 Hz. There are two catches. Your device has to send a high frame rate signal, and XREAL says phones, the Switch and some consoles may only manage lower rates. And at 240 Hz, XREAL says text can look slightly blurry, because of the processing it takes to get there.

A dock in the box. The $849 price includes the ROG Control Dock. It has one DisplayPort 1.4 input and two HDMI 2.0 inputs, so a PC, a PS5 and an Xbox can all stay plugged in. The glasses show one source at a time, and you switch with the dock's joystick. The dock needs its own power, sends a 1920×1080 picture to the glasses and weighs 230 g.

Switch support, with its dock. XREAL says the R1 works with a Nintendo Switch through the Switch's original dock. Run HDMI from that dock into the ROG Control Dock, and give the Control Dock power.

ROG extras. The dock adds ROG gaming features like GameVisual and GamePlus, plus HDR. On a PC, ASUS's DisplayWidget Center app lets you change the glasses' settings with a mouse instead of the buttons.

A prescription insert in the box. The R1 comes with an insert frame that your optician can fit with lenses. XREAL also sells R1 lenses for $49.90 to $69.90. The 1 Pro+ has no frame in the box, so you'd buy XREAL's lenses or reuse a set made for the One, One Pro or 1S.

Where the 1 Pro+ wins

Brightness. XREAL rates the 1 Pro+ at up to 1,200 nits, with AI HDR on, in Follow mode with the Stabilizer off. With AI HDR off, it's 1,000. The R1 peaks at 700. In a bright room, that's a big gap.

AI HDR. This 1 Pro+ setting lifts brightness and detail. It only works with 60 Hz or 90 Hz input, so you can't pair it with a 120 Hz game. It's best for movies and slower games.

Smoother 3D. Both pairs convert 2D to 3D on the glasses. The R1 calls it Instant 3D and gives you four strength levels, from Gentle to Intense. XREAL says the 1 Pro+ converts at 60 fps. It doesn't publish a rate for the R1.

6DoF with the XREAL Eye. Clip on the $99 Eye and the 1 Pro+ can pin a screen in your room while you move around. XREAL lists the Eye for its One and One Pro series. The R1's spec sheet lists 3DoF only.

Price. At $599, the 1 Pro+ leaves you $250 for an XREAL Eye and a set of lenses, with money to spare.

The console question

This is the biggest practical difference. A PS5 or Xbox sends video over HDMI, and neither pair has an HDMI port of its own.

• R1: run HDMI from the console to the ROG Control Dock. Then use the cables in the box to connect the dock to the console's USB port and to a power source.
• 1 Pro+: you need an adapter that takes HDMI in and sends USB-C video out, plus any power it needs. It's sold separately, and XREAL doesn't name a model. A regular USB-C to HDMI adapter, the kind for plugging a laptop into a TV, won't work in reverse.

Here's our full guide to XREAL glasses on PS5 and Xbox.

Things to know before you buy

• Sizes. Both come in two sizes for the same ranges, 57 to 66 mm and 66 to 75 mm between your pupils. ASUS calls the R1's sizes IPD 63 and IPD 69. XREAL's US store calls them N and B. Our XREAL size guide explains how to choose.
• Weight. The R1 is 91 g. XREAL hasn't published a weight for the 1 Pro+.
• Cable length. The R1 ships with a 1.2 m cable. XREAL says it can't be made longer, since high refresh rates need a stable link.
• Power draw. XREAL says the R1 draws under 3 W, or under 7.5 W with the dock.
• Updates. Our XREAL firmware log tracks what new firmware changes.

Specs side by side

Check your device

XREAL names the ROG Ally for a direct USB-C connection on both pairs. Check yours:

Compatibility checkerROG Ally X (2024) + XREAL 1 Pro+Works Compatibility checkerROG Ally X (2024) + ROG XREAL R1Works

The bottom line

If your games run fast and you want a PC and your consoles on one dock, the R1 is built for you. If you watch a lot, play in bright rooms or want 6DoF, the 1 Pro+ is the better all-rounder, and it's $250 cheaper.

More help picking:

• XREAL 1 Pro+ vs XREAL 1S, if you're weighing a cheaper XREAL
• Switch 2 on AR glasses, for the setups that work
• Best AR glasses for Steam Deck
• What changed in the 1 Pro+