Sightful, a Tel Aviv‑based startup founded by ex-Magic Leap executives, has introduced the Spacetop G1, the world’s first screenless laptop that replaces a physical display with augmented reality glasses. Users wear XREAL Air 2 Ultra glasses connected to a keyboard‑trackpad deck, creating a 100‑inch virtual workspace via Sightful’s SpaceOS operating system
Key Features & Specs
- No Physical Screen: The laptop is just a keyboard and trackpad—with bundled AR glasses projecting a virtual display in front of the user .
- High‑Performance AR Setup: Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon QCS8550, with 16 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, battery life up to eight hours, where glasses support a 90 Hz refresh rate and dimming for bright environments
- SpaceOS and Productivity Support: A Chromium-based OS enabling multi-window workflows for apps like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, and Figma
- Compact & Portable Design: Weighing around 3.1 lb (1.4 kg) with foldable glasses stored in a lid compartment for easier transport
Availability & Pricing
Sightful launched Spacetop G1 in June 2024, with preorder pricing set at $1,900 USD (or discounted to $1,700 in early access) and shipments scheduled from October 2024 in US markets
Why This Matters
- Redefining Screen Use: Spacetop turns the concept of computing screens upside-down—offering a private, scalable workspace in AR while encouraging ergonomic posture and privacy
- Ideal for Mobile Productivity: Designed for travelers and remote workers, it mimics multiple monitor setups without extra displays, especially in tight spaces like planes or cafés
- Skepticism Remains: Reviewers note the high price, reliance on AR glasses, limited use cases (basic productivity only), and potential social discomfort wearing visible AR hardware in public settings .
Expert Reviews & Early Feedback
- Wired’s hands-on review praised portable productivity and improved wearability, but questioned broader consumer readiness given price and familiarity concerns
- More recent reviews (May 2025) shifted focus toward Spacetop software support for Windows laptops with Xreal Air 2 Ultra glasses; although battery life drops to ~3–4 hours, performance remains smooth for browser-based tasks and standard apps, with a yearly software fee applied after initial use
Challenges & Future Prospects
- Consumer Adoption Risk: Some Reddit users criticize it as niche and impractical, given the reliance on glasses and limited functionality versus conventional laptops .
- Pivot Toward Software: Sightful recently laid off hardware team members to focus more on software development and marketing, signaling a shift in strategy
- Computing Platform Evolution: The trend toward spatial computing suggests future devices may further blur the lines between hardware and virtual productivity environments.
Conclusion
Sightful’s Spacetop G1 represents a bold leap into spatial computing by launching the first true screenless AR laptop. While its $1,900 price tag, hardware trade-offs, and niche target may limit mainstream adoption, it offers a compelling glimpse into future mobility and virtual workspace use cases. If AR productivity evolves and hardware becomes more streamlined, devices like Spacetop could redefine how and where we work.
