Introduction
The TCL NXTWEAR S are marketed as XR glasses. That stands for Prolonged Actuality and is definitely an umbrella time period that encompasses all VR (Digital Actuality), AR (Augmented Actuality) and MR (Combined Actuality) merchandise. Though the NXTWEAR S glasses have an accelerometer, gyroscope and strain sensor on board, we would not name them good glasses, since there is no such thing as a “good” performance right here. They don’t seem to be actually VR both, since there is no such thing as a movement monitoring and interacting to talk of. AR can also be a stretch since there are not any cameras or the rest to soak up and monitor the true world.
What you get with the NXTWEAR S is a conveyable show, the equal of about 130 inches in diagonal, floating in entrance of your eyes at a distance of round 4 meters. That’s overlayed on high of a clear glass panel that passes via what’s in entrance of you as nicely.
The NXTWEAR S glasses are created by a Hong Kong firm named RayNeo that TCL incubated and now goes by the identify TCL RayNeo. The corporate is a frontrunner on this type of tech and actually the NXTWEAR S shouldn’t be its first machine. They’re really a direct iterative improve over the NXTWEAR Air glasses, which made the rounds at tech conventions and with some reviewers, however weren’t actually overtly bought. An older TCL NXTWEAR G machine exists as nicely, however we won’t discover any direct correlation between it and the NXTWEAR S.
In any case, our level right here is that the NXTWEAR S glasses are usually not a primary technology product, nor are they vaporware. After efficiently going via a few crowdfunding rounds, the NXTWEAR S glasses are actually out there freely via RayNeo immediately and on Amazon, retailing at $399.
Earlier than we dig in, let’s begin with a specs overview.
TCL NXTWEAR S at a look:
- Dimensions: 175mm x 166mm x 51mm (Unfolded), 56mm x 154mm x 51mm (Folded), 89 grams (magnetic cable weighs extra 30 grams).
- Optical parameters: Two Micro-OLED Shows with 1920 x 1080 pixel decision in 2D mode and 3840 x 1080 in 3D mode, 45-degree FoV, 60Hz, 49 PPD (Pixels per diploma), efficient display screen measurement: 130-inches, projected 4 meters away.
- Audio: Twin ultra-linear audio system with part cancellation tech to scale back sound leakage.
- I/O: Magnetic USB Kind-C cable for energy and video over USB Kind-C alt mode Show Port, quantity wheel on the left and brightness and energy toggle swap on the correct.
- Different options:Accelerometer, gyroscope and strain sensor on board, put on sensor, 3 DOF, magnetic myopia attachable body and extra nostril clip within the field.
Unboxing
Let’s begin with what $399 buys you by way of precise {hardware}. The NXTWEAR S glasses are available in a pleasant two-piece field. Past the primary unit itself and its proprietary magnetic cable, you additionally get a magnetic snap-on pair of sunshades to connect on the entrance of the unit. These can assist with the immersion considerably since they let much less mild via, although you possibly can nonetheless see completely superb via them. As per TCL advertising, there are two different kinds of snap-on sunshades that you may purchase individually, although we could not personally discover them anyplace.
One other factor included within the field is another nostril clip/nostril pads that could be extra comfy for some customers. There’s additionally a screwdriver included to make the swap. The NXTWEAR S glasses additionally include a nifty magnetic snap-on for the rear facet as nicely. This one is supposed to carry prescription myopia lenses should you occur to want them. TCL contains templates so that you can take to the optician and get them executed.
The NXTWEAR S glasses additionally include a pleasant, exhausting carrying case that has sufficient area for the glasses, cable and even the snap-on sunshades. And final and possibly least, you additionally get a cleansing material and a few documentation. An extremely wealthy accent package deal total, in our opinion.
{Hardware}, options and controls
The NXTWEAR S glasses are largely manufactured from plastic which undoubtedly contributes to their pretty mild weight of simply 89 grams. There actually is not that a lot {hardware} on board both, apart from the 2 FullHD, Sony-made Micro-OLED show panels, a few audio system and a few largely unused, so far as we are able to inform small sensors. There is no such thing as a battery on board, computational energy, and even wi-fi connectivity {hardware}. All knowledge and energy are handed via the cable.
All of this permits the glasses to be fairly compact as nicely, measuring 56mm x 154mm x 51mm when folded and 175mm x 166mm x 51mm unfolded. The unit tends to suit snugly on the face, with out an excessive amount of wobble or play and is not heavy in any respect. Although, it will possibly put an uncomfortable quantity of strain in your nostril.
Anyway, let’s begin our {hardware} tour on the entrance. The defining characteristic right here can be the pretty massive “brow”, for lack of a greater time period.
It has a pair of recesses on both facet, which seem like digicam holes or some type of sensors. So far as we are able to inform, these are merely there to help the magnets in holding the non-obligatory snap-on sunshades and as information holes for the attachment course of. They appear to be doing their job simply superb for the reason that cowl shades go on simply and do not come off on their very own underneath regular use.
The front-facing facet of the lenses on the NXTWEAR S may be very shiny and reflective, which we like. Even with out the sunshade attachment, it is like you might be sporting an odd pair of sun shades. Talking of the sunshade attachment, it undoubtedly conceals a whole lot of the funky “weirdness” and provides the wearer a extra “common” look. No less than so far as that’s achievable with a cable working behind your ear.
As we talked about the cable is all the time going to be hooked up to the NXTWEAR S since it’s the sole supply of each energy and video for the glasses. It is not precisely what we might name skinny, nevertheless it is not overly thick both. Crucially, it’s fairly smooth and bends simply. We by no means really discovered it to be in the best way whereas sporting the glasses. The magnetic connector is fairly nice, although its existence does imply that you’re caught with the manufacturing facility cable and might’t get an extended one, we nonetheless respect the magnet system. It is extremely safe and by no means popped out by itself throughout our time with the glasses, however on the similar time, fdoesn’t allow you to get so entangled that you simply really yank and break the glasses.
As for cable size concerns, we by no means discovered ourselves needing greater than we now have. It’s lengthy sufficient to be comfy whereas sitting in entrance of a tool or holding it in your lap, and it even reaches properly to most pant pockets should you actually really feel like strolling with the glasses on, which is admittedly bizarre however may be pulled off.
Let’s discuss concerning the audio system for a second. The NXTWEAR S has a pair of those on both arm. They’re typical versus one thing weirder, like bone conduction items, that are generally included in wearable tech. The audio system even have grilles dealing with downwards in direction of your ears, which is smart, but in addition upwards, which is puzzling. This could be a part of the included part cancellation tech that’s meant to scale back leakage.
In observe, the audio system sound nicely, however solely about so far as you possibly can anticipate from small items positioned considerably far out of your ears. The output is comparatively clear, with good highs and clear mids and voices, which is arguably the necessary bit. There’s completely no bass to talk of. They don’t seem to be notably loud, which could have been a obligatory compromise to make sure minimal noise leakage. In observe, even when cranked to the max, close by events, even ones sitting within the seat proper subsequent to us, did not hear a factor, which is spectacular.
There are two distinct enter controls on the NXTWEAR S. There’s a quantity wheel on the left facet, on the underside of the arm. It really works very nicely and gives exact quantity changes. The wheel spins freely in both route previous the min and max factors as an alternative of stopping, however that is not a usability situation in any approach.
There’s a three-state cog wheel management on the correct spoke of the glasses. It may go up and down to regulate the show brightness (7 ranges in whole) or be pressed down for energy. It really works very nicely, and we now have to surprise why the opposite management is not utilizing this design.
The NXTWEAR S glasses have a cool further characteristic: a put on sensor. It’s positioned within the middle of the glasses, proper above the nostril pads on the again and appears to be a easy proximity-based unit. It really works nice and turns off the glasses a number of seconds after you’re taking them off and turns them again on almost immediately as soon as you set them again on.
Lastly, we now have to reward the precise glasses a part of the NXTWEAR S. Having to put on glasses the entire time, personally and having gone via fairly a number of pairs, this reviewer can respect when the ergonomics are proper. The hinges on the arm are stiff sufficient to remain properly in place but in addition unfastened sufficient, with loads of give within the outward route, to not squeeze the wearer’s head. The guidelines on the finish of the arms and the entire arms, for that matter, have no sharp corners that might dig into the pores and skin. The floor of the plastic, whereas not rubberized or something of the kind, remains to be soft-touch sufficient to be comfy in your face.
The one actual ergonomic grievance we now have with the NXTWEAR S is the front-heavy nature of the design. When you’ve got a extra delicate nostril, you’ll in all probability expertise some discomfort with prolonged put on. Swapping to the choice nostril pads did really feel a lot better for this reviewer, personally, however your mileage could range. Then once more, it is not just like the glasses are literally that heavy, and we do not suppose there may be something to be executed to the design to make them weigh much less on the nostril, so it’s what it’s.
Compatibility and non-obligatory adapter
TCL would not share a lot about machine compatibility for the NXTWEAR S past simply stating that it’s “large”. All of the glasses actually require to work is a USB Kind-C port with USB alt-mode help for Show Port output. The glasses themselves are usually not too power-hungry, so most gadgets do not wrestle to maintain them fed.
What does that translate to in real-world phrases? Let’s begin with laptops since that’s type of simple. In case your laptop computer helps DP alt mode over USB Kind-C, you might be able to go. This needs to be simple sufficient to seek out out from the laptop computer’s specs sheet since these are typically in-depth sufficient. We tried on a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9, an ASUS Zephyrus G14 from 2021, and an M1 MacBook Air with excellent success. We all know it is a little bit of an arbitrary listing, nevertheless it illustrates the primary level – if in case you have DP over Kind-C, it can work.
Issues are a bit messier on the telephone facet of issues. Technically, out of the field, with no extra equipment, the NXTWEAR S is an Android-only accent since, nicely, no Kind-C port on iPhones. Not all hope is misplaced on the i(Pad)OS entrance, although because the M1 iPad Professional works simply superb.
Some Android gadgets help Show Port over USB Kind-C, however there is no such thing as a simple approach to know which of them. Some good tough guidelines of thumb embrace that it’s typically a flagship characteristic and that you need to have higher odds with gadgets from Samsung, Huawei and OnePlus. As soon as once more, it’s essential search round to see in case your telephone has DP over Kind-C. When it comes to telephones, we succeeded on a Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely, Galaxy Z Fold 4 and an Oppo Discover X5 Professional. That is merely what we had mendacity round.
Circling again to Apple compatibility. Once more, there is no such thing as a iPhone help out of the field. Nonetheless, we did discover a machine referred to as the “MiraScreen Moveable Adapter – SPQ01 for TCL NXTWEAR S” on Amazon. We do not have it at hand and might’t attest to how nicely it really works, nevertheless it seems to basically pump a show feed into the glasses via software program put in on the host machine quite than PD output. You plug the gadget into your telephone (iPhone or Android with out DP), set up the companion app and simply plug the glasses into the opposite finish. The MiraScreen even has “inline” controls for brightness and quantity on the glasses themselves and has a 4,500 mAh battery on board to increase the whole runtime. It may even snap magnetically to MagSafe iPhones.
Lastly, we tried a few consoles with the NXTWEAR S. The Valve Steam Deck labored simply superb, however we had no luck with the Nintendo Change, which is a bummer.
Efficiency and energy consumption
Sadly, for the reason that shows on the NXTWEAR S are usually not conventional in any approach, we won’t fairly measure their efficiency traits. We should go by among the official specs right here and our subjective impressions. The digital show finally ends up well-centered in your subject of view. It doesn’t fill it fully, removed from it, and also you all the time get some empty area across the show. The official specs declare a 45-degree subject of view, which sounds about proper.
When it comes to decision, the 2 Micro OLED shows have a local decision of 1920 x 1080 pixels. In observe, that proves to be sufficient even for small textual content. The picture the NXTWEAR S glasses produce may be very sharp, surprisingly so. In response to the official specs, the picture needs to be round 130 inches in diagonal, as seen from about 4 meters away. Although, among the “official” banners do additionally point out a 201-inch diagonal and 6 meters away. Regardless, that apparently leads to PPD (Pixel Per Diploma) determine of 49. We now have to be sincere right here, we now have no body of reference to know if that’s any good, however as soon as once more, in observe, the picture may be very sharp.
When it comes to brightness, TCL quotes 400 nits. We discovered the show by no means will get vivid sufficient to be uncomfortable. It additionally would not get vivid sufficient to fully drown out your environment and “punch via” the transparency. That being mentioned, when you get accustomed to the truth that you might be all the time going to see the surface world and focus your consideration on the content material, even the minimal brightness setting turns into usable. It is a bizarre impact that’s exhausting to place into phrases. All it’s essential know is that the NXTWEAR S ought to stay equally usable in just about any circumstance. Larger brightness ranges may end up in eye fatigue in some individuals.
The NXTWEAR S glasses handle surprisingly saturated colours. Maybe even a bit too saturated. The panels on the glasses aren’t notably quick by way of refresh price and function at a typical 60Hz. We’re pleased with that determine, particularly for the reason that NXTWEAR S glasses are usually not meant for VR content material, the place the refresh price issues much more. On a extra optimistic be aware, pixel response time is sweet. There’s little enter latency as an entire. We efficiently managed to recreation on the NXTWEAR S and performed a number of platformers that require relative soar precision with no points.
Because the NXTWEAR S glasses are fully powered by way of a Kind-C port, one of many few precise exams we managed to run on them was to measure energy consumption. We’re comfortable to report that the glasses are fairly power-efficient. With a reasonably static picture on display screen, like looking or working, they drew round 1.35W to 1.45W, relying on the brightness setting. Whereas taking part in a video with sound, the glasses used between 1.6W and 1.7W. Not too shabby in any respect. In additional sensible phrases, watching a two-hour film from Netflix on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely with the NXTWEAR S on ate up round 30% of battery energy, which is completely affordable.
We nonetheless want there was a approach to simply connect an exterior battery pack to the NXTWEAR S. The MiraScreen Moveable Adapter does appear to supply that performance, nevertheless it’s an costly further little bit of equipment that we won’t even validate works correctly for ourselves. So, there’s that.
Precise use instances, consolation and must you get a pair
Fairly a number of individuals across the GSMArena workplace tried the NXTWEAR S and gave their common suggestions. Most of us agree that it is a cool product, even when a little bit of a gimmick that we might respect having in our lives however not essentially paying for at present market costs.
All of us unanimously agree that the very best use case for the glasses is journey and airplane use particularly. A couple of individuals additionally mentioned they might like to have a pair subsequent to their mattress to eat content material earlier than falling asleep. So, plainly precise, real-life use instances for the NXTWEAR S do exist.
The query of broader compatibility and flexibility did come up. iPhone customers across the workplace had been left a bit disillusioned by the truth that you need to get further {hardware} simply to probably use the glasses. A straight HDMI enter was requested on a few events as nicely, and scouring on-line, there does appear to be an adapter for that as nicely, however it’s actually obscure. The purpose is that folks appear to seek out the present Show Port input-only implementation a bit limiting. That is one thing that might probably make a future mannequin extra interesting, maybe by together with the choice to stream to the glasses wirelessly whereas having them plugged into an influence financial institution.
One other space TCL ought to work on is the companion app. In its present state, it’s a buggy mess. It simply looks like TCL did not spend an excessive amount of time sharpening the NXTWEAR S expertise as an entire, which is a bit disappointing.
One other caveat potential use want to concentrate on is consolation. Whereas the NXTWEAR S glasses are usually not notably heavy and have a typically good design, most of us across the workplace complained of nostril discomfort after a comparatively quick viewing session. It will be an actual disgrace to get hyped concerning the glasses and the prospects they provide, solely to find that you may’t put on them for any prolonged time. Be ready for that eventuality and probably having to return them purely resulting from consolation causes.
If you happen to handle to clear all of those hurdles and do not thoughts the $399 the NXTWEAR S glasses are presently retailing for on Amazon, then we imagine you will be comfortable along with your buy. Regardless of all of the caveats, the NXTWEAR S glasses ship on the promise of a conveyable massive show expertise fairly nicely. If you happen to really feel like that is one thing you need in your life and do not thoughts some early-adopter woes, then by all means, think about the NXTWEAR S.
