Google and Xreal publicly displayed the first eyewear to run Android XR. Developed as Project Aura, the extended reality smart glasses are expected to be available for purchase later this year or in early 2026. Google is also working with Samsung on a headset as part of Project Moohan. Pricing on the Aura glasses wasn’t announced at Google I/O, but they’ll reportedly cost less than the thousand dollar-plus price tags being floated for the Samsung device and Meta’s next-gen smart glasses, code-named Hypernova. At its annual developer conference, Google also showcased glasses being made with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster that won’t feature AR.

The Verge says the deals with the consumer eyewear firms hint at “smart glasses that people will actually want to wear,” contextualizing that Warby Parker offers consumers “trendy glasses at a relatively accessible price,” while Korean label Gentle Monster “is currently one of the buzziest eyewear brands,” favored by celebrities including Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé and Rihanna.

“The launch marks an early step from Alphabet’s Google to become a major operating system for future virtual and augmented reality smart glasses and headsets, much like Android has turned into a default option for most smartphones,” writes CNBC.

In a blog post, Google points out that Android XR is “the first Android platform built in the Gemini era” to power “an ecosystem of headsets, glasses and everything in between.”

Coming later this year Samsung’s Project Moohan “will offer immersive experiences on an infinite screen. Gemini makes Android XR headsets easier to use and more powerful by understanding what you’re seeing and taking actions on your behalf.”

At I/O, Google showed the glasses doing things like message friends, take photos, make appointments and set directions. Equipped with a camera, microphones and speakers, the glasses tether to a smartphone, providing “access to your apps without ever having to reach in your pocket,” Google explains, noting an optional in-lens display privately provides information.

“Pairing these glasses with Gemini means they see and hear what you do, so they understand your context, remember what’s important to you and can help you throughout your day,” according to Google.

“Xreal co-founder and CEO Chi Xu said the Samsung device is Google’s response to Apple’s Vision Pro, while his company’s upcoming Android XR eyewear is meant to compete with augmented-reality glasses that Meta Platforms is working on,” Bloomberg writes, describing Project Aura as “a lightweight, optical-see-through (OST) device” that will be available to developers first.

While Project Aura (above) debuted at I/O, further details will be announced at Augmented World Expo June 10-12, Xreal noted in a news release.

Related:
Google Sees Smart Glasses as the ‘Next Frontier’ for AI – and It’s Not Working Alone, CNET, 5/20/25
Google and Xreal Announce Partnership with New Project Aura Android XR Smart Glasses, Tom’s Guide, 5/20/25
Google Demos Android XR Glasses at I/O with Live Language Translation, Engadget, 5/20/25
Xreal’s Project Aura Will Support Google’s Android XR via a Tethered Puck, Upload VR, 5/20/25