Which iPhones work with AR glasses? 3 new ones don't
Most iPhones from the 15 on can run AR glasses over USB-C. The iPhone Air, 16e and 17e can't. Here's the full list and the glasses we'd pick.
Good news first. If your iPhone has a USB-C port, it can probably run AR glasses. Plug them in and your screen shows up as a big virtual display in front of your eyes. But three newer models can't do it at all, and no adapter fixes that.
The quick list
Apple says these iPhones can send video out over USB-C:
- iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max
- iPhone Duo
- iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max
- iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
And these can't:
- iPhone Air. Apple's spec sheet lists its USB-C port as USB 2 with no DisplayPort. It charges and syncs, but it can't send a picture.
- iPhone 16e and 17e. Apple leaves both off its list of iPhones that work with external displays.
- iPhone 14 and older. These use Lightning, not USB-C. XREAL says Lightning iPhones need an adapter, so expect extra parts and extra cost.
If your iPhone is on the "can't" list, our compatibility checker gives the same answer, plus what to do instead.
Glasses confirmed for iPhone
Every pair below is confirmed for the iPhone 17 Pro by the company that makes it. The same glasses are confirmed for most iPhone 15, 16 and 17 models too. Tap a row to check your exact model.
| Glasses | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| XREAL One Pro | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| VITURE The Beast | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| XREAL 1S | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| XREAL xbx a01+ | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-01 |
| VITURE Luma Ultra | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| VITURE Luma Pro | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| VITURE Luma | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| VITURE Pro 2 | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| RayNeo Air 4 Pro | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| RayNeo GT | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
| RayNeo GT Max | Works | Manufacturer documentation, 2026-11-02 |
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo are on Apple's list, but they're newer than these confirmations. Our checker marks them "should work" until a glasses maker or our own testing confirms them.
Our pick: XREAL 1S
An iPhone mostly mirrors its screen to your glasses. So the best iPhone glasses handle the smart stuff on their own, like keeping the screen steady.
The 1S does exactly that. Its 3DoF tracking runs on its own X1 chip, so you can pin the screen in place or let it follow your head with no app and no extra adapter. Its lenses also clear up when you look away and darken again when you look back. That's handy on a busy train. It sits in the middle of the price range, a real step up from budget glasses without flagship pricing.
Skip it if you only watch shows in a dark room. The budget pick below gets you most of the way for less.
Compatibility checkeriPhone 17 Pro / 17 Pro Max + XREAL 1SWorksBiggest screen: VITURE Beast
The Beast has the widest view of our three picks at 58°. It's also the brightest, at up to 1,250 nits. Like the 1S, its 3DoF is built into the glasses, so the screen stays put on an iPhone just like anywhere else.
Skip it if you're on a tight budget. It's a flagship and costs the most of the three. Wear glasses? The Beast has no focus dials, so read our Beast prescription guide first.
Budget pick: RayNeo Air 4 Pro
The Air 4 Pro has no head tracking. Its screen stays fixed in the middle of your view. For watching shows, that's totally fine. It's bright, at up to 1,200 nits, and RayNeo says it's the first AR glasses with an HDR10 display. RayNeo confirms it for the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 lines, minus the models above that can't send video.
Skip it if you want to pin the screen in place. Wear glasses? RayNeo doesn't make its own prescription inserts. It points you to a partner, Lensology. Here's how those inserts work.
Want the details? Our RayNeo Air 4 Pro vs XREAL 1S comparison goes use by use.
A heads-up on other VITURE glasses
VITURE's Luma line and Pro 2 work with iPhone too. But only the Beast has 3DoF built in. The Luma, Luma Pro and Pro 2 run it in VITURE's SpaceWalker app instead. On an iPhone, VITURE says the Pro 2 and Luma Ultra need one of its adapters for 3DoF. If you just want a fixed screen for videos, you can skip all of that.
Tips for a better picture
- Turn your phone sideways. Your glasses mirror the phone. In portrait, you get a narrow strip in the middle. Landscape fills far more of the view.
- Let video apps go full screen. Apple says some apps, like video players, show their own picture on an external display instead of a mirror. That's where glasses shine.
- Watch your battery. Glasses like the XREAL One series and RayNeo Air 4 Pro have no battery. Your iPhone powers them, so a long movie eats into your charge.
- Black screen in Netflix? It might be your plan, not your glasses. Our XREAL black screen fix explains it.
Got a Switch 2 too?
The Switch 2 is a different story. It can't send video over USB-C at all. Here's how to get Switch 2 onto your glasses.