Experienced a convenient laptop substitute during travel: Smartphone combined with Xreal glasses

Experienced a convenient laptop substitute during travel: Smartphone combined with Xreal glasses

Traveling for work ain't all peaches and cream, especially when lugging around a laptop for writing on the road. Don't get me wrong, top-tier laptops are a godsend, but I've hankered after a better solution for a while now. I mean, I can't even tap away on a laptop during flights, so I jimmied together an iPad mini "laptop" as an alternative. But my latest setup really upped the ante.

I was on the hunt for the perfect combo of devices to ditch the laptop once and for all. Size matters a lot when on the go, so I figured why not eliminate the screen? Enter the Xreal One glasses paired with a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. This combo changed the game big time.

Over three work trips across two countries and approximately 30 hours of air travel, I left my laptop at home on purpose. Armed with my Xreal One glasses and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, I give you the lowdown on my mobile-AR experiment.

XREAL One AR Glasses: Was $299 Now $249 on Amazon

• Features: Built-in micro-OLED displays (1920 x 1080, 120Hz, maximum size 310"), built-in Bose-tuned spatial audio speakers. Grab a sweet savings of $50 with an Amazon coupon.

Beam Pro: Party and Work, Typically Not Compatible

Xreal One Glasses let you put the screen in the air, creating an AR display. The Beam Pro connects, giving you a custom UI that uses the Beam Pro as a 3D selector/mouse. Pair it with a keyboard, and you're ready to roll. You can position the screen wherever you like, resize it, or move it closer or further, all at your whim. You can even set the screen to follow you as you look around.

The UI that Xreal developed is pretty intuitive. I dig the clever use of the Beam Pro as a sort of Nintendo Wii-style remote. When I'm working on an article, I can put two apps side by side, allowing me to research in one window and write in the other—similar to working on a dual-screen laptop. It's a lifesaver when you want a spec sheet to reference while writing about a product, for instance. For many applications, this works like a charm.

However, switching between typing on a keyboard and waving the Beam Pro around to switch between windows isn't ideal.

Enter the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and DeX

When the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra dropped this year, I got a bright idea. I wanted to experiment with using Samsung DeX mode with an external monitor to create a travel-friendly "laptop." What I didn't realize was that the solution was right under my nose (literally) all along—Xreal One glasses.

I hooked up the glasses, fired up Dex mode, and—voila—I had a desktop-like experience floating in front of me wherever I needed it. Plane, train, or car, I left my laptop behind—and loved every minute of it. Samsung Dex lets me use up to five windowed apps simultaneously, complete with a Windows-like taskbar for switching between them.

At first, I used the ProtoArc XKM01 Caseup combo to round out the setup. This mouse/keyboard combo ticks all the boxes, but it wasn't perfect, especially for plane rides. So, I tried other options.

Logitech Casa Popup Desk: Clunky but Comfortable

The Logitech Casa Popup Desk bundles a keyboard, a trackpad, and a stand to prop up your laptop and elevate the screen for comfortable use. While separate units work better on a plane, it still takes up space.

ProtoArc XK01 TP Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard with Touchpad: Slim and Sold

The ProtoArc XK01 TP Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard with Touchpad is a better solution. Compact and foldable, it comes in a slim case that also includes a built-in, side-mounted trackpad. This setup works like a charm when I don't need the full floor space of the Casa accessories.

Creating Your Portable Workspace

While I've got plenty of options for putting together a compact, portable workspace, I still believe the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Xreal One glasses combo offer the best combination. It's not just for tight spaces on airplanes; this setup opens up a world of possibilities, with AR potentially revolutionizing the way we work when on the move.

Stay tuned as we bring you more insights on the future of portable computing and how these solutions stack up against traditional laptops. If you're on the hunt for a new gadget to boost your productivity while traveling, keep an eye on the Xreal One glasses and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra combo. You might just find yourself leaving your laptop at home. Happy travels!

[1] BestProducts.com, "VITURE Pro XR Glasses Review: An All-in-One Virtual reality Headset"[2] Engadget, "Spacetop x Xreal Air 2 Ultra hands-on: A beautiful AR desk that could reinvent your workspace"[3] Reviewed.com, "SPACETOP review: Xreal Air hardware brings an immersive AR workspace to your home or office"[4] 9to5Google.com, "Xreal to unveil Project Aura at Google I/O: sounds like an Android version of HoloLens"[5] The Verge, "Google I/O 2025: Xreal's Project Aura showcases Android's AR future"

1. With the Xreal One glasses and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, I eliminated the need to lug around a laptop on work trips.
2. The built-in micro-OLED displays of the Xreal One glasses offer a resolution of 1920 x 1080, making it a viable alternative to a laptop's display.
3. Pairing the Xreal One glasses with a Bluetooth keyboard and the Beam Pro, I was able to work comfortably in various environments without the traditional laptop setup.
4. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, when used in DeX mode, provides a desktop-like experience on the Xreal One glasses that adapts to different locations.
5. When I wanted a more compact setup for plane rides, I opted for the ProtoArc XK01 TP Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard with Touchpad.
6. Data-and-cloud-computing tasks were easily managed with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Xreal One glasses combo, offering a new perspective in the world of portable computing.
7. Smartphones, gadgets, and technology like the Xreal One glasses and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra could potentially revolutionize the way travelers work on the go.
8. The Xreal One glasses and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra combo is a promising solution for travelers seeking a more portable, compact, and adaptable work setup compared to traditional laptops.

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