Following the revelation at the end of last yearAndroid XR VisionIt was showcased as the finale of this year's Google I/O, and was recently officially announced in partnership with Samsung.Galaxy XR HeadsetLater, at the earlier "The Android Show: XR Edition" event, Google further showcased the next steps in its Android XR ecosystem strategy.
In addition to announcing three major feature updates for the Galaxy XR, including "PC Connect," "Likeness," and "Travel Mode," it also teased collaborations with Samsung, Gentle Monster, Warby Parker, and others.XREAL, a Chinese AR glasses brandThe collaboration is expected to launch new AI glasses and wired XR glasses devices next year.
Galaxy XR Feature Upgrade: Deep Integration with Windows
Google first released a major update for the recently launched Galaxy XR, attempting to make the device more integrated into users' daily work and life:
• PC Connect:Similar to the Meta Quest's Remote Desktop feature, but with deeper integration. Users can wirelessly stream their Windows PC screen to the headset and display its window side-by-side with native Android apps from the Google Play Store, meaning users can get a multi-screen experience in virtual space and even play PC games.
• Likeness (real-life stand-in):To address the awkwardness of video calls while wearing a helmet, Google has launched a beta version of the Likeness feature. With the help of sensors, the system can generate a "realistic digital avatar" in real time, synchronizing the user's facial expressions and gestures, so that the other party in the video call can see the natural "you", rather than a cold helmet or cartoon image.
• Travel Mode:Optimized for mobile scenarios such as airplanes, ensuring stable visuals during turbulence or turns, allowing users to instantly transform a cramped cabin seat into a personal cinema or office.
Hardware forms explode: AI glasses and wired XR glasses devices emerge in two directions.
To avoid being overshadowed by Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, Google has confirmed that it will further expand its partner list beyond the Android XR alliance with Samsung and Qualcomm, including fashion eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. Two types of AI glasses are expected to launch in 2026.
• Screen-free AI glasses:Similar to the current Ray-Ban Meta, it uses a built-in speaker, microphone, and camera to allow users to call Gemini to have conversations, identify their surroundings, or take photos at any time.
• Display AI glasses:The advanced design incorporates a display function within the lens, projecting real-time translated subtitles and navigation information directly in front of the user's eyes.
In addition, Google once again showcased "Project Aura," a collaboration with Chinese AR glasses unicorn XREAL.
This is a wired XR glasses device with a 70-degree field of view (FOV) and optical see-through technology. Unlike fully enclosed VR headsets, "Project Aura" allows users to see digital content and the physical world at the same time. It is suitable for watching recipes while cooking or watching floating step-by-step instructions while repairing home appliances.
Developer tools first: Android XR SDK Preview 3 released
To support this hardware, Google simultaneously released Android XR SDK Developer Preview 3. The new SDK provides development tools and APIs for AI glasses, allowing developers to create value-added experiences that combine geolocation and visual recognition, just like partners such as Uber or GetYourGuide.
Opinion: XR devices have entered a period of intense competition; Google is adopting the "Android model" to counter the closed ecosystem.
This presentation reveals that Google's strategy in the XR field is exactly the same as that of Android phones back then: to establish a unified operating system platform and unite various hardware manufacturers.
• Google and Samsung's calculations:The combination of these two companies, along with Qualcomm, is clearly aimed at countering the formidable barrier of Apple's Vision Pro. The Galaxy XR is tasked with capturing the high-end VR/MR market, while the AI glasses developed in collaboration with trendy brands like Gentle Monster are intended to challenge the powerful combination of Meta and Ray-Ban in the more lightweight and mass-market potential of "wearable AI."
• Meta's leading advantage:Meta has gained a market advantage in both the "head-mounted device" (Quest) and "AI glasses" (Ray-Ban Meta), and each has a large amount of community data. Although Google has a strong underlying software (Gemini + Android), it is still catching up in terms of hardware deployment and must rely on the hardware manufacturing capabilities of partners such as Samsung and XREAL to quickly distribute its products.
• Opportunities for XREAL and Chinese businesses:While XREAL has historically had hardware advantages, its software ecosystem has always been a weakness. Joining the Android XR camp, "Project Aura" will be able to directly access the rich resources of the Google Play Store, a significant indicator for Chinese XR developers moving towards international standardization.
• The Apple's Aloofness:While Apple's Vision Pro offers an exceptional user experience, its high price and weight hinder its widespread adoption. Until lightweight AR glasses become available, facing a complete encirclement from the Android camp—from "high-end head-mounted displays" to "affordable AI glasses"—whether Apple can maintain its defining power in "spatial computing" will be a key point to watch over the next two years.
In summary, 2026 will be the year of "segmentation" for XR devices. Consumers will no longer only have bulky head-mounted devices to choose from, but will be able to choose "immersive" (Galaxy XR), "practical" (Project Aura), or "lightweight" (AI Glasses) according to their needs, and Google will connect all of these with its AI (Gemini).
