First AR Glasses Running Android XR Confirmed for 2026 Launch
Road to VR • • technology
Key Points:
- XREAL announced the upcoming launch of Project Aura AR glasses later this year, marking the first AR glasses to run Google's Android XR operating system.
- Project Aura was showcased at Google I/O, demonstrating features like immersive Google Maps, multitasking with video content on large and mini screens, and 180/360-degree YouTube videos.
- The glasses support DisplayPort-in for laptop connectivity, integrated Gemini AI support, and XREAL's "autospatialization" technology that converts flat content into 3D in real-time.
- Project Aura is lightweight due to its tethered compute puck, features sharp displays and a compact design, with input methods including the compute puck as a trackpad and optical hand-tracking.
- While Project Aura is the first AR glasses running Android XR, other devices like Samsung's Galaxy XR headset and smart glasses from Warby Parker, Gentle Monster, and Kering are also adopting the platform.