# Qualcomm Snapdragon Reality Elite announced for XR devices with Xreal Project Aura first

Source: https://idevice.com/xreal-project-aura-android-xr-fall-2026
Published: 2026-06-16

## What happened

XREAL Aura mixed reality glasses, running Google's Android XR on a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 3 chip, debuted at Augmented World Expo with optical passthrough capability.

## Our take

Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite chip runs 12 degrees cooler and delivers 160% more AI processing power than the chip it replaces, and Xreal's Project Aura is the first device built around it. The catch: Xreal's asking $99 for a reservation or $299 for a 'Founder Priority Pass' with launch-day delivery, and the glasses' final price, screen brightness, and resolution still aren't public, though the company has said the max price will be $1,500.

## Sources

- [XREAL AURA AR Glasses Get Fall Release Window, $1,500 Price Ceiling](https://roadtovr.com/xreal-aura-release-date-price-1500/) (Road to VR, 2026-06-17)
- [Snapdragon Reality Elite Sparks Qualcomm’s Next Phase of XR](https://arinsider.co/2026/06/17/snapdragon-reality-elite-sparks-qualcomms-next-phase-of-xr/) (AR Insider, 2026-06-17)
- [Xreal Aura glasses put Android on your face and they will “try” to cost under $1,500](https://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/xreal-aura-glasses-put-android-on-your-face-and-they-will-try-to-cost-under-1500/) (Digital Trends, 2026-06-17)
- [XREAL Aura Augmented Reality Glasses Hands-On Impressions!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22QY3QVtRJM) (Tested, 2026-06-16)
- [Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon Reality Elite for XR & START to simplify glass development](https://9to5google.com/2026/06/16/snapdragon-reality-elite/) (9to5Google, 2026-06-16)
- [Qualcomm’s New Chip Pushes Us Deeper Into the AR Glasses Era](https://gizmodo.com/qualcomms-new-chip-pushes-us-deeper-into-the-ar-glasses-era-2000772503) (Gizmodo, 2026-06-16)
- [Xreal officially reveals its Android XR Aura glasses — without a pricetag](https://www.engadget.com/2194861/xreal-aura-android-xr-glasses-launch-no-price/) (Engadget, 2026-06-16)
- [Tested: Xreal Aura DOES work with Nintendo Switch over USB-C — they won’t tell me how they did it, but I think Snapdragon Reality Elite and Android XR is the way](https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/smart-glasses/tested-xreal-aura-does-work-with-nintendo-switch-over-usb-c-they-wont-tell-me-how-they-did-it-but-i-think-snapdragon-reality-elite-and-android-xr-is-the-way) (Tom's Guide, 2026-06-17)