Augmented reality company Xreal announced the launch of its new budget-friendly smart glasses under a subbrand called "X By Xreal" (XBX), with the first model set to arrive in the U.S. market in July.

The a01 AR glasses will retail for $299 and feature what the company describes as a "highly stable anti-shake mode" along with interchangeable front frames for customization. The lightweight smart glasses are designed to connect to phones, laptops, or gaming handhelds to project screen content directly to the user's field of view.

While the a01 model offers display capabilities, it lacks the advanced degrees-of-freedom tracking found in higher-end AR devices. The glasses represent Xreal's effort to make augmented reality technology more accessible through lower pricing and customizable design options.

Separately, sleep technology startup SOND emerged from stealth mode with $7 million in funding. The company is led by the former head of sleep products at audio equipment manufacturer Bose and is developing AI-powered sleep earbuds.

Both announcements reflect ongoing innovation in wearable technology, with companies exploring different approaches to integrate digital displays and health monitoring into everyday accessories. The varied price points and features suggest manufacturers are targeting different segments of the growing wearables market.